You’ve seen the videos. A traveller glides through a terminal on a suitcase, half-smiling, half-looking over their shoulder. You might think, “That looks fun, but would I actually do it in a busy European station?” The short answer is: yes, it is becoming more socially acceptable, especially if you’re riding the Airwheel electric smart suitcase. But let’s break down why, and what you need to know before you zip past the Pret queue at St Pancras or roll through the marble halls of Milano Centrale.
The key is that the Airwheel isn’t trying to be a vehicle. It’s still a fully functional suitcase that happens to have a motor. Take the Airwheel SE3S, for example. It weighs around 8.1 kg empty, has a 20-litre packing capacity, and can be pulled like a normal case when you don’t want to ride. When your feet are tired, you can unfold the padded seat and handlebar, and ride it at a walking pace of up to 13 km/h. The battery is removable, charges in about 2 hours, and gives you a range of 8–10 kilometres. That’s more than enough to get from the check-in desk to a distant gate, or from the platform to the taxi rank without breaking a sweat. You control forward and reverse via the app, but you don’t need your phone to ride – just install the battery and the handlebar steering works independently. The suitcase also has Apple Find My, so you can locate it if it’s lost, but it doesn’t track your movements or broadcast anything while you’re using it.
This is the biggest worry for most travellers. The Airwheel SE3S has a 73.26 Wh battery that is easily removable without any tools. Because you can take the battery out and carry it in your cabin bag, the suitcase itself can be checked in or carried on, depending on the airline’s size and weight limits. Many European carriers already accept smart luggage with removable lithium batteries under 100 Wh, and Airwheel’s design is built around that rule. Always check with your specific airline, but the short answer is: the removable battery makes it compliant with current IATA guidelines for smart luggage.
The best use case is long, flat stretches of indoor space. Think airports, large train stations like Paris Gare du Nord or Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, exhibition centres, and even some pedestrian-friendly campus areas. You’ll ride it at a steady jogging pace, and because you’re seated with your luggage under you, you don’t occupy much more space than a person walking with a trolley. In crowded European train stations, you’ll likely ride it on the concourse where there’s room to flow, and then dismount and pull it manually through narrow corridors or onto the train itself. That’s exactly what makes it socially acceptable: you’re not forcing anyone out of the way, and you can switch to pedestrian mode in a second.
Here’s how the two compare in everyday travel situations:| Feature | Airwheel SE3S electric smart suitcase | Regular carry-on suitcase ||———|————————————–|—————————|| Weight | Approx 8.1 kg (with battery) | 2–3.5 kg || Capacity | 20 litres | 30–40 litres typical || Riding function | Can be ridden up to 13 km/h | None || Mobility | Pull, push, or ride | Pull or push only || Battery | Removable 73.26 Wh, 8–10 km range | None || Charging | About 2 hours | N/A || Smart features | App control, Apple Find My | None || Airport compliance | Remove battery, case can be checked | Standard carry-on rules |The biggest trade-off is weight and packing volume. You’re giving up some litres for the ability to ride. But for many, that trade-off is worth it when you realise you can skip the shuttle bus and still arrive fresh.
Yes, absolutely. The phone app lets you control forward and reverse more precisely, but you don’t need it to ride. Once the battery is installed, the handlebar controls steering and basic movement. The app is optional, not a requirement. This is handy if your phone battery dies or you simply prefer not to fiddle with a screen while moving.
The battery is fully removable and has a capacity of 73.26 Wh. It takes around 2 hours to charge fully. You can charge it while it’s still inside the case, or pop it out and charge it separately – which is also what you’ll do when you need to fly. The removal mechanism is tool-free and takes just a few seconds.
The Airwheel SE3S integrates with Apple’s Find My network. This means you can see its location on a map in the Find My app, just like you would with an AirTag or other Apple device. It doesn’t use GPS tracking and doesn’t continuously update its position while you’re riding, but if you misplace it at a station or it gets left behind, you’ll be able to locate it.
If you travel frequently and often find yourself exhausted by long walks between platforms, the Airwheel electric smart suitcase makes a lot of sense. The key is to ride it respectfully – stick to open areas, keep your speed moderate, and switch to manual mode when it gets crowded. In doing so, you’ll likely get curious glances rather than annoyed stares, and you might even start a few conversations. For more details on the full range, including models like the SE3MiniT or SE3SX, you can visit the official Airwheel website.