away travel company

Away cofounder Jen Rubio says she never planned to be CEO. Here’s what changed her mind

Over the past year and a half, the luggage and travel brand Away has been through a lot. Allegations of a toxic company culture . A global pandemic that shut down travel. The departure, then return, then second departure of a controversial cofounder and CEO—and earlier this year, the exit of the outside CEO brought in to right the ship. There, through it all, has been Jen Rubio, the brand’s cofounder.

This week, the company decided that what it needed for its next phase was continuity. On Tuesday the board of directors named Rubio, who has been serving as interim CEO for the past two months, its permanent CEO. “It wasn’t part of my game plan,” says Rubio, who founded Away with fellow Warby Parker alum Steph Korey in 2015. “I was kind of in a mindset to hand the reins over.”

But when things changed, Rubio was ready to step up. And she says that she has come to believe that now is the perfect time for the company to be “founder-led.” “For me to be the leader that bridges the gap between the entrepreneurial spirit of our origins and the mature, stable, someday public company we want to be, it feels like the right thing for the company and for the team,” she says.

Founder-led for a travel rebound

In late 2019, Away brought on Stuart Haselden, a veteran retail executive who had spent the prior five years at Lululemon. But while Away once required that kind of deep retail experience to steer its ambitious growth, Rubio says that now, with the company anticipating a big rebound in travel, what the brand most needs is “strong vision and inspiration.” “That’s something that founders can provide in a really different way,” she says. “An outside CEO might be a little more risk averse or slower to move—and there are so many opportunities ahead of us.”

While Away suffered, like most in the travel industry, for much of 2020— sales dropped 90% last March and April—Rubio says the brand is seeing a recovery even before travel fully rebounds. Customers don’t need to be completely ready to get on a flight to buy a suitcase, after all. “People are really excited to travel again, and they’re planning for it,” she says. “Away is part of that pre-trip planning process for many people now.”

The opportunity for Away, then, is to offer the kinds of products that people are eager to buy as they stare down summer 2021. While the company has been most closely associated with the kind of city-centric international travel that COVID brought to a halt, Rubio is eager to sell travel products more specialized for road trips and outdoor travel to destinations like national parks. Still, the company is tracking its sales against metrics like TSA checkpoint numbers to prepare for full-scale airplane travel to come back too.

But will travel—and with it, the ubiquity of the Away hard shell carry-on—ever return to what it was pre-pandemic? “I think people are going to be more intentional,” Rubio says of travel. “They’re going to focus on the quality of their trips and experiences over collecting miles or hotel points.”

From “customer-obsessed” to “be the customer”

In much the same way that Rubio is eager to reposition Away’s offerings to customers, she says she’s endeavoring to rebrand Away among its employees. The company revamped its corporate core values in February. One significant change was to adjust the edict to be “customer-obsessed”—the issue at the core of 2019 reports that Away, and especially Korey, mistreated members of its customer-service team—to “be the customer.” That means Away is now asking its employees to “be incessantly curious about what travelers want from us, need from us, expect from us—then make it happen,” rather than to please the customer at all costs.

Other new values for Away include “make great new things,” “own it,” and “do good as you do well.” Those replaced values like “empowered” and “accessible,” which The Verge reported in 2019 were often used as reasoning for limiting employee time off and providing harsh employee critiques. Rubio says that the company believes the reporting didn’t accurately reflect the true culture inside Away, but she acknowledges that shift in language is intended to make sure that the company is not “saying one thing but acting in a different way.”

Rubio says the company is also changing its approach to the core business. Rather than “coasting along in growth mode,” as it was pre-pandemic, she says Away is aiming to be more intentional about what products the brand is debuting and how it’s getting them to customers.

Some of these goals Rubio set may have to wait to be fully executed; the new CEO is eight months pregnant with her first child and planning to take Away’s 16 weeks of parental leave.

While at home with her new baby and partner, Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield , Rubio may also be thinking about Away’s ultimate post-travel rebound goal: an IPO. “It’s really about, over the next couple of years, being able to prove we’ve built a brand and a company that has staying power,” she says. “That will only be viewed favorably when the time is right to IPO.”

Latest in MPW

Mothers are back at work. Here’s why we shouldn’t be too quick to celebrate

Anyone still skeptical about the ‘Caitlin Clark effect’ should check out the record ticket prices for her matchup against Angel Reese on Sunday

Men and women are now equally comfortable talking about age and partners—but a new survey shows money remains a gendered taboo

The share of Fortune 500 companies run by women CEOs stays flat at 10.4% as pace of change stalls

Rachel Romer built a $4.4 billion education unicorn by 34—then she had a stroke. Now her CEO successor reckons with Guild’s new chapter

Scouting America CEO: Our name change was long overdue—and today’s divisions prove the role we have to play is more important than ever

Most popular.

Five men were convicted for running Jetflicks, a low-cost streaming service that amassed more TV shows than Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime combined

8 out of 10 women change their name after marriage—they might not realize the impact it has on their careers, work relationships and job prospects

Why going cashless has turned Sweden from one of the safest countries into a high-crime nation

Software company plans to pay tens of millions in ransom to hackers who crippled car dealerships across North America

Gen Z are increasingly becoming NEETs by choice—not in employment, education, or training

San Francisco home crashes more than 60% in value after listing says buyers must wait decades to move in

The 7 Away Luggage Pieces We Recommend Most

By Rachel Chang

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

I distinctly remember the moment I first laid my eyes on an Away suitcase . One of my coworkers had been talking nonstop about her new carry-on, and before heading out of town one day, she rolled the hard-shell spinner into the office. Like a proud new homeowner, she took our team on a tour through its features, leaving me mesmerized by its built-in compression straps and portable battery pack, as well as its stylish and sturdy design.

Though awestruck, I didn't immediately purchase my own; I was never one to invest in baggage—and the introductory price—$225 when it first hit the market—was beyond what I thought luggage was worth at the time. Following an ill-fated journey to Australia , in which I found my checked bag split open on the baggage carousel, the zipper having burst after I overstuffed it, I knew it was time to upgrade.

My first Away bag was The Bigger Carry-On , and despite having previously thought of luggage as glorified boxes to transport my travel essentials, I was immediately obsessed. For an overpacker, I was surprised how much I could stuff into the suitcase. Constantly slipping in “just one more” thing in, the zipper always held tight and the shell showed no signs of bulging. While on the go, the light glide of the wheels could tackle any surface, even cobblestone streets. Plus, the sleek, minimalist design just jived with me.

Shown in green

Being the space hog I am, I later upgraded to The Bigger Carry-On Flex , which added an extra 2.25 inches of expansion, meaning even I was able to go on a two-week trip with just a carry-on . As much as I’ve banged it around and overstuffed it, it’s remained impervious to my abuse.

These days, I often see other brands trying to mimic Away's features—a sign of just how much it’s changed the luggage industry. What makes it all the more surprising is that Away is still a relatively new company, having roared onto the market in 2015, with one simple goal: understanding travelers.

“From the beginning, we set out to expand the conversation around travel, solving real world travel pain points by keeping an incredibly close pulse on our customer’s needs,” Away’s chief marketing officer Carla Dunham says. “We dissected and developed a solution to all of the common headaches of travel while revolutionizing what it meant to be a travel brand.”

Founded by two female former Warby Parker executives, including Jen Rubio, who still serves as the CEO, Away was sparked by her own broken baggage disaster, noticing there was a hole in the market for luggage that was fun and functional.

After talking to hundreds of travelers, the initial carry-on was designed to meet all the most common needs—a lighter and stronger hard-side with an impact-resistant polycarbonate shell that moved easily with premium 360-degree wheels, with thoughtful features like a snap-in mesh laundry bag to keep clean to separate clean and dirty laundry, and a removable battery pack to eliminate the fight for the airport outlets.

The result wasn’t just success—the brand quickly entered the zeitgeist. Stars from Margot Robbie to Mandy Moore were spotted toting them , and Meghan Markle is believed to have given 17 Away bags as party favors at her baby shower. They've turned up on screen, too. Dunham says her favorite pop culture moment was when Portia tossed her Away away in The White Lotus. “It seemed so natural that she had an Away suitcase and that spoke to the brand’s unique position in culture and continued relevance.”

Since launch, the price points for the standard editions—which now start at $315 for The Carry-On and go up to $475 for the newly introduced The Trunk —have gone up, and are a notch above what casual or new travelers may be used to paying, but are still fairly reasonably priced for the suitcases' quality.

The brand has ventured into other travel accessories since launch, too, with both hits ( packing cubes ) and misses (travel pillows, now discontinued)—and added an outdoor collection, F.A.R., last year . It continues to evolve based on the needs of the moment. With the growing number of power outlets available on flights and around airport terminals these days, Away just phased out its distinctive built-in battery charger from its core product last month, as part of its first major refresh of its original classics line .

“Each update is incredibly intentional—from the improved features like a redesigned zipper shape, additional interior organization, and an updated trolley system, to the fresh color palette and new gloss finish, underscores how we obsess over every detail to make the journey smoother for our customers,” Dunham says.

As the brand continues to evolve, more updates and new products are sure to come, but some of the products remain staples. Here, we round up the Condé Nast Traveler team’s most-used Away bags and accessories.

This article is part of Condé Nast Traveler' s first-ever Luggage Week , for which dozens of suitcases, backpacks, and weekender bags were road-tested by our editors.

Weight: 7.9 lbs. Dimensions: 23" x 15" x 10" Capacity: 47.9L

A recent convert from a larger suitcase that often had to be checked, editorial assistant Jessica Chapel says the refreshed Bigger Carry-On suitcase “does wonders,” especially since she can fit almost as much in this more compact hardside spinner, which she recently took on a five-day trip with plenty of room to spare. She’s already traveled with the 7.9-pound bag by plane, bus, and car, and put it to the test when delays allowed her only 15 minutes to get between gates. She swiftly pulled the bag out of the overhead compartment thanks to “the perfect mix of convenient handle placements and the texture of the luggage,” put the bag on top of her head—an unconventional carrying method, to be sure—and sailed through the crowd. “It's the little things, including the unique placement of the luggage's underside handle—with a small dash of adrenaline—that certainly does the trick for easy access without any shuffle, which is exactly what's needed in an airport rush,” Chapel says. (She made her connecting flight in the knick of time.)

