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She got the last seat on a flight next to a stranger. They've been married for 40 years

She got the last seat on a flight next to a stranger. They've been married for 40 years

CNN3 days ago
Vickie Moretz had never left the southern United States, let alone traveled abroad. The prospect of flying across the Atlantic was equal parts exhilarating and terrifying.
It was February 1982. Vickie was 22, a recent graduate from the University of Tennessee, en route to London to participate in a work study program.
She was traveling with one of her best friends, Sandra. The two young women packed enormous suitcases ('We bought everything in our wardrobe, two great big ones, each of us') and lugged the bags from Ohio, via New Orleans to what was then called Washington National Airport.
The friends had standby tickets booked on a World Airways flight to London Heathrow Airport. They'd booked standby purely because it was the cheapest option. It never occurred to them that the tickets were cheap for a reason.
'I didn't even know what the word standby meant,' Vickie tells CNN Travel today. 'All I knew was I got a really good deal.'
The two women were so relieved to have arrived in Washington DC — it had been no small feat to drag their large cases onto a bus and a busy commuter train — that when they got to the airport, they both relaxed.
'I didn't know you had to go to check in — I didn't know what you were supposed to do,' Vickie recalls.
When the penny dropped, and Vickie and Sandra realized their tickets meant there was no guarantee they'd be on the flight at all, they panicked.
At the gate, the two women stood waiting anxiously, in tears at the thought they wouldn't make it on — or, worse, that one of them might be admitted on board and the other wouldn't.
Between sobs, they explained to airport staff that neither of them had traveled abroad before and were relying on each other for moral support.
Sandra was allowed on first. A few minutes later, Vickie was told she'd got the final seat on the plane.
'They took me through first class, walked me all the way around the back of the plane, came around, tossed my luggage into a seat, it hit the person next to them, she turned around and it was my girlfriend.'
Against the odds, Vickie and Sandra had not only both made it on board, they'd ended up in seats next to each other. They hugged happily, each wiping away stray tears as they breathed a sigh of relief. And then Sandra introduced Vickie to the man who completed their row of three.
'This is Graham,' she said. 'He's from England.'
Graham grinned hello. Dressed in a green sweater with curly red hair, he exuded a friendly, relaxed confidence that instantly put Vickie at ease. The panic of the last few hours officially subsided.
Graham was also 22, and hailed from Lancashire, in the north of England. He'd graduated the UK's University of Leeds the year before and had just spent several months traveling around the US while he waited to start law school.
'I saved up some money, bought a one-way ticket to New Orleans, and I spent about six weeks driving around the States until my money ran out,' Graham tells CNN Travel today.
Like Vickie and Sandra, Graham booked a standby ticket. Unlike Vickie and Sandra, he knew what that meant. He had no idea if he'd be let on the flight or not, but was thrilled to get a seat, and equally thrilled to be seated with two friendly Americans eager to hear all about the UK.
'They were exhausted and worn out, but obviously excited to be reunited on the plane,' recalls Graham. 'And we just got chatting.'
Graham liked Vickie and Sandra right away — they were easy, fun company and their excitement was contagious. He regaled them with stories about England, and was keen to hear what life was like growing up in the American South.
Vickie liked Graham too. Thanks to him, she enjoyed a great first transatlantic flight.
'We had the best laughs,' recalls Vickie. 'We stayed awake all night long — and that was our second night of staying awake, Sandra and I, because we'd been awake the night before trying to get to the airport. And he was lovely. He was just immediately a good friend.'
While Vickie found Graham fun and easy company, she didn't think he'd be anything more than a friend — not to her, anyway.
'He had curly red hair back then — it was a perm, it wasn't real — and my girlfriend adores curly headed guys. So I thought, 'Oh good, Sandra's met her somebody.''
Graham promised to help Vickie and Sandra transport their luggage from Heathrow to London city center. After that, he'd have to head back up north to see his family, but he said he'd be back in the capital city before too long.
'We were excited that he was going to show us around,' recalls Vickie. 'He gave us the history of England all night long.'
Vickie vividly remembers Graham attempting to explain 1066, seen as a pivotal date in English history, when William of Normandy defeated King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings.
'I didn't even know what 1066 was,' says Vickie, 'The moment I left the plane, I knew everything that ever happened. I'm surprised I didn't have the kings and queens memorized by the end.'
'I enjoyed educating the girls and introducing them to my country,' says Graham. 'Couldn't believe my luck that I got to sit next to two beautiful blondes, and certainly looked forward to seeing them again. I made firm plans to visit before I left them that first day.'
After landing in the UK, the trio made their way by train to the central hotel where Vickie and Sandra were set to be living and working for the next three months. Graham led the way, teaching Vickie and Sandra how to navigate the foreign transport system, and helping them haul their large bags on and off carriages.
