Will new luggage dimensions affect bookings?

Luggage allowances play a major part in the decision when booking your holiday flight - probably second to the actual cost of the flight, assuming that you have the luxury of choice. For some they are held ransom as they only have one airline available.

The company often depicted as the villain, Ryanair - who have the strictest of charges and smallest allowance with regards to hand luggage dimensions are to be joined by Easyjet!

As of 2nd July 2013, Easyjet are introducing new cabin luggage rules. In order to guarantee that you are allowed on board with your piece of hand luggage the maximum dimensions will change and it must not be any bigger than 50cm x 40cm x 20cm, if you want to ensure that it goes with you inside the cabin. Ryanair´s dimensions are actually slightly bigger at 55cm x 40cm x 20cm!

The current maximum size of 56cm x 45cm x 25cm will strangely remain unchanged, but those travelling with a bag of that size may be required to put their bag into the hold if the flight is busy. This means that you would have to wait for your luggage to come off at the other end - defeating the point of travelling with hand luggage only for many. In many instances it will also mean that the case or bag is not secured with a lock - something which I have mentioned previously.

The rule changes have been prompted by the increasing number of passengers taking the cheaper option of travelling with hand luggage only and the limited overhead locker space on a plane. On some flights they appear full even before half the passengers have boarded!

A test carried out by consumer magazine "Which" found that of the 21 cases advertised as "cabin baggage", only 3 met the reduced restrictions being introduced by Easyjet. A spokesperson for the airline has admitted that they are aware that few bags meet the new dimensions, but mentioned that Samsonite and Tesco do produce one - I think more and more will be travelling like me... with a laundry bag. They weigh nothing and can be pushed and scrunched to fit - trust me, I have done it numerous times!

Trust me -invest in one of these... now available in all colours!

Passengers with bags fitting the original and unchanged dimensions will still be allowed to take them free of charge, but they may find that they have to give them up at the boarding gate to be put into the hold if the flight is full. However, I wonder how long it will remain free for and if this is the first stage of reducing the allowance! So my advice is make sure that you have a way of securing your hand luggage if you are using the bigger size and have a carrier bag to hand so that you can take out your "valuables" such as electronic devices, passports etc.

Most passengers that opt for travelling with hand luggage is to ensure a speedy exit at the other end..... well if you want that then make sure you have a bag that fits the new dimensions! On its website, Easyjet state "So if keeping your cabin bag with you is a priority, why not bring a slightly smaller bag (which is still big enough to hold all your travel essentials) and we guarantee it will not go in the hold - even if the flight is full". Slightly smaller..... I think that my handbag is about that size and they certainly have no idea how many "essentials" a woman needs to travel with!