What Luggage Do Pilots Use? How Do Pilots Pack? This Is The Answer

I was wondering what luggage do pilots use? I did the research to find out about it and here’s the answer.

There’s no universal answer what every airline pilot use. Sometimes the air company provides the pilot with a suitcase or they chose for themselves, Most pilots have carry-on monstrosities for work or popular brands are Samsonite, Rimowa and Luggage works. The size cant be too big since its gonna go into the cockpit where space is limited. For example, 12″ wide, 17″ long, 14 inches high is about max size for Boeing 737.

Usually, it’s not as big and same height as usual travel luggage and has that long telescoping handle. Since a pilot is gonna walk miles between terminals getting a bag with wheels is often recommended since you want to pull it around and not have to carry it around the long distances.

Often pilots recommend not going cheap on their bags and look for quality since it’s gonna be used a lot and hopefully last for years. And the size of the bags depends on what plane you are flying, Boeing cockpits are often less spacious than an Airbus cockpit for example.

Where do pilots have their luggage during flight?

The pilots often have their suitcase behind their chair in the cockpit. There are also crew rest areas which flight attendants can store their luggage or have them in first and last overhead bins. Some aircraft have a special area just for the crew.

What luggage do flight attendants use?

Often it’s a suitcase provided by the airline company which is sometimes branded with the logo and the common model is Travelpro luggage. It’s a luggage with 4 spinner wheels telescoping handle and more expensive high-quality ones.

Some experienced flight attendants recommending changing the wheels to roller skate wheels that last longer and have more padding. Also, they chose hard case luggage if it’s possible knowing how the ground staff treats the bags.

What do airline pilots typically carry with them in their luggage when flying?

Here’s a list of what pilots would consider essentials to have to their flights, some gear might be provided by the airline. I’m not a pilot just what I found on my research.

• Employee ID
• Passport (At least 6+ months validity in it, because some countries will require you to have that)
• All the pilot’s licenses, type ratings, instrument rating, medical certificate, what vaccine’s the pilot have taken and other documentation the airline requires. Everything must be valid of course.
• Earplugs and ear protectors. Since it can be noisy on the ground like fuel trucks and general noisy environment.
• Pens, a high-quality pen that won’t break and is used to write stuff down and signing papers.
• Notebook
• Electronic flight bag (EFB), A tablet like an iPad and a charging cable.
• A strong flashlight, used at night during the walk around to inspect the vertical stabilizer on the plane for example.
• Disinfection wipes, sterilization in the cockpit not to get any bacteria.
• High visibility vest, to make sure the pilot are visible when walking on the airport ground and is also required. The pilot can get a fine if not wearing it.
• Spare glasses, if the pilot has poor eyesight and using glasses the pilot need a back up if those breaks.
• Noise-canceling headset, bose a-20 is a recommended choice
• Spare batteries, to have for either headset or flashlight.
• Sunglasses (Not polarised sunglasses, it will limit the vision), a good pair of sunglasses is essential. It gets really bright inside of the cockpit up in the air, especially in the clouds.

Extras just in case:

• Emergency kit, first aid, nose spray, headache pill (make sure it’s allowed to use any type of medicine)
• Pair of underwear, socks, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush (If the pilot gonna spend somewhere a night unexpectedly)
• Extra money