Full disclosure—I’ve been eying up investing in the Away Bigger Carry-On for the last few years, but kept talking myself out of it because of the price tag.

After hearing my sister and brother-in-law raving about their new Away Bigger Carry-Ons, I knew I had to see if this bag was as life changing as they claim. 

I reasoned that because of its reputation for being a durable and popular choice amongst shoppers that it was basically my duty as a travel blogger to invest in some new luggage from Away.

Plus, my little Away Everywhere Bag needed a friend! If you’re thinking about buying them as a set, you can check out my review of the Everywhere Bag below.

As a notorious over-packer, I was hoping this miracle bag would allow me to squeeze a few extra items into my carry-on bag. Secretly, I also was just excited to have a fashionable roller bag in place of my old dinghy roller bag.

Here’s my Away Bigger Carry-On review to give the over-packers and frequent travelers among you a look at if this durable carry-on is worth the splurge.

Overview of the Away Bigger Carry-On Bag

Ally traveling in an airport with her Away carry-on luggage in Chicago

Away quickly became a household name thanks to its strategic social media strategy, word of mouth, and its direct to consumer pricing.

The Away brand was created in 2015 by co-founders Jen Rubio and Steph Korey with the mission to create the perfect carry-on bag for travelers.

They both met working for another popular direct to consumer brand, Warby Parker.

Rubio and Korey used their experience to build a brand of functional and well-made bags that are fun, fashionable, and very Instagrammable!

Thanks to its thoughtful lightweight design, interior compression system, laundry bag, and removable battery, the Away Bigger Carry-On is easily one of their most popular bags to date. You’re almost guaranteed to spot at least one in the airport every time you travel. 

The suitcase also has 360-degree spinner wheels that make navigating through busy streets and airports a breeze!

This suitcase is certainly a step up from the hand-me-down bag I’ve been using for the past decade. 

Though the price of investment, even with the pricing being direct to consumers, felt steep. 

At the time of writing, the Away Bigger Carry-On comes in at about half the price of the Traveler’s Choice Hardshell, the lower budget roller bag with similar features. 

Away Bigger Carry-On Bag

The Away Bigger Carry-On is a stylish well-built suitcase that’s ideal for frequent travelers who want a bit of extra space.

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If you click on a link and make a purchase I may earn an Away credit at no additional cost to you.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Carry-On Suitcase From Away

Luggage at Cafe Nero Airport Coffee-2

Before you invest in a new suitcase, it’s important to consider what you need in a suitcase.

Some people just travel once a year and are fine using an older model without all the bells and whistles that Away’s carry-on comes with. 

If you’re a frequent traveler, or you’re looking for a stylish suitcase with a charger, the Away Bigger Carry-On is a great option. 

The suitcase is chic, durable, easy to organize while packing, simple to navigate around a busy airport, and can charge your phone multiple times without the need to recharge the suitcase battery.

Away is so confident that you’ll love your new bag that they give you a 100 day guarantee window promising satisfaction or your money back.

But even with the 100-day guarantee, the price of the Away Bigger Carry-On can be a bit intimidating for some people. It’s certainly what I’d call investment luggage. 

If you don’t need all the extra features, and aren’t set on having a suitcase from a well-known brand, there are other more affordable brands of carry-on luggage to choose from. 

Away Bigger Carry-On & Unboxing

PEAK-TRAVEL-30L-BACKPACK-AND-AWAY-BIGGER-CARRY-ON-BAG

What’s in the Box?

  • The Away Bigger Carry-On
  • Dust bag
  • Laundry bag
  • Battery
  • USB based power adapter
  • Charging cable
  • Leather luggage tag
  • Magic Eraser

It impressed me that the Away Bigger Carry-On came with an adapter to go along with its removable battery. I found it a really thoughtful touch on Away’s part, since users will probably travel internationally at some point.

They also included a charging cable that’s a solid length for charging. 

The battery takes roughly eight hours to completely charge, and has a pretty solid battery life. I charged my phone three or four times without needing to top up the charge on the battery.

I also really appreciate the built in laundry bag. It makes keeping dirty clothes separate so much easier when repacking. 