Also notable, she says: the interior lining, mesh, and drawstring laundry for dirty clothes (no longer snapped, as part of the refresh), are made of recycled polyester. Deputy global editorial director Jesse Ashlock concurs, having depended on the classic version for more than three years now, calling it a “solid workhorse polycarbonate bag that suits a lot of different trip styles.” I recently tried the updated version of The Bigger Carry-On, and was able to pack enough for a weeklong California getaway; I am especially loving the additional inner pockets to keep my essentials more organized.

Weight: 10.4 lbs. Dimensions: 26" x 19" x 11" Capacity: 68.8L

During a two-week car trip to Rhode Island and Martha’s Vineyard, destinations editorial assistant Charlie Hobbs brought along the “perfectly light” 10.4-pound medium check-in sized hardside, able to fit enough in to not have to do laundry the entire getaway. The interior of the upgraded version—which he found “unassuming”—includes more storage pockets: The compression flap, which used to have just one large zipper mesh compartment, is now divided into two zippered sections on one side with an added large pocket on the backside. Additionally, the zipper closure for the top half of the suitcase now has a zippered pocket on it. He also noticed what’s perhaps the most commonly called-out downfall of Away’s hardsides: “Despite only ever being in the car, this bag is already quite scuffed up,” he said. (When I was in Estonia with two other travel writers last month, looking at our three Away bags, we commented the same thing.) Each suitcase does come with Away's own version of a Magic Eraser that helps remove light scuffs, though a bit of elbow grease might be needed to get them out. That said, Hobbs found the 360-degree wheels rolled “perfectly well” and appreciated the new ergonomic curved zippers. Like Chapel, he found the luggage easy to lift up in a bind, when he had to put it on the roof of a Toyota for a ferry ride, noting it was easy to sling it up, “thanks to the side handles.”

Weight: 8.15 lbs. Dimensions: 22" x 14" x 9" (not expanded) Capacity: 39.8L

“The joy of this luggage is its simplicity,” global director of audience development Lara Kramer says. At 8.15 pounds, this model has the expandable 2.25-inches of zipper space going from 39.8 liter capacity to 46.7 liters, providing “the luxury of expanding to add more room if needed,” she adds. She and her husband both use it as their carry-on suitcase—in part because it moves so well, “gliding smoothly and easily with its 360-degree spinner wheels.” Otherwise, she finds the other features “pretty straightforward,” also noting the issue of the exterior scuffing “very easily,” especially noticeable on a dark suitcase. “They're generally surface scuffs and not hard to buff out, but against the black color, it can look pretty jarring,” she adds. That said, Kramer says, “I still truly love this piece and it has continued to hold up despite many uses.”

Weight: 2.45 lbs. Dimensions: 12" x 6" x 18" Capacity: 20L

Simplicity comes first with this water-resistant nylon backpack, available in five subtle monochromatic shades, that CNT editors have called “functional” with “a classic look that you won’t tire of.” As a freelancer whose backpack is her office, that timeless look also means the backpack strikes the right balance of being professional (I’ve toted it to business meetings and events), travel-friendly (I’ve also taken it on day trips to the Jersey Shore and Long Island), and casual (it’s also doubled as my exercise bag for spin class). When I got caught in the rain at the US Open in New York, the raindrops wicked right off, and the bag's contents stayed dry. But my two favorite magic tricks of this bag are the extended clamshell-style zipper, which opens the main compartment and makes it just as easy to take something out of the bottom as the top, and the bag's weight distribution. Whether it’s the padded straps or the mesh back panel, it somehow makes the contents feel lighter—I’ve stopped at least twice to make sure my laptop was actually inside the 15-inch sleeve. Plus, the thoughtful number of pockets are great for storing little essentials.

Weight: 1.74 lbs. Dimensions: 19" x 13" x 8" Capacity: 26L

When it comes to travel backpacks, I’m far pickier than with luggage. I need an uber-spacious main compartment and every zipper and pocket needs to be just in place—so much so that I used the same ratty old Vans Off the Wall one for well over a decade. While I recently tested out a new Tumi backpack, I never liked the placements of its pockets. Enter the F.A.R. Backpack 26L. The main compartment is deep and wide open, yet still has a slip pocket in the back for my laptop. Hidden behind it is another zippered compartment that fits a 15-inch device. The front pocket is surprisingly roomy too, with tons of organizational pockets—plus, there are two water bottle side pockets, each able to hold a 32-ounce container. Add to that the fact the entire bag is only 1.74 pounds and it still fits under the seat in front of me on planes.

While the Everywhere Zip may be sufficient for day trips, personally, I do need the space of the 26-liter bag to fit my basic travel essentials for anything that includes an overnight stay. Plus the shell is tougher for more rugged travels, whether it's outdoor adventures or multi-stop itineraries, where it may be subject to more use. That said, I am still learning to trust mine completely. On two occasions, the zipper has opened on its own and I didn't realize until contents spilled out. But both times were when I was leaving hotels in a rush, so it's possible I didn't properly zip it.

Weight (full set): 0.7 lbs.

Dimensions: Small: 10" x 4" x 8" Medium slim: 10" x 4" x 4" Medium wide: 13" x 4" x 10" Large: 13" x 4" x 7"

Before I tried Away’s packing cubes, I was a skeptic of the travel accessory as a whole. Other cubes I had seen were either bulky, or felt rough, cheap, and pointless. Admittedly, when I first saw this innocuous set from Away, I was still doubtful. But as it turns out, this set of four nylon water-resistant zip bags with one mesh side are as subtle as they are useful. In the smallest one, I’m able to stuff in all my “just in case” accessories—a foldable running cap, beanie, scarf, gloves, and swimsuit, and tuck it into a teeny corner of the suitcase. The medium slim is perfect for organizing my underwear, packing them vertically, Marie Kondo–style , while the medium wide fits my bras, tanks, and socks. The final one, the large slim, rotates between storing pairs of shoes or other bulky items. They all fit together like Legos in my suitcase, weighing a combined 0.7 pounds—well worth it for keeping me organized on the go.

Weight: .8 oz. Dimensions: 6" x 8" x 3" Capacity: 0.5 gal.

When I first got this bag, I didn’t think I’d ever use it. It wasn’t quite a dry sack, it wasn’t quite a travel pouch. It was an in-between hybrid that I saw no practical use for. But then one day when I was running out the door, holding too many chargers in my hands, I tossed them in there—and it’s become my go-to tech accessories bag, traveling with me both on trips and in my everyday life. Made of water-resistant recycled ripstop nylon, it repels accidental spills (mostly coffee, in my case), but is so thin and sturdy that it doesn’t take up much space. The recycled nylon handle also makes it easy to grab when I’m trying to fish it out of my bag. Use it for chargers and cords, toiletries, or any other odds and ends, and know that there are small and large versions if you want a full set.

• Revisions & Errata
• Get Featured

Subscriber for weekly insights

The leading business publication for the bold and ambitious.

You’re officially subscribed to our newsletter.

For Customers

• Product Manual
• Product Updates
• API Documentation
• Explore Datasets
• Thinknum Alternative Data

Industry Products

• Investor Intelligence
• Business Intelligence
• External Data Conference

Media Services

• Content Studio
• Advertising

A brief history of Away: From suitcases to scandals

Can Away bounce back from COVID shutdowns and the company's co-founder drama?

Surely you’ve seen the ads. Just open Instagram or Facebook and you’ll scroll past the luggage that’s taking the world, particularly millennial travelers, by storm. Away debuted as a female-founded, highly funded, direct-to-consumer luggage retailer in 2015. The launch of their signature product, the Carry-On, was enormously successful. Vogue called it “The Perfect Carry-On.” People dubbed it “the little black dress of luggage.” By the conclusion of its first year in business, Away had launched three more suitcases: The Bigger Carry-On, The Medium, and The Large. This is a brief history of the company’s founding, growth, success, and some recent turmoil. 

The broken suitcase that started it all

Away launched in 2015 after founder Jen Rubio’s luggage broke in an airport in Switzerland. Her clothes and toiletries poured out of her suitcase and onto the airport floor. She ended up finding some straps and tape to get the suitcase functional enough to get to her next destination. After that, Rubio was on the hunt for a better suitcase. She reached out to her former colleague at Warby Parker, Stephanie Korey and the two came up with the idea for a durable hard-shell suitcase with wheels and a built-in battery pack capable of charging phones and tablets. Rubio and Korey met in 2011, while they were working at Warby Parker as social media manager and head of supply chain, respectively. With Away, the women knew their market and their strategy: relentless online marketing. 

Rubio and Korey netted $150,000 via family and friends to start the company. That was enough to hire an industrial designer and take a blueprint of their luggage to a factory in southeastern China, willing to take a chance on two young women with big dreams but not a lot of experience (see also: Sara Blakely and SPANX). The two founders visited that factory eight times in 2015.

The carry-on that took over Instagram

Despite their close watch on the production of their signature Carry-On, Christmas 2015 was fast approaching and their luggage wasn’t going to be ready in time. So they relied on the tried and true marketing tactic: the pre-order. Then they blanketed social media with their ads, and it worked. The first Carry-Ons were delivered to customers in early 2016. Away’s luggage is hard sided polycarbonate with for 360-degree spinner wheels and strong YKK zippers that can take the abuse that luggage typically takes. The luggage also has a removable 10,000-milliamp-hour lithium ion battery for charging personal devices.  The Away Carry-On will run you $225 including shipping in the US. A similar bag from Tumi sells for $525. 

Within months, Rubio and Korey had filed more than a dozen patent applications worldwide. The company made $12 million its first year. Away was profitable by the end of 2017. By late 2019, the company was on track to do $150 million in revenue. Away sells the vast majority of its suitcases online. It also has a handful of stores in high-traffic cities like New York, London, and Los Angeles. Today, Rubio and Korey have sold more than 100,000 suitcases. 

The scandal that made headlines

In late 2019, trouble within Away’s company culture and reports of a toxic workplace surfaced. According to the Verge , executives mocked employees on a private Slack channel. Korey was accused of making staff members cry. Employees were asked to work long hours and limit their paid time off. They were reprimanded for not responding to messages immediately, even late at night and on weekends. While Away has a cult following among celebrities, influences, and millennials, former employees are quick to point out its image is at direct odds with its company culture. 

People are still following Away's Facebook page, but year-over-year  growth rate for likes has significantly dropped.

As a result of these and many other stories, Away announced in early December 2019 that Korey would be replaced as CEO by former Lululemon executive Stuart Haselden. About a month later, Korey rescinded her resignation and planned to be co-CEO with Haselden.  In late June 2020, Korey took to Instagram to attack digital media companies and journalists in the heat of the Black Lives Matter protests.  By July, Rubio had announced that Korey would be leaving Away by the end of the year and Haselden would take over as sole CEO. 

