Originally Posted by
Sober Lark
"Strictly one item of cabin baggage is permitted per passenger (excluding infants) weighing up to 10kg with maximum dimensions of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm (your handbag, briefcase, laptop, shop purchases, camera etc. must be carried in your 1 permitted piece of cabin baggage). "
On a typical flight if everyone complies with this would there be enough room in the overhead compartments to accommodate the stated 1 piece of cabin baggage plus say a coat for all passengers?
Speaking from experience, on a number of occasions, the answer is NO! If you are amongst the last on and there is no more space in the compartments then your bag goes in the hold. You might be lucky and have it handed to you when you disembark, but there is a chance you will have to wait for it at baggage reclaim.
There are varying standards of enforcement at airports. At Prestwick they enforce them with fascistic zeal while at Marseilles I was behind a guy carrying a backpack, sports holdall and a laptop case. He went through without a murmur.