Airports set to ease bags limit

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7172964.stm

For those who hate clicking on links here's what it says..Sunday, 6 January 2008

Twenty-two UK airports are preparing to let passengers take more than one piece of hand luggage on flights from Monday, to coincide with extra security checks.

Heathrow, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh are among the airports where two luggage pieces will be permitted.

But some restrictions remain at Gatwick and other airports which have not met government requirements for the relaxation of the one-bag rule.

Some airlines, including Easyjet, are also keeping the one-bag limit.

Extra bags

From 7 January, the Department for Transport says, travellers can carry more than one piece on board, providing the airport has installed improved security scanners, and depending on their airline's policy.

Most of the UK's major airports, including Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham, now have the scanners.

Some, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, only received the go-ahead in the last few days, but several, among them Bristol, Luton, Leeds/Bradford and Liverpool John Lennon airport, have yet to meet the standards.

They still have to prove they can cope with extra cabin bags without compromising security.

At Gatwick, Britain's second busiest airport, only passengers using the South Terminal for connecting flights from Monday will be able to travel with more than one piece of hand baggage if their airline allows.

BAA, which runs Gatwick, says restrictions will remain in place at the North Terminal while engineering works continue to bring the airport up to standard.

However, from 11 February passengers using the North Terminal on connecting flights will also be able to take more than one piece of cabin luggage.

Luggage policy

Size limits on liquids and cabin baggage will still apply and airlines can place their own restrictions on the amount of hand baggage that can be taken in to their aircraft.

The government has stressed it is up to passengers to check hand-luggage policy with individual airlines.

British Airways will allow two pieces of hand luggage per passenger.

Virgin Atlantic will allow one piece of cabin luggage per passengers in Economy and Premium Economy Class (plus laptop, handbag or similar); and two pieces of luggage per passenger travelling first class.

This is the policy the airline operated before the restrictions came in.

'Customer confusion'

Easyjet is keeping the one-bag rule in place because it says too many airports still have the rule to justify abandoning it.

Easyjet's Chief Executive Andy Harrison said: "There is massive scope for customer confusion in an environment where UK airports are adopting different policies.

"The only way to maintain a simple and standard policy is to maintain our one bag policy."

A spokesman for Ryanair could not be contacted for comment.

The dimensions of hand luggage must not exceed 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (22in x 17.7in x 9.8in approx), including wheels, handles and side pockets. This is equivalent to the size of a small roller suitcase.

My tuppenceworth says I think all airlines should stick to one item of hand luggage. In this day of airlines wanting a quick on/ off and charging for hold luggage, the size of hand luggage is increasing. We travelled with Ryanair recently and there wasn't enough room for everyone carrying one bag, what happens when most want to take two?

Mark

Hi Mark, you ok ?

i agree with what you say about one bag especially as Easyjet were not taking notice of their own limitations on size & a young guy took what appeared to be a guitar in a case & the staff were thumping it into an overhead locker on our flight from Murcia yesterday. (Have I really only been back a few hours ? Seems a lifetime !)

This is going to cause chaos - you could fly from Glasgow to Gatwick with 2 pieces of hand luggage (airline dependent!!) but can only take one piece on the return journey!!!!

What a nightmare!!!

Noreen

Hi More, yes, fine thanks. Glad you had a good holiday.

I can't understand why these multi million pound scanners are so much better than the old ones? Leeds Bradford and Liverpool have no intentions of purchasing them until the price comes down, possibly a few years in the future! The biggest problem isn't the 1 bag limit, it is the liquids policy. When was the last time you could buy a bottle of ibuprofen with less than 100ml? What about toothpaste and the like?

I really think that Al Qaeda and the likes have done more to make us terrifed of every little "blip" in 5 years than the IRA did in 25!! Lets all stop being paranoid in 2008.

Mark

Now that we have our place in Spain, the liquids policy doesn't cause any problems, as we leave all our toiletries there.

The problems & delays arise because people don't do what they are supposed to do & then have to scramble around in their bags to put stuff in plastic bags or even repack their suitcases.

The weird thing is I have only seen this happening at UK airports.

I agree with Mark though Paranoia is alive & well in 2008!!!

Noreen

At Stansted they have an area where people can re-pack their hand luggage and also weighing scales.

A friend was in Spain when the travel restrictions first came into force.  She said that they made getting on and off the plane so much easier.  So much time is wasted while you wait for people who are blocking the aisle while they sort out what they need from their cases.

I take one bag through security check in but two onto the plane.  The second (carrier bag) has everything which I will need on the plane.

I think that when they talk about allowing two bags to go through security it's the main bag + a handbag or something similar.  The smaller item could then be placed under the seat.

I'm also amazed by what some people try to take on as hand luggage, on our last flight quite a few had bags which were definately over the size restrictions.  Amazingly they fitted into the overhead lockers.  Perhaps these people had checked in online so their bags hadn't been checked.

Semijubilada

I do exactly the same, putting a carrier bag inside a rucksack. It is so irritating that people faff around with their hand luggage while others are still trying to get to their seats. Then you have those who leap out of their seats teh minute the seat belt sign goes off.

A little bit of organisation makes it all a bit more comfortable for everyone.

The new 2 pieces of luggage rule is not restricted to a bigger bag plus handbag. The same dimensions apply to both bags. If everyone goes down that route, where will it all go? The thing is that where people visit the shops once through security, many have 3 or 4 bags by the time they board.

I agree that some people get away with bags that seem way over the size limit & the airlines really need to get a level of consistency & stick to it. That way there is no room for argument.

Noreen

Perhaps the two bag rule applies to bags with smaller dimensions than the ones allowed on Easyjet.

On our transatlantic flights we are restricted to 6kgs of handluggage and I believe it must also be of a size where it could be stored under the seat if necessary.  Plus a small handbag or a laptop bag.

BA are very strict and we have been told that when our handluggage is close to the limit we are not to buy too much in Duty Free.