It was rush hour, and the trio found themselves on a busy commuter train. Vickie was surprised that no one on board was talking, or even looking at each other. She, Sandra and Graham interrupted the quiet with their excitable chatter.
'The three of us caused a commotion with our laughter and constant commentary as we pointed out the windows, which caused some to smile at our excitement,' recalls Vickie.
'When we came out of the station, we were overwhelmed with how beautiful London was, even in the drizzle, and fell in love with the city that very day.'
Before saying goodbye and preparing to catch his train north to his parents' house, Graham treated Vickie and Sandra to their first British cup of tea. He promised to return the following weekend, but his departure still had a tinge of sadness.
'While we were having the tea and he was getting ready to leave, we were saying, 'Oh, no.' He'd become our best friend. And we're thinking, 'Oh, we hate leaving him.' So I said, 'Well, we've got to get pictures,'' recalls Vickie.
Vickie dug out her camera and took her first London photograph: Graham and Sandra, smiling together.
Then she passed her camera to Sandra, and posed for her own picture with Graham. Without thinking, the American visitor and the British stranger put their arms around one another and leaned in, their hands brushing together, their heads touching.
'I was still thinking he was more for Sandra instead of me,' says Vickie. 'But in our picture — he took the same picture with Sandra and their hands are further apart — and of course in ours, our hands are right up against each other, which is rather funny. I guess it was looking ahead at things to come.'
At the time, Vickie thought nothing of it. The photo was simply to celebrate the start of their UK adventure.
'It was just to commemorate: we have arrived in London, and here we are. And here's our new friend — our new and only friend in London,' she recalls.
Graham said his goodbyes, promising to return the next weekend.
Vickie's first week in London was a baptism of fire. She and Sandra were working as hotel cleaning staff. They were equal parts clueless and committed, thrilled to be experiencing something new, and no idea how to go about it.
'I had a BS in business management, as well as a minor in computer science and one in real estate. I'd rarely made up my own bed and come over there to be a chambermaid. So we were very nervous about starting work there,' says Vickie.
Vickie also remembers a real culture shock. Most of what she knew about the UK she'd learned from Graham on the seven-hour flight across the Atlantic. She felt conspicuous, with her southern American twang, amid a sea of English voices.
'Back then Americans, of course, visited, but not like they do now. Now, you know, the Brits and Americans are so used to being together, it's very similar. Back then it was very different,' says Vickie.
'We were really put under a microscope when we first arrived. But I couldn't wait for him to come back.'
Back home in Lancashire, Graham called up a university friend of his who lived in London — Jim — and passed on Vickie and Sandra's details, suggesting Jim look them up.
'He arranged to meet up with them and took them out for a drink. And I immediately got my train ticket to come back down that next weekend,' says Graham. 'So that was the plan. And there was no doubt I was going to do it.'
The next Saturday, as promised, Graham arrived back in London, and he and Jim took Vickie and Sandra on a sightseeing day around London.
It was a glorious, sunny day and the group ducked in and out of museums and pubs, posing for photographs outside London landmarks. Vickie and Sandra enjoyed their first fish and chip meal, climbed on the lion statues at Trafalgar Square, peeked at 10 Downing Street and marveled at the imposing grandeur of St Paul's Cathedral.
'We were all running around. We had the best time. We all got along so well, and we were joking and laughing,' recalls Vickie.
'Our friendship with these guys was just so easy, as if we had known them for years,' Vickie wrote in her diary that day.
When you think back, all the things that had to line up for us to meet is incredible. One slight change of plans, we never would have met.
Graham Kidner
Vickie still suspected Sandra had a soft spot for Graham. She was happy for them, and understood why Sandra liked him.
'His concern for us and warm personality were endearing, and we viewed him as being special because he had introduced us to this country before we even arrived, not to mention his curly ginger hair and smiling green eyes.'
In the afternoon, the group headed to Portobello Road, home to one of the world's most famous street markets, a mix of antiques, fruit and vegetable stalls and everything in between.
Riding the escalator to exit the London Underground station, Vickie and Graham found themselves standing side by side. Sandra and Jim were lower down, amid crowds of tourists and locals.
Out of nowhere, a woman standing on the step in front of Vickie and Graham turned around to survey them both. They didn't notice her at first, both preoccupied with one another. Then she spoke:
'You're both Scorpios,' she said. It was more of a statement than a question.
'Yes, ma'am, I am,' said Vickie, surprised. She didn't know Graham's birthday, let alone his star sign, but she turned to look at him expectantly.
Graham said yes, he was also a Scorpio.
The stranger smiled, like this confirmed everything she already knew.
