BBC article about carryon practices in Europe

After our experience last fall with Swiss, no problem with carryon size on international flight but too big and had to be gate checked for connecting flight within Europe….imo, I think they’re trying to reduce their loading and deplaning times on the shorter flights. It was amazing how little time it took to do both without waiting for people to try and put their big bags in and pull them out of the overhead bins. I really like having my bag with me and not waiting around to pick it up but I have a feeling we may be checking our bags in the near future.

It could be argued that the airlines use differing sizes to catch people out and make money.
I agree that making sure that your bags fit every airline you fly with is stressful.
This is a worldwide problem and impossible to see how it could be remedied.
It becomes increasingly important to read the small print.

Seriously?

• To catch people? The only people I have ever seen stopped were the ones that were grossly over the limits; and even then, it’s so rare that I am surprised. And I fly the likes of Wizz and Ryan.
• Stressful measuring a bag? Okay, I guess, but I have a lot more stress from other things in a typical day.
• Small print? The last few times I booked flights with Lufthansa, Wizz and Ryan they couldn’t make the requirements any larger when booking and in the receipt they send you.
• Sure, I would be happier if every airline had the exact same requirements, but I wouldn’t put this in the category of a problem. Just part of life. A problem is when my local wine bar runs out of white Kadarka.
  

Most of my trips are carry-on only. Not trying to prove anything, just what I do when it works for the trip. I have never, ever in 45 years of travel had an issue with my carry-on. I just read the rules and comply. So far I can only think of two flights, out of literally hundreds, where I had to gate check because the plane was full and i was in group 5. But thats life too.....

And from the article

When Mr Till arrived at London Gatwick Airport in December 2023, he
discovered those measurements included wheels, meaning his bag was
deemed slightly too big.

Here is from the EasyJet website:

Everyone can bring one small cabin bag per person on board for free.
It can be a maximum size of 45 x 36 x 20 cm (including any handles
and wheels)

But he didnt learn, because on the way back apparently his bag was overpacked and stuffed to the gills and even larger. At some point arent we expected to learn? You would think that someone sucessful enough in life to become a world traveler .... ohhh, never mind.

If the airlines could come to a consensus about the acceptable dimensions/ weights and made that more uniform it would make things so much easier. But I think one of the best things that could happen is for the luggage companies to be more accurate with their information about their products. Some are pretty good, with accurate figures for case length and width and weight, but others I’ve looked at over the years (and measured myself to compare) were off by enough that it could be a problem.

Thanks for posting the BBC story. Excellent journalism.

Consistent standards would be nice.

Happy travels.

Mustlovedogs; exactly. It drives me crazy that a company will make luggage. 25" too large for 75% of the airlines. And it makes me crazy that the airlines can't come up with at least 2 or 3 standard sizes. They could be A. B and C compliant.

But im not losing sleep over it. I can read and follow instructions.

You can also possibly get busted on the Paris Metro for your bags

https://www.timeout.com/news/whats-the-deal-with-bringing-luggage-onto-the-paris-metro-060625#:~:text=Technically%2C%20suitcases%2C%20rucksacks%20and%20packages%20where%20the,on%20May%205%2C%20according%20to%20The%20Connexion.&text=Now%2C%20The%20Connexion%20reports%20that%20RATP%20has,it%20imposes%20'no%20precise%20dimensions%20on%20suitcases'.

Phred, more nonsense. Even the article says the restrictions are clear. Air France doesn't own the metro. I might ask why Air France doesn't conform to the metro standards and why a legal bag on Air France won't fit in the trunk of my Ford Focus. We should sue Ford too? Poor victims ......

Back in the good old days, you'd go to a medieval market and each vendor would sell you a pound of cheese or flour or whatever and they'd measure it against an agreed standard of exactly what a pound was. Alas, airlines can't agree on what a pound is. They have their own pound (aka size.) And each year they update to a new “standard”. Hmm. Sounds like there is some monkey business going on. Oh, well. Progress!