Job listings are down 72.7% year-to-date.

Now, nearly six months into the global pandemic with most travel halted, how will the company bounce back from both the shutdowns and the company's co-founder drama?

Sign up for our Newsletter

Start your day off with our weekly digest.

Latest Articles

Who really works for opensea, twitter’s endgame in its case against elon musk, bolt and client abg bury the hatchet and become “proud partners” again, a brief history of why martin shkreli got banned from twitter, recession and bankruptcy fears are rising, corporate filings show, analysis: the sharks are circling crypto, and it’s going to take a lot to fight them off, falling down the rabbit hole — how a reporter became part of the martin shkreli story, "repulsive," "reptilian," "diseased": what john d. rockefeller had in common with martin shkreli.

Away Luggage Review: Are the Popular Carry-Ons Worth the Hype?

We put the internet's favorite suitcase through hours of testing to determine if it's worth buying.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

What I thought of the Away Carry-On

Should you buy away carry-on luggage, other types of away suitcases, more away travel products we like.

As an analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, I have personally tested dozens of travel products, from carry-on luggage and smart suitcases to hardside luggage and travel backpacks . After putting the Away carry-on through our rigorous Lab evaluations — which include using specialized equipment to analyze scratch and water resistance, as well as an obstacle course to measure wheel performance and maneuverability — I was blown away by this bag for being impressively lightweight, scratch resistant, easy to maneuver and fitting everything in our packing tests. In fact, it landed the top spot for carry-on luggage in our roundup of the best luggage brands of 2024 .

The bottom line: Away luggage is absolutely worth investing in.

What is Away luggage?

Away is a travel gear brand that offers a variety of travel accessories, including checked suitcases , backpacks , packing cubes and weekender bags . The brand originally went viral for its carry-on featuring a removable battery that can charge your phone on the go, but Away has since stopped offering battery packs with its suitcases as most people already own portable chargers .

Away's Carry-On and Bigger Carry-On are the brand's two most popular items — they are made from the same materials and have the same features but in two different sizes. In the brand's most recent update to its luggage line, the standard Carry-On now has a slightly larger packing capacity and is a bit heavier than the previous model. I put the new standard Carry-On to the test in the Textiles Lab and I used the Bigger Carry-On during a recent vacation to find out if Away luggage is actually worth buying.

Away The Carry-On

Away The Bigger Carry-On

When it comes to luggage material, polycarbonate reigns supreme over other hardside materials like plastics. Away carry-ons are made with polycarbonate, which is extremely durable and more lightweight than metals like aluminum.

Polycarbonate bags typically ace our drop tests, which involve GH pros filling a suitcase with a set weight and releasing the luggage from a 3-foot height. We repeat this test at various angles and note any damages and imperfections. As suspected, after I dropped it from different angles using our drop tester, the Away carry-on showed no dents, damages or changes in appearance .

During testing, we also use a wire to scratch the surface of the suitcase and then rate any scuffs or marks left behind. Compared to other suitcases, Away's carry-on aced our scratch-resistance testing, showing very minimal scuffs and remaining in great condition . Because marks and scuffs are inevitable on hardside luggage, the suitcases also come with a magic eraser sponge, so you can easily buff the outside of your suitcase when scuffs appear to keep your luggage looking fresh trip after trip.

I gave Away's handles lower comfort scores, compared to the other carry-ons I tested. They felt a bit wobbly and less sturdy than other carry-on handles, and they don't offer any padding at the grip. The newest iteration of the brand's carry-on luggage features an additional underside grab handle near the wheels to help make it easier to stow and retrieve from an overhead bin.

The 360º wheels rolled easily over a variety of different surfaces when I was at the airport, including linoleum, tile and carpet. Testers agreed, finding this suitcase easy to maneuver through our obstacle course and over different floorings.

A carry-on absolutely has to hold everything you need for your vacation. Away carry-ons have massive interiors , clocking in at 39.8L for the Carry-On and 47.9L for the Bigger Carry-On. When you open the suitcase, there's equal packing space on both sides. One side is a large zippered compartment, and the other is open with compression straps to keep everything in place. There are also zippered pockets for smaller items, so nothing gets lost at the bottom of your suitcase. For ultimate organization, pair the suitcase with the brand's mesh packing cubes , which excelled in our recent packing cubes test and fit perfectly in the carry-on.

I was impressed with just how much I could fit in the Bigger Carry-On — enough for a whole week's vacation without needing a checked bag. It was easy to keep all my belongings organized, and I especially loved the included laundry bag that kept my dirty clothes separate. This bag came with a stylish leather luggage tag in a similar color to the suitcase that keeps my contact info accessible if my luggage gets lost. (Remember not to put your home address on your luggage tag and instead just your email address or phone number.) Away luggage also features TSA-compliant locks to keep your belongings protected.

Starting at $275 for the Carry-On, Away luggage isn't cheap. But for the cost, you get a sleek suitcase made with durable high-quality materials and a well-organized interior for easy packing. At a similar price to our other top-tested luggage brands, like TravelPro and Samsonite , Away carry-ons aren't the most expensive suitcases I've tested either. (Both Tumi and Rimowa carry-ons start at $650, for example.) The brand also boasts an impressive 100-day return period on unused products, so you have lots of time to decide if it's the right fit for you. Note that personalized products and final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.

If you love its chic appearance and durable polycarbonate shell, Away luggage can be worth the investment. But if you're ultimately in the market for something more affordable, I suggest checking out our top-tested picks from Target and Amazon Basics .

Besides the famous carry-ons, the brand offers a few other styles of suitcases. There are checked sizes of the polycarbonate luggage as well as aluminum styles. The checked bags are made with the same durable polycarbonate material as the carry-ons and match in appearance if you're looking to create a stylish set.

I haven't yet tested Away's aluminum carry-ons , but I am wary of the higher price tag (starting at $675) and additional weight (10.1 lbs compared to 7.5 lbs for the polycarbonate version). Beyond that, it does feature an overall similar design with 360° wheels and a telescopic handle.

Away also offers Flex styles of its polycarbonate suitcases. These suitcases expand for an additional 2.25" of space to fit all the extra goodies you bought on vacation. However, when the suitcase is fully expanded, it no longer works as carry-on luggage and must be checked. Note that this style has a higher price tag than the brand's traditional polycarbonate carry-ons.

Away The Carry-On: Aluminum Edition

Away The Carry-On Flex

Away The Medium

Away The Large

In addition to the brand's suitcases, GH analysts have tested a variety of travel products from Away. We were especially impressed by Away's Everywhere Bag (available in standard , medium and large sizes), which held an impressive amount in our Lab tests and was a favorite among testers for its sleek look and roomy, well-organized interior. The brand recently launched a trendy quilted version too!

Away The Large Everywhere Bag

Away The Insider Packing Cubes (Set of 6)

Away F.A.R Convertible Backpack 45L

Away The Everywhere Zip Backpack

Emma Seymour (she/her) is a senior product analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute 's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance. 

@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-o9j0dn:before{margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-right:0.625rem;color:#ffffff;width:1.25rem;bottom:-0.2rem;height:1.25rem;content:'_';display:inline-block;position:relative;line-height:1;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}} Product Reviews

The Best Kids Backpacks for the New School Year

The Best Water Tables

The Best Play Mats

The Best Zero Turn Mowers

These Amazon Bestsellers Are Must-Haves

The Best Mouse Traps

The Best Denim Jackets

The Best Mattresses for Heavy People

The Best Adjustable Beds for Seniors

The Best Robot Vacuums for Pet Hair

The Best Sheets You Can Buy on Amazon

Today's Digital Daily

site categories

Parent item expand the sub menu, designers pay tribute to ‘master’ dries van noten at his farewell show, street style at paris fashion week men’s, sacai men’s spring and women’s resort 2025: rebel, rebel, away names first president as luggage company accelerates growth with return of travel.

Away has promoted its CFO to the new role of president as the company prepares for aggressive growth.

Accessories Editor

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on X
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Pin It
• Share this article on Tumblr
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on LinkedIn
• Share this article on WhatsApp
• Share this article on Email
• Print this article
• Share this article on Talk

Away is eyeing further growth and has appointed its first president. The direct-to-consumer luggage and lifestyle brand has promoted chief financial officer Catherine Dunleavy to the newly created position.

As Away’s president, Dunleavy will oversee strategy, operations and supply chain, digital product, legal and finance. Away will look to hire a new CFO.

Related Articles

Griffin dunne talks black and white ball, kennedys at santa monica book party, how l.a. fashion brand simon miller sharpened its price point and space mod aesthetic for success, you may also like.

Dunleavy said of her new job: “I’m incredibly proud of the work that the entire Away team has accomplished since I joined the company two years ago. I’m honored that [cofounder] Jen Rubio and the board have given me their confidence to drive greater impact in this new role. Away’s continued growth amid tumultuous macro-environments coupled with our impressive brand affinity highlight just how beloved Away remains, despite external factors impacting retail and travel industries. I’m excited to work alongside Away’s best-in-class executive team as we continue to catapult the company’s future growth together.”

In an exclusive statement to WWD, Rubio said that adding the role of president to Away’s executive lineup has been a long time coming. “I, along with Away’s board, have been eager to establish this role for some time. Over the last few years, one of my biggest priorities has been to build a top-tier leadership team to help me steer the business into the future. Throughout that process — and as the business continues to strengthen and mature — we identified this new structure as an opportunity to create deeper focus, drive greater impact across the business and enable a more seamless execution of our long-term plans,” Rubio said.

Rubio, who remains the brand’s chief executive officer, added: “It’s important to note that the position of president is not simply an extension of scope for our financial function, but rather a distinct role that will leverage Catherine’s experience and expertise in a new capacity. As president, Catherine will directly oversee finance, legal, operations and supply chain, and technology functions. As a result, I’ll be able to dedicate increased focus on our brand, our products and our people operations.”

Sign up for WWD news straight to your inbox every day

WWD Recommends

Pharrell williams and jackson wang toast ‘a deeper connection’ at paris fashion week dinner.

