Shop This Flight Attendant-approved Carry-on Now on Sale at Amazon

If there’s one thing I’ve learned after years of traveling, it’s that your suitcase matters more than almost anything else you pack. I’ve dragged luggage through tiny commuter airports, cobblestone streets, endless hotels, and around the globe, but I’d argue that no one knows the ins and outs of travel quite like a flight attendant. So, naturally, with 2026 travel plans coming up, I went straight to a pro for their recommendations for travelers. 

I spoke to flight attendant and content creator Ally Case about what she always recommends to her friends, followers, and fellow travelers. As it turns out, she almost always points them in the same direction: a Travelpro softside expandable lightweight carry-on. 

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Carry-on

As a flight attendant and content creator, Case relies on Travelpro for every trip. She uses a Travelpro crew bag for work, and after seven years of constant use, it’s still going strong. It truly has been thrown and dragged all over the world, and she raves “It’s held up perfectly over the last 7 years and it gets a lot of use.” While her exact crew bag isn’t available online, the closest equivalent is the Travelpro Maxlite 5 carry-on, which just so happens to be marked down on Amazon right now. 

One of the biggest reasons travelers love this suitcase is how easy it is to move and pack. The four spinner wheels glide smoothly in every direction, which makes navigating crowded terminals and quick connections so much easier. When you’re hustling through an airport—or pulling your bag down a jet bridge—that kind of effortless rolling makes a huge difference.

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Carry-on

Packing space is another major win with this carry-on. It features a two-inch expansion that seriously maximizes capacity without tipping the bag over or making it awkward to maneuver. Case has seen firsthand how much you can fit inside, and Amazon reviewers back it up. One traveler raved that they packed an entire month’s worth of clothing for a trip to Asia in the carry-on alone. “The carry-on is very light, even when filled to capacity with clothing, and is able to fit comfortably in overhead bins,” they wrote. That’s exactly what you want from a true carry-on—roomy without being too bulky.

Despite how much it holds, the suitcase itself is impressively lightweight. In fact, it’s even lighter than the previous Travelpro Maxlite model, which frequent flyers will really appreciate. Every ounce counts when you’re lifting a bag into the overhead bin, and this one makes it noticeably easier. 

The thoughtful pocket design is another reason it’s so popular. It has two exterior pockets and a full-length lid pocket for items you want to grab quickly, and a side accessory pocket that’s perfect for smaller essentials like chargers, toiletries, or travel documents. Everything has a place, which helps keep you organized the whole trip long. 

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Carry-on

Durability is where Travelpro truly shines, though. The softside exterior is treated with a water and stain-resistant coating, so it stands up to spills, scuffs, or whatever the journey throws at it. That kind of protection is essential for a bag that will be used often. 

When it comes to luggage, do yourself a favor and use what the pros use. Case’s own Travelpro crew bag has been through years of constant flying, and it’s proven itself time and time again. If you’re looking to upgrade your carry-on ahead of 2026 travel plans, this is a great time to snag one while it’s marked down at Amazon. Once you travel with it, it’s hard to go back to anything else.  

Shop More Travelpro Luggage Deals at Amazon

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Upright 2 Checked Luggage

Travelpro Pathways 3 Hardside Expandable Carry-on

Travelpro Maxlite Air V2 Hardside Expandable Carry-on

Travelpro Platinum Elite Softside Expandable Carry-on

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Carry-on Weekender Duffel Bag

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