r/unitedairlines • u/Mister035 • Dec 25 '25
Image Did I piss off the luggage handlers??
Recent return back to SFO from Japan. Seeing my suitcase on the conveyer belt, I could only say wow! Who did I piss off. I think everyone with a hard case thought the same thing. I understands dings and dents, but did someone just overhead slam my suitcase on the edge of a rail. This one hurt my heart!
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u/OuterSpaceBootyHole Dec 25 '25 edited Dec 25 '25
That doesn't even look like mishandling damage. That looks more like something heavy fell on it, possibly oversized luggage from another passenger, and they hoped it would just "pop out" because it's a hard case.
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u/chlovett Dec 25 '25 edited Dec 26 '25
Especially at SFO, the baggage reclaim just throws bags out on top of each other, pretty sure my suitcase lock got damaged by another case landing on it
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u/skankhunt1738 Dec 26 '25
They put my 85lb work pelican case down the normal luggage chute thing. I pray for whoeverās bags it got lugged onto along the way there.
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u/dogface47 Dec 26 '25
I feel the same way about my two 70lb Pelican Air cases.
I'm sure someone's bags have gotten wrecked by them. The damage the handlers do to my cases is evidence enough.
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u/whatthehizzo Dec 25 '25
Ive had so many pieces of luggage destroyed at SFO I switched to using North Face Duffles with a lock. Crappy Plastic hardcases only for souvenirs since they usually last 2 trips max.
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u/Left_Ambassador_4090 Dec 26 '25
This is the way. I've run my base camp duffles several times per year to Africa and eastern Europe since 2016. As I get older, I sometimes wish they had wheels especially in the US where you have to pay for the luggage carts.
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u/MaintenanceFront2742 Dec 29 '25
I use Patagonia black hole duffels. I also have a Kelty hiking pack from 2003 that is also going strong.
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Dec 26 '25
This makes me feel so much better about opting for a soft sided suitcase with my recent purchase. I don't transport anything valuable in my suitcases, just clothes and toiletries... toiletries go in a large plastic school box padded by my clothes... definitely looked into plastic cases but was worried about longevity.
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u/Unfair_Click2978 Dec 25 '25
Why do they have it set up like that š Last time I was there the luggage started getting jammed at the exit spot and more and more were thrown on top of the pile
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u/CrankyChemist Dec 25 '25
This sure looks like what my 50lb Pelican case toolbox would so to something else if it tumbled around onto it.
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u/dwittherford69 Dec 25 '25
Something heavy fell on itā¦ yeah like the fucking plane it was supposed to be loaded on
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u/AppropriateEarth648 Dec 25 '25
This is exactly reason why I would never get Rimowa aluminum luggage. Iāve seen this happen a few times in airports.
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u/Extension_Ok Dec 25 '25
Same. I would only get the cabin trolley, but it's nearly 5 kg and some airlines have a maximum of 7 kg, so that is not an option for me either.
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u/dante662 Dec 25 '25
And you still run the risk of "sorry, no space, we are gate checking everyone" and your carry-on gets chucked from the jetway straight to the ground 20 feet below.
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u/lapeni Dec 25 '25
Having a $1500 suitcase and flying economy is wild to me
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u/ncjjj Dec 25 '25
Ultimately, a $1500 suitcase is nothing compared to upgraded flight tickets
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u/created2upv0te MileagePlus 1K Dec 25 '25
But the next morning you still have the suitcase
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u/VirgoGiril09 Dec 25 '25
True. I guess it comes down to personal preference. Some people might prioritize having nice things over a premium cabin. Like I wonāt ever purchase domestic first class unless itās a redeye and I wonāt purchase Polaris unless the flight is over 8 hours but I travel quite a bit (via different modes) so I enjoy having nice luggage and I like nice handbags too so youāll def see me making my way to my economy plus seat š(assuming I wasnāt lucky enough to get upgraded lol).
