Like others, I think it depends on the brand. I think some of the Premier brands are coasting along on their name and history; while contemporary bands may be more motivated to have the highest quality possible as they try to establish their reputation.
Are luxury handbags really better quality than contemporary?
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Well, *mine* are. That's why I picked them. By the same token, my Longchamp and Pacsafe bags are better than most luxury bags (except mine, because I picked them). 
It really depends on the brand. I would say some of my contemporary bags hold up better than luxe. I have a few Coach and Dooney bags that I've had for years that look brand new even though I'm rough with them. Michael Kors is horrible. Every bag that I've ever had from them, the glazing started peeling in months. I baby all my luxe bags, but some show wear on the corners and even just sitting in their dust bags. Go figure.
There are many variables as others have finely stated. I have found my luxury bags hold up better over the long-term but that would likely be a mixture of craftsmanship and use, since my luxury items are used less and not subject to the same wear and tear as my contemporary items. In general, the contemporary items I buy seem to exhibit quality issues quite fast, like loose stitches, peeling, color transfer, tears, etc. I think Coach products hold up very well and I never seem to have issues with them regardless of use.
It depends on what one means by luxury and quality. For the former, if this is only defined by the amount of money spent, it will certainly vary from popular premier brands where it will be design-focused to heritage brands like Hermes or Launer where it's focused on the materials to artisan lines like Peter Nitz, Joseph Duclos, or Duret where it's the pinnacle of craftsmanship using high-end materials.
For the latter, there's so much detail one may or may not care about when it comes to making a bag that determines quality, such as proper structural design, leather quality, hand preparation and/or stitching, thread quality, leather or silk lining, alignment, leather creasing and skiving, refined edge painting, solid high-quality metal and plating for hardware, soldered links on chains, etc. Often times contemporary brands focus on a couple of these details whereas luxury brands tend to focus on more (though that varies greatly). Contemporary brands tend to be a better value because one's paying for their preferences and not things that don't matter to them, but it doesn't mean they're better quality overall.
For the latter, there's so much detail one may or may not care about when it comes to making a bag that determines quality, such as proper structural design, leather quality, hand preparation and/or stitching, thread quality, leather or silk lining, alignment, leather creasing and skiving, refined edge painting, solid high-quality metal and plating for hardware, soldered links on chains, etc. Often times contemporary brands focus on a couple of these details whereas luxury brands tend to focus on more (though that varies greatly). Contemporary brands tend to be a better value because one's paying for their preferences and not things that don't matter to them, but it doesn't mean they're better quality overall.
The difference in quality between the mid-range "contemporary" brands and the "premiere" lines is not commensurate with the difference in price IMHO. I own some of both (and a few cheapie bags). Some of the differences are hard to see, like leather quality, and some aren't as important. My big issue is with the mid-range brands selling outlet quality bags without full disclosure. I had a Kate Spade tote years ago that started falling apart after a month -- turns out only the outer side of the straps were leather and the inside was fake leather, per my cobbler.
I'm not clicking this link, but there's a ton of faux bashing by people who aren't actually in the luxury market but they want to pretend they could be. The meaning is, "I can't afford it in reality, but I want to pretend, so I'll explain how bad the stuff is." What a waste of energy. People need not take it at face value.
Be honest and buy what you like and what works.
This, "be honest & buy what you like & what works"
No reason to keep up with Ms. Jones because she has an expensive handbag
And if you are fortunate to have both, enjoy!
If people can't discern quality, then I'm not sure it matters.
Lux to contemporary: Are my all my Guccis better than DH's newest MJ, yes.
Lux fashion house to leather goods specialist: My Chanel have held up well but sadly can't be spad, my H can. That may impact my usage and longevity.
It also depends on what you mean by quality. My Paul Smith bag (let's say contemporary) is almost 20 years old and I throw around that bag, the leather is thick and indestructible, it's not as good quality as my Gucci Secret or Hermes box Kelly, which if I used it the same way wouldld look like train wrecks. Even lux to lux, durability and fine-ness are two different things. I'm not going to chuck around a Gucci python in the same way as my Hermes clemence leather bag, even though they may have been around he same price when bought.
Across a single lux/contemporary brand: Are all of my Guccis equal quality across decades, ranges and price-points. yes, and no, some are built for durability, some for fine quality and 'preciousness', do they service all of them whether made 40 years ago (last repair) or still under yearly guarantee, yes. I also know that one reason she bought more and more Furla (Italian) and Le Tanneur (French) was because they prided themselves on aftercare (at least in France) whereas she was fed-up with buying very expensive bags, Chanel, Valentino and Dolce Gahanna included, and not be able to get them repaired.
