June 18, 2009 Will US standardize carryon sizes?
Maybe, if a Congressman Lipinski gets his way. The proposed standard is 50 inches max, which would curtail the current sizes of only a few carriers.
The bill would set the maximum dimensions at 10 inches by 18 inches by 22 inches. It would also require the Transportation Security Administration to install templates at airports to check the bags to make sure they weren’t too big.
AFA-CWA international (ed: flght attendant union) president Patricia Friend says that “the lack of uniformity in carrier programs and effective enforcement makes carry-on baggage a multi-faceted problem onboard aircraft today.” - AIRLINE BIZ
Cranky Flier also has a take on this. It’s hard to see what this would accomplish except to cost the TSA (and by extension, US taxpayers) some money. I’d be surprised if any new rule would be honored any more than the current rules.
Frank@OBOW
Not sure anyone knows what to make of this.
Reader Comments (4)
For me, the Cranky Flier post hits the nail on the head. Everything important is in there. I doubt there are any further interesting arguments.
I do NOT see carry-on sizes being standardized to allow 18-inch wide cases! The airlines now really want folks to place them wheels first. Allowing cases wider than 14 inches cuts down significantly on the number of cases that can be accomodated. Besides, I really doubt that the luggage manufacturers want to start making yet another sized case. Despite the general feeling on this site against wheeled carry-on cases, they are here to STAY, but weights of newer models are decreasing, and we may see some trend in handle design to avoid the bottom "Bactrian bump," from the paired handle design, which interferes with packing, save for B&R, which puts that on the outside. For those not familiar with camels, Dromedary is one hump, while the camel of Asia, the Bactrian, has two.
"Bactrian bump" - reading OBOW is as good as going to graduate school!
Sometimes better!
Personally, I have no camel problem at all even when I use such a case. I use that space to roll up some t-shirts, gloves, scarf or whatever else fit the size lengthwise and pout them in between the tubes. This way I use all of the available space AND create a flat packing surface for the subsequent layer.
The outsider handles are about the only thing I don't like with BR. They do take packing space away and they "falsify" the outer measurements. The bump can be overcome with the technique above, but not the lesser space.
I agree with Alan on the fact that I don't see 18" wide cases being allowed. I also wonder how they would enforce it. I mean how would the sizer be designed. Enforcement by TSA is a joke. It has nothing to do with security. It's the airlines' job to check for bag size, especially if they are the ones profiting from it.
I still think it would make more sense to allow one checked bag per pax, and one small carry-on up to 8kg as they do in Europe. They could then levy fees for extra cabin luggage. The frequent flyers that would really profit from not having to wait at the claim would and could gladly pay that fee. And everyone would profit because boarding wouldn't be so stressful anymore, on-time would be improved and packing stress reduced.
Lost/mishandled luggage rate needs to be improved though before I gladly check a bag.