Away Luggage Review
About Away
Away designs the ideal suitcase for men, women, and children with features that address real-life travel problems. With travel pieces to match your style, individual needs, and the demands of your trip, Away uses premium materials that make luggage elegant and durable. Away suitcases appear sleek on the outside, while containing innovative elements on the inside: this Away luggage review will help figure out whether these suitcases are really worth your money.
Overview of Away
Stephanie Korey and Jennifer Rubio started Away in New York City in 2015. Since then, they’ve sold over 300,000 suitcases. Prior experience taught Jenn and Steph that luggage is the “unsung hero of travel.” I mean, I see where they’re coming from: when a zipper gets jammed, a wheel doesn’t track properly, or a handle falls off, a busy airport or journey can get even more stressful. Seriously, you just want to make it from Point A to Point B so you can enjoy your trip.
In founding a direct to consumer luggage company, Jenn and Steph aimed to reduce hassle and develop the potential they saw in luggage, while keeping costs low. They saw a divide between suitcases that were well-made and significantly marked up, versus inexpensive and of poor quality. They wanted to place Away suitcases in the middle, achieving the best of both worlds.
Jenn and Steph conversed with travellers, gathering information about their experiences and built high quality, functional products to fill gaps. Away emerged from a personal need, so it’s equipped with thoughtful details, such as a built-in battery to charge your phone.
The mission of Away is to “get more out of every trip to come.” Jenn and Steph recognize that we live in an interconnected age, where anyone can go anywhere. More than that, your luggage is your mobile home and a mobile closet. When luggage breaks down, it blocks your ability to be present on your journey. The founders design their products with the underlying belief that connections are essential, and that time away is “time well spent.”
Away’s mission extends to global initiatives. A focus on global interconnection led Jenn and Steph to partner with Peace Direct, a non-profit organization that builds peace in conflict areas worldwide. Even before a consumer embarks on their first trip with Away, they are connected through contributing to a global partnership with Peace Direct. As if I didn’t like their message enough about getting more out of trips, they advocate for peace.
Our Away luggage review underscored reasons why the brand is popular. The direct to consumer approach means that the pieces are made with premium quality materials, but the overhead is lower. The products are made to equip you for a lifetime of ‘time away,’ without breaking the bank. Or so they say—let’s see, shall we?
For this Away luggage review, we’ll take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the brand:
Pros
- High durability with a lifetime guarantee
- 100-day return policy
- Technical interior and exterior assets including chargers, and removable laundry bags
- A bag for every purpose
- Extensive colors for customizing your luggage
Cons
- Poor follow-up from customer service
- Some of the products (ahem, the Aluminum Edition suitcases), are $600+
While we can’t possibly go through every product, this Away luggage review will take a look at some of their bestsellers to show you what their suitcases are all about.
Away Suitcase Review
Away The Large
First up, the limited edition Chalet Collection. Once in awhile, you’re on the chairlift and conversation stops mid-sentence because someone is carving down the slopes in a retro ski suit. You point it out, laugh about it, but secretly, you admire the look and wish that you could pull it off yourself.
Away’s limited edition Chalet Collection harnesses the energy of this eye-catching look. The Large costs $348 with a variety of bold colors and stripes to choose from, featuring a custom matching luggage tag. There’s no fear of losing this bright bag on the luggage belt when you arrive in Aspen to hit the slopes.
The Large is the biggest suitcase offered by Away. If you’re one to over pack and want to anticipate every possible outfit, The Large is built for that. Despite the space afforded by the suitcase, it’s deceptively lightweight. The suitcase’s durable polycarbonate shell protects your belongings, so you can lug it around without worrying about damaging it.
When you’re in the mountains or active in the winter season, your layers can get damp. The Large is equipped with an interior compressions system and a removable laundry bag to keep your items separate and well ordered. Away The Large is equipped with 360-degree spinning wheels, so you’ll never be struggling with its bulk.
