Flight attendants love this Travelpro carry-on bag

For the best in luggage, look no further than the hands of the world’s most frequent flyers – flight attendants. Logging tens (sometimes hundreds) of thousands of miles a year at 30,000 feet, these full-time air travelers have mastered the art of packing their carry-on. They know exactly what to take on the road and in which bag to put it.

One of their favorite bags, adored by regular travelers, is the Travelpro Maxlite 5 Soft Tote, a perfectly sized weekend bag large enough to double as a carry-on but compact enough to pass as a personal item. Flight attendants and pilots have written glowing reviews on Amazon luggage. The bag is currently on sale.

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Soft Bag

This smart bag comes from an entire Travelpro collection of soft and hard cases designed to be extremely light – hence the name ‘Maxlite’. The bag is only 1.6 pounds, so you can pack it fully and not worry so much about it being too heavy to lug around the airport. Reviewers write that they simply “can’t believe” how weightless it is, given its spaciousness.

“I often carry snowshoes, another pair of shoes and a medium bag with extra room for a book or two,” said one flight attendant, calling it “the perfect carry-on.”

Bag measures 18 inches by 11 inches by 8 inches (for reference, most airlines limit personal items to 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches). Inside, it’s an open concept, great for travelers who have their own packing system and don’t want the chaos of pockets, dividers and zippers that can easily complicate packing. Instead, there is a single mesh pouch. There are additional zippered pockets on the outside of the bag—one on the front and one on the side—to store smaller items that you need easy access to while you travel.

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Soft Bag

The bag is made of polyester and has a waterproof lining in case of spills (inevitable). It has top carry handles, a padded shoulder strap and a strap to attach to the extension handle of your suitcase. Despite the soft material—perfect for shoving under an airplane seat—passengers say it’s surprisingly durable.

“I throw this bag in the cockpit of the plane, yank it from the corner between the seats and throw it on my spinner to take to the next plane, or I kick it and stuff it under the seat in front of me deadhead and it can handle the abuse without problem,” wrote one pilot about the Maxlite 5 bag. Another airline employee called Travelpro “the favorite luggage brand of all pilots and flight attendants.”

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Soft Bag

Of the nearly 4,000 people who have rated the carry-on on Amazon, about 3,200 have given it five stars. The bag comes in 13 colors, including purple, pink and blue in addition to the more basic black and grey, but not all colors are included in the sale. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 Black Soft Bag is the most discounted right now. Grab it fast and save on the flight attendant favorite, or find similar underseat carry-ons on sale at Amazon, including one that’s only $10 upfront.

More underseat carry-on deals on Amazon:

Samsonite under seat spinner with USB port

Amazon Basics underseat carry-on

TPRC Smart carry-on under the seat

WANDF Travel Duffel

At the time of publication, pricing starts at $80.

Do you love a lot? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products every week.