• By Joelle Diderich

Christie Brinkley, Julianna Margulies, Vera Wang and More Attend the Fragrance Foundation 2024 Awards

• By Eryn Norton

Inside the Father of the Year Awards 2024

• By Ryan Williams

‘Becoming Karl Lagerfeld’ Star Daniel Brühl Gets Ready with Zegna

WWD and Women's Wear Daily are part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Fairchild Publishing, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Fashion Expand fashion menu

• Fashion Trends
• Fashion Features
• Fashion Scoops
• Designer & Luxury
• Ready-To-Wear
• Accessories

Business Expand business menu

• Government & Trade
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Marketing & Promotion
• Human Resources
• Business Features
• Real Estate

Beauty Expand beauty menu

• Beauty Features

Men's Expand mens menu

• Mens Accessories
• Mens Clothing Furnishings
• Mens Designer Luxury
• Mens Lifestyle
• Mens Retail Business
• Mens Sportswear
• Mens Fashion

Runway Expand runway menu

• Men’s Fall 2024
• Pre-Fall 2024
• Spring Ready-to-Wear 2024
• Fall Couture 2023
• Resort 2024

Denim Expand denim menu

Sustainability expand sustainability menu.

• Environment
• Social Impact

Home/Design Expand home-design menu

• Interior Design
• Architecture

WWD Weekend Expand wwd-weekend menu

Events expand events menu, eye expand eye menu.

• Celebrity Real Estate

Shop Expand shop menu

More expand more menu.

• Fairchild Live
• RetailRx Community

Verify it's you

Please log in.

Employee Benefits

Core values.

• Curiosity: At Away, we foster a culture of curiosity, encouraging employees to explore new ideas and challenge the status quo.
• Collaboration: We believe that teamwork is essential to our success, and we value diverse perspectives and shared problem-solving.
• Empathy: We prioritize empathy in our interactions with each other and our customers, striving to create meaningful connections and experiences.
• Growth: We are committed to personal and professional growth, providing opportunities for learning, skill enhancement, and career advancement.

Steph Korey Goodwin

Sam Caron-Schuler

Recent hiring news, li-fire and fireaway inc. join forces to combat lithium-ion battery fires, dtc luggage brand away uses ai to inspire real vacations, away beefs up with 249 jobs, similar companies.

Mack Weldon

Rent the Runway

Warby Parker

The RealReal

Related searches, want jobs in your inbox.

Emotional baggage

Away’s founders sold a vision of travel and inclusion, but former employees say it masked a toxic work environment.

By Zoë Schiffer

Illustrations by Grayson Blackmon and Will Joel

Share this story

Avery felt out of place at Away. Like many of the executives at the popular direct-to-consumer luggage brand, she’d gone to an Ivy League college, worked at a popular startup, and honed an intense work ethic that set her apart from the pack. But the higher-ups, who were almost all white and straight, still never gave her the time of day. “It was very clear who was in the clique,” she says. 

Originally, Avery had joined because of the brand’s popularity — the hard-shell suitcases were everywhere: in overheads, luggage carousels, subway ads — but she also wanted to believe in the mission. Away promised a lifestyle of inclusion and nice vacations. It was also founded by two women (one a person of color) who sought to run a globally minded business. “In my mind, it’s a trivial product but the brand is more than just luggage,” Avery says. “It’s about travel.” As the months went by and she got a closer glimpse at the growth and image-obsessed culture, however, she started to feel like the mission was just a smokescreen to get employees to work harder and longer.

Like many fast-growing startups, Away’s workplace is organized around digital communication. It’s how employees talk, plan projects, and get feedback from co-workers and higher-ups. Away used the popular chat app Slack, which has the motto “where work happens.” But of course, being a startup, a lot of other chatter happened there, too.

“You could hear her typing and you knew something bad was going to happen”

When a co-worker invited Avery to join a private Slack channel called #Hot-Topics filled with LGBTQ folks and people of color, she was relieved to find that she wasn’t the only one who felt uncomfortable with Away’s purported mission and company culture. “It was a lot of like, ‘This person did this not-woke thing,’ or ‘Those people did something insensitive,’” she recalls. In other words, it was a safe space where marginalized employees could vent.

It was also against company policy. Away embraced Slack in more ways than one — its co-founder, Jen Rubio, is engaged to its CEO Stewart Butterfield — but it took things further than most startups. Employees were not allowed to email each other, and direct messages were supposed to be used rarely (never about work, and only for small requests, like asking if someone wanted to eat lunch). Private channels were also to be created sparingly and mainly for work-specific reasons, so making channels to, say, commiserate about a tough workday was not encouraged.

The rules had been implemented in the name of transparency, but employees say they created a culture of intimidation and constant surveillance. Once, when a suitcase was sent out with a customer’s incomplete initials stenciled onto the luggage tag, CEO Steph Korey said the person in charge must have been “brain dead” and threatened to take over the project. “Slack bullying is a thing,” explains a former member of the creative team we’ll call Erica*. “In my experience there, it’s extensive and relentless. It wasn’t just co-workers pinning things on other people — it came from the execs.” 

Korey was infamous for tearing into people on Slack. “You could hear her typing and you knew something bad was going to happen,” says a former customer experience associate we’ll call Caroline*. Yet while her feedback was almost always sent online, its effects were felt in the real world, often when employees burst into tears.

So when the executive’s name unexpectedly popped into #Hot-Topics the morning of May 16th, 2018, employees knew something was wrong. She’d found out about the channel from Erin Grau, the head of people, who said language in the room had made at least one person uncomfortable. “I thought, Damn, she’s gonna see us talking about some stupid stuff, but whatever ,” recalls a former marketing manager named Emily*. She hoped Korey would at least find the conversations funny.

That hope evaporated the next day when Korey began calling people into a room one by one. There, flanked by the company’s head of people and general counsel, she told six people they were being let go. “You’ve been discriminatory,” employees remember her saying. “The stuff you said was hateful, even racist. You no longer have a job at this company.” Emily, who is a person of color, was shocked. “That was jarring — three white people telling me I was racist,” she says.

Korey disputes ever using the terms “racist” and “hate speech,” although multiple sources confirmed these were the words she used.

“They prey on people who were never cool like me”

The situation bruised employee morale, according to leaked Slack logs and interviews The Verge conducted with 14 former workers. But it was consistent with a pattern of behavior from the company’s top leaders. 

Employees were asked to work exceedingly long hours and limit their paid time off. Their projects were brutally criticized by executives on public Slack channels. They were reprimanded for not answering messages immediately — even late at night and on weekends. 

The cutthroat culture allowed the company to grow at hyperspeed, developing a cult following with celebrities and millennials alike. But it also opened a yawning gap between how Away appears to its customers and what it’s like to actually work there. The result is a brand consumers love, a company culture people fear, and a cadre of former employees who feel burned out and coerced into silence. 

“They prey on people who were never cool like me,” Caroline says. “It’s a cult brand, and you get sucked into the cool factor. Because of that, they can manipulate you.”

“Luggage is only the beginning”

Korey and Rubio met in 2011 while working at the trendy direct-to-consumer eyewear company Warby Parker. There, Korey implemented the lessons she’d learned at Bloomingdale’s years before. “The things I learned there about retail markups, markdowns, wholesaling, licensing, and the department store supply chain all later became the very things we would avoid at Warby Parker,” she said in an interview in Fortune . 

Their aim was to sell “first-class luggage at a coach price” by cutting out the middleman and marketing directly to consumers. It was a model perfected by brands like Dollar Shave Club, Glossier, and Everlane: direct-to-consumer powerhouses that, through some alchemy of Facebook ads, freckled models, and bold sans serif fonts, had elevated themselves out of their business category to achieve tech company success.

Following this blueprint, Korey and Rubio positioned Away as a travel company, not a luggage brand. “We’re working to create the perfect version of everything people need to travel more seamlessly,” Rubio said in a 2018 interview . “Luggage is only the beginning.”

To make their brand even more aspirational, Away partnered with models and it-girls like Karlie Kloss, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, and Rashida Jones to promote the bags on social media. This was Rubio’s wheelhouse: she’d managed social strategy at Warby Parker and knew how to make Away hyper-relevant. 

Korey, for her part, didn’t have to work hard to project an aspirational lifestyle. The CEO grew up in Ohio in a 55,000-square-foot historic mansion with an indoor swimming pool and three dining rooms . She’d gone to boarding school, then landed in Bloomingdale’s executive development program while at Brown University.

“It just created a culture of bullying”

But for all of her privilege, no one denied the executive’s fanatical work ethic. Where Rubio’s job seemed to involve glamorous travel and speaking events, and many employees say they never interacted with her, Korey was always in the office. She managed all of the company’s operations and was regularly online past 1AM.

The CEO often vacillated between being funny and relatable to hyper-critical and even cruel. Employees say she swore during interviews, cackled at people’s jokes, and took new hires to lunch, telling stories about her own mistakes. Once, during an interview, a woman remarked that she was drawn to Away because she was a millennial and it was a millennial-friendly product. “I’m a millennial, too,” Korey said. Later, that same employee was told by her manager that Korey had referred to the team as a bunch of “millennial twats.”

Korey was adamant that clear feedback was critical to employees’ growth. She was blunt when she didn’t agree with someone and encouraged managers not to shy away from harsh criticism. Erica, who managed a small team, questioned whether this strategy actually worked. “It didn’t feel like I was helping my direct reports grow,” she says.

When the photo team took suitcases to a shoot in the Hamptons and brought them back banged up and covered in sand, an employee who’d started that week was blamed for the “unacceptable” error and called out publicly on Slack. (The bags had eventually made their way to customers, and executives were furious.) “It could’ve just been a co-worker pulling them aside and saying this isn’t cool,” Erica says. “It felt like they were publicly outing the situation so that everybody could follow along.”

Korey often framed her critiques in terms of Away’s core company values: thoughtful, customer-obsessed, iterative, empowered, accessible, in it together. Empowered employees didn’t schedule time off when things were busy, regardless of how much they’d been working. Customer-obsessed employees did whatever it took to make consumers happy, even if it came at the cost of their own well-being. The framework echoed the tough company culture at Amazon where employees are taught to forget old habits and embrace a new set of ideals. 

Transparency seemed like it was just a pretense for Korey to micromanage and exert control

The intensity prompted employees to form small groups, chatting in texts about the toxic company culture. “Everyone kind of found their tribe and stuck to them because you needed to have allies there if you were gonna stay there,” says Serena*, a marketing manager.

But even this seemed like it could get them in trouble. From the beginning, Korey and Rubio had banned direct messages on Slack for anything related to work. Ostensibly, this was supposed to make the culture more transparent. “Over the course of our careers, Jen and I observed situations where women and underrepresented groups were often excluded from key emails or meetings,” Korey said in a statement to The Verge . “Slack affords levels of inclusion and transparency email simply doesn’t. With email the original author gets to pick who is included in the conversation and whose voices won’t be heard. That’s not the company we want.”

