Savannah R. JacklinUpdated on:
June 6, 2022
Reading Time:
4
minutes
Contributor
Learn about what makes the Away suitcase so special, including its added features, side products, and the brand itself. Keep reading to see for yourself!
When you’re packing to go on a trip, it’s hard enough to know what to take with you — let alone figuring out what bag to take.
Is a backpack the right choice?
Maybe a suitcase would be easier?
It’s a tough choice and one that gets made even tougher when you start thinking about what brand to choose.
If you’re in the market for a new suitcase, backpack, bag, or other types of luggage, chances are you’ve heard of Away. It’s all over social media and is often touted as one of the biggest names in luxury luggage at a more reasonable price.
But is it really all it’s cracked up to be and is it worth the money? Let’s find out.
What is Away?
Away is a luggage company that makes and sells premium suitcases, carry-on bags, backpacks, duffle bags, and totes, as well as a small range of other travel accessories. The company uses a direct-to-consumer business model to reduce its overheads and keep prices lower for customers.
With that said, prices are still definitely on the premium end — the “Medium” suitcase, which measures 66 cm x 47 cm x 28 cm, costs $305, and the “Large” costs $335. However, suitcases from Away come with a limited lifetime guarantee, which means if any damage makes your bag impossible to use (such as broken zippers or wheels, cracks or breaks in the shell, or faulty wheels and handles), the company will repair or replace it.
When you buy a bag from Away, you’ll also get a generous 100-day returns policy. During this time, you can use your bag as much as you want: customize it, wheel it around, live out of it, eat off it. Whatever you want. At the end of 100 days, if you’re just not digging it, Away will happily exchange or refund your bag.
It’s a pretty sweet deal, especially if you’re just not sure you’re ready to commit to a premium bag’s price tag.
Where Is Away Luggage From?
Away was set up by entrepreneurs Jen Rubio and Steph Korey in 2015. It has its headquarters in New York City, but it mostly operates online.
You can find Away stores in 13 locations, including two in NYC and two in L.A. most are in the United States, but there’s also a store in Toronto, Canada, and one in London, England.
If you want to buy Away luggage, the easiest way is just to place an order on the Away website. They deliver to the U.S. and Canada, plus several countries in Europe.
What Makes Away Luggage Special?
For many of you reading this, you’ll probably be thinking that a suitcase is just a suitcase — what features could a bag possibly have that could make it stand out?
Well, for one thing, they look great.
All the Away suitcases are sleek and stylish, and they come in a range of colors; favorites on social media include the “Blush” tone, which is basically millennial pink. The suitcases come with a hard shell and four 360-degree wheels. They’re also sturdy and compact — the carry-on size bag is designed to fit precisely into the standard carry-on allowance used by most airlines.
The suitcases also come with an internal compression system to help you cram in even more stuff while you’re on the road, and there’s a detachable laundry bag so you can keep your dirties away from your cleans. They’re also customizable (though this will invalidate the 100-day returns policy).
There are also optional extras to jazz up your luggage and make it even more practical, like the removable battery that can turn your suitcase into a walking, talking (okay, not quite) phone charger. The battery is also removable, so you can stick it in your backpack or purse if you need to.
It’s features like this that make Away so popular with reviewers.
Other Products
As well as carry-on and checked suitcases, Away makes a variety of other bags, all created with travel in mind. There’s a range of small and medium-sized backpacks on sale, in a variety of colors, prints, and shapes.
There are also duffle bags, sling bags, and totes, and a range of bag accessories like organizers, travel pouches, jewelry boxes, and toiletry bags.
They also sell neck pillows and travel blankets, packing cubes, luggage tags, and an adorable miniature suitcase, The Mini, that’s designed to keep your small items safe inside your bag. It’s just about small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and it comes with a D-ring attached so you can add a keychain to it too. It’s pretty neat — as long as you’ve got a spare $65.
Is Away a Good Luggage Brand?
Overall, we believe that Away Luggage is a great choice for frequent travelers who can dish out a bit more cash for a quality travel suitcase that lasts! Let’s dissect these Away reviews.
Reviews of Away travel luggages suggest that it’s pretty popular among customers. The carry-on bag, for example, has an average of 4.9 stars out of five, based on over 1,800 reviews on the site. Many online away travel reviews also gave positive feedback to the carry-on bag, saying that it costs much less than similar-quality bags.
Some negative Away Luggage reviews online pointed to long wait times and miscommunication between customer support and their refund policies.
The bags also seem pretty popular among the rich and famous. Big-name celebrities like own Away suitcases and have both teamed up with the company to create limited-run collections.
One of the benefits of Away luggage is that the company also regularly partners up with charities and organizations that aim to do good in the world. They also strive to be sustainable by creating bags that are built to last and working with suppliers who strive to reduce waste.
Our Rating: 4.6/5
Pros:
- Sustainable Social-benefit driven Brand
- 100-day return policy
- Made with Durable & Quality Material
- High ratings & big-name endorsements
Cons:
- Expensive
- User experienced long wait times for customer support
Time to Pack Your Bags!
So, are Away suitcases worth it? That probably depends on your own travel needs.
If you’re in the market for luxury or premium-quality suitcases or luggage, Away bags are certainly a good option — and the lifetime warranty definitely makes you feel like you’re getting more bang for your buck!
If you’re looking for more options, why not check out our review of Away’s competitor, Monos Luggage?
Got your travel luggage figured out? Next, you’ll need a plan for your trip. Plan your next trip with Pilot!
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