'You will make great love and will always be together,' she said, and then turned back around to disembark the escalator.
'Graham and I looked at one another, completely confused, and nearly tripped off the escalator,' wrote Vickie in her diary.
'We got the biggest kick out of that,' Vickie recalls today. 'We laughed and couldn't wait to tell Sandra and Jim about it. We thought that was so funny.'
But hearing the strangers' words shifted something in both Vickie and Graham.
'By the end of that evening, we were holding hands,' says Vickie today. 'That was March 6. And then we were engaged July 4, and married December 28.'
The interaction with the woman on the escalator seemed funny at first. But looking back, Graham says he thinks it was a turning point.
'That was the moment,' he says.
'The day had already been near perfect, and now Graham and I were looking at one another with new eyes,' wrote Vickie in her diary.
That evening, the group enjoyed a nightcap at The Bloomsbury Tavern. As they were leaving, Graham reached over to hold Vickie's hand.
'He just reached back and held my hand and I took it, which would be unusual for me. It was just meant to be. I mean, it was — it is — very strange, but it was definitely meant to be,' says Vickie today.
Vickie and Graham's chemistry and connection felt so natural, that Sandra, who had, as Vickie expected, quite liked Graham, was immediately happy for them.
'She was thrilled when we got together, she said it just seemed appropriate,' says Vickie.
From that evening on, Vickie and Graham were a couple. Graham traveled down to London from Lancashire whenever possible. And only three weeks after they'd first met on the airplane, Vickie traveled to the north of England with Graham to meet his parents.
Graham's parents had been worried about their son traveling around the US on his own — his mother had a particular fear of American cults. But in all the hypothetical situations she'd fretted about, she'd never considered he might meet an American girl on an airplane and fall instantly in love. She didn't know what to think.
'I think we really shocked them that we were dating and we were immediately serious,' says Vickie.
Vickie and Graham strove to make the most of their time in the UK together. They knew there was a deadline — Vickie had to head back to the US in only a matter of months — and this knowledge accelerated their relationship.
'We just didn't want to be apart once we met, so we knew we were going to have to make some permanent plans,' says Graham.
'We knew that my time was going to be coming to an end quickly. So we sort of had to act quickly,' says Vickie. 'What do we do to see each other, to stay together? And I remember us saying, we would have to get married — which was weird because we just graduated from university. It was the last thing on my mind to get married.'
The couple would chat about their future while sitting together in leafy Bloomsbury Square Garden, a quiet green space near to the hotel where Vickie was living and working.
'We would sit out there, and everything was just so peaceful. It was like the world was just right. That's all we had to do, just sit together and the world just felt good,' recalls Vickie.
Vickie also had long conversations with Sandra about what to do. Was getting married so quickly a mistake? Her friend backed her up.
'I've never known two people that just seem right for each other like you are, especially so quickly,' Vickie recalls Sandra saying.
While in London, Vickie stayed in touch with her parents via letters sent back to Tennessee. She never called — long distance, transatlantic phone calls were expensive in 1982. Instead, she wrote about Graham in long dispatches home, explaining they were serious, and suggesting marriage might be on the cards.
'My mother said whatever I decided, she knew that I'd always make good decisions,' recalls Vickie.
As for Graham's parents, they were worried their son's prospective law career might be derailed by a transatlantic romance. But they saw how much he cared for Vickie, and also supported his decision. His friends were shocked, but supportive.
'Jim was amazed by how quickly it all was happening, but happy for us,' recalls Graham. 'My other friends were all surprised, but once they met Vickie, they understood why I had fallen in love with her.'
On July 4, 1982, Graham proposed. Despite all the conversations leading up to it, Vickie was still surprised. They'd talked so extensively about marriage that she didn't think they'd do the whole official proposal thing — it went without saying, surely?
'We made the decision to marry before the official engagement, but I wanted to be traditional and propose on one knee,' recalls Graham.
July 4, given it was a US national holiday, seemed an appropriate date.
'He came up to the room and said, 'You know if we're going to do this, we've got to do it right.' And then he got down on one knee and he asked me. And he gave me the ring that he had purchased, which was so sweet,' says Vickie.
Then Vickie had to go back to the US in September. Cue a tearful goodbye at London Heathrow Airport.
'The plane taking off brought on fresh tears,' wrote Vickie in her diary. 'It was more than leaving someone I loved for a few months; it was about the ending of a chapter of my life. One that was unexpected. One where I took a risk and it worked and I had learned and grown so much.'
In December 1982, Vickie and Graham reunited in the US for their wedding day. Graham recalls the surreal, exciting week in which he met all of Vickie's family within days of their nuptials. Vickie's family also met Graham's parents that week. It was a whirlwind, but a happy whirlwind.
