EU ban on one-bag only policy
 

Our (notoriously unreliable) local expat newspaper has a letter from a reader who states that there is a new EU policy which bans european airlines from enforcing a "one-bag per person only in the cabin" policy. I cannot find anything about this on google or elsewhere. Does anyone know anything about it?

I certainly hope not. If the EU needs to do anything it's severely limit, by law, the amount of carry on baggage people can take! It's getting beyond the joke now how much people take on!

This could be potential carnage on the face of it. But without knowing the specifics I'm not sure what to make of it.

To be honest technically it wouldn't make much difference if people out things under the seat in front but people are very reluctant to. It will be interesting to see how people will expect their 2 plus items to fit in the overhead.

It is no longer an LCC issue whereas once upon a time it was. My recent CDGLHR BA flight was no different to an EZY flight and they have quite a few fewer seats on an A320 and the flight had about ten empty seats yet it was still an issue getting bags in and the crew were very firm in getting people to out their small bags under the seats.

With BA now charging for bags (whatever way they spin it you're still paying) people have their roll ons and their additional item and it was extremely tight getting the bags in.

It would just not be workable.

Yes airlines could stop charging for hold baggage but we'll end up paying for that in higher ticket costs and why should I have to pay the same when I'm not putting stuff in the hold? Interesting times. I'm glad I'm out of it :8

Even if such a policy were possible, the moment it was made public - there would be a BIG response, not least in here. So I doubt the report.

To answer my own question because no-one else has so far: I think the writer was referring to this from the EU regs:
The airline mentioned in the letter, easyJet, allows items bought from duty-free to be brought on board in an obvious duty-free shop carrier as well as a carry-on bag.. In the letter, the writer states that EJ told two passengers to put their small bags, holding their passports and money, into their hand luggage. You notice the regs actually say "in carry-on baggage", nothing about a separate bag. So I think the writer of the letter in the expat newspaper got their wires crossed. Not surprising - it is a little confusing!

The EU, particularly the Parliament, hates the existence of one-bag rules as being very anti-consumer, but so far has not found a way to regulate them. There was talk about modifying the upcoming review of delay/denied boarding legislation to include it but it doesn't fit comfortably.

anti-consumer my backside.

It because as a group they want to take there trolley bag and there laptop bag on at the same time. And the females want the same plus a handbag.

The fact there isn't enough room and there are issues with the overhead baggage loading limits of the bins doesn't concern them.

The fair way to do it is to give everyone numbered tags for their bags. The rule then is that if someone wishes to place their #1 bag in the overhead bin and there isn't room, bags with higher numbers on them are removed to make room. If you can fit bag #1 overhead and bag #2 under the seat then no problem.

Implement this on flights taken regularly by EU bureaucrats so they get the inconvenience of the resulting delays as baggage is reshuffled. :E

I remember the time they banned carry on baggage for a bit.

As operating crew it was heaven. The plane was loaded/off loaded in half the time.

The SSK Really? can you give an example of how they show this?

The other way of doing it is to allow multiple bags but require that they all fit together in the box provided, thus making total volume per passenger the same as it is now.

I guess this one fails when you've got some idiot trying to get all ten of their bags out of the overhead locker while the cabin crew are trying to evacuate the aircraft.

PAXboy I have spent far too much time this last year hanging around the European Parliament, mainly on consumer affairs issues, the one bag rule is constantly being mentioned.

Why do passengers stand for ages at the gate even though they have an allocated seat? Because of the conditioning induced by a decade plus of the LCC seat free-for-all mentality.

Why are cabin overhead bins maxed out with baggage even when (with BA, for example) a bag can go in the hold? Because of the conditioning induced by a decade plus of the LCC money-grabbing policy of charging for hold bags.

