If you've narrowed your carry-on search to Away or Béis, you're not alone. Both brands dominate social media feeds, both make polycarbonate hardside carry-ons in the $200-$350 range, and both have genuinely passionate fans. The problem is that most comparisons end with some version of "both are great - it depends on your needs," which tells you nothing useful.
So here's the direct answer: Away wins on durability and wheel quality. Béis wins on interior organization and price-per-feature. Which one is right for you depends on how often you fly - and that threshold is clearer than you'd expect. Read on for the full breakdown, including a significant warranty change Away made in April 2026 that every buyer should know about before purchasing.
Important update (April 2026): Away changed its warranty policy for all new purchases on April 14, 2026. New buyers no longer receive free lifetime replacement - the program now covers free repairs for the first 5 years, with a service fee after that. If you bought an Away bag before April 14, 2026, your original warranty terms remain valid. See the warranty section below for the full details and what it means for the value comparison.
Quick Comparison: Away vs. Béis Carry-On
| Away The Carry-On | Away Bigger Carry-On | Béis Carry-On Roller | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $275 | $295 | $218-$238 |
| Dimensions | 21.7 × 14.4 × 9 in | 22.7 × 15.4 × 9.6 in | 22.8 × 15.7 × 9.8 in |
| Weight | 7.50 lbs | 7.90 lbs | ~8.3 lbs* |
| Shell | Polycarbonate (harder) | Polycarbonate (harder) | Polycarbonate (softer) |
| Organization | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Wheel longevity | Excellent | Excellent | Moderate |
Béis Carry-On Roller weight and dimensions sourced from third-party lab testing; not in the NewCarryOn catalog.
Bottom line: Choose Away if you fly 6+ times per year and want a bag that holds up over hundreds of flights. Choose Béis if you fly occasionally and want more features for less money.
Away vs. Béis: What Are These Brands?
Away launched in 2015 in New York, founded by Jen Rubio and Steph Korey - two Warby Parker alums who built the brand around a single, well-engineered polycarbonate carry-on. Away now has 14 retail stores across the US and Canada, sells on Amazon, and positions itself as the premium-minimalist option in the viral luggage space.
Béis came later, launching in 2018 as the brainchild of actress Shay Mitchell. The brand built its audience almost entirely through TikTok and Instagram and has a more fashion-forward aesthetic than Away. You'll find it at Revolve, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's - retailers that signal its style-conscious positioning.
What They Have in Common
Both brands are female-founded and make polycarbonate hardside luggage with 360-degree spinner wheels, TSA-approved combination locks, interior compression straps, and butterfly clamshell openings. Both offer carry-on and checked bag lines. Both use vegan leather trim. And both are, at their core, "Instagram luggage" - chosen as much for how they look rolling through an airport as for how well they actually perform. The differences show up when you dig into the details.
Specs Comparison: Dimensions, Weight, and Price Side by Side
Before getting into the subjective stuff, here's the complete spec picture for all four relevant models:
| Spec | Away The Carry-On | Away Bigger Carry-On | Béis Small Carry-On Roller | Béis Carry-On Roller* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (H × W × D) | 21.7 × 14.4 × 9 in | 22.7 × 15.4 × 9.6 in | 21 × 13 × 9 in | 22.8 × 15.7 × 9.8 in |
| Weight | 7.50 lbs | 7.90 lbs | 7.16 lbs | ~8.3 lbs |
| Price | $275 | $295 | $248 | $218-$238 |
| Capacity | ~39.8L | ~47.9L | 33.5L | 49-61L |
| Expandable | No | No | No | Yes (+2 in) |
| Built-in weight indicator | No | No | No | Yes |
| USB charging | Add-on | Add-on | No | No |
| Laundry bags included | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Away specs from NewCarryOn catalog (authoritative). Béis Carry-On Roller specs from third-party lab testing (People.com, PureWow); marked as approximate.
A Note on Which Models Actually Compare
The canonical comparison - the pairing you'll find in every review - is the Away Bigger Carry-On ($295) versus the Béis Carry-On Roller ($218-$238). They're nearly identical in exterior dimensions, and that's the matchup most buyers are actually deciding between. Away's standard Carry-On ($275) is slightly smaller at 21.7 × 14.4 × 9 inches. Don't conflate them - they're different products at different price points.
The Béis Small Carry-On Roller ($248, 7.16 lbs) is a compact option that's notably smaller in volume (33.5L vs. 49-61L for the standard roller) and lighter than both standard models, which is worth knowing if size is a constraint.