The article says this a response to the lack of a hand luggage standard by the budget airlines, but isn't this an issue on all European carriers who also have varying standards?

"This is a worldwide problem and impossible to see how it could be remedied."

Actually it's not - when traveling Asian budget carriers such as Scoot or Air Asia, I've rarely had my carryon luggage weighed, and never has it been measured.

If all airlines have to have the same luggage standards does that mean that all airline seat manufacturers have to manufacturethe exact same seat, the overhead bin manufacturers have to build the exact same bin? How about Boeing and Airbus, will they need to start building the exact same plane to fit the exact same seats and bins? Maybe Wizz has to have a smaller underneath size because the seat they use forces that dimension. Does that mean EasyJet lose a competitive advantage by offering a larger seat with a larger underneath space? It's that fair? Seems to me politicians are playing politics in a bid for votes. We flew Easyjet twice and Vueuling once last Fall with no issues because we read the very clear requirements on their websites.

This is one of the reasons I don't fly with budget airlines if I can help it. Never had an issue with my carry on with BA and their weight limit is 23kg which I'm never going to reach. However, I'm flying to Riga soon via a codeshare with Air Baltic and they have a weight limit of 8kg so I'm just going to check my bag on the way out (the return flight is with BA and their generous allowance) and Riga airport is so small that your bags are waiting for you by the time you've passed through immigration.

Stories of passengers caught out by baggage rules they feel are
inconsistent or confusing are common, with many customers complaining
or seeking clarity from budget airlines on social media.

"They feel are inconsistent" LOL. I have never been measured or weighed (or seen anyone else) on Ryan or Wizz. The only airline I have seen measure or weigh anyone in the last 5 years has been Lufthansa. The social media posts you read are generally people looking for validation for breaking the rules. They most often begin with "how strict is ...... ".

Different airlines have varying rules on the acceptable size and
weight of an underseat personal item or an overhead cabin bag, with
some charging customers to bring the latter.

Yup, and its explained when you buy the ticket. The policy is what allows me to fly to Montenegro with an underseat bag for a weekend at the beach for under $40. I like it.

On Thursday, EU transport ministers proposed standardised sizing for
free underseat baggage on EU airlines, among other air travel and
passenger rights' changes - meaning this could become EU law ...

Lets see, the EU is on the brink of war, the economy is not doing particularly good, open borders are now being controled again; and they have time for underseat bags?

EU transport ministers proposed that passengers should be guaranteed
one free personal item, measuring up to 40x30x15cm (including wheels
and handles)

Currently, Ryanair allows a free carry-on bag of 40x20x25cm, while
EasyJet's dimensions for a free bag are a more generous 45x36x20 cm,
including wheels and handles.

So the EU will ENSURE that you can carry less for free on an airline. Well done. Wait!! the EU legislation says, Including wheels. Is poor Mr. Till going to understand that? And wait, nothing addresses letting Mr. Till overstuff his bag so that it bigger than the allowable ... but only on the return trip. The EU is doing nothing for Mr. Till, so why was he mentioned at all?

I can only take responsibility for myself. I fly United - their carry-on allowance is generous - I don't use budget airlines and only use trains in Europe . When I've bought bags I don't buy them sized to the maximum dimensions. If I were to use a budget airline I understand that one of the dimensions on two of my bags are going to be off by an inch or cm or two, and to just pay to check them at the time I purchase a ticket when it costs the least to include. It's not that hard.

I can only take responsibility for myself. I fly United - their carry-on allowance is generous - I don't use budget airlines and only use trains in Europe . When I've bought bags I don't buy them sized to the maximum dimensions. If I were to use a budget airline I understand that one of the dimensions on two of my bags are going to be off by an inch or cm or two, and to just pay to check them at the time I purchase a ticket when it costs the least to include. It's not that hard.

Only thing I do differently is I fly AA. Everything else I do as written above - rarely use budget airlines, but I like EasyJet and I buy their premium ticket with expanded allowances, and if I have to pay up, I pay up. When I take trains in Europe it is the highest class (more space, easier for bags).

