Suitcases have a max 2 trip usage limit!

Interesting pile on! We've also had a few broken cases, what we've done wrong is to let professionals like easyJet put the bag in their hold. Magically 4 wheeled case emerges at the carousel as 3 wheeled case. This has happened more than once and yes, they were not crap cases.

We have some John Lewis ones which we’ve had for about 8 years. And some unbranded ones which lasted almost as long.

I think it depends on your baggage handlers - we had one get totally smashed up between Heathrow and Munich (literally came off the carousel with the whole base and wheels torn off, which was fun as we then had a four hour train ride to the hotel, and the same back again a week later). The suitcase wasn’t the issue, it had obviously become caught on something.

Had my cheap IT soft suitcase for about 10/12 years, still going strong and been on a few long hauls with me. Had my cabin bags years too.

One tip I got from a baggage handler I dated briefly...don't use more than one fragile sticker (preferably none), the more fragile stickers on a case, the rougher it's getting handled.

Kipling. Wheels and zips are sturdy.

I have a Samsonite that I bought in 1987 when I started my first job. I travelled a lot in my 35 year career and it has been many times round the world. It looks a bit battered, but still does the job.

I agree with this. Had Tripp soft shell for years and are now on Tripp hard shell cases.

My husband took 50 flights last year and his Samsonite is still in excellent condition.

Similarly our Away bags which we’ve had for years barely look touched after multiple flights.

I disagree about needing to pay more for suitcases for them to last. My first suitcase as an adult was £13 from Matalan and it survived many trips and I still use it on occasion today if the size suits, but in reality it's a bit big for what I need now I'm usually going on short trips and minimising the cost of extra luggage.

We've also got a couple of IT cases and another that didn't cost very much from Costco and they've all been in aircraft holds many times without issue. They appear to be virtually indestructable, which is great but partly annoys me because if they broke I could justify buying something else, just because I fancy a change.

An expensive Samsonite/Antler or other high end brand would literally need to last for centuries to come out ahead on a cost per usage basis.

Oh a pp has just reminded me we have our original two hardshell Samsonite ‘Oyster’ suitcases. Bright blue they are. About 25 years old but not been used for 15 of those since we bought lightweight soft material ones.

Charity shops always have suitcases, and as they’re older they’re often well-made. Or if it falls apart you only spent £10. I have a charity shop one that’s indestructible, made by M&S, cost a tenner.

Mine are from M&S, 10 year guarantee.
We usually go on tours that often involve multiple flights, & I estimate that we've done 30 flights since we bought them. So that's 60 lots of baggage handling, with just a couple of small black marks on them.

I use Samsonite or Tripp. After about 25 years one Samsonite handle got slightly twisted by airline and I could buy spare parts. I have replaced my hard shell ones because of the weight. Modern fabrics are much lighter which means that I can pack more. The old ones are used as trunks in my attic.

The wheels of the carry on I used for work wore out. They had been trundled for way more than 10000 steps a day. That was ‘overuse’ rather than ‘misuse’.

Are you seriously overfilling your luggage?

All the way! We now have 6, so one each for every occasion. Oldest pair is at least 15 years

You get what you pay for with suitcases. We have Samsonite ones, and despite dh travelling the world for work plus the usual holidays, they are well over 15 years old. They are expensive to buy though, but worth it in the long run. I bought a cheap suitcase from amazon recently, as I needed a special size. I don't think it will last long.

We buy our suitcases second hand from charity shops spending between £5 -£12. No idea how old they are when we get them but they’ve lasted years. Train, car, foot and plane journeys so not treated with kid gloves.

We do use WD40 on the wheels - maybe that helps?

User error.

Ditto. Done about 20 flights and still fine.

I’ve had the same suitcases for almost a decade. Bought from good old Debenhams half price . Still look good

WTF are you doing to your suitcases?!
I bought a couple of big ones from Argos about 20 years ago and retired them only this year as the frame at the back had been badly dented in transit somehow and it was looking a bit tired anyway.
I also bought 2 medium sized IT ones about 5 years ago when dds were going on a school trip, they’ve been excellent. Okay this year the front zip broke that was pretty insignificant as we don’t use those little front pockets anyway so the case is still fine to use.
I battered one of the mini wheelie ones in Bruges because of the cobbles - the wheels did not like that very much! Again though, it was well used until that point and would still be fine to use on something like a road trip where it was just being used in a car and could be carried.
We’ve never had a case that only lasted 2 trips, ours last for years and years!!

I buy cheap suitcases from home bargains/B&M and they have lasted years.

Our Tripp and Samsonite have been good.

However one from Morrisons got its wheel snapped off on trip 2. But what do you expect for £30.

Have never broken a suitcase and have done lots of long haul travel. Ours a a combo of samsonite, antler and John Lewis .

My suitcase got damaged a few weeks ago. It went in the hold and when I collected it from the conveyor belt one of the wheels had been ripped off making a huge hole in the bottom. It was only the second trip I'd used it.

I put in a claim with Ryanair straightway but surprise surprise am still waiting despite it being a 15 working day process. I think I'm hampered by not having the original receipt, that is what they have asked for but I don't have it and can't imagine many would.

So, my top tip, hang on to the receipt next time you buy a suitcase!

The only time I’ve had this happen was when I bought one from the market! lol even a sports direct one lasted years, what on earth are you doing with them OP?!