In practice, however, it did the opposite. Transparency seemed like it was just a pretense for Korey to micromanage and exert control. Marginalized employees felt silenced by the cutthroat environment and executives like Korey who used mistakes as an excuse to nitpick. “Steph has the drive and the personality of someone who could be very successful,” Erica says. “She embodies what we all aspire to be. But she does it in a way that’s absolutely not what I want to be.” 

Ironically, Korey described Rubio as her “work wife” when the pair had worked at Warby Parker. “What was so nice about the relationship is we could lean on each other to complain every once in a while, like if a project wasn’t going well,” she explained in a podcast interview . 

To Avery, this was just more hypocrisy at Away: the founders were allowed to complain to one another in private, but employees were expected to have almost every conversation in public.

“You are joining a movement”

In the summer of 2017, Lauren joined Away as a customer experience associate. She was one year out of college, thrilled at the prospect of working for a brand she’d seen all over Instagram. 

At the time, the company had around 50 employees. “The energy was light and supportive,” she recalls. Her salary, which was around $40,000, wasn’t a lot to live on, but it also wasn’t out of the ordinary for someone just starting out in New York City.

Lauren’s job was to answer customer calls and emails, getting the “queue” of customer inquiries down to zero. On a busy day, Lauren and her co-workers answered about 40 phone calls and responded to 100 emails each. 

From the beginning, Korey and Rubio were masterful at getting these young employees hyped up about their jobs. “You are joining a movement,” they would say. “Everyone wants to be a part of this.” Lauren and the 12 other associates on customer experience felt lucky, even chosen. They worked long hours and bonded over crazy customer stories, intoxicated by the energy of the company.

She was sitting in bed wearing a face mask, still working

Lauren’s manager, Xandie Pasanen, a woman who’d risen through the ranks to lead the customer experience organization, was relentlessly positive and upbeat. When Korey needed the team to stay late, Pasanen would send long Slack messages on her behalf, infusing her sentences with Away’s values. “She would say ‘I’ll be working late tonight — dinner is here if any of you can work beside me. I mean, leave if you have to, but I have to stay,’” Lauren’s teammate Caroline says. “Her messages were long and loving, but they were manipulative. If she didn’t hear from you she’d just contact you directly asking for verbal confirmation you could work.” 

As the holidays approached, the team had to work around the clock to keep up with customer demand. In December, Caroline was wrapping up work at 1AM when she saw a Slack message from Pasanen. “Okay everyone! Take a photo with your computer in bed when you get home. Here’s mine!” She was sitting in bed wearing a face mask, still working.

The queue of unanswered customer emails kept growing, and the team was too small to keep up. Lauren and Caroline were working on weekends, often eating dinner around midnight. They told themselves to just keep pushing through to New Year’s Day when they would finally have a day off. 

Then, on December 31st, Pasanen sent them a message. “Happy New Years Eve!” she began. She then laid out two scenarios: either they could take the day off as planned, and the team would fall even more behind, or they could each work for six hours and get a month off as a reward.

The full message was 1,217 words.

“I burst into tears,” Caroline says. “I was trying to finish so I could have my first day off in weeks. I was telling my mom, ‘I just need a break and I can’t get one,’ and she was like ‘just say no.’ I was like, ‘I can’t do that.’”

Korey is careful to point out that working on New Year’s had been a choice. “The team decided they’d prefer to work the holiday and get a month off because the team knew this day was really important for keeping the customer experience on track,” she said in an email to The Verge .

Even so, Caroline and her co-workers were suspicious about the executive’s motives. No one had received overtime pay — which, given the hours they were working, seemed questionable — and many suspected the CEO was concerned. “The rumor was she was nervous it wasn’t legal to have us working so much without overtime, so she went overboard giving us time off,” Caroline says. (The company has since changed its policy to pay customer experience associates overtime.)

The team pulled through — many worked from airports or snuck away from planned family outings — and got customer emails under control. But Caroline knew it wasn’t over. She was overworked and underpaid, but something in her wanted to keep going. “I wanted to move closer to work so I could work more, but I couldn’t afford it,” she says.

“It was like having your pants pulled down in front of the company”

The following Thanksgiving, Lila*, a customer experience manager, planned a trip to go see her family in the hopes that, this year, they’d keep up with consumer demand. It was a risky move: Away was rolling out a limited edition line called the Solstice Collection, which Town & Country dubbed “just what you need for holiday travel.” 

But the launch was already plagued with problems. The suitcases were arriving at Away’s warehouses with stickers that were difficult to peel off, and workers were almost two weeks late shipping them out. To make matters worse, the operations team wasn’t communicating with customer experience associates about when people could expect their bags to ship. That made it difficult to tell customers when their bags were coming.

On November 20th, 2018, Korey looked at the number of customers waiting for shipments and realized they had a big problem. “I need to know tonight if we’ve reached out to these customers yet,” she wrote at 10PM. “I have seen multiple [customer experience] Managers active on Slack since I asked this question so please just give me an answer.”

The managers explained that they were waiting to reach out to customers until the operations team told them when the bags would actually ship. But Korey was far from satisfied. She asked them to come up with a new plan on how to communicate with customers and present it to her the next day.

Lila asked a direct report to explain the strategy to Korey since she was going to be on the way to the airport. The idea was to expedite shipping on late orders and communicate to customers when they could expect to receive their bags. Lila’s report noted this was going “above and beyond.”

When Korey saw the plan, she was furious. “If we were just going above and beyond we could send them all 10 free suitcases,” she vented in Slack, in front of the entire company. “Or we could send them all 100 free suitcases, that would REALLY be above and beyond.”

The team, near tears, stayed silent. “We just kind of let her rant,” one employee said. Caroline, who was watching the tirade, was shocked. “It was like having your pants pulled down in front of the company and then they just walk away,” she says.

Seeing what was happening on Slack, Lila turned her car around and headed back to the office. There would be no family vacation after all.

“We share the emotional burden”

A few weeks later, Korey asked the customer experience managers to have their associates cancel future travel plans, at least until the holidays were over. Those who’d already booked tickets would be asked if they could work from home. “We were like ‘No, no we’re not gonna do that. That’s not moral,” Caroline says. But she knew she didn’t have a choice.

Caroline was protective of how close her team had become. If one person was forced to stay, the rest were likely to follow suit. “They exploited the fact that we were close,” she says. “They knew we would take a bullet for each other and they just used it. Everyone was crushed. But they weren’t going to leave if their friends stayed.”

The associates tried to keep their spirits high as they worked through the holiday season. At one point, a member of the retail team approached them tentatively and asked why they all seemed so cheerful. “How do you keep up a happy attitude? I see you over here talking and laughing… do Steph and Jen not talk to you like they do everyone else?” a former customer experience manager we’ll call Lindsey* remembers him asking. “We share the emotional burden,” she replied. “We go on walks. We have each other’s back. Do we work really efficiently? Like, 100 percent. But you gotta learn the tricks of the trade.”

By January, the team was completely burnt out and the positivity was starting to wane. “I would leave at nine. I wouldn’t eat until midnight, then I’d get in bed and work until I fell asleep,” Caroline remembers. And yet, customer emails kept piling up.

To Korey, this was unacceptable. She began randomly calling the customer experience line to see whether someone picked up, often berating the managers and screaming, “What is this shit!” at her desk if her call went unanswered.

Korey says these “spot checks” are a typical part of any retail company. “This isn’t the only area we do this,” she adds. “In fact, we use secret shoppers at our retail stores, and we regularly place multiple combinations of e-commerce orders to ensure our fulfillment facilities are packing orders correctly.”

Once, when the managers were training new associates in the conference room, Korey burst through the doors. “Why aren’t you on the phones right now?” Caroline remembers her yelling. Caroline stepped between Korey and the team, who were looking at the spectacle in horror. “We had always guarded our team like mother bears,” she says.

The day before Valentine’s Day, Korey decided she was going to stop the team from taking any more time off. In a series of Slack messages that began at 3AM, she said, “I know this group is hungry for career development opportunities, and in an effort to support you in developing your skills, I am going to help you learn the career skill of accountability . To hold you accountable...no more [paid time off] or [work from home] requests will be considered from the 6 of you...I hope everyone in this group appreciates the thoughtfulness I’ve put into creating this career development opportunity and that you’re all excited to operate consistently with our core values.” (The emphasis is Korey’s.)

Four days later, when she noticed two managers still had time off on the calendar, she was livid. “If you all choose to utilize your empowerment to leave our customers hanging...you will have convinced me that this group does not embody Away’s core values,” she said. (Again, emphasis Korey’s.)

Korey said her messages were necessary to get the team back on track. “Managing people brings with it the responsibility to invest time and energy into providing thoughtful context around performance expectations and feedback,” she wrote in a statement to The Verge .

“It was like watching him get stoned to death”

Days after Korey’s 3AM tirade, she announced that she was hiring a buffer to put between herself and the team: a vice president of customer experience, Monte Williams. The associates were thrilled.

Williams looked people in the eye, spoke to them with respect, and had over a decade of experience leading teams at brands like Rent the Runway. Those who’d been planning to quit decided to stay to learn what they could from this new manager. 

Then, in mid-April, the team started to notice something strange. Customer emails were piling up during what was supposed to be a slow period. “We had 100 extra people in our inbox. We were like, what’s going on? ” Caroline remembers. 

It was a Groundhog Day scenario. The company was rolling out new customization options on the luggage, and the operations team was woefully understaffed. Bags weren’t going out on time and, once again, the customer experience associates couldn’t get a clear estimate on when they were expected to ship. This time, however, Korey couldn’t push the team to tackle their ever-growing inbox: Williams was standing in her way.

Some team members were missing calls when they stepped away to use the bathroom

The customer experience executive wanted to prioritize his team’s mental well-being, but the inbox of customer emails was the highest it had ever been. The associates oscillated between feeling grateful that someone finally cared about them — Williams was the first person who’d ever really voiced appreciation for their work — and feeling worried he didn’t understand how behind they were getting. At its peak, the inbox of customer inquiries was 4,000 emails deep.

In May, Korey created a Slack channel titled #may-cx-issue to try to address this issue. If Williams wasn’t going to push his team, then she would have to step back in. She began grilling him on why managers — many of whom were working 16-hour days — weren’t answering more customer emails.

Once, a team member tried to explain that managers didn’t handle as many customer emails because they were charged with leading the team. But Korey didn’t buy it. “I’m just going to be honest here, your response to me reads like [the managers] don’t really do anything positive for the business anyway so it doesn’t matter if they’re here or not,” she said.