It really isn't that hard, but I check my big bag, thus I am a minimalist when it comes to carry on...I am down to one item for essentials like RX, and to hold my phone. Checking a bag simplifies the carryon conundrum for us.

Determined to avoid baggage fees for his holiday to Pisa, Benjamin Till trawled several different shops armed with a tape measure in search of the right suitcase. Eventually, he found a case within the dimensions EasyJet allows for a free under seat bag - or so he thought.

Benjamin should have used AI and shopped at one of these places:

https://borosbags.com/shop/category/easy-jet-cabin-luggage

https://cabinmax.com/collections/45x36x20-suitcases-and-bags

https://thetravelhack.com/travel-tips/45x36x20-cabin-bag/

Nick makes a fair point. I agree.

Also, if the EU can adopt a standard size for carryons, maybe Americans will be less apt to attack Greenland and maybe even reduce the tariffs on cheeses I do so love to import. Perhaps airlines can stop changing "standards" every other day!!! How can it be a standard if the standard is ever changing. That's a riddle if you ask me!

Of course I'm joking. Also I would never seriously say things like "brink of war", "open borders" and "extra fees" for perfectly sized carryons . I am trying to keep Texas impulses on this forum under control!

Happy travels.

I don't believe it's too difficult when just flying one carrier. I think where it can get confusing is on code shares and if your route has more then one airline. I know how to check carefully and have almost messed up myself. For example, buy the ticket from Delta, on the paper work it will print the luggage requirements for Delta, but what if your flight happens to be in Air France or Virgin Atlantic? Do folks know to disregard what is printed on their paperwork and go out to the AF site to see what the requirements will actually be or just trust what they were emailed? For someone new to traveling with everything else they need to figure out and learn, I am not surprised that a few details get lost. Especially since many work full time jobs, have kids to manage, are crazy busy, and just want a nice vacation to escape it all. Not everyone has time to live in forums or spend the time searching thru the details.

David I would explain the apparent cultural differences, but it's a travel forum.

It’s because the rules change all the time. You have to check every time you fly. You can’t just assume that was fine last month is still fine now.

After Covid easyJet massively changed their carryon allowance. I saw so many people at the airport being slapped with a £40+ charge for having the wrong bag. They weren’t doing it on purpose. It was an honest and very expensive mistake.

Most people on these flights aren’t jetting off in expensive holidays. A lot are just trying to keep in touch with family and can’t easily afford to pay more.

After Covid easyJet massively changed their carryon allowance...

Yes, easyjet changed the free carry-on allowance for the large - 56x45x25cm - bag on tickets purchased after February 10, 2021, afterwards there would be a fee. The change was announced December 1, 2020, and reported throughout the media December 1-3 and into January & February. The Strad published articles informing their string-musician readers and critiqued the change.

I saw so many people at the airport being slapped with a £40+ charge for having the wrong bag.

I have sympathies for someone caught out. But,

You have to check every time you fly. You can’t just assume that was fine last month is still fine now.

Why aren't we checking? How much notice and how long of a lead time should be required for a policy change? When do we take responsibility for ourselves?

Back in 2005 the EU implemented EN13537, a criterion for testing and establishing temperature ratings for sleeping bags. I would rather see a similar criterion for luggage and determining standards like actual dimensions.

> But at the gate on his way home, he was told the suitcase was still too large, so he sat on the floor, **unpacking his dirty underwear and souvenirs into a bin bag. "I don't mind admitting that I actually burst into tears because it was so humiliating," he says.**

Would not have been humiliating if Ben would have just paid the fee to check his overstuffed and too large of a bag, instead of crying about it. The airfares are so low anyhow, what is another $100. If your budget is that tight for a round trip weekend from London to Pisa, perhaps he should have picked another holiday spot closer to home. He probably had a $90 round trip airfare and wanted a freebie for his bag as well. C'mon Ben, what's in your wallet?

The "freebie" dimensions are so small most backpacks don't qualify. The dimensions are basically for a daypack.