IATA propose smaller carry-on bags to ease travel anxiety

As anyone who carries luggage onto a plane knows, the maximum size allowances differ widely. A carry-on bag deemed acceptable on one airline may need to be checked in - possibly for a fee - on another carrier. And even when bags are deemed acceptable, there may not be enough space in the bin for every passenger to take luggage on board.

The good news is that airlines sense your frustration. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), an industry body representing the world's biggest carriers, has developed a new standard sized bag that would allow every passenger to fit a carry-on in the overhead bins on jets as small a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 and as large as an A380. The sizing standards were developed in consultation with Boeing and Airbus.

"There has to be a size that if the passenger buys it, they know they can take it on board with them," IATA senior vice president for airport, passenger, cargo and security Thomas Windmuller said when announcing the new initiative at the group's annual meeting in Miami.

The dimensions allowed are 55cm x 35cm x 20cm, which is slightly bigger than the 48cm x 34cm x 23cm size Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia allow on domestic Australian flights at present. However, it a bit smaller than the 56cm x36cm x 23cm maximum size Qantas allows on international flights and Virgin permits on long-haul international flights.

Several airlines that fly to Australia, including Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, China Eastern and China Southern are among those that have already agreed to the new standards announced on Tuesday. But Mr Windmuller said several chief executives of other carriers have expressed interest, and he expected more to sign on soon, meaning Qantas and Virgin could still join up.

The guidelines won't prevent airlines from allowing passengers to take larger bags on board if their policies permit, but they will include an "IATA Cabin OK" label that will alert gate agents they will fit in the overhead bins without the need to demonstrate so using one of the metal sizers available at airports.

"It should speed the boarding process," Mr Windmuller said. "We see this as a win, win, win for everybody."

Producing the new bags will take some time, as it will require bag manufacturers to adjust their molds. But baggage maker Crown has already signed on, and IATA is in talks with major producers like Tumi and Samsonite about joining the program. Mr Windmuller expects the bags could be widely available by the end of the year.

"People see value in this," he said.

The reporter travelled to Miami as a guest of IATA and Qantas.