Airline Compatibility: Do These Bags Fit?
Both the Away Bigger Carry-On and the Béis Carry-On Roller fit comfortably in overhead bins on Delta, United, American Airlines, Southwest, and JetBlue. None of these carriers enforce a carry-on sizer at the gate for standard-size bags, and both bags fall within their published limits.
Away's standard Carry-On (21.7 × 14.4 × 9 in) is the more conservative choice for international travel, where overhead bin depth is occasionally tighter on regional aircraft. Neither bag is guaranteed to pass a strict sizer enforcement by budget carriers - if you're flying Spirit or Frontier, check their current policy before assuming either bag will qualify as a carry-on rather than a checked item. For exact size limits by carrier, see our airline requirements guide.
Durability: Which Bag Lasts Longer?
Away wins on durability. That's the short answer. Here's why that matters and where the differences actually show up.
Shell Hardness and Impact Resistance
Away's polycarbonate shell is measurably harder than Béis's. In lab testing by People.com - which included ladder drops and baseball bat strikes - Away showed no denting. Béis sustained minor denting that affected how smoothly the telescoping handle retracted. Editors who have tested both bags extensively have consistently noted that Away's shell "feels harder" than Béis's, even though both are polycarbonate.
For carry-on-only travelers, this difference is less consequential - overhead bins are gentler than baggage handlers. But if you check bags regularly, Away's harder shell is a real advantage. For a deeper look at how hard-shell vs. soft-shell carry-ons compare in durability, maneuverability, and packing flexibility, we break that down separately. Both brands' shells will accumulate scuffs with airport use; that's unavoidable with any polycarbonate bag. Away's ribbed texture is more forgiving than Béis's smoother surface, particularly in lighter colorways. If you buy either bag in beige, sand, or cream, expect visible scuffs within a year. Black and dark navy are the most practical choices for either brand.
Wheel Quality: The Factor That Matters Most Over Time
This is the single most important practical difference between these two bags, and it's one that most comparisons gloss over.
Away's wheels are consistently praised across years of real-world use by frequent travelers. Travelers in luggage forums report 500+ flights and 7-8 years of excellent wheel performance. CNN Underscored specifically cited Away's spinner wheels when naming one of its bags Best Hard-Shell Luggage. The consensus across airline and travel communities is that Away wheels hold up exceptionally well over time.
Béis wheels are a different story. They perform fine when new, but wheel degradation after 12-18 months of regular travel is a recurring complaint in carry-on luggage forums. Posts with titles like "Beis wheels are so bad!" describe bags that veer off-course on flat surfaces and lose smooth rolling on carpet within a year of regular use. One frequent traveler put it plainly: "The Away wheels are much smoother than the Beis. I love my Beis because it fits so much more than the Away, but I wish the wheels were smoother."
Here's the practical threshold: if you travel 6 or more times per year, Away's wheel quality advantage is the single strongest reason to pay the premium. At that frequency, you'll notice the difference within 18 months. If you fly 1-3 times per year, Béis wheels will likely serve you well for years before any degradation becomes noticeable.
Long-Term Zipper and Handle Wear
Away's documented weak point is zipper failure. Multiple reports from owners in carry-on luggage forums describe the same zipper malfunction pattern occurring across multiple bags. Away's warranty (details below) covers this - but it's worth knowing that zippers are the most common Away repair issue. If your Away zipper fails within the warranty period, Away covers it; after that, you're on your own under the new policy.
Béis has a genuine advantage in handle comfort. The cushioned memory foam grip makes a heavy bag noticeably easier to pull through long airport corridors, which is a practical quality-of-life feature Away doesn't match. Béis's telescoping handle durability under very frequent use is less tested, however.
Interior Organization: How Each Bag Packs
Béis wins interior organization, and it's not close. Here's what you actually get when you open each bag.
Béis Carry-On Roller interior:
- Two main compartments via butterfly clamshell opening
- Organized side: zipped compression flap, interior pocket, PVC zippered pocket, mesh pocket, zip pouch
- Simple side: compression straps
- Two detachable bags for shoes, wet clothes, or laundry
- Built-in weight indicator - shows clear when under 50 lbs, red when over
- Cushioned memory foam handle
- Retractable bag strap that connects to other Béis bags (holds up to 15 lbs)
Away Bigger Carry-On interior:
- Two large compartments via clamshell opening
- One side zips closed to keep items secured in transit
- One zippered mesh pocket divider
- Interior compression straps
- One hidden laundry bag
- Optional USB charging port (additional fee, not included)
- Classic leather luggage tag
The verdict is clear: Béis is built for organized packers, overpackers, and anyone who wants dedicated space for shoes, wet clothes, and small items. The built-in weight indicator alone is useful if you're trying to keep a carry-on under the 50-pound limit to avoid checked bag fees.