'Everybody loved him the minute they met him and they really liked his family too,' says Vickie.
The wedding took place in Bristol, Virginia. Vickie took Graham's name, becoming Vickie Kidner. Then the couple returned to the UK, where they lived for the next two years while Graham finished law school.
After that, Vickie and Graham relocated to the US. They'd been torn between life in the UK and life in the US. But in the end, the US won out.
'I didn't want to leave my family as much, I wasn't used to it. Remember, that was the first time I'd ever been out of the country, or out of the south,' says Vickie.
'Because I'd been to the States on my own, I think I was maybe a little bit more adventurous in terms of I was willing to take a bit more of a risk and travel and do something different,' says Graham.
Vickie and Graham went on to have two children, and brought them up in the US with plenty of UK traditions thrown into the mix.
Graham takes particular pride in his annual English Christmas dinners: 'I usually do Yorkshire puddings,' he explains. 'Roast potatoes, Christmas pudding…'
When their kids were growing up, Vickie and Graham would also take them on regular trips to England to visit their family.
Today, Vickie and Graham still enjoy returning to the UK, especially London — it's always special for them to return to the locations of their early courtship. The hotel where Vickie worked is now an apartment block. But on a recent trip in 2022, the building manager let a nostalgic Vickie and Graham into the foyer for a peek.
'It looks nothing like it did with us. But we had a lot of happy memories there,' says Vickie.
Afterwards, the couple sat in Bloomsbury Square, the green spot where they first talked about marriage. It was special and surreal to look at how far they'd come in four decades.
They're still friends with Sandra and Jim, and they enjoyed catching up with Jim during that recent UK trip.
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Vickie and Graham recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, their neighbor Amanda Caldwell, who is a photographer, took a photograph of Vickie and Graham. She got the couple to recreate the picture they took the day they met, on Vickie's first day in London, arms around each other, smiling.
'We met when we were 22 years old. We had both just turned 23 when we got married. And now we're 63,' says Vickie.
'It's hard to believe,' says Graham.
'Time goes very quickly,' says Vickie.
That first cup of tea together in 1982 turned into many more shared pots of tea. Vickie and Graham say they've always enjoyed just 'doing nothing' together, relishing the small moments as well as the big adventures.
'You have to enjoy doing nothing together, as well as enjoy doing things together,' says Vickie. 'You marry a friend, it's about finding somebody you can be a friend with, because you keep friends.'
'And it's also accepting the good and the bad,' she adds. 'Your interests change over the years to some degree. Raising kids together isn't always easy. But that's why you marry a friend, somebody that you enjoy being with.'
Nowadays when the two travel on an airplane together, Graham usually puts on his headphones before take off, gets absorbed in a book and doesn't speak to anyone.
'He's become very, very British,' jokes Vickie, who says she'll always chat to a seat neighbor.
Still, traveling together always leads them to reflect on how they met, and the coincidence that they both booked the same flight, both booked standby seats and against the odds, both made it on board that World Airways flight to London.
'When you think back, all the things that had to line up for us to meet is incredible,' says Graham. 'One slight change of plans, we never would have met. It was meant to be.'
'It was amazing how we met, and how things turned out,' says Vickie. 'And that we're still together, that's amazing too, we didn't really know each other – we did, and we didn't. And yet we're still here.'
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The Details: Hardside | 21.7 x 14.8 x 10 inches | 6.8 pounds | 34-liter capacity | Expandable (2 inches) | Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) | 4 dual spinner wheels Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Delsey $330 $249 at Amazon View on $660 at Macy's T+L editors reach for this timeless carry-on from Delsey Paris again and again, thanks to its vintage charm and useful functionality. The polycarbonate shell is accented with reinforced corners, and with its two-tone colorway, you're guaranteed to arrive at your destination in style. Aesthetics aside, there's also substance. Inside, you'll find a fully zippered compartment on one side of the suitcase and compression straps to keep clothing from shuffling on the other. We also found pockets throughout and even a handy USB port with which you can attach your own battery pack. After inspecting it closely, we found that the zippers all open and close smoothly, and the spinner wheels glide with little effort (even over carpet!). After taking the cream colored version on the road for six months, we observed little scuffs and scrapes to the bag even after it was checked — a pleasant surprise considering light-colored luggage tends to show the wear and tear quickly. Its maneuverability and lightweight profile also makes it a breeze to travel with. 