Balancing Your Luggage and Carry On Items
Carry On Standards
The standard in carry on luggage is 22” X 14” X 9” or 45”. However the luggage manufacturers do not necessarily make luggage they call carry on to the specifications of the airlines requirements. And with the reduction of space under your seat and in many overhead bins, what do you do if your carry on item doesn’t fit? Because each airline has different size limitations for carry-on luggage, your travel agency recommends that you bring the smallest carry on you need rather than the largest you can handle.
Carry On Luggage Allowance
Until recently although all airlines have limits on the number, size and weigh of carry on items, they have been generous in their limits and rarely enforced those rules. However starting in mid 2008 more passengers began carrying on larger and heavier items to save time at the baggage claim and to reduce costs for checked bags. With a greater premium for space on the plane and more passengers electing to carry on their luggage to save the checked bag fee, there will be even less space.
With the current policies of charging for first and second checked baggage, the airlines will now be required to enforce their carry on limits and their will be even less space available. Passengers should know that if your carry-on items are in excess of number, size and weight requirements, you will not slip through the cracks as in the past.
Standard Personal Items
The standard allowance is one personal item and one carry-on bag on all of the major airlines. What are some of the items the airlines consider a personal item? Below is a short list of examples of personal items.
· Briefcases
· Camera
· Purse
· Book-bag style backpacks
· Laptop with case
· Umbrellas & Walking Sticks
· Infant Food
· Personal reading materials
Additional items that are considered personal items include coats, hats, crutches, wheelchairs and car seats. Unlike checked baggage, there is usually no additional cost for large or heavier carry on items and these usually do not count toward your one personal item.
What Are the Airlines Charging You for Checked Baggage?
Most of the major airlines have begun to charge for second checked bags and many are charging for the first checked bag as well. Below is a list of the major airlines and their baggage charges each way for Domestic flights.
|
Airline
|
First Checked Bag Fee
|
Second Checked Bag Fee
|
|
AirTran
|
$15.00
|
Online - $10.00
At Airport - $20.00
|
|
American
|
$15.00
|
$25.00
|
|
Delta
|
$15.00
|
$25.00
|
|
Northwest
|
$15.00
|
$25.00
|
|
Southwest
|
No Charge
|
No Charge
|
|
United
|
$15.00
|
$25.00
|
|
US Airways
|
$15.00
|
$25.00
|
The average fee for more than two checked bags is $100.00 per bag. The above fees are based on the bag limit of 50 to 70 pounds depending on the airlines weight limit. There are additional fees for bags over the airline weight limit.
LUGGAGE REQUIREMENTS & FEES