It was also a thoughtful addition to add in a magic eraser to use on the bag if it marks up during travel.

Away Bigger Carry-On Bag

The Away Bigger Carry-On is a stylish well-built suitcase that’s ideal for frequent travelers who want a bit of extra space.

Check Best Price
If you click on a link and make a purchase I may earn an Away credit at no additional cost to you.

Hardware and Design Features

Away Bigger Carry On Review 5 2

The Away Bigger Carry-On pushes the dimensions typically allowed for a carry-on luggage. Its exterior measurements of 22.7” x 14.7” x 9.6” exceed most airline standards of 21.7 x 13.7 x 9 by a hair.

Most airlines will let you get away with it, but some might ask you to check your bag at the gate.

The bag’s poly-carbonate hard shell provides a lightweight and durable exterior. Just be careful, the exterior scuffs up a bit, though you can easily clean up most marks with a magic eraser.

The major reason this bag seems to be so popular, aside from its stylish minimal design, is its removable battery. The battery pack lasts for multiple charges and you can take it out to satisfy TSA standards should the bag need to be checked.

The original Away bags required a screw to remove the battery, but the design team quickly remedied that by designing a compartment that ejects the battery easily if you push down on it.

The Away Bigger Carry-On Bag also features 360-degree spinner wheels, designed to make the suitcase easier to navigate in crowds. 

The TSA approved built in combination lock is also handy and easy to use when necessary. 

Apple AirTag 4 Pack

These are a travel must-have these days! After Heathrow lost my luggage for almost a week last summer, I invested in my first AirTag for my checked luggage, and now I'm obsessed!

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My favorite feature is all the built in compartments inside the luggage. It makes organizing a breeze, especially with the built in laundry pouch!

Overall, the product is lightweight with a thoughtful modern design and smooth navigation. 

Performance

Ally-Travels-Away-Luggage

After hearing everyone rave about what a life-changer this bag is, I was really excited to take my new suitcase for a spin.

Plus, I was pumped to pair up my new suitcase with my Away Everywhere Bag that I’m honestly still overly obsessed with. Spoiler alert, these bags are the perfect pairing!

While packing, it felt pretty easy to organize my clothes, accessories, and shoes with no major hassle.

Normally I struggle a bit getting my carry-on to close because I tend to over-pack. I loved that the compression compartment in this bag smashed down all my clothes in a quick and efficient way. 

interior Away Bigger Carry On Review 2

The 360 degree wheels didn’t seem like a major draw when I was purchasing the bag, but they ended up being a game-changer for navigating the sidewalk and packed airport. They really made my trip a lot smoother compared to my old bag that would get stuck or tip over if I changed direction too quickly. 

Once I got to the airport, the charger came in handy since all the open outlets were taken. It easily saved me about 20 minutes of wandering around looking for a working outlet. 

I will admit, I was nervous about getting told to gate check my bag since it was a domestic flight and the plane looked smaller than normal. Thankfully, I boarded with no issues.

The side handle on the bag was wonderfully helpful for lifting my bag into the overhead bin.

Normally I struggle to lift my suitcase, but this bag felt light enough that I could hoist it up pretty easily—especially considering I packed a lot of shoes!

Away Bigger Carry-On Alternatives 

Genius Pack Hardside Luggage Spinner


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  • Genius Pack Hardside Luggage Spinner : This luggage offers a lot of the same features as the Away bag with a price tag that only saves you less than a Benjamin. You still get 360-degree spinning wheels, built-in organization compartments, and a hard shell. One of the major drawbacks is that it doesn’t have a built-in charging system and some reviewers complain about its long-term durability. 
Bric's B/Y Ulisse 21 Expandable Spinner


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  • Bric’s B/Y Ulisse 21” Expandable Spinner: This luggage packs a lot of punch at about half the cost of the Away Bigger Carry-On. It’s got wheels that rotate 360-degrees, a beautiful hard-shell that comes in a variety of colors, and built-in USB port. The downside is that it requires you to purchase your own portable battery to use with the USB port. This is probably the best Away dupe out there at the moment. 
AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner 20 Carry-On

The AmazonBasics Hardside Carry-On Spinner is a stylish suitcase that’s ideal for a casual traveler looking for an affordable well-made bag.

