EU baggage allowance

[gabrielhj07]

The headline price should include either a full-size carry-on that can go in the overhead locker or a larger checked bag, with it being your choice which you bring. Then maybe offer a discount to those who can travel with a rucksack only. Makes the advertised price look fairer but those who really don't want it can then select the discounted price later on instead of the checked or carry-on.

That’s no less misleading than present, which the EU is (badly) trying to legislate away.

 

[The exile]

If the EU must interfere / legislate then as follows:
All airline tickets sold by an eu airline or to / from an EU destination to include 1 under seat bag (of specified max dims and weight) only. Fixed prices for further carry on baggage and checked in luggage (again, standardised weights and dims) to be clear at all stages during the booking procedure. In other words, take baggage provision out of the comparison equation entirely.

 

[jon81uk]

That’s no less misleading than present, which the EU is (badly) trying to legislate away.

Feels better to know that seeing the advertised price of £80 includes one checked or overhead bag and is easily comparable, which is what the EU are pushing for.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Beauvais (and I assume other airports in the Ryanair hub) has a bouncer post-BP scan but pre-security that has people use the sizer there, for all the airlines serving the airport though.

That's actually a really good idea, but I wonder what happens if they're fine with the luggage and the gate agents aren't? Or perhaps they don't bother checking at those airports because it's already been checked by the bouncer?

It's certainly a way of dealing with it to avoid conflicts at the gate. Last time I flew to the UK, a middle aged Polish couple were having a meltdown at the gate because they'd tried to take on far more than they were allowed. Wizz told them to pay or get stuffed, and the man went beserk. The gate agents were absolutely right to refuse them, because they were taking the absolute mick.

There are pretty much always sizers before security. That passengers choose not to use them and chance their arm isn't the airline's fault, and it's not necessarily sensible to slow down security by having them check.

I think the problem isn't with the sizers, but rather the interpretation of the rules by gate staff. There are quite a few cases happening in Poland where someone is clearly within the limits and ended up in a row with gate agents who don't understand the rules, such as a gate agent kicking off about a wheeled suitcase that fits within the small cabin luggage size. They've deliberately misinterpreted the rules based on the "small cabin bag" mentioned on the Ryanair website, causing people to be charged at the gate.

I agree with dealing with chancers, but the rules need to be standardised to avoid gate staff also trying it on to get extra money. People cannot be left in a situation where it's a case of "the bag fits" "but it doesn't" "but it does" "pay or you don't fly" when they're in the right.

The problem is that the space under seats varies and replacing seats is expensive. Though I suppose if everyone just had an underseat bag they would all fit in the overheads anyway, as they are really quite small.

I think it's quite possible to cater for a standard size by using the current dimensions that most airlines use, as there's only a handful (I think?) of seat makers anyway. If an airline can't accommodate something that most airlines can, then it's really their problem, not the traveller.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think the problem isn't with the sizers, but rather the interpretation of the rules by gate staff. There are quite a few cases happening in Poland where someone is clearly within the limits and ended up in a row with gate agents who don't understand the rules, such as a gate agent kicking off about a wheeled suitcase that fits within the small cabin luggage size. They've deliberately misinterpreted the rules based on the "small cabin bag" mentioned on the Ryanair website, causing people to be charged at the gate.

I agree with dealing with chancers, but the rules need to be standardised to avoid gate staff also trying it on to get extra money. People cannot be left in a situation where it's a case of "the bag fits" "but it doesn't" "but it does" "pay or you don't fly" when they're in the right.

The other common argument is regarding soft sided cases and rucksacks and to what extent they should need to be pushed in the sizer. Really the rule (by law) should be that if it fits wholly within the sizer then it is fine, even if it has to be pushed in a bit, because otherwise you're down to interpretation on what's forced and what isn't. As after all if it can be pushed into the sizer it can also be pushed under the seat.

 

[signed]

That's actually a really good idea, but I wonder what happens if they're fine with the luggage and the gate agents aren't? Or perhaps they don't bother checking at those airports because it's already been checked by the bouncer?

Very likely don't bother, there are sizers at the gates. But I couldn't tell you if they were used since I usually am first to board.

Anecdotally, my Eastpak back/rucksack despite looking quite big but fits as a cabin bag never got sized, neither at the bouncer or as a gate out of 3 flights out of Beauvais.

 

[scarby]

Flew with Air France from Sweden to a French regional airport via CDG last month.

Basic ticket includes 12kg of cabin luggage - one to go in the locker and a small hand item which is allowed to be big enough to carry a laptop in.

