Originally Posted by PLeblond

On my last 3 trips, having to wait for many bags to be scanned before my laptop bag popped out, I decided to time how long it takes for a bag to be scanned.

Using no other technology than my watch, I counted a loose average of 20 seconds per bag, rollers requiring more time than smaller bags. This excludes the amount of time to takes to manoeuvre the bags onto and off the screening belt, and the inevitable clogging of the aisle when boarding and during egress.

So I started calculating how much 'time' having a second item takes. The argument I hear a lot about roller carry-ons is 'I am busy and don't have time to wait for luggage.' Or 'I am a frequent flyer and I am more efficient, so i don't hold anyone back*.'

If one assumes that 1 of 3 people use a roller and a personal item (I consider the number conservative and its probably well over 50%) and averages 100 passengers per single aisle & 200 passengers per wide-body, here is what I have found.

On average, every single-aisle plane would contain 33 carry-on rollers. At 20 seconds each, that is 11 minutes of additional security screening time. Every wide-body requires 22 minutes additional screening time.

So, for every combination of 3 wide-bodies or 6 single-aisle flights an extra hour delay of security screening is created.

Since we cannot ask people to arrive 2 or 3 hours before a flight, airports need to add more security screening equipment, make more space in airports for this added screening and hire more staff to man these extra security lines.

So, carrying-on rollers adds time and money (via higher airport fees to pay for the staff, overhead and equipment) for everyone. People complain about fees all the time, especially when dealing with Aeroplan tickets, but in essence using carry-on is a major contribution to airport fees.

Maybe its time to start charging for each additional carry-on after the first, all airlines, all airports?