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Jun 10th 2015, 16:28 by B.R.
WITH luck, no one reading this blog has recently splashed out on a fancy new
bag to use as hand luggage on a plane. If so, it might be wise to get the tape
measure out. IATA, an association of the world s big airlines, has recommended
standardising the size of carry-ons. Readers will no doubt be shocked to learn
that the new dimensions are significantly smaller than the big carriers
currently allow.
IATA s new guidelines state that cabin bags should have dimensions of 55cm x
35cm x 19cm. That is a volume of 36,575 cubic centimetres. Even the most stingy
of low-cost carriers, such as easyJet, currently have a limit equivalent to
40,000 cubic centimetres (see table below). Some, like Southwest, allow 63,000
cubic centimetres.
The association says that the new guidelines are not mandatory; airlines are
still free to allow whatever size bags on their planes that they want. But it
doesn t take a devious mind to imagine that plenty will use it as an excuse to
force more people to check luggage into the hold. ( Why have you shrunk my
carry-on allowance? Just complying with the new industry standards, sir. )
Indeed, some airlines already have, including Lufthansa and Emirates. For
Lufthansa, this means it is cutting its luggage allowance by close to 30%.
IATA says it is concerned that overhead storage has become too full. This may
be true. Such is the squash above passengers' heads that sometimes those at the
back of the embarkation queue are forced to stow their hand luggage in the hold
anyway. But could there be another motive here? Last year, according to IATA,
American carriers alone made $3.5 billion from luggage fees. Surely, only a
cynic would suggest that they are keen to encourage more passengers to pay to
check-in bags to increase this lucrative source of revenue.
Cabin baggage allowance, selected airlines, cm
Height Width Depth Volume
North America
American Airlines 56 36 23 46,368
Delta 56 35 23 45,080
Southwest 61 41 25 62,926
United 56 36 23 45,424
Europe
Air France 55 40 23 50,600
British Airways 56 45 25 63,000
easyJet 50 40 20 40,000
Lufthansa 55 40 23 50,600
Ryanair 55 40 20 44,000
Others
Cathay Pacific 56 36 23 46,368
Emirates 55 38 20 41,800
JAL 55 40 25 55,000
IATA 55 35 19 36,575