What Everybody Ought To Know About Carry On Luggage Restrictions

If you’re a seasoned traveler, you’re probably familiar with the small carry on bags that were fashionable back in the 1990s, and earlier.  Back then, people trusted the airlines with their luggage, and checked in large suitcases, while only bringing the bare necessities into the cabin.  

Now that low cost air travel is so common, more and more people are flying, and people seem to be taking more and more luggage on to the plane.  Perhaps some people are nervous about entrusting the airline with their favourite clothes, or perhaps they don’t want to have to wait to pick up their baggage at the other end.  Whatever the reason, huge bags have become the norm, and this causes problems as there simply isn’t enough room for all those bags in the cabin.
This is just one of the reasons that it is important for every traveler to be aware of the carry on luggage size restrictions and other rules regarding what you can and can not carry on.  By informing yourself of what is allowed (not to mention what is courteous to other travelers) you can avoid a lot of headache at the airport and on the plane.

You can obtain copies of the luggage size rules and weight limits from most airlines by calling them, or checking their web sites.  Usually, unless otherwise specified, size restrictions are given in inches, and the combined height, width, and length of the luggage cannot exceed the number given.  You must include any handles, wheels, or protruding pockets in the measurements.
 
When buying luggage, don’t trust the salesperson when they tell you that  something will be allowed to be carried on to the plane.  Different airlines have different restrictions – the only way you can be sure something is acceptable is to measure it for yourself.

In order to avoid problems with space allocation once you board your flight, the best policy is to keep your carry on luggage size as small as possible.  Although you may be allowed by the airline's rules to take a large bag onto the flight, is it really worth having a few extra things with you if it means that you have to fight with other passengers for overhead storage space?

Most very compact carry on bags will fit under the seat in front of you, however this is not always the case.  Some bags are taller than others, and if your bag is only just within the allowable size range, you may find that it does not fit under the seat, and needs to go in the overhead compartment.

Carrying a bag that is within the allowable size restrictions of the airline you are traveling with does not just make life easier for you, it also improves the comfort of your fellow passengers, and makes for a more pleasant traveling experience for all concerned.