Airlines want to make carry-on bags even smaller
As any seasoned traveller knows, the maximum size for carry-on luggage can widely differ between airlines. In order to combat this, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an industry body representing the world's biggest carriers, has proposed a new standard sized bag that would allow passengers to fit a carry-on in the overhead bins on jets as small a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 and as large as an A380.
The dimensions they propose are 55cm x 35cm x 20cm, which is slightly larger than the 48cm x 34cm x 23cm size that Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia allow on domestic Australian flights currently. However, it is smaller than the 56cm x 36cm x 23cm maximum size Qantas and Virgin allows on international flights.
Several airlines that fly to Australia, including Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, China Eastern and China Southern have already agreed to the new standards announced on Tuesday. The guidelines don’t stop airlines allowing passengers to take larger bags if their policies permit, but it will include an “IATA Cabin OK” label that will alert gate staff your luggage will fit in the overhead bins without the need to prove it.
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