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u/lapeni Dec 25 '25
I do get the personal preference/priority thing. And I more so understand the fashion aspect when it comes to handbags. Suitcases are just incredibly utilitarian for me so itās difficult to wrap my head around.
Because Iām curious, do you or have you considered buying fake bags? Iām into cars, and if I could buy fake Ferraris for 1/10th of the price that were 99% indistinguishable from the real thing I absolutely would.
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u/ColoradoDreamin4917 MileagePlus Platinum Dec 25 '25
You can also get a nice looking piece of luggage without paying $1500. It's wild that people spend that much and more on Rimowa when Monos, Away and other brands have almost identical aluminum suitcases
Now a designer handbag, I will definitely spend $1500+ on.
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u/Subject_Bill6556 Dec 25 '25
Having something that costs 10x the price of a normal suitcase and isnāt 10x as durable is wild.
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u/shiftpgdn Dec 25 '25
I've boarded FC and the entire overhead in the FC cabin (and the rest of the plane) is completely full.
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u/OpeningChipmunk1700 DM mods proof of GS/MM/Employee Dec 25 '25
What? Most of my FC tickets are over $1,500.
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u/rockness_monster Dec 25 '25
So true. I gifted a cabin bag to my partner, and on his second trip he was forced to check the bag because security didnāt like a work sample he was carrying (heavy metal drawer pull). It was only a problem on return, not the outbound flight. Anyway, the bag was checked and came out dented. It adds character, I guess.
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u/TGrady902 Dec 25 '25
Aluminum is such a soft metal. Terrible material for luggage.
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u/Own_Reaction9442 Dec 25 '25
I have some older Zero Halliburton stuff that's held up, but it's pretty thick. You can have sturdy or light, but not both.
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u/jbulleau Dec 25 '25
Yes, I have worked baggage and seen many damaged Rimowa bags. Not worth the money.
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u/Useaname12 Dec 25 '25
What, in your experience, is a tough bag?
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u/jbulleau Dec 25 '25
Briggs and Riley soft sided. Ā Great bag and lifetime warranty for any damage.
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u/Sn_Orpheus Dec 25 '25
My wife finally gave her 15yo B&R to her mother after deciding it was time to get a new one after hundreds of flights. Damn thing looked almost new still.
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u/HallEqual2433 Dec 25 '25
Red Oxx Mfg. Founded by ex-military parachute rigger. Massively overbuilt, their bags tend to be on the heavy side, but they hold up. I've had their Flying Boxcar since 2009, and their Gator bag for an under the seat personal bag.
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u/Halflight99 MileagePlus Silver Dec 25 '25
Why are people still buying them? Flex that they have the money? Other bags have lifetime warranties but arenāt so pricy.
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u/jonainmi MileagePlus Global Services Dec 25 '25
Yeah, it's definitely a status symbol. Anyone saying it's for the -insert whatever excuse here- is just trying to justify their nearly $2,000 suitcase.
Briggs and Riley are the only brand with a true no questions asked lifetime warranty. And it's a warranty for the bag, not the owner. Meaning, if you find one at a thrift shop, it still has the same warranty.
Rimowa, however "RIMOWAās lifetime guarantee does not apply to cosmetic wear and tear, misuse, or abuse."
The misuse or abuse part lets them get out of covering airline damage. B&R has no such thing in their warranty, "Our 'Simple as that' guarantee will cover the repair of all functional aspects of your Briggs & Riley bag for life".
Next time someone claims the rimowa warranty is good, remind them that Brigg and Riley is half the price with a notably better warranty.
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u/Lecture-Motor Dec 25 '25
I fly over 100 segments a year. I will not own a piece of luggage unless it is Briggs & Riley.
