Product Review: Flight 001 F1 Avionette Carry-On

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. It's easy to pack and comfortable, and makes it so I can actually sleep on flights.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of somewhere warm, like a glass igloo or hot spring.

Travel Motto: Curiosity is an amazing compass.

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: Aisle all the way.

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What is it: Flight 001 F1 Avionette 22-Inch Carry-On

Price and Where to Buy: $195 on Amazon; $195 on Flight001.com.

Pros: Its cool retro-modern design stands out from more utilitarian suitcases, but the Avionette still delivers utility and durability. The water-repellant fabric and add-a-bag strap make it adaptable to different travel needs, and the telescoping handle can be adjusted for people of different heights. The bright blue interior makes it easy to find items inside, and since the wheels are embedded in the frame of the suitcase, the packable interior room stretches the entire length of the bag. Ample interior pockets offer built-in organization, and exterior pockets on the back and front make it easy to stow on the go.

Cons: With two wheels and low clearance, this bag is meant for smooth city streets, not cobblestones or anything trickier. When packed to capacity, the bag pushes the carry-on height limit.

How it Rates:

Usefulness: 9/10. Well-placed pockets and a sturdy design make this more than a pretty bag.
Value: 9/10. At just under $200, this bag offers the styling of a much more expensive bag.
Durability: 8/10. Tough fabric and a 360-degree reinforcement strap mean this bag can handle the stresses of both chronic overpackers and inclement weather.
Cool Factor: 10/10. This is a great-looking bag that will definitely boost your fashion quotient as you strut through the terminal.

Final Verdict: With a design that harkens back to a classier age of travel, the Avionette carry-on is meant for style-conscious travelers looking for durability and utility as well.

Editor’s Note: Reviews are based on usefulness, portability, durability, value, and “cool factor.” Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product. If you have any questions or comments concerning our reviews, or would like to suggest a product for review, please email us at editor@smartertravel.com.

(Photo: Amazon)

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