'I had to carry it up and down multiple flights of stairs and get it onto a train, and I had no trouble lifting it and moving the handle in and out quickly,' says T+L editor Taylor Fox who brought it on a two-week trip to Egypt. The Details: Hardside | 22.75 x 15 x 10 inches | 7.74 pounds | 44-liter capacity | USB port | Polycarbonate | 4 dual spinner wheels Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Dagne Dover While softside luggage is more durable and less prone to wear and tear, it isn't known for being the most stylish type of luggage. Dagne Dover completely changed the game when it launched its debut luggage collection last summer. T+L editors were among the first to try them out, and we were enamored by the sheen and elegance of the Seattle Carry-on—a modernized softside bag with the structure and sturdy frame of a hardside suitcase. Its 33-liter capacity and 20.5-inch height is ideal for short getaways (it was the perfect companion on my quick trip to St. Thomas), business trips, and international flights. It also offers two ways to pack: via clamshell opening and a top-loading option. During testing and on actual trips, we couldn't help but notice that the wheels glide like a dream over various surfaces. But with the beauty of this suitcase comes one painful fact: it's heavy for a carry-on. For some, it may feel like a drag schlepping a 10-pound carry-on (plus the weight of your items). However, if that's not a big deal to you, we say it's a great entry point for the softside newcomers. The Details: Softside | 20.5 x 13 x 8.75 inches | 9.13 pounds | 33-liter capacity | Recycled 900D polyester | 4 dual spinner wheels | 13-inch laptop sleeve Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Samsonite View on Samsonite $500 at Macy's View on In case you weren't aware, Samsonite's Proxis carry-on is kind of a big deal. Like, it was sent into space and dropped from 130,000 feet-level big deal. To date, this is the most lightweight and durable suitcase Samsonite has ever released. We brought the Proxis Global Carry-on Spinner into our testing lab for some experimenting of our own and found that this textured, hardside carry-on lived up to its claims of being virtually indestructible. The outer shell of this bag is made of Roxkin—an exclusive recycled material developed by Samsonite that is lightweight and engineered to bounce back into shape. 'Samsonite sent this suitcase to space, and it survived, which is only a small amount of what we did to it with a bat,' says T+L associate editorial director Morgan Ashley Parker. 'I also stood and jumped on it. I completely trust this bag to hold up against baggage handlers.' In terms of organizational features, you don't get much with the Samsonite Proxis: just two fully zippered compartments and one mesh zippered pocket. This is actually a good thing if the goal is for your luggage to weigh less and hold more. While it's certainly one of the more expensive options on this list, we think the Proxis is a worthy investment for carry-on loyalists who want the maximum amount of packing space and a durable design that will last for years. The Details: Hardside | 22 x 14 x 9 inches | 4.7 pounds | Expandable (0.5 inches) | Roxkin material | 4 dual spinner wheels Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: July Sometimes, a diminutive carry-on just won't do (especially for longer trips). In these instances, we'd recommend something like the July Carry-on Max. It has a 50-liter capacity that jumps to 62 liters when fully expanded—the largest carry-on we've ever tested. Weighing in around 8 pounds, it's on par with other carry-ons with similar dimensions. However, we noticed that it became a little cumbersome to maneuver around tight corners the more we packed it, and because of its size, you may be forced to gate-check it at the airport. The exterior shell of the suitcase didn't get too banged up when we put it through the wringer of our durability tests. We were also amazed that you can choose between 20 different height handles—another design quirk that helps July stand out from the pack. Inside, there's a Y compression strap and panel on one side, while the other side is secured by a mesh panel with no pockets (a missed opportunity, if you ask us). We would be remiss not to mention that this carry-on comes with its own packable tote bag that fits discreetly inside the suitcase when not in use. You also have the option to personalize this suitcase with a name or initials, with nine fonts to choose from. The Details: Hardside | 23 x 16 x 9 inches | 8.16 pounds | 50-liter capacity (unexpanded); 62-liter capacity (expanded) | Expandable | Polycarbonate | 4 dual spinner wheels | Packable tote included Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travelpro You won't be short on organization with the Travelpro VersaPack+ Carry-on. While it may look small, it's got a roomy interior made even better by all of the useful add-ons, like the included shoe bags, a laundry bag to store used or wet items, and built-in compression packing cubes that strap in to the top of the bag for additional storage. It also features an external laptop sleeve, a small outer pocket, and a luggage lock. If you find that you're running out of space, the bag's tapered extension adds an extra 2 inches of depth. Our chief complaint about Travelpro's VersaPack+ carry-on is its weight. Part of the appeal of softside luggage is that it's lighter because of its fabric construction. And while its nearly 8-pound weight isn't the heaviest we've encountered, we do think it might get bogged down if overpacked. There's also a possibility you'll be forced to check it on smaller airlines because of its 23-inch height, so keep that in mind if traveling on airlines with tighter carry-on restrictions. Though its a bit heavier than we'd like for a softside, we found this spinner to be pretty compact and loved that it wasn't cumbersome to wheel around our obstacle course. The wheels, zippers, and handle also ran smoothly without any snags. The Details: Softside | 23 x 14.5 x 9.5 inches | 7.7 pounds | 47-liter capacity | Expandable (2 inches) | Water-resistant nylon | 4 dual spinner wheels Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Aer $319 at Nordstrom View on If you've ever been on a fast-moving airport shuttle, bus, or subway, you know the struggle of trying to keep your luggage from rolling away while holding on for dear life. Aer, a new kid on the luggage block, saw this common problem hadn't yet been solved by its competitors and created a carry-on suitcase with brakes. Similar to a stroller, the wheels on Aer's Carry-on Max can be locked in place with the simple slide of a button located beneath the handles. 