Travelpro Review (2026): Platinum Elite vs Maxlite 5 Carry-On, Honestly Rated

How we reviewed this: this is a research-based review. We did not buy or test the product ourselves. We checked the official website, policies and independent customer feedback, and every fact below links to its source. Facts checked 2026-10-31. How we review · Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.

Quick verdict

Travelpro makes some of the best-reviewed carry-ons you can buy, built by a company founded by an airline pilot who invented the Rollaboard. The Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner ($390, 7.8 lb) was OutdoorGearLab’s top-rated carry-on: 92 out of 100, #1 of 16 tested, and its Editors’ Choice for “Best Overall Carry-On” (November 2025). The Maxlite 5 Carry-On Spinner ($160, 5.4 lb) is the light, budget pick.

The honest part: Travelpro’s base “Built for a Lifetime” warranty excludes airline damage; that’s only covered by a separate Trusted Companion Promise, and for how long depends on the line (lifetime for Platinum Elite softside, 5 years for the hardside, just 1 year for Maxlite 5). Most Travelpro carry-ons are also bigger than 22 x 14 x 9 on paper: Travelpro says they’re “sizer bin tested,” but only the Maxlite 5 Compact matches the US standard exactly. And complaint numbers are high: BBB C- with 226 complaints in 3 years.

Our picks: Platinum Elite Spinner if you fly often and want the best bag. Maxlite 5 Spinner if you want light and cheap. Maxlite 5 Compact ($160) if you fly budget airlines or want zero sizer-box stress.

Pros

✓ Platinum Elite: OutdoorGearLab 92/100, #1 of 16 carry-ons tested (Nov 2025)
✓ Maxlite 5 is light (5.1 to 5.4 lb) and only $160
✓ Lifetime cover for defects in wheels, zippers and handles
✓ Platinum Elite softside: airline damage repaired as long as you own it (with the Trusted Companion Promise)
✓ 100-day returns with a prepaid label; free shipping over $150
✓ Platinum Elite has USB-A and USB-C ports, a suiter and magnetic spinner wheels

Cons

✗ Base warranty excludes airline damage; Maxlite 5 airline cover lasts only 1 year
✗ Most models exceed 22 x 14 x 9 on paper; “International” models are 15.75 in wide
✗ Returns must be new and unused with tags, despite “use it for a real trip” marketing
✗ BBB C- with 226 complaints in 3 years; Trustpilot 3.6 (31% one-star)
✗ Replacement parts kept only 1 to 2 years after a model is discontinued
✗ Owned by private equity firm MidOcean Partners since 2016

See the Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner →

Platinum Elite vs Maxlite 5: which carry-on?

Model	Price	Weight	Size with wheels	Fits 22 x 14 x 9?
Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner	$390	7.8 lb	23.5 x 14.5 x 9 in	No on paper (sizer tested)
Platinum Elite Carry-On Rollaboard	$390	7.7 lb	23 in tall	No on paper (sizer tested)
Platinum Elite Hardside Spinner	$365	8.2 lb	23 x 14.5 x 9.5 in	No on paper (sizer tested)
Maxlite 5 Carry-On Spinner	$160	5.4 lb	23 in tall	No on paper (sizer tested)
Maxlite 5 Carry-On Rollaboard	$160	5.4 lb	23 in tall	No on paper (sizer tested)
Maxlite 5 Compact Spinner	$160	5.1 lb	22 x 14 x 9 in	Yes

Prices from travelpro.com on October 31, 2026. Travelpro deserves credit for publishing the full size including wheels. The “International” carry-ons are 21.75 x 15.75 x 7.75 in: shorter, but too wide for the US 14-inch limit and for strict European airlines like KLM (13.5 in) and Air France (13.8 in).

Platinum Elite: the best Travelpro

The Platinum Elite softside spinner is Travelpro’s premium carry-on: ballistic nylon, 8 self-aligning magnetic spinner wheels, a 4-stop handle, a fold-out suiter for a jacket or shirts, and USB-A and USB-C charging ports (bring your own battery). OutdoorGearLab rated it 92 out of 100 and its top carry-on of 16. Travelpro also says Wirecutter named it a pick in 2025; we couldn’t read Wirecutter’s page to confirm.

Check Platinum Elite price →

Maxlite 5: light and cheap

The Maxlite 5 is about 2.4 lb lighter than the Platinum Elite and costs $230 less. OutdoorGearLab scored the Maxlite 5 spinner 76 (September 2022) and noted it “wobbles occasionally when full” and has “few extra features.” For occasional travelers, that’s a fair trade for the weight and price. The Compact version is the only Travelpro we covered that’s exactly 22 x 14 x 9 in.