Away's simpler interior isn't a failure of design - it's a deliberate choice. If you're a minimalist packer who rolls or folds neatly into two halves, the absence of extra pockets means less fiddling, not less function. But if you want to organize your way into a week's worth of clothing, Béis gives you the infrastructure to do it.
Warranty and Customer Service: The Part That Changed in 2026
This section contains the most consequential new information in this comparison. Away's warranty changed in April 2026, and it shifts the value calculation in a meaningful way.
Away's New LifetimeCare Program (Effective April 14, 2026)
Away changed its warranty terms for all new purchases as of April 14, 2026.
The old policy was a genuine lifetime warranty: free replacement for any functional damage to the shell, wheels, handles, or zippers, with no time limit and no questions asked. This was Away's most powerful competitive advantage - the "buy it once" argument that justified paying $275-$295 over a $200 Béis bag.
The new policy, called LifetimeCare, provides free repairs for the first 5 years after purchase. After year 5, a service fee may apply for repairs.
If you bought your Away bag before April 14, 2026, your original warranty terms remain valid. The change applies only to new purchases.
The implication is real: Away's warranty was historically its single clearest advantage over Béis and every other competitor in this price range. A 5-year free repair window is still better than what most luggage brands offer - but it's not the same as lifetime replacement, and anyone using it to justify Away's premium price should factor in the change.
Béis's "Limited Lifetime Warranty": What It Means in Practice
Béis offers a limited lifetime warranty on manufacturing defects in the shell, wheels, handles, zippers, and fabric. In practice, the application is narrower than the label suggests. Owners in travel forums report bags older than two years being denied warranty service as "normal wear and tear." Bags purchased during warehouse sales are explicitly excluded from warranty coverage under a 2026 policy change. Gifted bags without a purchase order number may not be claimable at all.
Returns are accepted within 45 days with a $10 handling fee. Customer service is inconsistent - there are documented positive experiences alongside documented complaints about slow response times and narrow warranty interpretations. The track record is noticeably weaker than Away's historical service.
The Gold Standard, for Context
Neither Away nor Béis comes close to Briggs & Riley, which offers an unconditional lifetime guarantee covering any damage - including airline-caused damage - with no time limit and no service fee. If you fly 20 or more times a year, that distinction is worth knowing. For the occasional or moderate traveler that Away and Béis are built for, either brand's warranty is workable - but go in with accurate expectations.
Style and Aesthetics
Both brands get this right, just differently.
Away's ribbed polycarbonate design has been iconic since 2015. It's minimalist, timeless, and ages well - the ribbed texture does a better job of hiding minor scuffs than Béis's smoother shell. Away releases seasonal colors and occasional limited editions, but the palette stays consistently sophisticated: navy, slate, black, cream, olive.
Béis leans into trend. The brand offers a wider color range, drops limited editions more frequently, and has built a stronger fashion-forward identity - the Wicked collaboration generated genuine organic buzz. If you want your luggage to be part of your travel aesthetic statement, Béis is the stronger play.
A practical note: Béis's smoother shell shows scratches more visibly than Away's ribbed surface, especially in lighter colorways. The beige and sand Béis options look great in product photos and show every bit of airport handling wear within six months. Both brands look best in black.
Price and Value: Does the Away Premium Pay Off?
At the carry-on tier, Away runs $275-$295 versus Béis at $218-$238 - roughly a $40-$80 gap. Here's what each brand gives you for that difference:
Béis gives you more for less: expandable capacity (up to 61 liters from 49), a built-in weight indicator, more interior pockets, a cushioned handle, and two detachable bags instead of one - all for $40-$80 less than the comparable Away model.
Away gives you a harder shell and better wheels - which, for frequent travelers, translates to a longer service life before you're dealing with wheel replacement or a bag that's lost its smooth roll.
Before April 2026, Away's lifetime warranty made the premium easy to justify: you were buying a bag you'd likely never have to replace. That equation has changed. The 5-year free repair window is still solid, but it's no longer the "pay once, own forever" proposition that made Away's higher price clearly defensible for frequent flyers.
For occasional travelers (1-5 trips per year), Béis is now the clearer value winner. You get more features, a lower price, and a bag that will likely hold up fine for your travel volume. For frequent travelers (6+ trips per year), Away's durability advantage - particularly wheel quality - still justifies the premium, even with the warranty change. You're not paying for the warranty anymore; you're paying for the bag that doesn't need one as often.