Williams tried to smooth things over, explaining that some team members were missing calls simply when they stepped away to use the bathroom. “We all always assumed people went to the bathroom,” she responded. “Let’s please stop talking about that as if it’s a surprising Friday update.” Of the interaction, Caroline says, “It was like watching him get stoned to death.” 

On May 25th, the team saw a 5:30PM meeting on their calendars and knew the time had come: Williams was being fired. He’d lasted less than six months. 

For Caroline, that was the final straw. “I just lost my shit,” she says. “Everybody loved Monte. Everybody. I was just like, ‘This is the first time anybody has cared about the team, and you’re taking it away from us. You really don’t care at all.’”

Within a few months, she would give notice as well.

When asked about why Williams was let go, Grau, the company’s head of people, noted the team’s poor performance. “During the Winter/Spring of 2019, it became apparent that we were not providing a world-class customer service experience. As a result, we made significant changes to the team,” she added in a statement emailed to The Verge .

Korey also added that the move was a last-ditch effort to save a struggling team. “I care tremendously about the Away team and we make every effort to help struggling employees succeed in their role. Only when we’ve exhausted all coaching options do we feel the next step is to help an employee transition to a new career outside of Away and we provide full support during this process,” she wrote.

“Never work for your dream brand”

The explanation was not dissimilar to the one executives gave when they fired people involved in #Hot-Topics. In both situations, employees acted so egregiously they’d given management no choice but to let them go.

But #Hot-Topics was even more perplexing. Whereas the customer experience team had been falling behind under Williams’ leadership (albeit, for reasons some say were beyond his control), employees in #Hot-Topics came from all different parts of the organization. There was no throughline of poor performance or track record of misbehavior to justify their automatic dismissal.

In an intense office environment, having a safe space to talk about work is necessary, even critical, to employees’ sanity and well-being. It’s how they blow off steam at the end of a tough workday, the place they go to find refuge when their projects aren’t going well.

Korey and Rubio knew this; they’d been each other’s sounding boards at Warby Parker. Yet, they treated #Hot-Topics like an anomaly, an unnecessary waste of time compounded by inappropriate language.

Korey wouldn’t comment on what people had said in the channel that she determined was racist. But employees say she pointed to two comments that called out “cis white men.” “It just became really obvious that this happened because someone white and powerful got offended,” says the customer experience manager, Lindsey.

Every person interviewed for this story has since left the company. Some, like Serena, feel conflicted about the founders, two women she both admires and fears. “It’s so fucked up,” she says. “I still want their validation.” When asked what she learned from her time there, she pauses, reflecting on the tumultuous year. 

“Never work for your dream brand,” she answers finally. “It’ll kill you.”

* Names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved

Update December 5th, 4:20PM ET: This story has been updated to clarify detail about Away’s email policy. We have also included additional comment from Away to reflect that CEO Steph Korey disputes comments attributed to her during terminations.

Correction December 5th, 5:00PM ET: This story was corrected to show Lila was traveling to visit her family.

Update December 6th, 10:50AM ET: The piece has been updated to include Korey’s complete quote from Fortune .

Update December 6th, 8:20PM ET: This story was updated to reflect that Erin Grau does not identify as a person of color.

Inside Netflix’s bet on advanced video encoding

I regret buying the psvr 2, starlink mini brings space internet to backpackers, amazon retaliated after employee walkout over the return-to-office policy, nlrb lawyers say, elon musk has another secret child with exec at his brain implant company.

More from Features

The text file that runs the internet

How Lego builds a new Lego set

Goodbye to all that harassment

Extremely softcore

Away Luggage Is on Sale Just in Time for Summer — Save Up to $150 on Suitcases and Travel Essentials

Cult-favorite luggage brand Away is offering deals on select suitcases, weekender bags, and travel accessories now.

With summer weather comes summer getaways, and now's the time to upgrade all your travel essentials. Starting today, Away just launched a More Summer Event with sitewide deals on the brand's best-selling  luggage , bags, and accessories. Travelers can use the code GETAWAY to save up to $150 and make their next trip so much smoother.

Until Saturday, July 6, the more you spend, the more you save at the Away luggage sale. Get $30 off $350, $50 off $500, $100 off $750 and $150 off orders of $1,000 or more.

Shop the Away Sale

Whether you're jet-setting to bucket list destinations, or road-tripping to local hotspots this summer, the right luggage makes a huge difference. Away deals are rare, but this epic sale even includes the brand's fan-favorite Bigger Carry-On and adventure-ready Outdoor Collection of versatile duffles. Even if you aren’t actively in the market for a new bag, these deals on top-rated suitcases are so impressive that you might as well give your luggage a refresh anyways.

Aside from stylish colors, Away suitcases are known for their high-quality, polycarbonate shells and functional design that are perfect for anyone who's ready to get on the move. Usually, these pieces are an investment, so these summer luggage deals are your best chance to score high-performance suitcases and weekender bags for less.

Below, shop the best Away luggage deals to pack your perfect summer.

The Carry-On Flex

Unzip the flex feature to create additional space to fit in any last-minute items. When not fully expanded, this suitcase is the perfect size to carry-on and becomes checked luggage when fully flexed.

The Medium Flex

Count on this piece of checked luggage to make all of your trips more manageable. With a flex feature that expands to allow for additional space, you’ll never have to worry about making it all fit.

$395   $365

With code GETAWAY

The Bigger Carry-On

This hard-side suitcase has more space than your average carry-on, which is ideal for those last-minute items. Get the upgraded option, available in 11 different colors.

Designed to fit more into your trip, thoughtful details like 360° spinner wheels ensure a smooth ride, and the Medium's interior compression system and water-resistant laundry bag make packing that much easier.

$345   $315

The biggest size suitcase Away offers, the Original Large  is a lightweight yet durable bag that is built to last, with a polycarbonate hard shell that can stand up to any journey.

$375   $345

The Pet Carrier

Traveling with a furry friend for your next getaway? This pet carrier includes sherpa bedding, water-resistant lining and multiple pockets.

The Outdoor Duffle 55L

Lightweight and high-strength, Away's 55L travel duffle holds a week’s worth of gear with a unique compression system that helps you pack more in. 

The Outdoor Duffle 70L

This large travel duffle holds a checked suitcase amount of gear for week-long-plus excursions. Made from a lightweight, high-strength polyester, this bag features convertible padded straps that allow you to conveniently transport the duffle like a backpack for longer distances.

Sign up for more shopping news!

RELATED CONTENT:

The Best Carry-On Luggage and Weekender Bags for Summer Travel

Sales & Deals

Save Up to 60% on Michael Kors' Must-Have Summer Styles

Away Teams Up With La Ligne on Limited-Edition Summer Travel Capsule

Save Up to 40% on the Best Samsonite Luggage for Your Summer Getaway

Best Smart Luggage to Make Summer Travel Easier: Shop Smart Suitcases

What to Pack in Your Carry-On Luggage for Summer Travel

The Best Travel Gear to Shop Ahead of Your Next Trip

Updates on celebrity news, tv, fashion and more.

Away From Home Travels

Updates From This Business

Looking for Destination Weddings?

We're known for customer service. We know that… read more

FOOTBALL TICKETS

Pick your favorite team playing against their arch… read more

DESTINATION WEDDINGS

🌴Jamaica… read more

First-time customer special

New customers get a gift with a booking of $2000 or… read more

Join my team

Become a WFH Travel Agent… read more

Our team has 5 years of experience

We can handle all your needs. Call to schedule an… read more

CRUISE DEALS

Ask me about ALL the specials that are available.

BECOME A TRAVEL AGENT

Contact me about openings in the industry!… read more

USE A TRAVEL AGENT!

I am a Certified Travel Agent... Able to take care… read more

BEACHES ARE THE ANSWER

Visit a beach, listen to the waves and become overly… read more

I LOVE MY JOB!!!… read more

WE CAN BOOK ANYWHERE

Contact us for the best Vacations

Christmas SALE

Enjoy A Special Gift With EVERY Booking You Make… read more

Summer Vacations 2022

Start planning those special vacations now to save… read more

Mother’s Day Cruises!!

🌹MOTHER'S DAY CRUISE🌹… read more

NEW HAPPENINGS AT DISNEYLAND

Just in time for Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse’s… read more

New Agent Alert!

Away From Home Travels is always helping people… read more

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

Junction City, KS 66441

Other Travel Agents Nearby

Honey & Buzz Legacy Travel

Honey & Buzz Legacy Travel specializes in crafting exceptional vacation experiences for families and empty nesters. We understand the unique needs of these groups, ensuring that every aspect of your journey is perfectly planned. Our… read more

in Travel Agents

Amenities and More

About the business.

Business owner information

Business Owner

Hiring WFH Agents Working in the travel industry is an exciting and rewarding career. Bring your marketing and advertising skills to help promote sales. As a Travel Service Representative you will research, plan and book travel for individuals, corporate businesses, groups and more. Executing plans for the vacation or trip of a lifetime. Schedule a live Webinar calendly.com/zoomtravel …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about Away From Home Travels .

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

Be aware: this is absolutely a travel MLM (multi-level marketing) scheme. I joined her Zoom session to get more info on how to become a virtual assistant with a travel agency, as this was the job posted on LinkedIn. Then came the bait and switch. During the Zoom call, she was trying to sell us on becoming a 'travel agent' and it had all the classical MLM elements. You have to pay $69.95 dollars a month for a 'membership' fee. She gets 10% commissions as a 'trainer' and 'mentor' for the people she convinces to join under her. Other MLM signs: you are told you'll make more money if you refer people, there are tiers that you have to achieve, there is a convention every year. The 'host agency' is Archer Travel group, which is known to sit atop other travel MLMs. Be warned. It is wiser to work with a reputable and legitimate travel agency.

Interviewed in a group of 100 People all required to pay a monthly fee to all work at a place that was listed as a job on LinkedIn. All while requesting we also bring on new members that we would make money from... This is a MLM scam in the form of a travel agency pyramid scheme. This should stay as a warning to everyone who I'd attempting to interview with them! They say they partner with another company and immediately prompted for an $60 installment agreement be payed to begin working, sent to my email by their third party traveling agency as soon as the Zoom call ended.

I had a interview with them but I was told it was a scam so I didn't attend. Went with another offer.

