Smart Luggage that Makes Travel a Breeze

The days of dragging a hard-to-wheel, soft (read: easy to damage) suitcase through the airport terminal are officially over, and it’s really amazing how far luggage has come in the last 10 years. It used to be impressive when your new carry-on had a pretty key lock or extra compartments, but smart luggage is blowing those old quaint features out of the water and making traveling easier than it’s ever been, plus stylish and stress-free.

Suitcases can now help you charge your iPhone—a life-saver for any of us who have ever left for the airport with the battery on 24 percent. They also let you track them (goodbye lost luggage), lock them, and weigh them, all with the push of a button (even if you’re not near your physical bag). Plus, companies are managing to keep the bags looking sleek and cool despite adding in all these extra components. We took a look at some of the chicest new options out there—it’s definitely time for an upgrade.

• Away; $225

Yes, it’s minion yellow (so cute), but we’re more focused on its built-in battery that lets you charge a USB device from wherever you are, extra important in case of flight delays.

• Bloomingdales; $295

We’ve touted this one before, but that’s because Raden also has portable power, plus an integrated TSA lock and a mobile app that allows you to locate your case when it’s not in hand.

• Bed Bath & Beyond; $349

Yes, it has location tracking and a USB charger, but it also has a ton of not-so-techy perks: It’s collapsible, has a pull-out laptop tray so you can work more easily at the gate, and a 360-degree rotating handle.

• Bloomingdale’s; $599

Behind this sleek black microfiber case is a GPS tracker, chargeable battery, and built-in weight sensors.

• Bergdorf Goodman; $695

This is at the higher-end price-wise but also packs a smart punch. The electronic luggage tag lets you check your luggage from home, or anywhere you can use your smartphone–making getting through the airport extra-easy.

• Samsonite; $400

We love the mod look of this bag but it also has an app with a geo-location tracker plus a rechargeable battery that lasts for up to 15 days.

• Planet Traveler; $800

This futuristic case calls itself the world’s smartest suitcase, and it may be onto something. It has all the bells and whistles of typical smart suitcases plus an anti-theft alert system, tamper-proof zippers, a mobile storage compartment, and a digital lift-less weighing system.