'It's such a unique feature and helpful if on public transport or stopping on an incline with bags since it securely holds the bag in place,' says associate editorial director Morgan Ashley Parker, who owns and loves this Aer model. Speaking of the wheels, they're some of the smoothest we've seen on a carry-on. We were able to roll them over our cement pavers with ease, and it didn't lag behind even when packed full. In terms of capacity, Aer really meant it when they said max . The slender profile of this bag allowed us to fit everything on our packing list despite the fact that it's not expandable. Though Aer touts this as a minimalist's suitcase, there are some undercelebrated details about this bag that we found helpful, like the hidden pocket for you to stash a luggage tracker, a Y-shaped compression system secured with an intuitive and sturdy buckle, and puncture-resistant YKK zippers. The top and side handles also have a hole to where you can attach other bags and belongings to it with a carabiner. We tested out the white version, and the initial surface scratches that appeared after we threw it off a table made us suspect that lighter colors might show damage over time. The good thing is it's available in a range of five colors, so you can always choose a more inconspicuous hue. The Details: Hardside | 22.7 x 15 x 9 inches | 8.4 pounds | 48-liter capacity | Makrolon polycarbonate | 4 dual spinner wheels Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Rimowa There's no doubt that Rimowa, a longstanding luxury luggage brand, is currently having a moment. Its classic aluminum suitcases will cost you a pretty penny, but the sleek vertical lines and sterling material will be instantly recognizable at the airport. We couldn't wait to get our hands on their Cabin S version, which did not disappoint. We'll preface our review by confirming that this is definitely not the bag for overpackers, but if you'll have plenty of space to pack for a long weekend trip or a few items to supplement your checked luggage. We were floored that the bag weighed in much lighter than other aluminum suitcases we've tested (9 pounds), and we find comfort in the locks on each latch that provide extra security. "The wheels roll like a dream—they truly roll better than any suitcase I've tried," says associate editor Anna Popp, who also applauded this Cabin S for surviving our durability tests with not a dent or scratch on it. Aluminum luggage is known to accumulate dents and scrapes over time, so we look forward to seeing how this precious gem of a spinner will hold up over the next six months of testing. The Details: Carry-on | 21.7 x 15.8 x 7.9 inches | 9.3 pounds | 31-liter capacity | Aluminum | 4 dual spinner wheels Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Like Tumi, Briggs & Riley has a best-in-class reputation for luggage. This 22-inch spinner is a classic hardside with some innovative features that allowed us to pack way more than expected. The top lid unzips to reveal a main large compartment which has a built-in compressor pad. While the compressor isn't removable, it did a great job of helping us stuff this suitcase to the brim. Unlike other expandable suitcases that use a simple zipper mechanism, this one has a unique one-touch system: you simply push two buttons on either side of the inner compartment, and raise them up to expose an extra 25 percent more packing space. There's a pouch on the back of the outside of the suitcase with a place to zip up a power bank and pull a charger through the outer pocket. Other fancy accoutrements—like the aircraft-grade aluminum handles, whisper-quiet 360 degree wheels, and drawstring bag storage bag—make the Briggs & Riley 22-inch spinner a justifiable splurge. We thought it rolled well through our obstacle courses. The hardside shell was also well constructed and did not dent after we hit it multiple times with a metal baseball bat. Unfortunately, the very bottom of the bag did get scratched when going over a concrete curb during testing. That said, we still think this carry-on fits the bill for frequent flyers who don't mind shelling out a few extra bucks in exchange for longevity and premium quality. We feel even more confident recommending this Briggs & Riley carry-on because of its lifetime guarantee—you'll be able to have your carry-on repaired for free at any time, no proof of purchase necessary. The Details: Hardside | 22 x 14 x 9 inches | 8.6 pounds | 41-liter capacity (unexpanded); 51-liter capacity (expanded) | Expandable | Recycled polycarbonate, recycled polyester | 4 dual spinner wheels Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Samsonite There's so much to love about this sleek carry-on from Samsonite, from its smooth gliding wheels to its highly-customized handle that offers tons of handle height options. However, where it really shines is its internal organization. We found packing for a trip to be a joy thanks to its generous spacing, compartments, and accessories. The