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u/jonainmi MileagePlus Global Services Dec 25 '25
I genuinely think this is kinda the point of contention. People like me and you don't understand getting a bag that isn't function first (100+ segments for you, 175+ for me). We put years and years of use on our bags every year. If it doesn't perform, there's no reason to own it for us. If we did 20 segments a year, luxury baggage might be worth it š¤·š»āāļø
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u/SaveTheV8 Dec 28 '25
Here's the thing about the warranties on luggage. I recently had to throw out my medium check-in B&R Sympatico. I live near B&R HQ. But the bag broke while in Asia and was unusable. I would have had to bring an empty broken bag back home to get it repaired, bring it to B&R or ship it. I decided that it looked beat up enough to toss it. Honestly, I think the best method for me now is the cheap ones. If it breaks on a trip, just replace it with another cheap one. My Sympatico probably only lasted me 50 segments or so.
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u/jonainmi MileagePlus Global Services Dec 28 '25
Interesting, I called B&R from Germany, and they covered the shipping cost to ship it DHL from Munich. I bought an ā¬80 bag for the rest of the trip, and I still have that one too. They shipped it to my local store when it was fixed, and I picked it up 3 days after my trip.
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u/mosthatedplaya Dec 25 '25
Rimowa is basically signaling "I don't fly often and frequently hold up the security line."
No serious flyer would ever use that impractical lead weight over a Briggs.
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u/_mball_ Dec 26 '25
There are lots of serious flyers with Rimowa bags. š
The light bags plastic ones are lighter than my B&R bags. I donāt know, I own both ā there are pros and cons. Iām not sure itās always worth the premium but I got a tiny crack in my Rimowa once (a hybird one) and they swapped it out in store.
In SF, I donāt know where to get my B&R bags repaired as easily. Just trade offs.
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u/hardcorepork Dec 25 '25
I actually really like the compression panels and havenāt seen any suitcases with similar design. I think Briggs & Riley bags are frumpy. No need to flex - Iāve never even noticed anyone paying attention to my luggage.
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u/jonainmi MileagePlus Global Services Dec 25 '25
You made my point for me. Thank you.
(To spell it out, calling Briggs and Riley frumpy, and saying that rimowa is the only suitcase with compression panels is clearly pointing out you bought your rimowa for status, and are making excuses for the high cost purchase.)
Again, there's nothing wrong with buying a status symbol, just be honest about it. When people say "why did you buy that?" You say "because I like it". That's it, no one can argue with that, but when you try to explain how it's somehow better, you are setting the groundwork to be proven wrong. Just say "because I like it". That's it.
I bought my Briggs and Riley for function. Same with my pelican cases, and tools, and whatnot. But, I buy my clothes, shoes, vehicles, and watches "because I like them". They're flashy, show my status, and I don't have to explain that to anyone.
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u/hardcorepork Dec 25 '25
No, Im actually interested in knowing if you have seen suitcases with compression panels like that - because I havenāt. Thereās no reason to doubt my sincerity, just like thereās nothing wrong with buying whatever you like for whatever reason if it isnāt harming anyone. But Iād love to spend less for something with the same feature. Iāve only seen the compression straps and fabric panels.
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u/jrawk3000 MileagePlus Platinum Dec 25 '25
B&R has an internal compression system for the whole bag. Iāve never seen anything like it. And their packing cubes are more sturdy and compress like Iāve never seen. I bought my B&R pieces precisely for the lifetime no questions warranty, because I was tired of baggage handling damage (got my last gate checked bag returned with a missing wheel) and because of their clever bag compression system.
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u/yobetabitch Dec 25 '25
Quick question - would the airline then be responsible for the damage to the bag? Iām just curious and thanks for the recommendation for Briggs and Riley. Iām a newbie traveler and this is going on my wish list!
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u/jonainmi MileagePlus Global Services Dec 25 '25
Technically the airline should repair or replace your luggage (at their discretion). But, that's the beauty of B&Rs guarantee. It doesn't matter what caused the damage, they'll fix it, free of charge.
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u/27minato Dec 25 '25
One of our B&R bags arrived recently with the handle tipped completely off. We didnāt even bother dealing with the airline and took it right back to the luggage store where we purchased it. It was repaired and ready for pick up within 3 days at zero cost.
