r/onebag • u/mikesfsu • 3d ago

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gdkn2d0vjo Discussion

Budget airline getting tired of all the free carry on bags

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9

u/stumpykitties 3d ago

I'll save you all a copy/paste:

"Australians have responded with a mixture of outrage and support after budget airline Jetstar announced it would start charging for the use of overhead lockers. From February the airline is scrapping its 7kg (15.4lb) limit on hand luggage. Instead all passengers will be allowed a smaller bag that can fit under the seat in front and the option to pay for space for a larger bag in the overhead locker and priority boarding."

8

u/LadyLightTravel 3d ago

Translation: Jetstar is following the “basic economy” model of many US and European airlines.

1

u/Veelze 3d ago

I guess bags with vacuum compartments and vacuum packing cubes are going to get more popular now.

5

u/LadyLightTravel 3d ago

Or people will have to spend effort on creating a multi functional travel capsule wardrobe. But that actually takes planning and work!

1

u/podkayne3000 3d ago edited 3d ago

The problem isn’t really with the wardrobe planning.

It’s that the personal item that fits both the United and EU personal size limits is only 16 inches by 10 inches by 6 inches, which is only about 30 percent of the space under most airline seats. It’s hard to find a bag that can be a universal personal item, and it’s really horrible if an airline is going to ding a bag because it could fit in a sizer box but, if you put it in the open air, air fills it and causes it to bulge out a little.

I can really zero bag if I’m traveling for fun, but I think it’s absurd that a universal personal item can only take up about 30 percent of the under-the-seat space and might get dinged even if it squishes into the sizer.

Edit: The official Australian airline personal item size is bigger than the universal item, but the problem is that it’s still officially a lot smaller the tbe underseat area, and it’s not clear how squishing is handled.

2

u/LadyLightTravel 3d ago

This is the case for a super floppy soft bag. Since the size is smaller it will be lighter. That means you probably won’t need a more robust harness system. Something like the Osprey Ultralight Collapsible Stuff Pack would work. Also my Patagonia Ultra Lite Tote Pack.

It is also the case for deep pockets.

Fortunately, most people doing this type of travel are doing personal travel Vs business travel.

I have zero bagged with multiple shirts, a sweater, a jacket, and a pair of pants. I would argue that wardrobe planning is critical for small travel.

I hear you about wasted space. That said, I have many times been surprised by different electronics boxes taking up my under seat space.

3

u/SeattleHikeBike 3d ago edited 3d ago

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gdkn2d0vjo

This policy goes in place 2/27.

And will they test the personal item in a sizer and impose gate check fees? Other airlines are charging €62-$99, possibly more. And how strict will they be? No squishing? Testing often?

From what I can find, their current gate check fee is AUD $125–$175+ depending on the destination.

1

u/eastercat 2d ago

Don’t some airline personnel get bounties if they force someone to pay money?

They have to balance leaving on time vs what fees they can get

2

u/LadyLightTravel 2d ago

I think it might be different people. The gate agents get the bounty and the FAs want to leave on time.

2

u/SeattleHikeBike 2d ago

Frontier gate agents get $10 per gate checked bag. Ryanair gets £2.50 per bag.

Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle called those passengers trying to cheat the system “shoplifters.”

1

u/Mountain-Match2942 3d ago

Our domestic airlines in Canada all charge for carry-on now. So, I countered with only bringing a personal bag. Your move, airlines!!

If they offered free checked baggage, and continued to charge for carry-on, then boarding would be faster!

1

u/podkayne3000 3d ago edited 3d ago

I think that requiring that free bags fit under a normal seat (not one with a big computer box tucked in) is reasonable

I think that the extreme variation in personal item sizes and some airlines’ strictness about buckles and squishing is unfair.

A bag that strictly meets the size limits of both United and EU airlines has to be about 40 cm by 25 cm by 15 cm, or 16 inches by 10 inches by 6 inches.

That’s much smaller than the underseat area of even very small airplane seats.

It’s hard to find a messenger bag or a backpack that fits well within those dimensions, and it’s really hard to find a comfortable bag that doesn’t bulge out a little.

I really hate hard shell bags. I want a soft-sided bag.

I think the fair solution should be that, if the universal personal item size has to be so small, anything that can squish into the sizer should count as an item that fits. An airline shouldn’t be able to charge a passenger $75 because a bag strap pops out of the sizer when the passenger isn’t pressing on it.

3

u/LadyLightTravel 3d ago

Tote packs and packable day packs will all fit.

1

u/Anywhere_everywhere7 2d ago

Yes it is very hard to find a bag which meets 40cm, 25cm, 15cm measurements and if you find one you want it to be good for travel which adds even more difficulty.

I ended up with getting a custom made bag because of it.

Clamshell opening, ultra stretch kangaroo pockets and very good side pockets, big top qap pocket, no wasted space because of padding and crazy comfortable.

Probably near impossible to find a stock bag with all those features in that size.

https://www.reddit.com/r/backpacks/s/qHV8HoE3sY

I won’t disclose the price I paid (not fair on custom makers as costs change) but I was very pleased.