As with previous experiences staff seem unconcerned about what you take on board within reasonable limits (I have never seen anyone stopped).

Plus in the hours leading up to the flight you often get a text saying the flight is busy and you can check in the hand baggage for free - obviously this isn't guaranteed to happen but it happened on both my outward and return journeys.

Flight for what it's worth cost the equivalent of around £210 return, albeit booked many months in advance, which I consider a very reasonable price for four flights - consider that with point-to-point airlines you would have to book flights separately with the risk of problems should a "connection" fail.

The latter came in handy as missed the connection at CDG due to Air France delay. Was booked on a SAS flight to get back with very smooth service and handed a 15 euro meal/drink voucher.

Personally I wish all airlines were run on these lines but I respect that others may prefer different business models.

 

[Cloud Strife]

The other common argument is regarding soft sided cases and rucksacks and to what extent they should need to be pushed in the sizer. Really the rule (by law) should be that if it fits wholly within the sizer then it is fine, even if it has to be pushed in a bit, because otherwise you're down to interpretation on what's forced and what isn't. As after all if it can be pushed into the sizer it can also be pushed under the seat.

Yes, this is a major sticking point as well. I've seen a row over this in Spain last year: the bag clearly managed to fit with a thump or two, it was clearly within the dimensions of the sizer, and they were adamant that it had to "fit without being pushed". The bloke took out a couple of t-shirts, put them on, then put it back in. Then he took off the t-shirts straight away and put them in the bag, showing how ridiculous it was.

I think this is why legislation is needed, because without it, the airlines and ground handlers will continue making up the rules as they see fit. If there is regulation, then sizers can be produced according to a specific design which would eliminate all arguments. There's a very good case for creating them with a closable lid: if the lid closes and locks into place, then it's clear to fly.

I think most passengers would be fine with a universal (at least on jets) size for small and large cabin baggage, as long as it's made clear that this will always be the case and it won't be changed. 40 x 30 x 15 cm is proposed by the EU and agreed on by the airlines, and I think it's quite reasonable if this was enforced through closable/lockable sizers. From there, airlines can compete: some might offer a larger amount to reflect the space available, but the size of 'small' and 'large' should have a legally enforced minimum.

I don't think the basic price should include anything other than a small piece of hand luggage, because the boarding experience is far, far better on Ryanair since they really went to war with large pieces of luggage. It's smoother, faster and far less problematic, and the same with leaving the plane too. The overhead lockers are no longer rammed full of random items, and it's particularly noticeable on the new cabins. Furthermore, by having a single easily comparable basic price, the airlines can add to it, but

I'm not in favour of including a large piece of cabin baggage for everyone. It's just not needed, there are quite a few people out there who can pack a small suitcase that fits into the small cabin baggage sizer for 3-4 days easily, and I don't want to pay for everyone to take a large suitcase on board. Give us choice, but make the airport experience better.

All airline tickets sold by an eu airline or to / from an EU destination to include 1 under seat bag (of specified max dims and weight) only. Fixed prices for further carry on baggage and checked in luggage (again, standardised weights and dims) to be clear at all stages during the booking procedure. In other words, take baggage provision out of the comparison equation entirely.

Do you mean a fixed price for luggage, or that the airlines would only have to show the price of additional luggage from the first step of the booking process?

 

[Chester1]

I think most passengers would be fine with a universal (at least on jets) size for small and large cabin baggage, as long as it's made clear that this will always be the case and it won't be changed. 40 x 30 x 15 cm is proposed by the EU and agreed on by the airlines, and I think it's quite reasonable if this was enforced through closable/lockable sizers. From there, airlines can compete: some might offer a larger amount to reflect the space available, but the size of 'small' and 'large' should have a legally enforced minimum.

I don't think the basic price should include anything other than a small piece of hand luggage, because the boarding experience is far, far better on Ryanair since they really went to war with large pieces of luggage. It's smoother, faster and far less problematic, and the same with leaving the plane too. The overhead lockers are no longer rammed full of random items, and it's particularly noticeable on the new cabins. Furthermore, by having a single easily comparable basic price, the airlines can add to it, but

The options Ryanair will have if EU implement the new law are return to pre 2018 situation or shrink the second bag size. I can't see them being prepared to transfer luggage at gate line again and that means shrinking the bag size. The EUs proposed size would enable everyone to bring two bags but the second bag size would need be a huge downgrade. I think the largest Ryaniar and EasyJet could do in lockers under the new law is 30 litres (size of EasyJet under seat bag).