2 other reviews that are not currently recommended

People Also Viewed

Jc Auto Sales

Manhattan Regional Airport - MHK

Courtyard Manhattan Aggieville

Gabi Shuttle & Delivery

Freedom Rides Transportation

Chapman Creek RV Park

Smoky Hill RV Park

Acorns Resort

Parkwood Inn & Suites

Budget Lodge Inn

Best of Junction City

Things to do in Junction City

Browse Nearby

Things to Do

Restaurants

Bed & Breakfast

Find more Travel Agents near Away From Home Travels

Related Cost Guides

Town Car Service

(Gray News) – An estimated 24.9 million people are trafficked worldwide every year, according to experts from the Department of State.

A majority of victims are trafficked through airports and highways, prompting a national moving company to do something to make a critical change.

Good Greek Moving and Storage is partnering with Place of Hope , an anti-human trafficking nonprofit organization, to turn its more than 600 employees into human trafficking first responders.

Experts from Place of Hope have started training Good Greek’s employees on how to spot traffickers and their victims.

“One of the survivors that we worked with, she was trafficked from 11 years old to 26 years old. If someone would have picked up the phone and called,” trafficking expert Jamie Bond Ciancio said. “A teacher, a guidance counselor someone that had a relationship and knew that something just wasn’t right, that girl could have been saved years and years and years of trauma.”

Unlike many others trained to spot traffickers, moving crews have unique access to highways and the inside of people’s homes.

“We’re at truck stops and rest areas, and quite often these are areas where victims can be trafficked, and we need to be vigilant and be able to identify these situation where we can call 911 or the authorities that help in that area,” Good Greek Moving and Storage Founder Spero Georgedakis said.

Place of Hope takes in survivors of human trafficking, giving them a stable place to live and the resources needed to heal from the trauma.

Good Greek Moving and Storage will also be covering some of their moving trucks with a unique QR code for potential trafficking victims to see and use.

Copyright 2024 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Suspects identified in connection to standoff near Willow Park in Huntsville

Skeletal remains found in Lawrence Co. identified as man missing since 2017

Deshler High School student killed following shooting in Muscle Shoals

15-year-old shot by Athens police dies

3 swimmers die despite rescue efforts while visiting Florida beach

Latest news.

Middle school teacher killed in crash involving suspected drunk driver, officials say

7-month-old baby girl dies after being attacked by family’s dog

Death toll at Hajj pilgrimage rises to 1,300 amid scorching temperatures

Child airlifted after being hit by vehicle on Hwy. 67 in Somerville

Millions in the US prepare for more sweltering heat as floodwaters inundate parts of the Midwest

• Find & Reserve
• Special Offers
• Meetings & Events
• Our Credit Cards
• About Marriott Bonvoy
• Careers at Marriott

City Express Junior by Marriott Ciudad de México Sullivan

• Experiences

Welcome to City Express Junior by Marriott Ciudad de México Sullivan

Lodge 500 meters away from reforma avenue.

In Mexico City, near Monumento a la Madre, you will find the City Express Junior by Marriott CDMX Sullivan hotel. As a renovated building in the area, this hotel near the Monumento a la Revolución is perfect for business trips or visits for concerts and festivals. On arrival, you will have access to areas for relaxing and working. Plus, enjoy a complimentary breakfast and transportation within a 5-kilometer range. We are a pet-friendly hotel, we accept one dog per room up to 15 kilograms, so do not hesitate to travel with your pet. We have 5 different types of rooms, single or double, for every need. Ask our staff for availability. Situated in the city center, our location is strategic, near popular attractions like Reforma, Alameda Central, Zona Rosa, and the Roma and Condesa neighborhoods. For a practical and functional stay, we look forward to welcoming you at City Express Junior by Marriott CDMX Sullivan.

Rooms & Suites

Rates vary by date & room type

FEATURED AMENITIES ON-SITE

Hotel information.

Check In: 3:00 pm

Check Out: 1:00 pm

Minimum Age to Check In: 18

Smoke Free Property

Pets Welcome

Guests must notify that they travel with a dog and present the vaccine card

Non-Refundable Pet Fee Per Night: $350

Maximum Pet Weight: 15kgs

Maximum Number of Pets in Room: 1

On-Site Parking

Daily: $95.00

Desayuno Americano en cortesía (incluye 2 opciones calientes

Getting here.

James Sullivan 35, San Rafael, Cuauhtemoc, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico, 06470

Uber, Didi; fee: 245 MXN (one way) ;on request

On-Property

Local Shuttle: Complimentary

Bus Station:

Central de Autobuses del Norte

Central de Autobuses TAPO

Subway Station:

Property Details

Accepts: Credit Cards

Property has elevators

Vending Machine

Languages spoken by staff: Spanish, English

For more information about the physical features of our accessible rooms, common areas or special services relating to a specific disability please call +52 55-8311 8400

Accessible on-site parking

Main Entrance is Accessible

Meeting Spaces are Accessible

Room and Suites Access through the Interior Corridor

Deadbolts on Guest Room and Suites Doors

Secondary Locks on Room Windows

Frequently Asked Questions

The check-in time at City Express Junior by Marriott Ciudad de México Sullivan is 3:00 pm and the check-out time is 1:00 pm.

The pet policy at City Express Junior by Marriott Ciudad de México Sullivan is:

The parking options at City Express Junior by Marriott Ciudad de México Sullivan are:

The property amenities at City Express Junior by Marriott Ciudad de México Sullivan are:

Yes, City Express Junior by Marriott Ciudad de México Sullivan has free Wi-Fi available to hotel guests.

Unlock your stay with the Marriott Bonvoy™ App

CITY EXPRESS JUNIOR BY MARRIOTT CIUDAD DE MÉXICO SULLIVAN

James Sullivan 35, San Rafael,

Cuauhtemoc, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico, 06470

Top Destinations

Our company.

© 1996 – 2024 Marriott International, Inc. All rights reserved. Marriott Proprietary Information

Please select your preferred language

The americas, asia and oceania.

• Bahasa Indonesia

INTERNATIONAL

I booked a weeklong trip to a mystery destination. I had a lot of fun, but I'd do a few things differently next time.

• I booked a solo  trip to a mystery destination with a company that planned everything for me.
• I traveled to Lisbon and enjoyed group tours and activities — as well as some alone time.
• It was fun to step outside my comfort zone, but I would have liked more time to explore by myself.

When traveling, I prefer leaving things to chance, as many of my most memorable moments typically happen on less-crowded streets or when I'm chatting up strangers at a restaurant.

That's why when my friend suggested I check out Journee — a travel company that specializes in mystery tours and plans everything, including your destination — I couldn't resist trying it out for a solo trip .

Companies like Journee have become more popular in recent years as more travelers lean into the idea of having a trip planned for them. In fact, a survey of 27,000 travelers by Booking.com found that over half of the respondents would welcome the idea of a trip to an unknown destination.

I was excited to see what all the hype was about and book a surprise trip of my own. Here's what it was like to travel to an unknown destination with Journee.

The company asked me questions about my travel preferences and sent clues leading up to the reveal

When booking my trip, the company provided me with an in-depth travel questionnaire that asked about my interests, curiosities, risk tolerance, well-being, and overall travel philosophy. It also dug into the "why" of my trip, the safety criteria, and logistics and budget.

The company then sent me a trip proposal, which provided a few clues about the city I'd be traveling to. There was no pressure to book and the proposal itself was completely free.

Once I committed, they built up the suspense by gamifying the pre-trip content, slipping fun facts and clues into my WhatsApp DMs.

I challenged myself (and my friends) to rely on our brains (no Googling) to figure out where I might be going, which led to many meaningful conversations about travel.

The company also provided a high-level packing list , which included items like a bank card, phone, charger, passport, and comfortable walking shoes.

The destination reveal turned out to be pretty underwhelming

On the day of departure, I added some euros to my carry-on before taking an Uber to Newark Airport. In the car, I found myself daydreaming about my destination, secretly hoping it was somewhere I'd never been.

My plan to film a reveal video at the airport was quickly foiled when my driver informed me that Newark has two international terminals.

Related stories

Because the tour company didn't note the terminal information on the envelope, I had no choice but to open the card in the car, which was underwhelming.

However, I was excited by the location listed on my card — Lisbon.

Along with the destination, the envelope included a detailed itinerary with daily pre-booked excursions, including an e-bike tour and a sunset cruise, with one free day to myself.

The company did a great job arranging my accommodations and activities

I arrived in Lisbon mid-morning after my basic-economy flight . I was relieved to find the company booked me a studio apartment with a sweeping balcony overlooking the street.

I liked being in a residential area, and the proximity to a metro hub and grocery stores made it feel like I had moved abroad.

My first group excursion turned out to be a one-on-one personalized e-bike tour of the city when folks bailed because of the rain.

My city guide took me on a two-hour tour along the Tagus River waterfront, and I ended up taking that same route several times throughout the week.

I also enjoyed the other trips Journee booked for me, including a drive along the countryside to a small village southeast of the city. Here, my group dodged the rain to visit a Stonehenge-like megalithic complex dating back 7,000 years .

One of the last curated events of the trip was visiting the Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Feeling utter tranquility in the cloisters was worth the 90 minutes I spent waiting in line.

As the week went on, I started veering from the pre-planned schedule

Although I enjoyed the group excursions, I worried that I wouldn't have enough time to explore the city on my own. That's why I decided to skip my third-day excursion to wander off the beaten path.

I weaved through the Alcântara district, stopping at the LXFactory, an old industrial textile complex turned food and art hall.

I also biked to explore the Mouraria and Alfama districts, filling up on bacalhau, Lisbon's salted codfish tapas. I even spent a few hours at the Fado Museum , an interactive and immersive cultural arts center where I learned about the history of Portugal's soulful music.

I loved being able to explore another side of the city, which hadn't been in my original itinerary.

I enjoyed the trip, but would make a few changes next time

Overall, it was exciting to step outside my comfort zone and hand over the travel planning to someone else. I loved the surprise of not knowing the destination and visiting historical sites off the beaten path.

Next time, I would book with a friend and have a more direct conversation with the tour company about having more time for independent exploration.

Watch: Marriott International's Tina Edmundson tells Insider that the travel mindset has changed since the pandemic

• Main content

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

Election latest: Senior Tory says bets on date are 'stupid' but seeks to play down scale of scandal

Many more people than the leading Tories already identified are being investigated by the gambling regulator over election betting, Sky News understands. Earlier, James Cleverly told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips he has "no reason to believe" any cabinet ministers are involved.