bag came with a TSA-compliant toiletry bag, a shoe bag which easily fit two pairs of shoes, and then—our favorite part—two packing cubes of varying sizes. The more narrow packing cube perfectly fit in the gap between the handles on one half of the suitcase, which we thought to be a clever, space-saving touch. The fun features don't stop there: this suitcase also features a MagneTag, Samsonite's patented magnetic luggage tag that magnetically snaps into the structure of the bag ensuring it won't get lost. Speaking of lost luggage, you'll also find a built-in AirTag holder in the bag's interior (a great benefit if you ever want to take the airline up on the option to check your bag). We thought it felt a little heavy, at 9 pounds but rolled very smoothly. The Details: Carry-on | 23 x 14.75 x 10 inches | 9.04 pounds | Expandable | Polycarbonate | 4 dual spinner wheels Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Casetify Nothing makes a statement at baggage claim like a suitcase that's inscribed with your name. If you're looking to invest in a luggage that you can make your own in every sense, we'd go with Casetify's 21-inch Bounce Custom Carry-on. The brand is widely known for its cushiony and protective phone cases, but it's recently entered its luggage era—and what an entrance it was. Much like with its phone cases, Casetify gives you the option to customize your suitcase using a variety of fonts, colors, and backgrounds. Associate editor Anna Popp picked her carry-on in a stunning cobalt blue and went with a pink-and-white combo for her initial design. Aside from the monogram option, what sets this carry-on apart from the rest are the reinforced bumper corners that give the suitcase another layer of protection from any rough handling it may endure. The capacity of this 21-inch spinner felt like just enough to fit a multiday vacation's worth of items, but we're confident you could fit more with some strategic packing. "I love the organizer flap it comes with since there are tons of little pockets to place various things," says Popp. "I also love that the flap can be taken out when you don't want to use it." While its not the lightest carry-on out there, we were impressed with its style element, and we expect to get tons of compliments at the airport. The Details: Carry-on | 21 x 13.9 x 9 inches | 8.23 pounds | 33.8-liter capacity | Polycarbonate | 4 dual spinner wheels Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: July There's something about a zipperless closure on a suitcase that instantly makes it feel a tad more luxury. Such is the case with the July Carry On Trunk. Built with two TSA-approved latch locks, a German polycarbonate shell, and a removable power bank, we'd say this pick serves equal parts style and function. We found an abundance of helpful organization on the interior of the bag: there are two dividers on each side of the bag with mesh pockets on each, clips to keep the dividers in place, Y compression straps on each side, and a cylindrical zip pocket on one side. We also noticed that the bag opens evenly as opposed to the 30/70 design that we typically see in other travel trunks. The wheels were so smooth, they practically rolled themselves through our testing lab floors and in airports. However, our favorite thing about the bag, as with all July luggage, was the handle which has 20 different heights and can be customized down to the exact millimeter. The one small drawback noted by T+L editor Hillary Maglin is that this carry-on tends to get black scuff marks from the baggage carousel conveyor belt after every trip. 'While most of the scuffs come off pretty easily using the included sponge, I noticed a few small scuffs are harder to get out,' she says. Aside from slight cosmetic damage that occurs with most hardside luggage over time, Maglin still attests that 'it's probably the sturdiest and most smooth-rolling spinner I've ever used.' The Details: Hardside | 21.5 x 14.75 x 8.75 inches | 8.4 pounds | 42-liter capacity | Ejectable USB-C battery | Polycarbonate | 4 dual spinner wheels Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Credit: Travel + Leisure Though these carry-on suitcases were strong contenders, they were just shy of making the list due to a few shortcomings. However, they do possess a few redeeming qualities we feel are worth mentioning. Rains Texel Cabin Trolley: We love the puffy exterior of this waterproof carry-on, though it does add bulk to the suitcase. We noticed that when fully packed, it just barely fit in the overhead compartment in our testing lab. Arlo Skye The Zipper Carry-on Max With Front Pocket: This bag had slightly weak scores in the maneuverability category since it didn't glide as effortlessly as other carry-ons we tried. However, we appreciated its helpful features, like its protective front pocket for laptops and removable power bank. Calpak Ambeur Front Pocket Carry-on Luggage: For under $300, this metallic option offers the sleek look of an aluminum suitcase without the heaviness. Upon first glance, the capacity seemed standard for a carry-on. During packing, we struggled to fit everything on our list. We also noticed that the laptop compartment protruded the more we packed it. Zero Halliburton Classic Aluminum 3.0 International Carry-on: The durability on this suitcase was top notch. In fact, it's one of the most solid suitcases we've ever tested. Ultimately, we preferred the Rimowa bag in our main list for an aluminum option, and we wish this one had more internal organization. Paravel Aviator Carry-on Plus: After toting the bag on trips over six months, we came to appreciate the built-in compression board that made it easy to pack in