Level 8 Voyageur Luggage Set

The search for the perfect set of luggage seems to be never ending. Over the past 20 years of travel, we have gone through no less than a dozen different carry-on and checke luggage products.

When it comes to checked luggage, we have had hard-sided luggage and soft duffel bags. We have had luggage with wheels and some without. We definitely prefer those with wheels.

Our most recent checked bags are wheeled soft duffels that came from COSTCO. They have performed well, but are beginning to show some wear and tear.

Finding the perfect carry-on bag is no less challenging. Rickee and I agree that a carry-on must have four wheels that easily swivel and fit "wheels first" into the most common aircraft overhead bins.

We recently became aware of Level 8 luggage from YouTube and reached out to them to see if they would like for us to review their products during a cruise with Swan Hellenic.

The first to arrive was the Voyageur 2-piece luggage set which included a 26" checked bag and a matching 20" carry-on. Some may find the yellow-and-black color scheme to be a bit garish, but we like luggage that we can easily spot in a sea of black bags on an airport carousel.

28" Voyageur Check-In

The Voyageur Check-In is available in three sizes: 26", 28" and 30". We opted for the 28" and it looks quite substantial compared to our current duffel checked bags. The 28" actually measures 27.3"H x 16.6"W x 13.3"D, weighs 11.8 Ibs and has a claimed capacity of 93 liters.

The Check-In is shaped more like a trunk than a traditional piece of luggage. The shell is a German-made Makrolon® polycarbonate construction, which Level 8 claims to be light and durable. Ours came in yellow and black making it hard to miss.

The base of the Check-In is 8" deep while the lid (the yellow part) is 5.5" deep.

The zipper has Level 8 branded pulls which appear sturdy. The zipper is not waterproof, so care should be taken not to leave the luggage in the rain. The zipper is the most likely point of failure on any piece of zippered luggage, and only time will tell if the Level 8 zippers will hold up to the rigors of abusive baggage handlers. The zipper does glide easily and the pulls can be secured into a TSA lock mechanism on the side of the bag.

The four casters each swivel 360 degrees to turn this into a spinner bag. Each caster has two wheels and each wheel has a rubber tread. The bag glides easily on hard or carpeted surfaces.

The aluminum telescopic handle has three detents and is one of the distinguishing features of the Voyageur line up. Unlike on the more traditional spinners, the handle spans the entire with of the bag, making it quite sturdy and stable while placing the support rails inside the bag at the very edges.

This design places the support rails on the interior of the base at the far edges of the bag rather than in the center of the base. This design makes it easier to pack the base without the need to work around the handle support structure inside the base of the bag.

Opening the shell of the Voyageur Check-In may lead to some confusion as the interior designs are not consistent from bag to bag. For some reason, the Voyageur luggage interior comes in two different layouts. On the Check-In sent to us, the black base is covered with a zippered mesh fabric, underneath which are compression straps. On the lid (the yellow piece), is another zippered panel with two zippered pockets. One pocket is a breathable mesh and the other a vinyl “moisture proof” design. The interior configuration of the other version is just the opposite with the two zippered pockets being placed on the black base side.

Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 2/13/19 Chris Dikmen & Rickee Richardson 2/13/19

Business Class on American Airlines (LHR to DFW)

We experience AA's new Business Class service on a flight from Heathrow to DFW and are impressed.

On a recent flight from Heathrow to DFW airport, we upgraded using miles (and money) to Business Class. It has been a year since we flew in Business Class on American and we were shocked when we boarded the 777-200 and found the brand new Business Class seating.

*Rickee settles into her Business Class cocoon*

The new Business Class arrangement on the 777-200 is a 1-2-1 format. The Business Class seating in the center section is best suited if you are traveling as a couple as they do allow for interaction with the person sitting next to you. If you wish for privacy, you can raise one of the storage compartment covers.

These new Business Class seats are lay-flat models with electronic controls to adjust the angle and position of the seats. I am 6'-2" tall and had no problem laying completely flat. There is a ton of legroom and a padded "shelf" becomes the end of the bed when the seat is fully flattened.

There are multiple cubbies that can be used for storage. One is located in the adjustable (up or down) arm rest. It was large enough for me to stuff my ballcap and sunglasses into.

Another cubby is located next to your right knee. It is probably intended as a makeshift trash can, but I used it to store my tennis shoes.

The entertainment system consists of a large touch-screen interactive television with a nice selection of movies, TV shows and games. It is certainly, the nicest system we have seen on an AA flight.

The desk rests underneath the TV and can be extended toward the passenger, then folded out to make a large desk/table top. The design is very ingenious and works well. When you are finished working, it can easily be folded in half and pushed out of the way.

The inside wall of the cocoon has more table space and storage. Doors flip up to reveal shallow storage areas, great for small items. The larger of the two contains USB power ports and a universal 110/220 power outlet.

Each Business Class seat comes with a small amenity kit with socks, toothbrush/toothpaste, lotion, etc. and Bose Noise Cancelling headphones for your use on the flight.

*Amenity kit and Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones*

A plush duvet and large fluffy pillow are waiting for you when you arrive, both very comfortable.

There is a small LED reading lamp should you need some light for reading.

Our flight departed at 3:00pm, so our menu was for a dinner followed by a light meal before a 7:00pm arrival in Dallas.

I decided to order the pork chops and Rickee tried the pasta. Both were delicious and far above what we have come to expect from airline food.

Drink service was excellent on this flight. The flight attendants were extremely pleasant and helpful. Once again, the service was far above what we have experienced on past AA flights. Someone must be listening at American. Flight attendants routinely came through the Business Class cabin offering water, juice, or whatever we asked for. Snacks were set up in the galley area and were available throughout the flight.

The biggest surprise was the roomy, clean and nice Business Class lavatory. The port side lav was larger than the starboard side and had a sliding door.

To say that were were impressed with AA's new Business Class from LHR to DFW would be an understatement. It was a great flight!