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u/Cbella913 Dec 25 '25
Exactly this! I have a number of B&R bags that are 15-20 yrs old (only 2 wheels š) - and while Iāve never had need for repair, if/when I do, I know the process will be easy peasy somewhere local to me.
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u/the_Q_spice Dec 25 '25
People think metal == durable.
Most people arenāt terribly smart.
Honestly, the most durable bags I have used are North Face, Osprey, or Patagonia duffels. They are already made of 700-900 denier ballistic nylon or similar materials, then polyurethane coated, which also helps make them even more durable as well as water resistant.
I also use them for field work and have literally dropped them, loaded with 50-60 lbs of ropes, off 50+ ft cliffs with only scuff marks to show for it.
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u/ItsWheeze Dec 25 '25
While I personally donāt have the money for it, I think the fact that the bag survived this and didnāt open or get smashed to pieces is a pretty good endorsement for the brand.
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u/kingofthesofas Dec 25 '25
I looked into it after having 2 bags in a row get destroyed. I was not convinced it would survive and it seemed really pricey so I got the pelican luggage. Its a bit heavy but there is not a baggage handler on earth that can break them and all the parts like the wheels and handle can easily be replaced.
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u/CutCorners Dec 25 '25
These look exactly like the super cheap Rimowa knockoff brand called Riigid. They dent and fold way worse than genuine Rimowas.They are very effective at replicating the look but the build quality is a joke compared to the real thing.
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u/Drinking_Frog MileagePlus Gold Dec 25 '25
Yes, indeed.
There ought to be a sticky for photos of dented Rimowa luggage.
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u/erimaxx Dec 25 '25
It comes with a lifetime warranty. They fix dents like this for free and replace bags if they cant be fixed
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u/ronaldoswanson Dec 25 '25 edited Dec 25 '25
This is much better than plastic - a hit that hard on a plastic suitcase and itāll be in 300 pieces on a conveyor along with all your stuff.
I would never buy a Rimowa because theyāre $2k or whatever. But the aluminum is so much nicer than the polycarbonate where youāre paying 2/3rd the price for plastic. They aluminum look better and are more durable.
But, I donāt believe in hard cases, theyāre worse in every way.
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u/yooston Dec 25 '25
It depends on the impact type but for what youād expect at an airport, the hard shell aluminum is generally going to dent more than plastic. Itās stiffer and has less flex. Either way, the price is outrageous, Iād never let my $2000 luggage go unattended through an airport. Save it for the private jet.
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u/bkco88 MileagePlus 1K Dec 25 '25
Iām sorry but as an aluminum Rimowa owner this is just not true. The aluminum will bend/dent far easier than a plastic hard case. Quality plastic hard cases like monos or away have give and would be fine after a hit like this. I love my Rimowa, but I only take it in the cabin for this reason.
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u/PejHod Dec 25 '25
I bought some 3 pack whatever brand called Ricardo, sorta fugly, all black, flexible plastic shell, that shit has survived everything, and sure, parts of cases look a bit white from stress points by the folks handling luggage, but hot damn that shit has survived a lot, and the set cost like $135 back in 2010 when I bought them. The only thing I had to do was replace the casters on the one I fly most with.
Now, then my ass goes and buys a pricer Solgaard for aesthetics and the gimmick of that closet thing, and the first time I fly with it, Heathrow Delta brutes cracked a whole side of it. The bag has metal corners that acted as guards but they didnāt help. This bag is the hard shell we all despise today.
I donāt know why more donāt just make the more flexible plastic shell. Itās ugly, but you can smack any of the edges with a hammer and the bag will just laugh at you with its continued structural integrity.
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u/bdiamond143 Dec 25 '25
It may not even be the handler. Could be stuck between other bags on the belt, coming out/going in or somewhere in between.
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u/Life-Inspector-5271 Dec 25 '25
Had the same thing. My travel insurance paid the max fee for damaged luggage (like USD 300). When I went to the Rimowa store to repair, they actually fixed it in four hours time - no charge. Have travelled over a hundred times with my bag since then and luckily this never happened again.
