06 October 2023 , 14:47
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A new aircraft design will have much bigger overhead bins which could make it easier for passengers trying to navigate airlines' hand luggage rules and let them bring more luggage onboard.
For most people flying means cramming as much as possible into one small bag and then stuffing it beneath your seat, hoping you've stayed within the rules and swerved those hefty fees.
As much as arriving with all your clothes wrinkled is not the dream, checking-in a bag means you have to collect at it the end, as well as there being a far from 0% chance that it'll be mysteriously lost in transit. Happily one plane manufacturer has come up with a solution.
In place of the current overhead storage bins which are only big enough to lie a wheelie-case flat - meaning a lot of room is waste above it - Airbus has unveiled the 'Airspace L Bins'. The overhead compartments promise to create 60% more cabin luggage space than traditional systems.
Airbus has unveiled the new designs (Courtesy Airbus)Roller bags will be storable vertically instead of only going in flat. Cases up to 61cm high, 38cm wide and 25cm deep can fit in them. The storage units can be added to different planes in three to five days.
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The first airline to sign up to retrofit them is Lufthansa, which will start using them in its aircraft from 2025, CNN reports. "We know from talking with airline customers that bigger bins are a clear need to enhance the passenger experience,” said Airbus head of commercial services for Europe, Charbel Youzkatli, in a statement.
It will be up to the airlines to decide whether to cut the cost of bringing extra hand-luggage onboard. Some may argue that, even though they have the space, the additional weight requires more fuel and therefore it should be charged accordingly.
Nowadays airlines such as TUI, easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways each have their own policies around what you can bring onboard flights for free, whether that's one small bag or two. Getting it wrong could prove costly, especially if you end up having to pay to check-in a bag.
Airlines tend to charge more if you end up bringing an extra bag to the gate rather than if you check it in in advance, so it is always better to be prepared and know what the specific firm's requirements are. We have put together a handy run down of all the different rules from the different airlines.
We've also got a guide on what you can and can't take in your hand luggage - take note before packing or you could end up delayed at security too. While some things are obviously not allowed on planes - such as explosives and sharp knives - others are a little less obvious. A number of normal lighters is allowed, while one in the shape of a gun is not, for example.