See the Maxlite 5 Carry-On Spinner →

The warranty: what “Built for a Lifetime” really covers

Covered for life: manufacturing defects, including wheels, zippers, extension handles and carry handles.
Not covered by the base warranty: “damage caused by an airline, train service, cruise ship or other common carrier.”
Trusted Companion Promise (airline damage): Platinum Elite softside for as long as you own it; Platinum Elite hardside for the first 5 years; Maxlite 5 for the first year only. Travelpro’s pages disagree on whether you must register (one says within 120 days), so register anyway.
Limits: original buyer or gift recipient only, flight-crew use gets 3 years, liability is capped at the purchase price, and parts are kept only 1 to 2 years after a model stops production.

For comparison, Briggs & Riley covers airline damage for life with no add-on, but its carry-on spinner costs about $729.

Returns and shipping

Travelpro offers a 100-day return window with a prepaid FedEx label, and shipping is free over $150 in the 48 contiguous states, so every carry-on here ships free. But read the fine print: the refund policy requires “new, unused condition … tags attached,” and bags “showing signs of travel use … may not qualify,” even though the Platinum Elite page says “Use it for a real trip and decide.” Treat it as an at-home trial.

Complaints and company

Travelpro was founded in 1987 by Bob Plath, a 747 captain who invented the Rollaboard, and is based in Boca Raton, Florida. Private equity firm MidOcean Partners has owned it since May 2016. The BBB rates it C- (not accredited) with 226 complaints in 3 years, 131 about service or repair; in one, Travelpro offered a 35% discount instead of a repair and said it “will not debate different interpretations of our Limited Lifetime Warranty.” Trustpilot shows 3.6 from 1,209 reviews, 31% one-star. We found no recalls or lawsuits.

Travelpro vs Samsonite, Away, Monos and Briggs & Riley

Carry-on	Price	Weight	Airline damage covered?
Travelpro Platinum Elite Spinner	$390	7.8 lb	Yes, with Trusted Companion Promise
Travelpro Maxlite 5 Spinner	$160	5.4 lb	First year only
Away The Carry-On	$275	7.5 lb	See Away’s warranty
Monos Carry-On	$233.75 (sale)	6.6 lb	See Monos’ warranty
Briggs & Riley Essential Carry-On Spinner	about $729	n/a	Yes, lifetime

Samsonite’s Freeform carry-on was around $149.99 on sale with a 10-year warranty that excludes airline damage (from search results; Samsonite’s pages blocked our check). Travelpro’s edge is the softside build, crew-tested design and, on the Platinum Elite, lifetime airline-damage repair for far less than Briggs & Riley.

Who should buy Travelpro

Good fit: frequent flyers who want a durable softside bag with pockets and a suiter (Platinum Elite), or anyone who wants a light, inexpensive carry-on (Maxlite 5).
Skip it if: you fly strict budget or European carriers and need a bag that’s officially within limits (get the Maxlite 5 Compact or measure carefully), or you want a hassle-free warranty experience.

See the Maxlite 5 Compact →

FAQ

Is Travelpro good luggage?

Yes. The Platinum Elite Carry-On Spinner was OutdoorGearLab’s top-rated carry-on (92/100, Editors’ Choice, November 2025), and the Maxlite 5 is one of the lightest carry-ons at 5.4 lb for $160. The downsides are high complaint numbers (BBB C-) and a warranty that excludes airline damage unless you have the Trusted Companion Promise.

Platinum Elite or Maxlite 5: which is better?

The Platinum Elite ($390) is tougher and has more features, like USB ports, a suiter and lifetime airline-damage repair on the softside. The Maxlite 5 ($160) is about 2.4 lb lighter and much cheaper but has fewer features and only one year of airline-damage cover.

Does Travelpro’s warranty cover airline damage?

Not the base warranty, which excludes damage caused by an airline. The Trusted Companion Promise covers it: for as long as you own a Platinum Elite softside bag, 5 years for Platinum Elite hardside, and 1 year for Maxlite 5.

Is the Travelpro carry-on 22 x 14 x 9?

Most Travelpro carry-ons are slightly bigger with wheels (about 23 to 23.5 inches tall). Travelpro says they’re sizer-bin tested to fit most US airlines. The Maxlite 5 Compact is exactly 22 x 14 x 9 inches.

Will a Travelpro International carry-on fit US airlines?

Not officially. It’s 21.75 x 15.75 x 7.75 inches, so it’s shorter but 1.75 inches wider than the 14-inch US limit, and too wide for strict European carriers like KLM and Air France.

What is Travelpro’s return policy?

100 days with a prepaid FedEx return label, but bags must be new and unused with tags attached; bags showing travel use may not qualify.

Who owns Travelpro?

Private equity firm MidOcean Partners has owned Travelpro since May 2016. The company was founded in 1987 by airline pilot Bob Plath and is based in Boca Raton, Florida.

Travelpro vs Samsonite: which is better?

Travelpro’s Platinum Elite tops independent carry-on tests and offers airline-damage repair through its Trusted Companion Promise. Samsonite is often cheaper on sale and has a 10-year warranty, but it excludes airline damage.