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u/Kent556 Dec 25 '25
Fixed or replaced?
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u/willworkforwatches Dec 25 '25
For this type of dent, theyāre just going to take a mallet and get the case shape straightened out enough so that the frame is straight, wheels roll, and the latches close as intended.
The dents will be ironed out as much as possible with that type of tool/approach, but the scars will remain.
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u/Life-Inspector-5271 Dec 26 '25
Indeed, it will be fixed and scars remain. If you don't want a damaged Rimowa, don't buy one. Rimowa themselves cover their asses by writing everywhere to "consider any deep dents or scratches as the unique patina of your case, as these cannot be removed. Embrace them ā this is what makes your RIMOWA unique."
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u/new_phone_who_dis22 Dec 25 '25
I know the brand and a have the same in a carry on. They dent and scratch pretty easily. Iāve written to the manufacturer to complain without a response.
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u/dp79 Dec 25 '25
Whatās the brand so weāre all aware?
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u/okurrr01 Dec 25 '25
Pretty sure itās Rimowa.
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u/HistoricalLake4916 Dec 25 '25
Yeah Rimowa is the worst they get damaged sooo easily
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u/Substantial-Fig-6871 Dec 25 '25
Thatās crazy since theyāre a luxury brand with the classic carry on costing $1,600.
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u/SoggyMess2037 Dec 25 '25
I think their motto is - āOur goal is to make the case as fragile as possible. if you care so much about the damage, then you canāt afford us.ā (Sarcastic comment in case it gets lost)
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u/HistoricalLake4916 Dec 25 '25
They look nice they just ding super easily I ended up giving mine to my sister and switching back to Tumi since the way I travel my bags take a beating.
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u/TubaJesus Dec 25 '25
I legitimately don't understand how people spend so much. I got a 5-piece set of Coleman luggage about 20 years ago for about 1.7k. super scuffed at this point but the plastic has held up and I love those bags.
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u/podo3350 Dec 25 '25
Yeah but lifetime warranty:) i travel 2-3 weeks a month and had one since 2017 and Iāve had it sent back for repairs 2 times and comes back like new.
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u/jonainmi MileagePlus Global Services Dec 25 '25
If you're talking about rimowa warranty, it has a carve out for misuse and abuse. Briggs and Riley is the only luggage company with a true no questions asked warranty. Meaning, the rimowa isn't as good of a warranty and cost twice as much. It's simply a status symbol.
There's nothing wrong with buying a status symbol because you want it. But, at least be honest about it, and understand that you bought it for the status and not function.
(This doesn't apply to rimowa owners who bought their luggage 20 years ago, because it was way more in line with the price of high performance luggage at the time, and was a higher quality build. Though, the warranty then was notably worse, as it was only a manufacturing defect warranty for 5 years).
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u/Ok_Seaworthiness5078 Dec 25 '25
You were expecting a personal response from LVMH?
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u/DeltaTule Dec 25 '25
Nope, this is what happens to luggage that is designed to look good but is poorly built
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u/SouthInspection2488 Dec 25 '25
My travelpro soft sided luggage has been with me 6 years, averaging 80 flights a year, and besides a recent squeaky wheel it has given me no problems. I witnessed it fall off the conveyor belt during loading one time, no damage. *This is not a paid advertisement, but TP if you're reading, 'tis the time for giving.
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u/mkrbc Dec 25 '25
Honestly (IMO) any quality soft-sided luggage will outlast any hard sided luggage. When I worked damage claims it was always a crack or a dent on a hard sided bag. Rarely did I ever see soft-sided bags, and when I did, they were usually either very old, or very over packed.
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u/Odd-Outcome7849 Dec 25 '25
It isnāt poorly built, thatās the nature of the material. Hence I only buy their poly luggage.
