Last week’s Sophie Butler article Last week the Government announced that some UK airports will now be permitted to accept more than one piece of hand luggage per passenger. The problem is that it’s not a blanket rule - restrictions are lifted at Heathrow and Manchester, but not at Gatwick, for example. Changes to the hand luggage rules have caused much confusionThe situation is further complicated by the fact that some airlines are objecting to what they see as a piecemeal announcement. Easyjet says it will not consider changing its hand-baggage policy at any of the airports from which it flies until the rules become “clearer and more consistent”.So it will be up to us to find out whether restrictions apply at the airport we’re flying from every time we travel. However, this can be a challenge. The amount of luggage which is acceptable on one plane is not necessarily allowed on another. Dimensions, weight and number of bags per passenger can vary from company to company, and even from flight to flight. A reader relates how he recently travelled to Majorca from Blackpool with a no-frills airline. On the way out, his bag was weighed by check-in staff and judged to be within the permitted limits. On his return journey, despite carrying lighter luggage, he was charged for excess baggage.James Fremantle, of the Air Transport Users Council (AUC), says that the AUC receives many complaints about airlines’ inconsistent application of their own rules - often insisting that passengers pay an excess one way but not necessarily the other - and agrees that it can seem arbitrary and unfair. advertisement”This can come down to the simple fact of how check-in staff are feeling that day, or how busy they are,” he says. “We’d like airlines to get the message about luggage restrictions over to consumers and to be consistent. Otherwise it can seem that the airlines are simply making up these rules as they go along.” He points out that passengers used to be able to pool their weight allowance with other members of their party, but in most cases this is no longer permitted. He advises that it can often pay to compare allowances on different airlines before booking, as some are far more generous than others.When I compared the rules laid down by carriers, I found a bewildering variety of policies. No-frills carrier Thomsonfly, for example, allows 20kg (44lb) for hold luggage and has no restriction in size or number of bags per person, but insists that combined hand and hold baggage must not exceed 25kg. In other words, if you’ve used your full allowance for checked luggage, your carry-on bag must weigh 5kg or less. Bmibaby and Ryanair both allow you take a single item of luggage aboard but it must not exceed 10kg. Tour operator airlines are particularly tough on hand luggage, halving the standard allowance from 10 to 5kg and often specifying far smaller bag sizes than the maximum dimensions - 55cm x 40cm x 20cm - laid down by the Department for Transport (DfT). Like the no-frills and charter companies, scheduled airlines also differ widely in their rules on the amount of hand luggage you’re allowed. Virgin, for example, restricts weight to 6kg and Swiss to 8kg, while British Airways will allow you to take up to 23kg (you must be able to lift the bag into the overhead locker unaided) and American Airlines, up to18kg. Different rules apply if you’re flying in business or first class.So if you want to stay on the right side of the carry-on regulations, take the following guidelines into account: Check the luggage rules imposed by your airline and, if you’ve booked a package holiday, your tour operator. These should be on their websites or visit telegraph.co.uk/travel. Check the DfT website (www.dft.gov.uk) for the latest on hand luggage. Don’t forget that despite changes to carry-on regulations, the liquids ban still holds and you must still place all gels and aerosols in containers of 100ml or less into a transparent, re-sealable bag. One way round the problem is to spread the weight around everyone in your party (check the carry-on allowance for children and infants). Consider sending your luggage ahead through Carrymyluggage.com (0845 009 0362; www.carrymyluggage.com) or pre-ordering baby food, nappies and formula milk through Tiny Tots Away (01257 424241; www.tinytotsaway.com).Readers’ queriesRH, Bournemouth, writesI’m organising a trip to Kerala in India and would like to find reliable information on comfortable accommodation. Any ideas?Sophie Butler repliesAlastair Sawday’s Special Places to Stay series of hotel guides includes India (order on 01275 395431 or www.sawdays.co.uk at %26pound;6.59 plus %26pound;2.99 p%26amp;p).PP, Midlands, writes Is there a quick way of checking budget airline routes?Sophie Butler replies Have a look at www.jumblefly.com. This lets you select the departure and destination airports and then shows you the airlines that serve them. BE, by email, writesWe are planning a family holiday or city break to celebrate my mother’s 80th birthday. The grandchildren range in age from one to 20. What would you suggest? Sophie Butler repliesYou may find that a city break is too frenetic for the youngest and oldest members of the party. Consider a short stay at an upmarket family hotel with activities for all ages. Contact the Luxury Family Hotel group (www.luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk) or find a large, self-catering property with an indoor pool (in case of rain). West Country specialist, Helpful Holidays has plenty of this type of accommodation on its books (01647 433593; www.helpfulholidays.com).
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