Who Should Buy Away vs. Béis? Your Decision Guide
Buy Away If...
- You fly 6 or more times per year, or roughly once a month
- You check bags frequently and want the most durable shell on airline conveyor belts
- You've had a bag's wheels degrade quickly before and want long-term spinner quality
- You prefer a timeless, minimal aesthetic over trend-driven colorways
- You care more about how the bag performs over five years than how many pockets it has today
Buy Béis If...
- You fly 1-5 times per year and want the best features-per-dollar in this price range
- You're an organized packer who will actually use every pocket and compartment
- You want expandable carry-on capacity without paying the Away Flex upcharge
- The built-in weight indicator matters to you - it's genuinely useful for avoiding overweight surprises at the gate
- You're buying as a gift: Béis has better color range and a lower price point
- Style is part of the purchase decision, and you want something with a stronger aesthetic identity
Consider a Third Option If...
You fly 20 or more times per year: Neither Away nor Béis is built for truly heavy-duty frequent flying. Look at Briggs & Riley (21 × 14 × 9 in, 6.90 lbs, $579) for an unconditional lifetime warranty that actually covers airline damage, or consider professional-grade options. See our guide to the best carry-ons for frequent flyers.
You want the lightest possible carry-on: At 7.50-7.90 lbs (Away) and ~8.3 lbs (Béis Carry-On Roller), neither brand is the weight champion in this size category. The Bellroy Lite Carry-On weighs 4.63 lbs - significantly lighter than either. See our lightest carry-ons comparison for more options.
Your budget is under $150: The Delsey Paris NOW! Hardside Spinner ($98, 5.70 lbs, 18.5 × 12.5 × 8.75 in) handles occasional travel capably at a fraction of the price. It's smaller than either brand's main carry-on, but for a few trips a year, it's hard to argue with the value.
You can also use our side-by-side comparison tool to stack any of these bags against each other with full specs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Away more expensive than Béis?
Yes. Away carry-ons start at $275 (standard) and $295 (Bigger Carry-On). The Béis Carry-On Roller runs $218-$238. The gap is $40-$80 at carry-on tier. At the checked bag level, the pricing is much closer - Béis Large is $368 versus Away Large at $375.
Did Away change their warranty in 2026?
Yes. As of April 14, 2026, new Away purchases are covered by LifetimeCare: free repairs for 5 years after purchase, with a service fee possible after year 5. Bags bought before April 14, 2026 retain the original lifetime free-replacement terms. This is a meaningful reduction from Away's historical unlimited lifetime warranty.
Which is lighter - Away or Béis?
Away's standard Carry-On (7.50 lbs) is lighter than the comparable Béis Carry-On Roller (~8.3 lbs). The Béis Small Carry-On Roller (7.16 lbs) is the lightest Béis carry-on option, but it's notably smaller in volume (33.5L versus 49-61L). Away's Bigger Carry-On weighs 7.90 lbs.
Does Béis luggage expand?
Yes. The Béis Carry-On Roller expands by approximately 2 inches, increasing capacity from 49 liters to 61 liters. Away's standard Carry-On doesn't expand. The Away Bigger Carry-On Flex - a separate model priced at $345 - is expandable. If expandability is important to your decision, see our guide to expandable carry-on bags that still fit airline restrictions.
Which carry-on fits in airline overhead bins?
Both the Away Bigger Carry-On and the Béis Carry-On Roller fit major US carrier overhead bins, including Delta, United, American Airlines, Southwest, and JetBlue. Away's standard Carry-On (21.7 × 14.4 × 9 in) is more conservative and safer for international carriers with tighter limits. For exact requirements by airline, see our airline requirements guide.
Is Béis good for frequent flyers?
For moderate travel - up to about 6 trips per year - Béis is a solid choice. The wheel degradation complaints in luggage owner communities begin showing up after 12-18 months of regular flying. For travelers flying 6 or more times per year, Away's wheel quality and shell durability offer better long-term performance.
Where can I buy Away and Béis?
Away is available at awaytravel.com, in 14 retail locations (New York, Austin, Chicago, Toronto, and others), and on Amazon. Béis is available at beistravel.com, Revolve, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's.
Can Away suitcases nest inside each other for storage?
Yes. Any Away carry-on fits inside the Medium, Large, or Trunk for compact home storage. Any smaller Away size nests inside a larger one.