Travelpro Maxlite 5 Compact Spinner for Carry-On

I don't have that suitcase but know the TravelPro line is always favorably reviewed here on the Forum. I have flown Lufthansa a few times lately for my Europe trips. They have a weight limit (18 lbs) so keep in mind the 5ish pounds weight, empty, of the suitcase, as well as the dimensions. (I don't remember if they had me put it in a sizer, I don't think so.)
What did happen was on one of my connecting regional flights everyone was required to gate check their bags. I'm glad I took a photo of it. The flight ended up getting cancelled and then we couldn't retrieve the luggage! Long story, eventually reunited with it 2 days later.
So lesson learned: even if it's size and weight compliant leaving home I now always take a small packing cube with flip flops, underwear and something to sleep in in my personal item bag
You're going to get lots of tips for packing light :)
Welcome to the "club"!

I had the same experience with a Lufthansa regional flight. The size and weight of my bag wasn't checked at the gate but every bag with wheels had to be gate checked. We left them at the bottom of the stairs before boarding and waited for them at the bottom of the stairs when we landed. For both departure and arrival we were bussed out to a distant stand.

But in general, it depends on who is at the gate when you board. Sometimes they are very strict and sometimes they don't care.

Frank, you mentioned every bag with wheels. Do you mean versus a carryon without wheels that would still need to go overhead or something you could stow under the seat? I've got a carry on with wheels that can be removed so it measures 18x14x8 that I like for it's smaller size. I've never flown on Lufthansa, but probably will eventually so this could be useful to know. Thanks!

I didn't see anyone with a bag that size but every personal item was allowed on board.

The overhead bins were empty. Those who tried to take their wheeled bag on board were turned around by the flight attendant and sent to gate check.

They picked the right flight attendant for the job. She didn't smile once during the entire flight.

The Maxlite 5 Compact Carry-on has been my go-to bag for a few years; through several European and domestic trips. I changed from a Maxlite 5 carry-on 2-wheel roll aboard to the spinner because of an elbow/shoulder issue. It is noticeably smaller than my old roll aboard which my husband still uses. As noted by others above, for most airlines there is a stated size AND weight max for carry-on luggage. I’m a serious rule follower and do not want to get called out at the gate so I’m cautious of both. I’ve seen others get gate-weighed by Condor on an international flight and it was not pretty.

In the past two years, flying between cities within Europe and UK, I have had no problems with my compact spinner on legacy European carriers: KLM, British Air or Air France. Domestically, I fly Delta, United and Alaska and I’ve had no issues at all.

A few comments about the bag: it’s sturdy and agile but can be occasionally tippy/unstable if you place a heavy personal item with a trolley sleeve on the extended handle. I just have to remember to pack my heaviest items at the bottom for additional stability. It manages great on escalators, on and off trains and does OK on cobblestones and uneven ground. I use compression packing cubes to eke out more packable space. For it to work on a trip longer than a week, hand washing and/or laundromats on the road are a must. My longest trip with this bag - 6 weeks.

A million thanks, JenS! Your experience gives me the confidence I had hoped for in selecting the Maxlite 5 Compact Spinner. The only reason it might not meet European size limits is essentially a "rounding error" between inches and centimeters. A typical European limit for the long dimension (height when the case is standing upright) is 55 centimeters. The height of the Maxlite with wheels and handles is 22 inches, which is 55.88 centimeters. It seemed to me that the odds of the bag being deemed over the limit would be miniscule. The bag technically exceeds the limit by about 3/10 of an inch.

Thank you to everyone that responded to my question! This is a great forum, and we are big fans of Rick Steves. We stayed in the exact room where he stayed in Sienna, the one with the 9-foot grand piano outside our door, and in the luxury apartment where he stayed iatop the cliffs over the sea in Vernazza, Italy. The owner, Ruth, is American Italian who got to know Rick personally.

Keith, I think you'll be fine with the Maxlite Compact spinner. I actually have the TravelPro Maxlite 5 21-inch spinner. I take that as a carry-on and have for the last ten years, and have never been questioned or stopped or made to check it. I am very careful in packing it, and I always pack light; I keep the weight under 20 pounds, and I never use the expandable zipper to make it bigger.

I've used it on major airlines like Delta, Air France, and KLM but also small regional airlines like TAROM, Sun Country, Southwest and more. And it's always gotten through with flying colors. So I think if that gets through, you shouldn't have any problem with the Compact, which is even smaller.

Thank you, Mardee. We already own Maxlte 5 21-inch spinners, as I mentioned. I got nervous when I saw that the European limit for the long dimension is almost 2 inches less than what ours measure with handle and wheels. With a tape measure, I'm seeing a height of about 23 and a half inches, even with the soft handle mashed down. Does yours measure the same? Ours might be an older model.

If we were young and pinching pennies, we'd probably try to get away with using what we have. I saw larger carry-ons than ours in the overhead bins in our flights to and from Rome earlier this year. However, we were on American Airlines only. For the next trip, we'll have legs on Swiss Air and British Airways. We'll rest easier with carry-ons designed to meet the current limitations.

It will be a novel experience to wear the same clothes so many times, but that is hardly a hardship. We'll be staying in hotels and inns that offer laundry service. I don't want to spend vacation time sitting and waiting in a laundromat. ☺

Consumer Reports just did a review of carry-on luggage and the TravelPro spinner rated quite well and was in second place - https://www.consumerreports.org/money/luggage/carry-on-luggage/c200666/ . They have models which are listed as "international" and those should comply with the smaller limits in Europe.

I went to Travelpro's European website where dimensions are given in centimeters.

Guess what...the Maxlite 5 Compact Expandable Spinner is 55 x 35 x 23 cm. Or....21.65 x 13.78 x 9 inches or rounded up to 22 x 14 x 9 inches.

Have a nice trip.