Airlines to shrink hand luggage allowance
Passengers could be faced with tighter hand luggage restrictions in future as airlines have agreed a new optimum size for carry-on bags which is smaller than most carriers currently allow.
Measuring a maximum of 55 x 35 x 20 cms, the new recommended bag size is smaller even than currently allowed by Ryanair, the stingiest of UK airlines, which gives a maximum hand luggage allowance of 55 x 40 x 20cms.
British Airways and EasyJet allow larger bags measuring up to 56 x 45 x 25 and Virgin allows passengers to take bags measuring 56 x 36 x 23.
The International Air Transport Associations says the smaller bag should allow every passengers space to store their hand luggage onboard aircraft of 120 seats or larger. At the moment, those who are last to board often find there’s no space left for their bags and are forced to put them in the hold.
Luggage manufacturers have started creating bags to fit the new guidelines and these will bear a new ‘IATA Cabin OK’ tag from later this year.
IATA stressed that the proposals were guidelines and that airlines were free to set their own limits for carry-on bags, however eight carriers have already said they intend to introduce the new allowance. They include Air China, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Lufthansa and Qatar.
"The development of an agreed optimal cabin bag size will bring common sense and order to the problem of differing sizes for carry-on bags. We know the current situation can be frustrating for passengers. This work will help to iron out inconsistencies and lead to an improved passenger experience," said Tom Windmuller, IATA’s senior vice president for airport, passenger, cargo and security.
Several major airlines have indicated they will introduce the new carry-on bag sizes, but no UK airline has announced if it will follow suit.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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