If you’re not into the bold colors of the Chalet Collection, Away The Large also comes in a range of neutral darks and a few brighter colors like pink and blue for the same price. If you really want to splurge on your luggage, and honestly look like the flyest person in the airport, check out The Large – Aluminum Edition:
You can literally walk around with a suitcase that looks like it’s made of gold, rose gold, or other precious metals. All its features are the same, the only difference is the aluminum shell. Be prepared to shell out a lot of money for this shell though, since The Large in aluminum will set you back $629. Depending on your destination, that’s basically the cost of your flights right there.
Away x Serena Williams – The Medium
If you’re shocked that world-class tennis pro Serena Williams designed an Away collection, so were we. This does make sense though since she travels the world owning the game and she’s an entrepreneur. Take a look at the midsize soft suitcase, priced at $333. Her favourite patterns are featured in the interior lining of the bag, the luggage tag, and the Away luggage monogram:
The Medium Soft Case is made with durable and water-resistant nylon, which makes it more flexible than the polycarbonate shell. The easy-access front pocket allows you to access your items on the go. Say you’ll be stepping into London’s drizzle: pack a rain shell and an umbrella to pull out upon landing. The signature interior compression system helps you to organize your life on the go. As well, the built-in zip feature increases the capacity of the body up to 1.75” so that you can fit in all your favourites!
Away x Serena The Medium includes:
- Multicolored camo print interior lining and organization system
- Compression pad and water-resistant laundry bag
- Matching camo print leather luggage tag
- 360-degree spinner wheels
- Bottom slip handle for easy lifting
- TSA-approved combination lock
If you’re not a fan of this colorful collaboration, you don’t have to miss out on The Medium: it’s also available in more neutral and understated colors and in a hardside version:
Away Carry On Review
The Carry-On
The Away Carry-On, like others in its category, fits in the overhead bin of most airlines for $243. This small-size suitcase is for the calculated traveller. It has a conscientious design that ensures a level of durability that matches your lifelong travel plans. It’s got all the details taken care of. The suitcase is classy with leather detailing and a black luggage tag, available in 16 colors.
For the traveller who wants to stay connected, the carry-on is equipped with a battery to charge your phone. No matter the delays or layovers you face in your travels, the carry-on has you covered with the ability to charge your device up to four times.
The Carry-On has a durable polycarbonate shell and a TSA-approved combination lock so that you can travel worry-free. It’s practical with an interior compression system and hidden laundry bag so that your focus can be on sightseeing rather than sorting your clothes.
If you need a little extra space, Away The Bigger Carry On could be a more suitable option for $345.
The Kids’ Carry-On
The Kids’ Carry-On is “sized down (not downsized),” constructed thoughtfully so that children can become independent travellers from a young age. The durable suitcase can meet the demands of any adventure, but it is lightweight enough that a child can handle their own luggage. That’s one less thing for you to worry about as a parent while travelling with your kids (unfortunately jet lag and plane boredom isn’t something a suitcase can fix).
Just like Away luggage for adults, The Kids’ Carry-On is built with an interior compression system, laundry bag, and 360-degree spinner wheels. They’ll have fun with its features and the fact that their luggage is cooler than other kids’. The Kids’ Carry On comes with an ejectable phone battery and combination lock, so they won’t be looking for entertainment or their lost items as you catch your next flight.
Away Luggage Set Review
Set of Two: The Carry-On + The Medium
No matter where you’re travelling, this Away luggage set—one carry-on and one checked bag—has you covered for $490. The smaller bag fits inside the larger one, saving you storage space between trips.
The Medium is designed with two interior compartments: one for clothes and another for harder items like shoes, so that you focus on enjoying your day, not how to prepare for it. You can separate your dirty clothes into the hidden water-resistant laundry bag so that keeping your clothes straight and unpacking on the other inside are two separate, easy processes.