Open up the holds again and stop the checked-bag rip-off or, if nothing else, reduce the exhorbitant charges to encourage bags out of the cabin and into the hold.:D

Or perhaps its time to flip the charges so that the airline charges you to take a bag into the cabin. Free bag into the hold upto a certain weight. :ok:

Queing at the gate
 

Queuing at the gate has nothing to do with conditioning - it is so that there is a good chance you will find space in the locker for your bag. Those that get on last invariably do not (find space).

When you have waited over an hour at LHR for your checked bag to re-appear on a flight that was shorter than an hour, you will realise why some of us prefer to take hand luggage only. If only ground support was prompt, then maybe we would feel better about having to check bags in when we'd prefer not to

The SSK
Wow! Thanks. I have always been a supporter of the 'big picture' EU but not of the 'small detail' EU. The reasons that only one cabin bag is allowed, and the dimensions, are clear and open. I fail to see how this is a 'problem'.

MaxReheat
I'm not so sure. I think it is all part of the modern approach to 'let me grab all that I can'. We have discussed this gate problem many times in this forum, and how it has developed over the last years. As far as I recall, LCC behaviour has not been far up the scale but I sit to be corrected.

I'm not so sure. We have discussed this bag problem many times in this forum, and how it has developed over the last years. As far as I recall, it started in the 90s with the Hub-and-Spoke of the major carriers. With tight timing on connections and possibly taking three sectors - folks found it was far better to take their bag with them, then to have it miss a connection. The LCCs then followed but with point-to-point and the limited baggage for other reasons, to which many were already accustomed (certainly in the USA) but I sit to be corrected.

The LCCs have prospered not just because the legacy carriers and their govts had things sewn up, but because people always want to pay the minimum. It has been convincingly proved that if you offer a low 'headline' price and the chance to add other items at your choice - then people will buy. They feel in control of the price. Another obvious example is buying a new car, the chance to take a basic model and upgrade etc. is one that has worked for years.

If you can find enough Pax willing to pay the price of the fuel burn and the turn around time and the extra manpower required - then ask an airline to do it.

Whilst the Western world continues in a financial flat line (at least another five years in my view) then I don't see much changing.

PAXboy I think the EP's gripe is that they see it as another way for the LoCos to gouge the passenger who turns up at the airport with a slightly out-of limits bag and is saddled with a hefty checked-bag fee - or indeed a lady with a handbag as well as a 'legal' cabin bag.

The fact that differeent airlines have different limits and even within an airline, staff at one station may interpret the rules differently to those at another station is an irritant.

I don't fly LoCo but I know I would stress massively about the size of my cabin bag, I just don't need that kind of hassle.

I once did a short transatlantic trip with hand luggage only. We were warned about the lack of overhead bin space, and being in the last boarding group, I was concerned - I take snacks and entertainment stuff with me that I'd rather have in the cabin for ten hours than have it languishing in the hold. Normally if I'm travelling with checked luggage I make sure my carry-on will fit under the seat, avoiding the whole overhead locker problem.

On the plus side, it's a nice feeling to walk out of passport control and straight past the crowd waiting at baggage reclaim on arrival.

When it comes to liquids, I've always taken an empty water bottle through security and filled it at a convenient water fountain in the departure lounge. Even on the occasion where I got selected for the full works security check, they had no problem with the empty bottle. I've also had an occasion where a fairly significant container of soy milk in my son's bag got all the way through the system. I was somewhat gobsmacked that such a quantity of liquid got through.

The SSK Interesting again, and thank you.
I think they are mistaken and here I go with one of my lists - as I see it.

• The legacies had hard rules of govt to underpin them and the overall market was small and elite.
• The 747 and 767 happened.
• Market expanded beyond expectations in the 1970s and 80s, so the majors did not have to worry too much.
• De/Re-regulation and privatisation happened.
• Folks like SouthWest saw a new market and understood that by 'slicing' the price into bite sized chunks people could pay for they wanted.
• It worked because people always want to pay less and get more - it's a fundamental aspect of human beings.
• The EU does not want govts to subsidise carriers but they don't want airlines to charge in a way that customers have - overwhelmingly - taken to.
• If your suitcase is marginally outside the rules, then you pay. YES it is uncomfortable sometines.

