Purchasing luggage these days can be a complex undertaking. Not only do you want to consider the usual factors you would when making any kind of purchase: style, quality, your personal needs, etc. but today's raised security concerns, particularly with air travel, mean that you are also presented with a dizzying array of rules and regulations as to what can be carried, how big it can be, whether you can lock your luggage or not, and other issues. Regulations are always in flux, and may vary from airline to airline, so you should always check with your carrier about current rules before you travel, but here are some basics that should hold true across the board.

One of your first concerns may be carrying on luggage. Many stores and catalogs will carry bags that are called carry ones or are advertised as being suitable as carry on bags. However, rules regarding carry on luggage vary widely, and many bags sold as carry on exceed the size limits imposed by many airlines. If everyone is different, what should you do, then? A good rule of thumb is to try to limit yourself to the items that you will absolutely need or use during the flight. In other words, get the smallest carry on you can that will hold what you think you need, and in most if not all cases, it will be within your airline's guidelines. Since most airlines will let you bring one carry on and one personal item, such as a purse, briefcase, or small backpack, consider using a larger purse, or putting personal as well as business items into your briefcase so as to maximize all the space you have. Other things to keep in mind are that you will probably have more restrictions for international travel and smaller commuter flights (that use smaller planes).

The flip side of putting less in a carry on may mean that you put more, and possibly more valuable, items in your checked baggage. Often now, checked bags will be not only electronically screened like your carry ones are, but may also be inspected by a person, which means that security personnel will need access to your bags after you have dropped them off. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has approved several brands and types of luggage locks that are designed so that you can open them, security personnel can open them with a master key, but other people cannot. If you want to lock your luggage, this is a no-brainer. If TSA agents cannot open your luggage to inspect it, they will break your lock. Some high tech versions will even alert you (by a light) as to whether the bag was opened or not, and if so, if it was with a TSA key or by an unauthorized person.

Pack smartly and avoid headaches at the airport.