Airlines shrink carry-on bag size

[Buzz]

Mike Johnson wrote:
Argh. Last year Delta et al went to 22x14x9 inches. They picked that size in part because at 45,000 cm3 it’s in line with what the Europeans require. I’m sure they were hoping it’d catch on. I don’t think they expected this new proposal, amounting to 38,500 cm3, so soon.

I doubt there will ever be a standard size, though. Right now you can have a bag that’s okay with Air France but too big for Air Berlin, and another bag that’s completely arse-versey. And don’t get me started on US airlines that just add up length + width + height. That’s never made any sense.

I’ve had my carry-on luggage weighed plenty of times. At some airlines it’s SOP, all carry-ons get weighed and tagged. Some airlines it’s at the discretion of the employee. If your carry-on looks heavy they’ll weigh it.

They weigh the baggage to help calculate the total weight carried for the flight... some "full" flights will actually have some empty seats due to weight restrictions for that flight... Fuel, cargo, baggage, people, etc. all have to be accounted for, and some flights push the total weight limit. Some "non-stop" flights out of high altitude airports may have to make a fuel stop depending on weather conditions at take off... it really is a balancing act.
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[Ombligo]

My wife's bag (which we picked based on a the recommendation of MRF world traveler Samintex), but neither mine nor my son's meet the new standard. He won't need one for while but I'll likely have too since all our flying is international.

sigh

[Mike Johnson]

Buzz wrote: They weigh the baggage to help calculate the total weight carried for the flight... some "full" flights will actually have some empty seats due to weight restrictions for that flight... Fuel, cargo, baggage, people, etc. all have to be accounted for, and some flights push the total weight limit. Some "non-stop" flights out of high altitude airports may have to make a fuel stop depending on weather conditions at take off... it really is a balancing act.
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Well, sure there’s a reason for it. In the US it happens almost exclusively on small planes, like a little 19 seater Beechcraft. But Americans seem taken aback when they’re flying a transcontinental flight on a 787 and the agent at the LAN desk insists on weighing their carry-ons. I don’t know how much of that is for actual weight issues, or for profit issues, or just following procedures.

[August West]

As mentioned, my international flights consistently weigh luggage. As far as the dimension, I've always depended on a volume calculation, not specific dimensions. Of course, decreasing that is not nice.

[hal]

Kludgy Thingy wrote:
First they charged to check in luggage. Now they shrunk the carry-on size. What next?

I have no problem with a business setting the standard and letting us know. You can always choose an alternative...

What's next? Paying for you tickets not by the numbers of seats you require, but by the combined weight of you and your baggage. That would be the fairest way to do it.

Last time I flew on a full flight, EVERYONE had the maximum sized carry-on and there just wasn't enough room for it all.

[IronMac]

Odd, I only fly international and I've never had my carry on weighed. Check-in bags, all the time.

[GuyGene]

Most of my flying is international. No matter what, I only take wha' I wear, then 3 more days (3 shirts, 3 underwear each, 3 socks, and only 2 more pants. Done.) in me luggage. Hey, ye have to do laundry! Simple - just don't take enough to last the entire trip without having to have laundry done.

[davester]

hal wrote: Last time I flew on a full flight, EVERYONE had the maximum sized carry-on and there just wasn't enough room for it all.

This is a problem caused by the airlines. They are now charging very large fees for checked bags and no fees for carryon bags. This has resulted in many people carrying on bags who would otherwise have checked their bags, and thereby causing the cabin baggage crisis. The solution is not to now make everyone go out and buy new luggage as a result of their new baggage charges. They should either include all baggage costs in the price of the tickets or charge baggage costs per bag, whether carryon or checked. This is most definitely NOT the fault of the passengers.

[Uncle Wig]

Paul F. wrote:
I wonder when the first modern trans-atlantic and trans-pacific liners are going to be built... Not a "cruise ship" with lots of luxury, but a passenger ship that will cost less than a business class seat with a gazillion dollars in luggage, rules, taking off your shoes at the airport, etc...
I'd be up for a trip across the atlantic that takes 5 days, if I can bring a reasonable about a luggage for a 20 day trip!

Just kind of an idle thought...

When? 1952.

[Paul F.]

See? Uncle Wig gets it! ;-)

Might be time for a couple ex-cruise ships with fast engines to be refit and put a toe in that market...