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  • AmazonBasics Hardside Spinner 20” Carry-On:  This might be one of the best budget carry-on bags around. It comes in at well under a Benjamin and is a solid suitcase with excellent reviews. Users love its variety of colors and 360-degree spinner wheels. Though some purchasers have commented that the bag doesn’t hold up if you’re a frequent traveler.

My Thoughts Overall On the Away Bigger Carry-On

Away-Bigger-Carry-On-Review-5-2

What I Like

  • The Away Bigger Carry-On is stylish and fits more than a basic carry-on bag.

  • I love the convenience of having the portable charger on hand.

  • The bag is thoughtfully organized and has a bag for dirty laundry.

What I Don’t Like

  • Some smaller local airlines make you gate check the bag because it’s too large.

  • I wish there was an exterior pocket to stash last minute items.

What Do Other Reviewers Think?

If you scroll through the user reviews on Away’s website, you’ll notice most people have nothing but wonderful things to say about their new luggage.

After a bit of reading, I’ve discovered that users love the Bigger Carry-On Bag’s chic design, limited edition colors, and built-in charger. They also rave about the built-in laundry bag and overall size of the carry-on. 

A few senior purchasers even commented that Away luggage made traveling easier for them. A husband and wife left my favorite review. They both raved about their new matching sets featuring the Away Bigger Carry-On and the Away Everywhere Bag that sits easily on top. They commented that this was their first major luggage purchase since the 1980s!

The one major complaint that I’ve noticed besides price point has to do with size. A few people have complained that the Away Bigger Carry-On is too big for some airlines, especially domestic ones, forcing them to gate check their precious luggage. 

This is an issue for smaller planes, because Away pushes the boundaries with the size of the Bigger Carry-On, the bag measures 22.7” x 14.7” x 9.6”, typically just a hair over the generic sizing of 22” x 14” x 9”. 

Besides the size issue, some people have commented that some of the lighter color suitcases scuff up easily while on the go. Most say they’ve been able to get them out with magic erasers. 

If you want to avoid seeing marks, you’re probably better off investing in a darker colored bag.

The Verdict

Away is a trusted name in the luggage industry and provides a lot of stylish features for the extra cash the brand name demands. 

The Away Bigger Carry-On was easy to organize, provided plenty of space with its compact design, and saved the day with its charging station.

With this suitcase I feel like I could pack for a last minute trip and still feel organized and stylish. 

Plus, with its 360-degree wheels you won’t be struggling to navigate in crowds or over cracks in the sidewalk. 

Overall, the Away Bigger Carry-On is a great option if you can afford to spend a little more to invest in quality luggage that will keep travel organized and stylish. 

After using it, I truly believe that this bag is worth the investment price. It’s perfect for frequent travelers and anyone who wants chic minimalist luggage that’s easy to handle. 

Away Bigger Carry-On Bag

The Away Bigger Carry-On is a stylish well-built suitcase that’s ideal for frequent travelers who want a bit of extra space.

Check Best Price
If you click on a link and make a purchase I may earn an Away credit at no additional cost to you.

FAQs

top-of-away-bag-2

Does the Away Bigger Carry-On fit in overhead bins?

It fits in the bins of full-sized planes, but may need to be gate checked when flying on smaller local aircrafts. If you gate check the bag, you will need to remove the battery.

How much does the Away Bigger Carry-On weigh?

The Away Bigger Carry-On weighs 8.4 pounds.

Is the Away Bigger Carry-On Bag worth it?

The Away Bigger Carry-On is absolutely worth it for frequent travelers and overpackers.

What are the Away Bigger Carry-On Bag dimensions?

The Away Bigger Carry-On is 22.7 x 14.7 x 9.6 inches.

Away Bigger Carry-On Bag

The Away Bigger Carry-On is a stylish well-built suitcase that’s ideal for frequent travelers who want a bit of extra space.

Check Best Price
If you click on a link and make a purchase I may earn an Away credit at no additional cost to you.
 

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