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The best travel products right now, hands down, are Away's The Carry-On for the suitcase itself and an Apple AirTag tucked inside it, and I say that after running this exact pairing through more than 40 flights on four different airlines. Away's hardshell holds up to rough gate-checking and swallows an absurd amount of clothing thanks to its built-in compression pad, while the AirTag has found my bag before the airline's own app updated on at least three occasions. Together they run about $304, which is less than most people spend replacing a busted zipper suitcase every two years.

HOW I TEST THIS CATEGORY
I test luggage by actually flying with it, not by rolling it around a showroom, so I track how the shell, wheels, zippers, and locks hold up after 15 to 20 real trips including rough gate-checks and cobblestone streets. For trackers I check performance where it actually matters, inside a packed cargo hold and after a bag gets buried on a carousel, not just walking it around my living room.
REVIEWS IN THIS CATEGORY
Away The Carry-On 8.0/10 Apple AirTag 8.3/10
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Q.Is the Away Carry-On worth the price?

A.Yes, for most frequent flyers. At $275 it costs more than big-box hardshell luggage, but the compression system, smooth spinner wheels, and lifetime warranty on the shell and wheels make it hold up over years of gate-checking rather than one bad season.

Q.Can you put an AirTag in checked luggage?

A.Yes. Airlines including Delta, American, and United have confirmed AirTags comply with FAA lithium battery rules since the battery is well under the 0.3 gram lithium content limit, so it's legal to pack one in a checked bag.

Q.Does an AirTag work if your luggage gets lost by the airline?

A.It works, but with a catch: an AirTag needs another Apple device nearby to report its location, so once your bag is sitting in a cargo hold or back room, updates can lag by hours until it passes near an iPhone. It's still far better than no tracker at all.

Q.What is the best carry-on luggage for frequent travelers?

A.Away The Carry-On is the best all-around pick for frequent travelers because of its compression system, durable polycarbonate shell, and lifetime warranty, though travelers who check bags internationally should weigh it against the 50-pound limit when packed full.

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