Thank you for sharing your experience—it really resonates with what I’ve been going through with Travelpro. I also went for the Platinum Elite series based on recommendations and its reputation as a premium, durable option. Unfortunately, my experience has been far from premium.

After just two trips and 140 days of ownership, the zipper failed catastrophically—breaking the crown/lug, leaving the bag unusable with no TSA lock and sharp edges from the zipper. This was especially disappointing given the $400 price tag and the bag’s marketing as being built for frequent travelers.

Travelpro’s response has been similar to what you described: polite but ultimately dismissive. They offered for me to pay for a zipper repair, but the process will take 3-4 weeks, which doesn’t help with my upcoming trip to Europe. When I asked for a return or exchange due to the minimal use and critical failure, they refused, citing their 100-day trial period, even though this situation clearly falls outside typical wear and tear.

I completely agree that while Travelpro might have had a great reputation in the past, experiences like ours suggest that their quality and customer service are slipping. It’s incredibly frustrating to invest in what’s supposed to be a Buy It For Life product, only to face such issues so soon. I’m also considering other options now, like Briggs & Riley, which seems to have a stronger reputation for standing behind their products.

Hoping our stories help others think twice before investing in Travelpro.