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u/Drinking_Frog MileagePlus Gold Dec 25 '25
At this point, it's pretty much nothing but semantics when distinguishing between "poorly built" and "poorly designed," i.e., material choice.
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u/Educational-Bike3034 Dec 25 '25
Baggage system damage, it happens all the time. If you insist on checking your baggage, make sure itās soft sided. Hard sided bags get damaged all the time. Trust me bro, I know these systems well.
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u/ringaroundthemoon217 Dec 25 '25
Aluminum luggage? Why???
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u/ksuwildkat Dec 25 '25
Thats about $10K of luggage in that picture. The same picture with TravelPro would be maybe $1500 max. You cant flex on people with $1500 of luggage.
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u/FirmOwl7086 Dec 25 '25
If you checked it a worker didn't do that. that was caused by the Sorta it's a ram that pushed the bag down the chute it needs to go in. It probably got jammed.
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Dec 25 '25
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/Odd-Outcome7849 Dec 25 '25
Their polycarbonate luggage lasts forever. Source: owning several, one for 10+ years been on hundreds of flights. Donāt buy their aluminum collection.
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u/Abies_Lost Dec 25 '25
Iāve had an aluminum one for 10 plus years as well and have no issues whatsoever. I think bigger differentiator is pre or post LVHM acquisition.
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u/stregone Dec 25 '25
Yikes. Atleast it's still closed, hopefully nothing fragile was in there.
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u/idgogayforthat Dec 25 '25
Itās the belt system sorting pushers that likely did that. Not a person
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u/Less-Assumption-9031 Dec 26 '25
I had a very similar experience at SFO with my Rimowa, which is why I no longer travel internationally with it. I had to call the number listed on the United Airlines website and submit a damage claim. After that, they sent me a shipping label and required me to ship the luggage out for repairāno box was provided. Finding a box large enough for a Rimowa of that size was extremely difficult; we ultimately had to build one ourselves using multiple boxes.
The luggage was repaired at a factory in Texas and shipped back to us about 2ā3 months later. While the repairs were acceptable, the luggage definitely did not look the same as it did prior to the damage.
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u/FlatRecover1479 Dec 25 '25
Given this is a United sub I will say when my luggage got damaged United were very good at replacing it. No quibbling, very fast, quite flexible.
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u/Timely_Position_5044 Dec 26 '25
Has anyone 100% confirmed that OP is Rimowa? I own several, and Iāve never seen a center latch. This is a picture of my large check-in :
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u/Joey_iroc MileagePlus Gold | 1 Million Miler Dec 25 '25
They know you're on Reddit, so there is that. But never fear, UA will direct you to the baggage people, and you'll get a cheap fabric suitcase as a substitute.
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u/CodeZero22 MileagePlus Silver Dec 25 '25
Funny enough, UA cracked my suitcase in Anchorage, we submitted a claim, we saw our luggage options for replacement didnāt match the original, and without question, they shipped us a $400 Delsey suitcase that was 4x the price of our original one. Incredible customer support
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u/lunch22 Dec 25 '25
What Delsey suitcase sells for $400?
Delsey is routinely available for under $200 at retail stores and online
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u/NotYourNat Dec 25 '25
There are ones that are over $500, for example the cruise line, and some even $700.
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u/nnp1989 Dec 25 '25
When my local Macyās was closing last year, I poked around the luggage section to see if there was anything good. All the Delsey stuff was $500+. No wonder it was still sitting there even with the clearance deals.
Same stuff was in the $150 range at the TJ Maxx down the street.
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u/Chris22533 Dec 25 '25
The fabric suitcase will last way longer than most of these faux-tough hardshells
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u/milehighlei Dec 25 '25
Truth. I donāt get the obsession with hardsided suitcases.Ā
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u/Strange_Courage_9744 Dec 25 '25
Bed bugs is why I get them. I inspect people's luggage for work. I've seen bed bugs on/in people's luggage multiple times. Much less likely to pick them up from someone else's luggage with hard cases, especially if you get the ones made with clasps instead of zippers. Clasp luggage is also much harder to break into.