Sunday 23 June 2024 22:05, UK

• General Election 2024

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• 'Many more people' under investigation in Tory election betting scandal
• Cleverly: 'No reason to believe' any ministers involved
• Tory betting scandal: What is the law around gambling?
• Labour candidate's office vandalised in 'anti-democratic attack'
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler

Election essentials

• Manifesto pledges: Alliance Party | Conservatives | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid Cymru | Reform | SNP | Sinn Fein | Workers Party
• Trackers:  Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Campaign Heritage: Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts: Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more:  Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer has tonight offered further details of an "awkward" hustings in Plymouth, after which he claimed his Labour rival was "bloating" his military service.

Mr Mercer, who is standing as the Conservative candidate for the Plymouth Moor View constituency, took aim at his Labour opponent Fred Thomas after the event on Wednesday.

The minister questioned whether the Labour candidate had served in combat missions during his time as a Royal Marine, as had been reported by the Guardian newspaper in 2023.

Labour has said Mr Thomas is unable to discuss much of his role in the armed forces because of its "sensitive" nature.

Now, in a lengthy social media post, Mr Mercer described the event, which he said "descended into anarchy".

Sky News has contacted Labour for comment.

By Adam Boulton , Sky News commentator

Have you ever taken part in an opinion poll? I was about to say I haven't and then a dim memory surfaced from decades ago of a nice lady with a clipboard asking me questions in the Berkshire town of Pangbourne.

Whether or not your opinions have been sampled, you will have found it impossible to miss coverage of polls during this election campaign.

Reporting of opinion polls has been such a feature of the race that some are complaining about it. The controversy has been inflamed after the dramatic results shown in recent MRP polls,  such as this week's YouGov survey for Sky News .

Critics range from those who argue polls are one-day wonders that take coverage away from the "real issues" to others grumbling that polls distort how people vote, even though they may turn out to be wrong.

In this election, there are at least 18 separate companies publishing voting intention polls. They are busier than ever now the campaign is under way.

Read the rest of Adam's column here:

A flurry of general elections since 2015 has brought an unprecedented churn in our parliamentary representatives.

This year, two in five MPs aren't seeking re-election and the picture for the Conservatives is record-breakingly grim.

An unparalleled total of 23% of Conservative MPs are calling it a day in 2024, more than the previous high of 22% of Tories who quit in 1997, another year of boundary changes.

In contrast, only 15% of Labour MPs are resigning.

There are many reasons MPs quit: from retirement, family commitments and health concerns to career change, abolished constituencies, and the prospect of defeat.

But their decision to depart can reveal much about life in Westminster and have a significant impact on parliament's mix of experience, demographics, and the direction of political parties.

Dr Sofia Collignon, associate professor in Comparative Politics, analyses the churn in our representatives here:

Our politics show hosted by political correspondent Ali Fortescue has just wrapped up for today.

But don't worry - the Politics Hub will be live at 7pm on Sky News every night through the election campaign.

And until then, you can keep up with all the latest right here.

This is the question asked by our political correspondent Darren McCaffrey ...

In 2019, Liz Truss was once again elected MP for South West Norfolk - her fourth election win.

The then international trade secretary and later prime minister romped home to victory with nearly 70% of the vote.

Her constituency was one of the safest in the country.

Now, if the polls are to be believed, it is hanging in the balance.

Watch below as Darren tries to track Ms Truss down:

The full list of candidates in the South West Norfolk constituency is:

• Earl Elvis of East Anglia - The Official Monster Raving Loony Party • James Bagge - Independent • Gary Conway - Heritage Party • Pallavi Devulapalli - Green Party • Lorraine Douglas - Communist Party of Great Britain • Terry Jermy - Labour Party • Toby McKenzie - Reform UK • Josie Ratcliffe - Liberal Democrats • Liz Truss - Conservative and Unionist Party

Crossbench peer Lord Darroch is next up with Ali Fortescue.

She asks if Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer becoming prime minister would change the UK's relationship with the European Union.

"Yes, there will be a reset," he says. "I think that he is hosting a European political community summit in Blenheim House within a couple of weeks of the election."

Lord Darroch says Sir Keir will likely be "the star of that show".

"If he wins as big as some of the polls suggest, this will be a historic margin of victory.

"All the other leaders will want to meet him, and talk to him, and discover how he did it."

He will find himself "almost mobbed" at this summit, Lord Darroch claims.

Our live poll tracker collates the results of opinion surveys carried out by all the main polling organisations - and allows you to see how the political parties are performing in the run-up to the general election.

It shows a drop in support in recent days for Labour and the Tories - with a jump for Reform and the Liberal Democrats.

Read more about the tracker here .

The Metropolitan Police have opened an investigation into criminal damage after Labour candidate for Walthamstow Stella Creasy's office was attacked.

Photos shared by Ms Creasy on social media appear to show the that the glass of one of the windows and the front door was hit several times.

Detectives Superintendent Dion Brown, one of the senior officers responsible for policing Waltham Forest, said: "It is entirely unacceptable for the office of one of London's prospective parliamentary candidates to be targeted in this way.

"An urgent investigation is under way, and officers have attended the scene and are already following up active lines of enquiry, which will include full analysis of all available CCTV footage.

"The incident is believed to have occurred between 03:10hrs and 03:30hrs on Sunday, 23 June.

"I urge any witnesses or anyone with information to contact police and share what they know.

"Anyone who witnessed the damage being caused, or who has other information, should call police on 101 with the reference 2621/23jun."

Ms Creasy sent a message to the perpetrators herself, writing on social media: "You don't intimidate me and you don't belong in the political process.

"Same as those circulating malicious and false leaflets. Police already on this to find you - will press for the strongest penalties for such an anti-democratic attack and I know Walthamstow won't be cowed or influenced by your violence either."

Here is the full list of candidates standing in the constituency of Walthamstow:

• Imran Arshad, Workers Party of Britain
• Mohammed Ashfaq, independent
• Stella Creasy, Labour Party
• Dan Edelstyn, independent
• Sanjana Madan Mohan Karnani, Conservative Party
• Martin Lonergan, Reform UK
• Ruth Theresa Rawlins, independent
• Rosalinda Ayo Rowlands, Green Party
• Nancy Taaffe, Trade Union and Socialist Coalition
• Rebecca Taylor, Liberal Democrats

First up with Ali Fortescue tonight is Sir Liam Fox, the former defence secretary. 

He is asked about the Conservative Party betting scandal, and the argument that this controversy is similar to the "partygate" situation - one rule for them, another for the public.

But Mr Fox says the situation needs to be put in "perspective".

"You're extrapolating from a very small amount of information," he claims. 

"Individuals have to take responsibility for their own actions."

Mr Fox claims these actions do not reflect on the party, admitting the bets were "stupid" - "and how could anyone think it was ethical".

He points out that "we don't know" how many were police, and how many were linked to Conservatives.

Watch more from Ali's interview below:

By Jon Craig , chief political correspondent 

Many more people than the leading Tories already identified are being investigated by the gambling regulator in relation to bets on the date of the general election, Sky News understands.

And in a major new development, the watchdog has widened its inquiries to investigate whether people with inside knowledge may have asked a third party to place a bet for them.

Sky News also understands that investigators have written to leading bookmakers asking for details of bets of £20 or more on the election date within days of Rishi Sunak announcing it on 22 May.

The body carrying out the investigation, the Gambling Commission, already takes a close interest in political betting and carries out extra checks on bets by people connected with politics, Sky News has been told.

The gambling industry also regards politicians and those who work closely with them as PEPs - politically exposed persons - who are people "entrusted with a prominent public function".

You can read Jon's report in full below:

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

• Order tracking
• Make an exchange
• Make a return
• View our manuals
• Warranty & repairs
• Boston: Newbury
• Boston: Seaport
• LA: Venice Beach
• LA: West Hollywood
• NYC: Williamsburg
• San Francisco
• Washington DC
• Away x La Ligne
• Best sellers
• Compare Carry-Ons
• Compare checked
• The Outdoor Collection
• The More Summer Event
• Flex: Expandable suitcases
• Shop all bags
• Crossbodies
• Extended stays
• Luggage sleeve
• Personal item
• Laptop friendly
• Shop all accessories
• Packing organizers
• Toiletry bags
• Tech organizers
• In-flight essentials
• Small leather goods
• Luggage tags & charms
• The Collegiate Edit
• Compare duffles
• 2024 Travel Destinations
• Shop all suitcases

Shop by size

Shop by collection, shop by category, shop by feature, city guides.

• Save up to $150 on summer essentials

Careers at Away

This must be the place.

The more everyone travels the better we all become

Away transforms travel through products and stories that inspire people to get away more

Away exists to create a more open world by making travel easier

Create the most valuable travel brand by becoming the go-to destination for all things travel

MAKE GREAT NEW THINGS

Have high standards for our products, our experiences, our work, our people. Innovate, then iterate — don’t be afraid to rethink things.

BE THE CUSTOMER

Be incessantly curious about what travelers want from us, need from us, expect from us. Then make it happen.

We are all owners, founders, shareholders, entrepreneurs. When we’re accountable for the results, we’re empowered to build anew. You’ve got this — and we trust you.

WE BELONG HERE

We are a community of people who appreciate, respect, and care for each other. Prioritize diversity in people and thought. And most of all, be yourself.

DO GOOD AS YOU DO WELL

We all have a responsibility to create positive change socially, environmentally, economically. Keep an eye on the right thing as you’re doing the smart things.

Perks & Benefits

EQUITY & OWNERSHIP

Stock options to have a share in the upside of the business

PAID TIME OFF

Get away more — volunteer, vacation, or support your wellbeing

COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS

Including health coverage, 401(k), family leave, and more

TRANSFORM YOUR CAREER

We provide the conditions for you to achieve remarkable things

Our Workplace

team members

departments

amazing team

Away is transforming where we work.

As we uncover the needs of our dispersed workforce, we are re-defining options that ensure accessibility, safety, and a culture that continues to promote community and belonging. That includes:

• → A suite of digital platforms for remote collaboration
• → Access to our pet-friendly HQ office in NYC
• → Work-from-home stipend for all full-time employees
• → A purpose-built, open-plan office space
• → Flexibility in where you work!

Diversity & Inclusion

"Systemic change doesn’t come from simply making performative statements, changing marketing, building social impact programs, or creating internal councils to build new policies. It comes from changing how we think and fully examining everything we do as a business."

JEN RUBIO CEO

WE ALL BELONG HERE

more inspired. more connected. more open. more inspired. more connected. more open.

At Away, we give back to the communities where we live, work, and travel. Every year every employee receives 8 hours of paid time off to volunteer. Since launching this benefit in 2019, our team has dedicated 1,000+ hours to local and global nonprofit partners. You can learn more about our Impact efforts here .

And Away We Go