But what the EU should go for is that carriers do not execute their rules with fairness. We have all seen some folks with large/more bags on the LCC, whilst having had our own smaller/single bag surcharged. In my view, THAT is the problem and that unfairness is why I dislike some carriers.

I remember that well, just after 9/11. Check-in was more pleasant too, no queues for security, bliss! I never did hear if our punctuality improved though. Our stress levels did.

How about getting the crew to put their bags in the hold? Never ceases to amaze me how much they need for an overnight!

Carry on bags even on someone like BA have been getting crazier and crazier over the last few years. Economy pax now think nothing of taking a trundle-bag which won't fit in the overhead, and another bag, with them.

Thankfully I have FF status which lets me board first so I get my (one, modestly sized I might add) bag into the overhead.

Never book rows 1-3 on BA domestic and turn up late - you won't have any space to put a bag up there - not a chance.

On the 10 or so BA long-haul flights I've done in the last few months, without exception, economy pax baggage has been brought into Business overhead bins as Eco overheads are totally packed. Some of them get on with huge items which I'm amazed they've got past check-in and then security!

If the EU mandate more than one bag, you can forget having any space overhead, ever!

It might be convenient as to put everything in carry on, and as long as it fits in the box outside check-in, fair play, but there are people totally abusing the restrictions already.

That isn't overnight kit SLF3 its a CC bag which they have to carry with them on every flight be it over night or day trip.

The cabin crew services dictate what goes in it. The last one I saw open was truly a sight. spare Ice tongs, spare tea bags, spare tights, manuals, flight report forms, personal first aid kit etc etc.

It varies from company to company what they are required to take. It isn't an option not to have it with them. If the queen bitch finds out they haven't got it they get their backsides in a sling. I have even seen a male hostie get put on report for not having two pairs of pop socks in his bag because the CC manual stated if trouser worn two pairs of PP colour code xyz pop socks must be in your bag when he was line checked.

Thankfully that was dealt with when the Pilots ripped the piss out of it in a mixed crm course as being stupid. But the CC manager really didn't see the funny side of the stupidity and bitterly hated changing it and he was male!!.

Some nonsense that each bag was a team resource provided by the company and it didn't matter what sex you were it should always have the same contents.

1. At some airlines the short haul crews are doing multi day tours, hence the need for the amount of kit, and

2. Crews sometimes need to transfer very rapidly between aircraft during a working day, so some airlines positively discourage or forbid crews checking in a suitcase (which BTW was/is a major PIA with the current liquids restriction).

Mad Jock & Wiggy,
Don't dispute that the employer imposed requirements exist, but that should not be at the paying customers cost. If they want to impose these requirements fine, but set aside enough space elsewhere on the aircraft for such purposes.

I can't see why the bins can't be made a little taller, allowing bags to be placed wheels in, on their sides.

The LCC logic seems a little broken to me, they try and discourage bag check so they can reduce costs, but they still have to incur these costs even if nobody actually checks a bag. If they charged a reasonable fee they would improve our, and their, travel experience significantly.

ExXB Yes - but you know how humans like a 'bargain'?? :rolleyes:Perceived high price = no sale.

It doesn`t cost the punter anything. It might annoy them but doesn`t cost them.

As for baggage bin design nothing much you can do about that without a major mod.

To be honest if you don`t like it get the train or don`t travell. As long as the customer keeps getting there wallet out nobody gives a toss whats said.

Anyone know what things are like with FR now they allow two bags? Since BA starting charging for bags on short hops, sorry I mean offering a cheaper fare for hand baggage only, it's been tricky getting bags onboard, but the CC are VERY proactive and pretty forward at people to get their smaller items under the seats. Since BA allow two bags I'm wondering how things are at FR. I would imagine it would be carnage!

As a frequent flyer down the back absolutely no argument to the contrary from me, just pointing out the constraints under which the crew may operate.