Lux to contemporary: Are my all my Guccis better than DH's newest MJ, yes.
Lux fashion house to leather goods specialist: My Chanel have held up well but sadly can't be spad, my H can. That may impact my usage and longevity.
It also depends on what you mean by quality. My Paul Smith bag (let's say contemporary) is almost 20 years old and I throw around that bag, the leather is thick and indestructible, it's not as good quality as my Gucci Secret or Hermes box Kelly, which if I used it the same way wouldld look like train wrecks. Even lux to lux, durability and fine-ness are two different things. I'm not going to chuck around a Gucci python in the same way as my Hermes clemence leather bag, even though they may have been around he same price when bought.
Across a single lux/contemporary brand: Are all of my Guccis equal quality across decades, ranges and price-points. yes, and no, some are built for durability, some for fine quality and 'preciousness', do they service all of them whether made 40 years ago (last repair) or still under yearly guarantee, yes. I also know that one reason she bought more and more Furla (Italian) and Le Tanneur (French) was because they prided themselves on aftercare (at least in France) whereas she was fed-up with buying very expensive bags, Chanel, Valentino and Dolce Gahanna included, and not be able to get them repaired.
I think unfortunately the premiere designers aren't always consistent in terms of quality. I've had three Gucci bags over the years. Two have been incredibly well-made, quality bags. The third (the oldest) had this odd issue involving the ultrasuede lining just deteriorating so that everything inside would be covered in this black fuzzy dust. I've had three Mulberry bags -- the newest one was one of the Johnny Coca remakes of the Bayswater and the leather got marks on it just by looking at it -- the finish almost seemed to chip off in random spots, whereas my original style Bayswater was a tank (I regret selling it) and my Alexa only had normal scratches on the hardware. I also had a Givenchy G3 bag with awful hardware problems that had me searching my car for a tiny gold screw one evening.
Yes luxury brands can be better. Not always, but when it is better, it is a lot better. In bags, the main places I notice it is the quality of the leather, the hardware, the stitching, and the general evenness of everything. But the main thing is the leather. Also the handles on less expensive brands often seem flimsy. Is luxury worth the difference in price? Maybe or maybe not. But the difference is noticeable. IMHO, brands are not consistent. Some years their products are just better. They also have off years.
I would compare the difference between luxury and contemporary to difference between cars. DH drives the top of the line Nissan Maxima. It is nice. Other people think it is a really cool car. But when I got in a friend's Porche Pamamera, there was a really obvious difference. The Pamamera was just much more luxurious. It wasn't even close. I don't know that current Pamamera are that still that nice. Not sure what year this one was.
To illustration brand fluctuation, I will mention BMWs. We had a couple of BMWs in the 90 and the leather and the wood trim were luxurious. The leather and trim in recent BMWs does not feel or look luxurious to me. I no longer consider BMW to be a luxury brand--just an expensive brand. (No offense to BMW owners who love their cars). The point being, if you get a luxury brand during one of their good runs, it is luxurious. In one of their bad runs--meh. Maybe good, but not great.
Luxury feels luxurious. It is like high thread count sheets. You feel it.
I would compare the difference between luxury and contemporary to difference between cars. DH drives the top of the line Nissan Maxima. It is nice. Other people think it is a really cool car. But when I got in a friend's Porche Pamamera, there was a really obvious difference. The Pamamera was just much more luxurious. It wasn't even close. I don't know that current Pamamera are that still that nice. Not sure what year this one was.
To illustration brand fluctuation, I will mention BMWs. We had a couple of BMWs in the 90 and the leather and the wood trim were luxurious. The leather and trim in recent BMWs does not feel or look luxurious to me. I no longer consider BMW to be a luxury brand--just an expensive brand. (No offense to BMW owners who love their cars). The point being, if you get a luxury brand during one of their good runs, it is luxurious. In one of their bad runs--meh. Maybe good, but not great.
Luxury feels luxurious. It is like high thread count sheets. You feel it.
I never ever buy the 'suede-like' material. It's actually been a deal breaker on many bags, my SA even joked about it. Hideous stuff.
I always avoided this too until I bought my vintage LV Alma (1996), the Alcantara lining is a suede-like material that is surprisingly luxe and has no signs of deteriorating. It‘s like new and feels gorgeous.
From my experience, I've always felt that the premium handbags I've purchased have been better quality than any contemporary bag I've owned. However, nowadays I do often ask myself if the premium bags I'm purchasing are really worth the thousands of dollars more a bag than a contemporary bag. Since I don't generally sell my bags, the reality is that they probably aren't worth spending the extra money (not that it stops me from buying premium).