Travellers flying with easyJet are facing the squeeze this summer after the airline cut the size of hand luggage allowed in overhead cabin lockers.
New luggage restrictions: EasyJet is reducing the size of bags they will allow in the cabin overhead lockers
The budget airline is reducing the size of bags by more than a third. From Tuesday it will no longer guarantee luggage in the cabin measuring 56cm by 45cm by 30cm.
On busy flights, anyone with bags bigger than 50cm by 40cm by 20cm may have them taken at the boarding gate and put in the hold.
There will be no extra charge. Bags already checked into the hold cost between £9 and £19.
EasyJet makes money from seat reservations, priority boarding, seats with extra legroom and food, but it claims the new luggage size rules are not designed to make passengers pay even more.
These extras make up fiver per cent of the airline’s total income compared with less than one per cent five years ago, according to the Times.
Charges for oversized bags vary with Ryanair charging the most at £140. Monarch is £50, British Airways £40 and easyJet £25. BA and Air France now offer hand luggage only fares.
The travel association ABTA urged passengers to be alert to airline charges and restrictions.
Gillian Edwards told the paper: ‘It is a commercial decision for each airline as to how much hand baggage they allow and the charges they impose for hold baggage.
‘They must, however, be transparent about their policies and charges.’
Travelsupermarket.com spokesman Bob Atkinson said that most airlines had increased charges for checked-in baggage and penalties for exceeding size and weight restrictions.
