Yorkshire Post has edited the article. Travelmole also reported Flybe starting LBA MUC, clearly a miscommunication.

Flybe Bag Policy
 

Flybe currently rolling out a zero tolerance towards oversized bags that passengers trying to get past as cabin bags.

Any bag found to exceed the allowance must be checked in for £40 or not permitted travel.

About time airlines started to crack down on oversized cabin baggage - getting out of control, maybe getting ideas from Ryanair.

THINK SMALL
 

I agree. According to the Flybe website it will be £50 at the gate charge (fine) vs £40 at check-in. Admittedly Flybe's max cabin bag size is smaller than many others (EZY, FR, LS etc), but you are currently also able to carry a smaller under-seat bag as well. This slightly smaller (than some of the above carriers) size was introduced back in April 2016, after it was thought that there would be a bigger push from almost all other airlines to join forces and introduce this IATA "standard" maximum cabin bag size. This of course has never materialised.

What has made it now difficult however - as well as causing these rule breaking passengers upset - is that they have allowed them to get away with it for so long / and on so many occasions, that people think they now have the right to continue to go against the Flybe cabin luggage policy. Something which is set out when they book the flight and agree to as well as on many occasions until they check-in...

The issue with cabin baggage problems on Flybe is the type of aircraft they fly - Small and narrow Dash 8's and EMB's, even the ATR

None of these have standard cabin baggage size overhead lockers, like the 737 or A320 family (used on most Loco airlines) where a normal 55x40x25 type pull along fits OK in the bins which most folk buy thinking they are cabin suitable - (BA Easyjet WIZZ allow 55x45x25)

So unless you are a Flybe regular and know the sizes and the smaller a/c types they use then you may get clobbered unless you pay attention to the size of your own bags.
Flybe is 55 x 35 x 20 cm,plus another small item (laptop handbag or briefcase)

Flybe operate a very ''business'' oriented product and therefore the businessman wants to take his bags on board - to apply fines like this is pretty crass IMHO and just stresses the pax ground staff and ultimately the cabin crew

Realistically i agree, they need to look and change their cabin baggage policy to make it much clearer to those that don't understand that different airlines have different cabin bag size restrictions. If cabin space is the main issue, then a Ryanair/Wizzair style "pay extra if you really want to take a big bag in to the cabin or check it in" policy and have a restriction on the number available to book. This would encourage more people to do exactly what is says on the tin by carrying a smaller free under seat item only as well as surely increasing ancillary revenues from those that choose to either carry a larger cabin bag or pay to check one in instead. Other than that, openly stating something along the lines "our cabin baggage size is IATA standard and may be smaller than that of other airlines" at all points referencing their cabin bag restrictions should surely help those "less familiar passengers"?

As former cabin crew for Flybe all I can say about this is ABOUT TIME!!

A large number of pax think it is their God-given right to bring everything including the kitchen sink on board then have the bare faced cheek to argue with you when you point out it is too big and compromising their safety and that of the people sitting around them, even when this conversation takes place in a friendly and helpful service-focused manner. This is because such people either think the world revolves around them, are ignorant or simply think accidents never happen AND because BE themselves have been too soft for too long about baggage: far too many crew rely on and use spare rows to stow oversized luggage (hands up - guilty!), which of course pax now rely on to happen. Ground staff are also to blame - they just want a flight to close so the punctuality stats are met, let the crew worry about the baggage.....I had to laugh on my last flight from DUS when I noticed the BE hand baggage sizer was actually being used as a bin for rubbish. I beg you!

The worst route by far for baggage IMO (from BHX) was AMS, closely followed by BHD and DUS (both in both directions). The best - ABZ, where the ground staff patrolled the boarding queues and tagged all oversize bags for the hold. Never had a problem from ABZ even if on a fully loaded Dash.

With the cut in frequencies on key routes, flights are generally operating with a higher load factor (I know this for fact at BHX, can't speak about other bases) so the spare row has is becoming rarer and more bags are having to go in the hold, causing upset and delay.

