u/away_official

https://preview.redd.it/a7db0kliou8h1.jpg?width=2316&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=60a9e5cf6c6512912c4ba7fb578214c9d73985af

Hi r/awayluggage! It’s Jess, CEO at Away 👋

It's hard to believe, but this year marks 10 years since Away shipped its first suitcase. A lot has changed since then: in travel, in our company, and in what travelers expect from the brands they buy from. 

Since joining over a year and a half ago, I’ve immersed myself in the brand and business. As an avid Redditor (lurker), it felt like the right moment to come here and have a real conversation with our community about what I’ve learned and what’s next. 

A bit about me: I've been a consumer goods operator for the last 15 years, growing and building brands in beauty, fashion, luxury, tech and now travel. I have a passion for retail, great products and strong brand stories. I'm from France originally but have been living in the US for the past 20 years, and now living in NY with my husband and two young kids.

I’m here to answer questions about:

• What I’ve seen during my first year as CEO
• The state of travel, from what I'm seeing in the industry, and from our customers
• My approach to leadership and my career experience overall
• What I’m most excited about for Away, both this year and for the next 10
• My bucket list travel destinations
• And more.

A few ground rules:

• Please keep your comments on topic for this AMA. The more specific, the better. I will do my best to answer as many questions as I can open and honestly.
• Please be kind and respect the Subreddit rules. 
• For specific order questions, send u/away_official a DM.

I'll be live answering questions from 12–1pm ET on Thursday, June 25th, and I'll come back the next day to reply to any I missed. Drop your questions below in advance if you can't make it live.

Talk soon,
Jess

We're not crying, you're crying 🥹

We received this handwritten note from an Away wedding couple last week and it brought up all the feels. We can't help but take a stroll down memory lane as we dream of summer travel.

What was your most memorable adventure with your Away?

Bonus points for photos.

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The first unofficial summer weekend is finally here. Where are you headed? And most importantly, how are you fitting it all into your suitcase?

Looking for all the tips and inspiration.

She's here 👀

Meet the newest member of our lineup: Topside.

Topside opens from the top, packs deeper, and features our first-ever StopLock™ wheel brake system—so your suitcase stays put while you keep moving. Learn more from our Head of Design, Hannah (some of you met her last week in her AMA!).

https://reddit.com/link/1tb2whc/video/28pu9iqjsp0h1/player

All new features include:

1. Topside Access: By opening from the top, its deep main compartment packs smarter in tight spaces, with zipper expansion that adds nearly 2" of extra space.
2. StopLock^(TM) Wheel Brake: Our first-ever patent pending wheel brake system puts an end to the “runaway bag” on slanted sidewalks and moving trains. One click to stop, one click to glide.
3. The PackAway Closet: We made packing wayyy easier. The removable PackAway Closet lets you organize once, then lift the entire system out and hang it up on arrival.

Who's taking it on their next trip? 🙋 We can't wait to hear what you think.

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Hi r/awayluggage! Hannah here 👋

I joined Away as Head of Design last year, and I'm doing my first Reddit AMA on Thursday, May 7 at 12pm ET to talk about the design and engineering behind our suitcases—specifically the process behind our newest innovation, Topside.

A bit about me: I've spent my career designing across categories, continents, and teams, and I've held onto one belief through all of it: great design improves the human experience. At Away, that means thinking hard about how people actually move through the world. Topside is a product of a lot of those conversations.

About Topside: You heard it here first. We’re introducing our first non-clamshell hardside suitcase! Topside features top-loading access, deeper packing, and our first-ever StopLock^(TM) wheel brake. It's truly our most innovative suitcase yet, engineered for tight spaces and easy unpacking.

I’m happy to answer questions about:

• Why we chose a top-opening format
• The design and engineering process behind our new features
• How we make new product decisions more generally
• My approach to design leadership
• What else you’d like to see from Away

A few ground rules:

• Please keep your comments on topic for this AMA. The more specific, the better! I'll prioritize questions about Topside, its design, and our process.
• Please respect the Subreddit rules. For specific order questions, send u/away_official a DM.

I'll be live answering questions from 12–1pm ET on May 7, and I'll come back the next day to catch any I missed. Drop your questions below in advance if you can't make it live.

Looking forward to it!
– Hannah