One size for all carry-ons?

FAA, luggage trade group launch awareness campaign

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 18 — Federal regulators are thinking about setting uniform standards for carry-on bags. In the meantime, they’re giving out brochures asking travelers to “Think Small, Think Smart, Think Safe.”
THE CAMPAIGN, unveiled Thursday at a luggage industry show, is a joint effort by the Federal Aviation Administration and the Luggage & Leather Goods Manufacturers of America.
“The goal ... is to prepare passengers to be better air travelers,” said Anne DeCicco, president of the luggage group.
The Association of Flight Attendants and the luggage manufacturers’ group say 4,000 passengers and crew members are hurt each year by bags and objects falling from overhead bins.
They claim carry-on bag standards would improve safety and eliminate problems for passengers who switch airlines during a trip.
The FAA requires airlines to develop carry-on policies but leaves the details to them. As a result, the number and size of bags a passenger can carry aboard vary from airline to airline.
Most major carriers limit carry-on bags to 9 inches tall, 14 inches deep and 22 inches wide. But the carriers are divided on adopting a uniform standard.
The FAA is considering imposing uniform standard but will likely wait to see whether the public awareness campaign is successful, said Kathryn Creedy, a spokeswoman for the agency.

Sounds to me like there is a conspiracy here to sell more luggage.

It sure sounds like it. They already have airports like IAD that enforces UA's carry-on baggage policy even to non-UA customers (templates on X-ray machines). How annoying!

So, do we get to exchange our "old" luggage with the "new" types of luggage they eventually decide as the right size for carry on?

[This message has been edited by AusTXHiker (edited 02-22-99).]

I think I agree with the proposal...

It would end hassles at templates, checkin, boarding, etc. Of course, teh plan would have to be phased in over the average life of a carry-on style suitcase (say, 5-10 years?).

Or perhaps a voluntary standard could be set that all airlines accept and luggage manufacturers are aware of, so that instead of advertising "allowed as carry-on by most airlines" the bag could have a statement, this luggage is in compliance with the ANSI (or ISO9000) standard as acceptable carry-on luggage for all airlines worldwide...

I can just see three years from now after they have standardized--for just an extra $100 we will let you take on your oversize bag and put it in our new oversize compartment for elite flyers. First they get everybody to conform and then they will find a new way to make money.

I find this odd in a country that prides itself on diversity, innovation etc. etc.

... and, I insist, they all should look 100% the same (same color, same kind of name-tag, and SAME CONTENTS so that Xray becomes very easy) - and also the passengers should fit into unified templates (especially the length of arms/elbows for sharing armerests).

And may be the unified luggage should/would just crack automatically if it gets overweighed (in pounds or in Kilograms?).

I am pretty sure, that the European Commission will now put on a 12 headed commission to find out, in at least 12 sessions, after at least 12 international first class trips, THE unified on-board-luggage (with only some exceptions for Italians, Germans, French, British, Austrians, Scandinavians, Dutch, Belgians, Luxemburgers, Greeks, Spaniards, Portuguese and may be also for people from the Fuerstentum Lichtenstein).

ok - it is only a nightmare, as the European Commission and the Americans will already NEVER agree if the norms should be in inches or in centimeters, in pounds or in kilograms,

Good one Rudi! That made me laugh (although it isn't far from the truth).

Maybe you can armtwist one of your member neighbour countries to get me on one of those 12 first class trips!

[This message has been edited by BlondeBomber (edited 02-22-99).]

What about weighing luggage in kilopounds?

ONMI - A wise man once said that a Committee is the only lifeform with 12 stomachs and no brain....

This one size rule is somewhat scarey. Doesn't it smack of dictatorship???

It may become necessary because of all the shopping bags and golf bags and gigantic athletic bags that people try to sneak on the plane.

If they are going to enforce this plan, then they should allow us to exchange our current luggage for the legitmate one (All but one of my bags are already in compliance, the one that's not gets checked on the plane!)

And how about 500 miles for luggage trade in? After all, we should get something back for our frustration!!!

The luggage makers are already seeing dollar signs!!! CATMAN

Boy howdy, Catman. And, just as scary to me is the trend I've noted amongst airlines to enlarge carry-on space onboard . . . even United is doing some of this. Tells me the airlines have chosen NOT to invest in improving checked baggage handling and delivery . . . which is what I think we'd all rather have.