However, this policy will only work if it is communicated clearly and properly and applied consistently and to all pax WITHOUT EXCEPTION. People think it is their right to break rules and get away with it (in all areas of life not just flying, not just on BE) so hopefully once bitten twice shy....if crew still use spare rows to stow baggage or ground staff turn a blind eye at the boarding gate, pax will continue to bring on the kitchen sink. If paying £25 for a bag to go in the hold is a problem, should you be flying in the first place? If you can't wait 15 mins for your bag to arrive at reclaim, then I feel sorry for you that your life is so busy you have no time!

I don't buy pax ignorance about hand baggage as a lot of BE pax are regular flyers - however BE must make it a lot more clear when booking a flight of permitted bag sizes, relevant charges and on board storage limitations then everyone will be happy.

Despite all of this, lets not forget that the current permitted bag size plus 'under the seat' size baggage allowance on BE is very good for a solo traveller and the size of aircraft they operate. It allows you to carry a lot on board - I have a BE sized 4 wheel trolley (fits Dash and EMB lockers easily) and it fits more than enough clothing for 3, even 4 days away (more in summer when there's no need to cart coats and jumpers around) and my laptop bag fits all my gadgets and personal bits and bobs such as wallet, passport etc. Of course things become more difficult if you have children in tow as well.

Sorry I have gone on a rant but it is an issue that really winds me up (even though I am now SLF!), as it is now the expectation of some to bring your whole life on board in a series of over-sized bags!

You might think that the cabin allowance is generous, but it's completely inadequate for photographers for example who can't / daren't check their kit into the hold. If airlines offered a sensible-price 'cabin bags+' upgrade that'd be magnificent but in its absence I have to go by road instead.

This isn't the 1960s when only the upper-class flew. Do you really think it's reasonable to charge the equivalent of three-hours of minimum wage work just to stow one bag in the hold? A bag that's going for the trip, anyway?

I can't believe some of you are saying this is Flybe's fault, it isn't, it's the passenger's issue which then becomes the crew's issue. It is clearly stated on the website what the sizes are but passengers continually try to circumnavigate the charges. All this talk about standard cabin bag sizes is nonsense, what exactly IS a standard cabin bag size? Standard to who? Boeing 737s? A cabin bag isn't a hold bag, a hold bag is just that, it's generally a suitcase, suitcases should not be brought on as hand luggage. Hand luggage should be small item carry on baggage, not oversized suitcases. If my crew bring to my attention there's large bags on my aircraft in the cabin they get offloaded without recourse. Stop blaming Flybe for your inability to bring the correct sized luggage into the cabin. There's no excuses.

This issue of cabin luggage IS all of the airlines problem and is all their own doing - They now reap what they sewed by allowing in the first place 10-15 or so years ago the concept of cabin baggage only - take what you like and you don't have to pay blah blah blah for hold luggage

Joe P is not too blame here --- only the greed of the airlines trying to make a fast buck on charges and saving on ground handling - That greed now causes delays (shot themselves in the foot there lol) stress and problems to both the pax ground staff and crews onboard playing pass the bloody parcel of bags around the cabin and back into the hold etc
NOT IN MY DAY!

sorry no sympathies - The airlines created the monster

Indeed, but some airlines are able to tame it. Ryanair and Wizz are leading the charge. easyJet have 'hands-free', which is a decent option too.

The new policy at Ryanair seems to work well, as customers know what to expect from Ryanair - if you don't follow the rules you pay. In fairness to them, Ryanair offer a selection of hand baggage, cabin luggage and small checked luggage to suit many different needs. They also make it clear during booking, on the confirmation e-mail, reminder e-mails, OLCI and at the airport what their rules are.

