After several years of examining the Platinum Elite, we think its greatest standout feature is its continued generational quality. We've traveled with many versions of this bag, and this most recent model is just as great as the rest. There's just something to be said for consistency.
A spacious, well-organized main compartment, complimented by an angled exterior expansion pocket, gives the Travelpro a ton of usable, customizeable capacity.
We hand-measured and calculated the total storage volume of this bag's main compartment at 40 liters. While traveling with our Platinum Elite, we fell in love with its internal tie-down system. It allowed us to buckle in and secure any payload, keeping it in place. This reduces wrinkles and damage, and it keeps the bag stable and balanced when being rolled or lifted.
During our business travels, we appreciated having the option to pack dress clothes in the Travelpro's fold-up suiter. Essentially, an elaborate garment bag; we admit it isn't a perfect process, but it still performs quite well and is much better than nothing at all.
Whether you're a meticulous packer or a last-minute Larry, who jams everything into the nearest available space, the Platinum Elite has numerous pockets and compartments throughout that just make sense to travelers of all levels. Based on our experience, the Travelpro's packing system offers enough space for anything from a weekender trip to up to five days of travel, if you're willing to travel light. If you need a little more space, it can be expanded. What we love about the expansion system is that it's angled, allowing the bag to have a better center of gravity (balance) when standing upright or rolling. Smart thinking. This carry-on offers a lot of room, so the only slight risk is the potential to overpack and exceed weight limits. We haven't experienced this yet, even on international flights, but if you're a chronic over-packer, you could run into trouble.
We rarely dish out perfect scores, but we couldn't hold back. This bag can cruise, thanks to self-aligned wheels. It is also easy to lift, shove, or stow. And, it jumps curbs with the best of them.
When cruising concrete, tile, and even carpet, the Travlepro stays right by your side. In our testing, it rolled nearly perfectly — always. Thanks to embedded magnets (MagnaTrac®), this bag's 2.25-inch tall spinners quickly lock into place no matter what direction you're headed, making your trip to your gate as carefree as possible (really). The only thing we didn't like about this feature is the need to be more vigilant when letting go of our bag. Since the wheels are always aligned, if you release your grip of the handle to pick something up, the Travelpro will keep rolling, especially if the ground is even slightly angled. We notice this the most when stopping to open a car door — you can't just let go of this bag. Lastly, as for wobbles, vibrations, or any other wheel defects, we found none.
We loved the leather exterior handles on the Platinum Elite. They're sturdy, well-placed, and they provide a dense, secure grip. We especially loved the molded plastic fingertip grasp at the bottom of the bag. It makes sliding the Travelpro out of a car or overhead compartment a simple, straightforward task. The trolley handle is sturdy and offers four adjustable heights ranging from 36 inches to 42.5 inches, so even taller travelers can roll with ease. As for negatives, we only had one: there are a few tiny bumper rails on the backside of the case, which overall do a good job. However, when it comes to sliding up stairs or curbs, the exterior shell of the Travelpro often takes most of the brunt. For sure, the ballistic nylon is up to the task, but we didn't like seeing our classy carry-on grind against concrete, tile, or metal.
The Platinum Elite has it all when it comes to construction quality: rugged ballistic nylon fabric, chrome plating, reinforced connection points, leather accents, solid wheels, and meaty zippers, to name a few.
So it doesn't offer the ultimate protection of a hardshell case, but the Platinum Elite isn't a slouch either. This bag is built to last; in fact, during our travels, we often see various models of Travelpros being pulled by pilots and flight crews. We loved this bag's reinforced corners and wheel hubs, chrome zipper, pulls, and dense exterior fabrics. Its wheel housings are even trimmed with solid metal strips that are fastened by screws, which really protect the case against impact, like when it's slammed wheels-first into an overhead bin.
We also loved how it performed during our tumble tests. In fact, our favorite thing about high-quality softshells is that they don't dent like hard-cased luggage, and they tend to hide everyday scratches and scuffs. Even after throwing our Travelpro down a flight of concrete stairs a few times, it still basically looked like new.
When it comes to water-resistance, we were impressed with this bag's ability to repel water. With the help of a garden hose, we mimicked a steady 2-minute downpour and were pleased to find the interior of the Platinum Elite basically dry. Most of the water easily rolled off the nylon fabric exterior. Even the zippers, the weakest point on most luggage, kept most of the water at bay. Only the outermost exterior pockets took on noticeable water, so be mindful of that when packing valuables that can get wet — or bring an umbrella.
We think the entire layout of the Platinum Elite makes perfect sense. It has lots of small conveniences that are thoughtfully designed to keep everything at your fingertips. This bag's vibe is slightly subdued, but it has clean lines and a timeless character.
The Travelpro Platinum Elite 21 isn't available in the latest, trendy color schemes; we didn't care. As stated, we've tested several versions of this spinner over the years, and the manufacturer has held onto its classic, time-tested style and function. Not much has changed, really, and for good reason: this bag works. It lends itself well to both business and leisure travel, offering tons of storage compartments (4 exterior, 5 interior), including a detachable, see-through liquids case that is TSA-approved.
Our favorite Travelpro design feature is its built-in USB port. It sits on the backside of the Platinum Elite and is pre-wired. Simply unzip the power supply pocket, attach your battery, and enjoy on-the-go backup power for your phones and devices. Even better, the newest models of this carry-on come with both a USB-A and USB-C outlet.
Yes, buy it. The only reason not to purchase this bag is if you need to watch your budget. Otherwise, none of our testers over the years would hesitate to recommend the Travelpro Platinum Elite 21" Expandable Spinner. It appeals to nearly any traveler, and it will last a lifetime if properly cared for. Some jet-setters may simply prefer hardshells over softshells. We get that. Additionally, if you are looking for fun colors and designs, you may not be drawn to this bag. We won't judge you. But, if durability, quality, and function are key points on your list of needs — and if you don't mind shelling out a little more dough — this is one carry-on that will serve you well.
The SwissGear Sion Softside Expandable 21-Inch is a budget softshell case that takes some inspiration from the Travelpro in its feature set. It doesn't come close to comparing, but we think it's still a great value for those who travel less frequently. The Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Spinner is a step up from the Travelpro if you're into the best of the best. We also liked the TravelPro Maxlite 5 21". It's much lighter if bag weight, but it's not as durable.