Other features of The Medium (as a recap):
- Durable polycarbonate shell
- An ejectable battery that charges your phone
- TSA-approved combination lock
- 360-degree spinner wheels
- Suitcase features leather details
- Black leather luggage tag
- Interior compression system
- Hidden laundry bag
Set of Two: The Daily Carry-On with Pocket + The Medium
This set of two includes the Daily Carry-On with Pocket and The Medium for $505. The Daily Carry-On With Pocket is designed for short trips, with elegant leather details and a black Away luggage tag. The 360-degree spinner wheels will make it easy to cover ground, and the interior compression system and hidden laundry bag will let you pack for multiple purposes. The TSA-approved combination lock keeps your valuables secure.
Away Bag Review
The Weekender
When you pack a weekend bag, even if it’s just for a short trip, you still want all your favourite items and necessities with you. The versatile Weekender duffle squeezes into any trunk, underside of the seat, or overhead bin. The Weekender is meant for short journeys, and it accommodates life on the go with a fully lined shoe compartment, a 15” padded laptop pocket and a sleeve at the back.
The Weekender bag is comfortable with a detachable padded shoulder strap and top handles joined by a button clasp closure. A leather base and accents offer style and durability, with a convenient zippered interior and exterior pocketing. The Weekender duffle is available in nylon, canvas and limited collections of unique edition fabrics for $258.
The Backpack
A well organized, accessible backpack offers a lot to your trip or workday. Our Away luggage review analyzed the spacious interior of the backpack, which features a cushioned pocket with a water-resistant zipper to fit a 15” laptop. The clever design also includes a passport pocket on the back of the pack and a collapsible water bottle pocket on the side of the bag.
The Backpack has three compartments with strategic uses, such as:
- Front side-access zipper pocket for large, flat items like books
- Middle zip compartment features a hidden zipper pocket (for valuables such as keys or phone)
- Large main compartment with space for clothes, shoes and other bulky objects
The bag is sleek, but it fits everything in, and it fits more than you might think! The slimmer design is useful when you’re on the road and want to keep all of your essentials close. The backpack costs $295 and is made of black, navy, green, asphalt, coast and sand nylon.
Is Away Luggage Worth It?
Our Away luggage review makes it clear that Away is worth it. Away luggage takes care of the details of travel—charging your phone on the go, keeping items secure, making models to suit young children, ambitious skiers or the focused business person, alike.
Away consults customers about their travel to make luggage that reflects common experiences and thoughtful problem-solving. The essential basics are uniform with consistent features such as laundry separation, useful pockets and the ability to lock luggage. Away provides high-quality technical luggage with detailing for a middle-of-the-road price.
The company is customer-facing: this is especially evident in the 100-day trial, which allows customers to live with their luggage before they determine whether it’s the right fit. Overall, Away reflects comprehensively about all aspects of travel to make the experience seamless and rewarding.
Away Luggage Customer Reviews
Customers testified that Away stood by their promise. When issues arose with Away luggage, the company replaced the luggage. One customer remarked that their carry-on had met every criterion in an Away luggage review on Reddit. The delivery happened promptly, and customers were happy with the quality of their products, finding the design to be “pristine.”
Other customers reported negative experiences with Away’s online return form in their Away luggage reviews, as they did not hear back from customer service. The customer service team at Away was warm and polite, but there was little to no follow up or action, according to Away luggage review Reddit comments. Some customers said that luggage was average quality and that the shipping experience was so poor that they would not repeat a purchase.
Away Promotions & Discounts
Our Away luggage review found that there are currently no deals offered by Away. Visit their website regularly for updates on an Away luggage code.
Away Luggage Careers
If you’ve liked what you read in this Away luggage review, you might be interested to know that they’re hiring. There are a bunch of Away luggage jobs to look into, if you’re considering a change of scene.
Away New York has corporate positions available in these fields: Brand, Communications, Creative Strategy, Customer Insights, Digital Product/UX, Engineering, Growth, Operations & Supply Chain, People & Culture, Real Estate and Information Systems.
Away also has sales position openings in openings in Houston, LA, New York, Seattle, Toronto, Austin, Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Where to Buy Away Luggage
Online
Away products can be purchased on their website and through Away Luggage Amazon.