When the liquid bags rule came out at first and it was required to use the "sandwich bag" , I think it was either Boots or M&S , Put lables on clear make up bags with zips
"Sutable for hand luggage liquid requirements" it stated
Then when you arrived at the screening you were told they were the wrong type.
Then it turned into a fight because "it was bought especially for travel"
its the same with the hand baggage. Maybe sutable for a747 but not a Dash. But still the customer is always right.
Then you get the "well I will travel Easyair nextime"

Absolute rubbish rog747, it's not the greed of the airlines but rather the fare paying public wanting something for nothing or a ticket for £20. Air travel on a £70m jet has never been sustainable for £20 and it never will be. Years ago you didn't have the option of not paying for hold luggage because you paid it within your £400 ticket, now you have the option of not paying it by not taking it yet the likes of you whine your tits off when your ticket doesn't even cost 3 figures. Now you have an option, you either pay for each item separately picking and choosing what you want to pay for thus making air travel cheaper, or you pay £400 for the lot with no breakdown. Make your mind up, you can't have it both ways.

Beg to slightly differ sorry old chap - But you too have worked in the industry (me since 1972, flying since 1964) like me you know we never had these problems when there was no choices on luggage on your ticket purchased back then - And no, not all tickets were £400 a pop - My first flight in 1964 was 2 weeks to the Costa Brava on a Britannia 33lbs hold bag and a cabin bag- wow how we lived! (and survived)
We paid 35 Guineas for that 2 weeks holiday and half price for me (I was 7)

One hold bag and one small cabin bag - end of - planes flew - passengers happy - crew happy UNTIL the bright sparks started to dismantle the product - Then and only then Joe P has been faced with a plethora of confusing rules and regs couple that with post 9/11 issues and constant security threats and changes to hand baggage rules therein plus the fact that Joe P now thinks he has been given the god given rights to take the contents of 2 suitcases squeezed into a wheelie holdall.

Personally I do not want it both ways - I don't care and I can afford to buy whatever ticket I choose - frankly the more bags I put in the hold the less I have to carry ---
What I do care and have empathy for is the poor crews that on almost on every flight I have taken in the past few years have to deal with the problems and delays of too much hand luggage brought first to the gate and then to the a/c which is in my view the pure fault of the airlines in offering too much choice which is then too confusing and open to misinterpretation and abuses.

Go back to hold luggage and one small piece would end this nonsense immediately.

I'm not sure I agree it's a question of paying £15 or waiting 15 mins on arrival. Schedules don't always show for waiting around if you have an early meeting. After all Flybe stated strategy is about connecting people domestically, or something to that effect, so shouldn't be overly time consuming waiting for baggage at airports. Baggage charges are stealth, and I despise paying them. I work for an airline, so it's no concern to me, but if I have to fly Ryanair I will stick to the rules. Though I do agree with many of the comments about Flybe baggage, it feels like they are commercially at a disadvantage oppossite it's peers if it is not collecting similar baggage revenue. So it does need addressing. I like the easyJet model with easyJet plus, but that's not the complete solution for BE..

On that Britannia I suspect your bag had to go under the seat in front of you ( so pretty small) and nothing went overhead. Overhead was for hats etc. only as I remember it. They were called hat racks then.

At a minimum of £22.50 per bag, it is no surprise that most customers go out of their way to avoid checking in bags on Flybe flights. By comparison, a small bag on an easyJet domestic is £13.50 and BA is typically around £10 to upgrade from Hand Baggage Only to the options including a bag. You do have to wonder whether they would get a different result both in terms of revenue, operational delivery and customer loyalty if they changed their charging structure somewhat - £10 to check a bag and you get a free voucher to take a bag next time if it takes more than 20 minutes to deliver it on arrival.

I do see what you mean, but many fares are good value these days. I agree that peak and last-minute fares can be eye-watering, but that is supply and demand, I suppose. Ryanair are happy to sell me STN-ORK for £39 return, another £12 for my bag seems reasonable. I do agree that these fees make comparing like-for-like very difficult. I have no idea what the exact rules are for hold/cabin baggage on various European or US airlines. Im surprised its not something google doesn't include as an option on their flights search engine.

I don't mind checking a bag, but I'd prefer a model more like easyJet's hands-free which gives you the choice of checking-in or taking on-board. Just in case you run late. BA also allow Hand Baggage Only customers to check-in their compliant hand luggage for free. Handy for >100ml liquids acquired on the way or buying a bottle to bring home.