Stylish clothing is no longer just a privilege for people. Suitcases have their own fashion too, and there is a wide range of stylish outfits to choose from. And that they are not just for decoration, I convinced myself with my own suitcase.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + suitcase protection | - I haven't discovered any negatives |
| + serves as an identification mark | |
| + flexible material | |
| + openings for handles and wheels | |
| + washable |
Suitcase covers have recently become an increasingly popular way to protect your luggage, and not just for air travel. There are many designs on the market – made of different materials, with slightly different fastening methods and countless color variants and patterns.
The most popular covers in our country are from the brand BG Berlin, which feature cheerful designs and are made of flexible polyester. They are available in three sizes. In my case, I chose size M, which is for a medium suitcase. I am accompanied on my travels by a Titan Paradoxx M in white, which I wanted to keep looking new for as long as possible, so I bought it a stylish outfit for its very first flight. Because I like to color-coordinate, I chose the Paris design in pastel pink tones. And I did well!
Mission "Clean Suitcase"
After the first flight, my beautiful new cover returned half-black from the airport conveyor belt grime. But when I took the cover off, my suitcase was still beautifully white. I washed the cover at home with other clothes and it was like new again. It fulfilled its task perfectly.
The cover is relatively easy to put on the suitcase. The flexible material allows it to fit any suitcase shape. Thanks to the openings, you have all the handles available even after putting the cover on, so handling the luggage at check-in is just as comfortable. When putting the cover on by yourself, it is good to pull out the suitcase handle and put the cover on it first. Then it is easier to stretch over the body of the suitcase. At the bottom of the cover, there are four snaps for secure fastening between the wheels. The motif on the cover is the same on both sides.
A suitcase cover is a clear choice
For comparison, let's talk about other alternatives to a textile suitcase cover. The simplest way is not to pack the suitcase in anything and accept a few scratches and some stains. But you will surely agree with me that if you choose a more luxurious and design-interesting suitcase, it is a shame to let it get damaged quickly.
Another thrifty option is wrapping in cling film. You buy a few rolls of film and wrap the suitcase yourself. This solution seems to be the cheapest, but it has a few catches. Aside from the fact that protection by this thin film is really insufficient (in many cases the film tears and the suitcase gets scratched anyway), you have the wrapping secured for the trip there, but what about the return trip? Neither option (finding rolls of film at the holiday destination, packing them in the suitcase at home and taking up space for your things, or having the suitcase unwrapped on the way back) is ideal.
Cheaper and more ecological
Another alternative is offered directly by airports. At many airports around the world, there are now wrapping stations that will wrap your suitcase in a proper piece of strong film for a fee. For example, let's mention the nearest Václav Havel Airport in Prague. Wrapping one suitcase will cost you 159 CZK. Your luggage gets a protective layer in the form of a film measuring approx. 2 x 5 m, which is 10 m² of unnecessary plastic. Wrapping prices vary in different countries; for example, in the United Arab Emirates, you will pay less than a hundred crowns for wrapping. Don't forget to calculate this amount for both the trip there and back.
A certain disadvantage of film wrapping can also be that if customs officials need to look into your suitcase, they will cut the film and throw it away. Your suitcase will travel naked again and you have spent money essentially for nothing. Unlike a cover, which they take off and put inside the suitcase, so you don't lose it. If we take it purely economically, buying a suitcase cover pays off compared to film wrapping after just four flights. Not to mention that it is a significantly more ecological solution.
Identification mark
An undeniable advantage of suitcase covers is the easy recognition of your luggage on the airport carousel. While there will be several suitcases wrapped in the same green film and you can only guess which color wheels are yours, with a colorful cover you will immediately recognize that your luggage is coming.
I have grown so fond of the cover that I commonly use it even when traveling by car or train. Washing the cover seems easier to me than cleaning a dirty suitcase. And when I get tired of the cover's motif, I simply choose another one. :-)