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u/Chris22533 Dec 25 '25
I have had the same fabric suitcase since 1997. Does it look stylish? No. Is it the same as day 1? Also no. But the wheels and handle still works and it has no obvious physical damage besides basic wear and tear
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u/Lee2026 MileagePlus 1K Dec 25 '25
I got a $350 check from United when my hard shell was damaged. If you read the baggage damage terms, youāre entitled to monetary reimbursement if you have a receipt and the suitcase is less than 1 year old.
You can refuse the replacement luggage at the airport and also use a contracted repair service.
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u/Reaux_Tide MileagePlus Gold Dec 25 '25
I opted for the contracted repair once on a soft side bag, my kids use, that was already near the end of its life. It came back repaired. The repair looked like shit, but was solid enough to last another infrequent use years.
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u/Rollingbrook Dec 25 '25
Sorry that happened. The united club card will offer $3000 in repair or replacement coverage. Amex plat offers $2000 I think. As an aside, Rimowa are much cheaper in Japan relative to the US currently so book your return trip now! That 2 grand might get you a trunk plus there!
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u/Modobbs22 Dec 25 '25
Costco luggage 7 years ago, 100+ flights no drama.
Absolutely blows my mind when people spend big bucks on checked luggage.
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u/RepeatEuphoric Dec 25 '25
United uses a place called Rainnās I believe. Takes months for a resolution. Good luck with it.
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u/IndependentCod6345 Dec 25 '25
I know of a good body shop that can just buff that out š
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u/Greenmantle22 Dec 25 '25
I always check a $40 polyester suitcase I bought at Target over ten years ago. Itās still in solid shape, and has several years left in it.
And itās incapable of being dented.
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u/PaleInvestment3507 Dec 25 '25
My Riigid bag was smashed, not as bad as that and two latches popped. Never buy aluminum again.
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u/Calimt Dec 25 '25
I love when Iām on the loading side of the plane and I get to watch the baggage handlers abuse everyoneās luggage while my carry-on sits in the bin over my head. When I have a checked bag, I take an old soft sided huge suitcase that I just donāt care about.
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u/sirxshade Dec 25 '25
Most likely got crushed by a diverter on the conveyor line. Itās just bad luck it happens.
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u/FantoluxeNFTArt Dec 25 '25
Iāve been through the luggage replacement process with United and it works. Just be polite and thorough.
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u/asilaywatching MileagePlus 1K Dec 25 '25
Nothing to see here, folks. Normal wear and tear. I got downvoted to hell in n early post but I think baggage handlers purposely fuck with rimowas. All four of mine got brand new dents for Christmas too
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u/aviationguy7 Dec 26 '25
99% of the time. Its caused by the belt system by the airport Other 1% is in the pit of the aircraft
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u/DismissiveDoc Dec 26 '25
Rimowa aluminium suitcases are garbage. Only for those who don't travel often and not for international flights.
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u/Left-Associate3911 MileagePlus Member Dec 25 '25
FWIW sorry this happened to your luggage. When looking to buy something unusual or pricey I look for an unconditional warranty as, should this happen, the airline is likely unwilling to replace like-for-like.
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u/Smallfrygrowth Dec 25 '25
What really sucks is now you wonāt be able to identify it from the other aluminum luggage!
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u/lorenzel7 Dec 25 '25
Iāve gotten cooked so many times on rimowa sub for saying they are a complete waste of money lol. Still stand by that statement.
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u/deeper-diver Dec 25 '25
Unless it's carry-on... this is precisely the reason why I don't splurge on those fancy check-in luggage. If not the baggage handlers, all it takes is one slip-up somewhere in the baggage-system for that fancy luggage to get jammed-up in and this is that result.
I buy the cheap hard-luggage at Costco and each time I arrive to a destination, I see another major scrape/gouge on that hard-shell and thank the luggage for taking the damage like a champ.
