I am sure everyone has had this frustrating experience. A bag labled as carry on with specific dimensions and it is over sized when you actually get it. Here is a great link from consumer reports that talks about how manufactures measure their bag and how the airports measure it.
You would think they would be the same but they are not.
Recommendation measure twice buy once!
http://www.consumerreports.org/luggage/When-carry-on-luggage-isnt-carry-on-size/
I agree. It's so easy for luggage companies to look up allowed airline measurements and just design their luggage accordingly. Also, make clear domestic carry- on versus international and use the most restrictive allowed dimensions. The better luggage companies do use true measurements like eagle creek, RS, ebags, Eddie Bauer, LL Bean, etc..
To ensure accurate, uniform measurements, we flattened the opposing
surfaces of each carry-on by placing a 21-inch-long x 10.5-inch-wide
piece of plywood on the top surface, with a 10-pound weight placed on
top of the wood. We measured each dimension—height, width, and
depth—in the same way.
Hope they subtracted the thickness of the plywood from their measurements.
I assume it was unpacked. If you do that with any of my (unpacked) convertible bags, you'll get about 1 inch or less in each dimension.
I have had my bag weighed, but I have yet to have it measured by an airline, even though they were announcing at the gate that all carry-on bags had to fit in the sizer. I'm sure that the bag manufacturers are counting on the airlines not measuring the bags.
I just happened on this thread while waiting for a flight. When I arrived at the airport, for the first time I put my carry-on bags in the metal measurement apparatus they have out for that purpose. My RS 20 inch rolling carry-on, stuffed very full for a 6 week trip, fit perfectly. As did my Samsonite tote, which fits over the handle of my RS bag. The tote is my personal item, also stuffed full. So, I recommend them both, at least for flights on United. Quite likely not for discounted European airlines.
Soft sided bags without rigid frames just need to be close enough such that the bag can be compressed into the sizing frame AND into the overhead compartments. The bags with rigid or stiff frames need to be properly sized for go/no go sizing devices and overhead compartments.
The challenge to the bag designers is in thinking that bigger is better (i.e. you can stuff more into the bag) that motivates inside dimensions rather than out to out dimensions. One would hope that the negative Consumer Reports publicity would motivate the bag designers to define dimensions in out to out terms. Until then, let the buyer beware and take a tape measure to a brick and mortar store (or have easy return privileges).
Well it would be nice if the airlines and aircraft manufacturers would agree on the dimensions as well. They could at least enforce their own policies. It doesn't matter if your bag fits, and there is no bin space left because of the binhogs and blind-eyed flight attendants.
RE: ...there is no bin space left because of the binhogs and blind-eyed flight attendants.
The problem with some aircraft is one of geometry. If carry-on bags are 14 inches wide and seat pitch 31 inches, you can fit 31/14 = 2.2 bags per row. When you have 3 seats (e.g. narrow body 3 + 3 seating) in that row, you can not fit everyone's carry-on inside the passenger compartment.
Similarly in a large wide body say 3 + 4 + 3, you have 10 seats per row and with overhead compartments on each side of the aisles, you have capacity for 8 bags for those 10 seats. If everyone does carry-on, it would be gate check time for the bags that cannot be accommodated.
It's geometry, but bin hogs putting bags lengthwise because the bag is too long make the situation worst.
It is frustrating for sure when people put 2 bags and their coat in the overheads. I try to be polite and always have the
Large above and the small at my feet.it is so difficult to buy for carryon as another poster stated. Airlines are different. It is crAzy making! The shop always wants to make a sale. I now have a tiny measuring tape in my purse to use.
I deleted my rant about binhogs, but Edgar's point is well taken: even if everyones' carryon was within an airline's stated max size, there is still not enough room for everyone to have space for their bag.
And to confuse the bin space even more, the newer Boeing planes have bins that you are actually supposed to place your bag in on its side, not flat on its back. When you do that, you can easily get 2 more properly sized carry ons in the same bin space. They have accomplished this by making the bins retract into the ceiling area. Unfortunately, not even the flight attendants grasp the concept on most planes resulting in needless checked cary ons.
even if everyones' carryon was within an airline's stated max size,
there is still not enough room for everyone to have space for their
bag.
Assuming a 28" seat pitch, which is probably the minimum, every two row (outside) will have 56 inches. Assuming bins big enough for bags on end and some space for end caps, that gives 9" per seat. Let's put up thin dividers every 9", and put seat numbers on the the bins. That''s your space. No one's bags but yours can be in it. If your bag doesn't fit, you check it. Problem solved.