as many items as possible. Still, we would've appreciated an expandable feature here. Miamily Carry-on: We loved how easy it was to navigate a busy airport with a toddler placed on top of this ride-on suitcase. We just wish the luggage was lighter when empty. Bagsmart Roamer Expandable 20-inch Carry-on Luggage: This affordable bag has lots of impressive features. It even held strong after we whacked it with a metal bat about 10 times. The Amazon Basics hardside spinner ultimately won as our favorite budget option because it offered slightly more in terms of organization, but this is another excellent affordable carry-on that will last for years. Frequently Asked Questions Accepted carry-on dimensions vary by airline, according to the TSA. However, standard dimensions for a carry-on are 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Some airlines will differ give or take a few inches, which is why larger size carry-ons made this list. As a rule of thumb, always research your airline's carry-on rules before your flight to avoid having to involuntarily check your bag. Again, this varies. Some airlines like JetBlue and American Airlines currently don't have any weight restrictions for carry-on bags, while some international airlines limit carry-ons to 22 pounds. In our experience, carry-on weight limits are not always enforced as much as dimension size, but as a rule of thumb, your carry-on is likely too heavy if you can't lift it on your own. If you're concerned about the weight of your bag, grab an inexpensive luggage scale so you can check before heading to the airport. According to the TSA, you are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the security checkpoint. No liquid in your carry-on or personal item can exceed 3.4 ounces. Any amounts larger than that will need to be checked or will be disposed of. Solid toiletries like powdered makeup, bar soap, and solid deodorant should pose no issue. Yes, AirTags and other luggage trackers are allowed in carry-on luggage. For GPS trackers that utilize a higher level of battery power, you should check with your individual airline to make sure it's allowed on board. T+L senior editor Jasmine Grant covers luggage and travel accessories. She owns roughly 35 different suitcases, backpacks, and tote bags, and rotates between her favorites for different trips around the world. She is a carry-on loyalist and enjoys the challenge of finding creative ways to pack weeks worth of clothing into a compact suitcase. She frequently utilizes clever accessories like compression packing cubes, hanging toiletry bags, and travel pouches to maximize space. Right now, her favorite carry-ons come from brands Away, Dagne Dover, and Samsonite. Love a great deal? 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American Airlines stock tumbles as carrier cites 'tough' July for domestic travel
American Airlines stock tumbles as carrier cites 'tough' July for domestic travel

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

American Airlines stock tumbles as carrier cites 'tough' July for domestic travel

American Airlines (AAL) stock slumped 6% on Thursday as the carrier echoed a trend seen with its peer Southwest (LUV) — weaker-than-expected domestic travel last quarter. "July has been tough, really hit hard by the uncertainty during the primary booking period," American CEO Robert Isom said during the company's earnings call on Thursday morning. The airline pointed out domestic revenue declined about 6% year over year over year in the three-month period ending in June. However, the company expects that July will be the low point and that performance will improve sequentially month over month. In other words, American's financials will recover during the second half of the year. "Let's face it, the domestic network has been under stress because of the uncertainty in the economy and the reluctance of domestic passengers to get in the game," Isom said American said it expects a loss per share between $0.10 and $0.60 during the current quarter and earnings for 2025 in a range between a loss of $0.20 and a gain of $0.80 per share. Read more about American's stock moves and today's market action. The airline reinstated its guidance after pulling it in April, along with the other major carriers, following President Trump's broad-based tariff policy. Despite posting record quarterly revenue of $14.4 billion, American's outlook diverges from the more bullish forecasts from Delta (DAL) and United (UAL). Part of the reason is that American has more domestic destinations and flights than its two biggest rivals. Airlines have been leaning into meeting demand from international routes, as well as premium seats, which command higher ticket prices. Meanwhile, Southwest stock plunged 10% on Thursday after the carrier issued a trimmed pre-tax profit outlook of $600 million to $800 million in 2025 — as much as $1 billion less than previously anticipated. "We saw some uncertainty that came in and demand fell off quite quickly during that period," Southwest CFO Tom Doxey told Yahoo Finance on Thursday morning. "The speed with which that came down was one of the faster reductions in revenue that we've seen in years across the industry." "The great news is we're starting to see that stabilize," Doxey added. "As tariffs and other things are starting to solidify a bit, you're starting to see that spending change," creating a potential tailwind for the airline in the second half of the year. Ines Ferre is a Senior Business Reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X at @ines_ferre. Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices

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