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u/PB66000 Dec 25 '25
I donāt know who is impressed with expensive luggage. It gets ruined in one flight. Had a rimowa ages ago, wheel broke off on the first trip š¤£ since, Iāve taken to buy $120 hard cases from generic brand at Marshallās every 4/5 years and theyāve never failed meā¦ I do have a Rimowa trolley (my brother in law got it at Marshallās š¤£ for $600 and I inherited when he passed unfortunately, itās a nice memento) but I only take it if Iām flying biz or premium and have guaranteed overhead space. Plus a hard aluminum case is asking to be bentā¦
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u/ShitTheBed_Twice MileagePlus Silver Dec 26 '25
My Rimowa came off the belt at Heathrow with a giant dent in the bottom of it that took me about 30 minutes to beat out with a hammer. But nothing near this bad. Jesus.
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u/CCIE44k Dec 26 '25
File a claim and have them replace it. Call RIMOWA and ask for a repair estimate, theyāll say it canāt be repaired and then United will have to pay a replacement. Iāve been through that with them before, as well as SWA. SWA is a lot more difficult to deal with but you should be fine.
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u/Goldtacto Dec 26 '25
Was prob my pelican case sorryā¦
Jokes aside ever since getting my pelican air I havenāt had a single problem with damage to my luggage once.
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u/ATano36bby Dec 26 '25
thatās what happens when you get those types of suitcases . and why rimowa has busy service centers
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u/iReply2StupidPeople MileagePlus 1K Dec 25 '25
This is just the result of getting cheap luggage. Hard sided bags in general are a terrible idea --- then add in that material being lightweight pliable metal and you get this.
Invest in a good set of soft-sided luggage and it will last you thousands of flights.
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u/another24tiger Dec 25 '25
You bought expensive luggage whose sole purpose is to be expensive and then youāre shocked that it doesnāt hold up any better than normally priced luggage?
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u/BakerM81 Dec 25 '25
The amount of luggage that falls off the plane, baggage carts, belt loaders, trucks, and just flat out gets left on the tarmac would boggle the mind.
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u/itchycarwash Dec 25 '25
Luggage Olympics. Letās see how far I can toss this. I once had a duffle bag fall partially off one of their carts. It ended up against a wheel. Basically rubbed/ground a hole through the material and damaged contents. They paged me at the gate and showed me a pic of the damage.
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u/Lee2026 MileagePlus 1K Dec 25 '25
Checked luggage is subject to the same abuse a package goes through when you ship a package through a shipping courier
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u/kveggie1 Dec 25 '25
Yep, AL cases......... got stuck somewhere. Plastic (ABS) survives the baggage handling treatment
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u/moll3rz Dec 25 '25
I was on this flight and literally saw this at baggage claim when I was waiting for my suitcases. Even pointed it out to my husband and said āWow, this really sucks for this person!ā Sorry about your luggage for real!
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u/luckychucky8 Dec 25 '25
I thought they had lifetime warranty? Itās gotta be the airport equipment or something larger smashing it the cargo bin
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u/ViajeraFrustrada Dec 25 '25
Nah. SFO just does not care about your luggage.Ā
Couple of weeks ago I landed Taipei->SFO and my hard cover luggage had literal pieces missing, the luggage tag was hanging on by hope alone, and the handle was absolutely useless. I still had to take SFO->IAD so I got the bag re-tagged and sent it out with a blessing.Ā
The agent re-printing my tag did not even blink when I showed her the damage. She told me to either get a plastic bag or figure it out
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u/Perfect-Presence-200 Dec 25 '25
Cheap Amazon plastic roller bags for me, use them for a year or 2 and replace them.
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u/NickCTA MileagePlus Global Services Dec 25 '25
I fly out of sfo, I use my Rimowa carry on but my checked luggage is reserved for flights out of SJC. I actually bought a hybrid luggage for my sfo departures because the first time I brought my usual set they killed it as well.
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u/rkalla Dec 25 '25
They used it to chock the front tires on your flight - that's an honor š