Retail
You can visit an Away Luggage store in these major US cities:
- Away Luggage Austin
- Away Luggage Boston
- Away Luggage Brooklyn
- Away Luggage Chicago
- Away Luggage Dallas
- Away Luggage Houston
- Away Luggage NYC
- Away Luggage San Francisco
- Away Luggage Los Angeles
Away also has one physical store in London, UK.
FAQ
Away Luggage Sizes
It’s obviously hard to tell how big or small a suitcase is just from a picture. That’s why we’ve included a size guide in this Away luggage review:
| Product | Height | Width | Depth | Capacity |
| The Carry On | 55.1 cm | 34.8 cm | 22.9 cm | 38.3 L |
| The Bigger Carry On | 57.7 cm | 37.3 cm | 24.3 cm | 47.9 L |
| The Medium | 66 cm | 47 cm | 28 cm | 68.8 L |
| The Large | 73.6 cm | 52 cm | 31.7 cm | 99.2 L |
| The Daily Carry On With Pocket | 42 cm | 44 cm | 22.8 cm | 36.9 L |
| The Kids Carry On | 45 cm | 30.48 cm | 22.8 cm | 31 L |
| The Weekender Bag | 55 cm | 22 cm | 32 cm | 38.7 L |
Away Shipping Policy
Away ships everywhere in Canada, the US, Australia and most of Europe. Away has a goal of shipping worldwide, so stay tuned! To let Away know that you’d like your country on their radar, tweet (@away) or send an email to help.ca@awaytravel.com. Away offers free shipping via UPS in Canada, with the exception of P.O. boxes.
How long does it take to ship?
- Orders ship from the Away warehouse in 1 business day
- Length of the shipping process depends on the shipment method
- Free shipping arrives within 1-7 business days, depending on location
- Personalized items take longer for delivery
- Items are not shipped on weekends or national holidays
Away Luggage Return Policy
If your Away product doesn’t match your needs, you can return it within 100 days of purchase (no hidden qualifiers!) Fill out the online form to begin. Away does not cover the cost of shipping for orders returned from Canada.
Personalized items are made to order, so the 100-day trial does not apply. These items cannot be returned or exchanged, but other regular warranties apply.
The 100-day trial period is not renewed when you exchange your item for a new one. Instead, the remainder of the 100-day period applies to your exchanged item.
To make a return, fill out the form on the returns page, and the Away team will get back to you with the next steps. Shipping fees are non-refundable.
Away Luggage Lock Reset
We want to be as helpful as possible in this Away luggage review, so here’s what to do if you have to reset your lock:
- Set the dials to 0-0-0
- Push in the reset button with a pointed object, like a pen until you hear a click
- Roll the digits to your preferred combination
- Press the circular button in the middle of the latch and the reset button will pop back out. When the clasp opens, your combination has been set.
- Roll the digits to your combination and press the circular button to open the suitcase
100-Day Trial
Away understands that the best way to test that your luggage items support your travel is to pilot them. For that reason, every Away item comes with a 100-day trial unless the item has been personalized. You can live with your suitcase for 100-days to make sure it meets your needs and standards. If it doesn’t feel right, you can return it for a refund or exchange.
Away Luggage Warranty
Our Away luggage review highlighted that Away suitcases are guaranteed by a lifetime warranty. This warranty covers any damage to the wheels, shell, handles, zippers or anything else that affects the functional use of the luggage. Our Away luggage review emphasizes that the company will repair anything that breaks, by fixing or replacing it.
Note: The Mini and all personal items or interior organization products are subject to a one-year warranty. These items are meant to be protected by your suitcase, so the same lifetime warranty does not apply.
Contact Away
Beyond this Away luggage review, you can get in touch with the company through these methods:
- Email: help.ca@awaytravel.com
- Away Luggage Instagram: @away
- Twitter: @away
If you’re looking for stylish and functional travel wear, check out these brands:
Tropicfeel shoes
BauBax apparel and shoes
Vilbrequin swimwear
