Twenty-two British airports will allow passengers to carry more than one piece of hand luggage from Jan. 7.
Airports, including Heathrow, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh, which have met government requirements for extra security checks will permit two items of luggage to be taken on board flights starting from Monday, Sky news reported on Sunday.
Since a tightening of security in August 2006 when police disrupted terrorist plans on transatlantic flights, passengers at British airports have been restricted to one piece of hand luggage.
But the one-bag regulation will remain at some major airports including Luton, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool, as these airports have not demonstrated to the Department for Transport (DfT) they can cope with extra cabin bags without compromising security.
To add to passengers' confusion, the one-bag rule is being lifted on some connecting flights at Gatwick, Britain's second busiest airport, but remains in place for most passengers at West Sussex airport.
"We have told the government that there is potential for confusion," said Simon Evans, chief executive of the Air Transport Users Council.
"Since August 2006, we have all been urging people to become acquainted with the one-bag rule and to read the DfT advice. Now the message has changed and there is no longer one consistent message," he added.
Low-cost carrier EasyJet, however, has decided to retain the one-bag rule for all its flights due to worries about the new arrangement.
"There is massive scope for customer confusion in an environment where British airports are adopting different policies. The only way to maintain a simple and standard policy is to maintain our one-bag policy," said Andy Harrison, chief executive of EasyJet.
Size limits on liquids and cabin luggage will still apply and airlines can place their own restrictions on the amount of hand luggage that can be taken in to their aircraft.
The dimensions of hand luggage must not exceed 56cm x 45cm x 25cm, including wheels, handles and side pockets. This is equivalent to the size of a small roller suitcase.
The government has stressed it is up to passengers to check hand-luggage policy with individual airlines.
British Airways will allow two pieces of hand luggage per passenger. Virgin Atlantic will allow one piece of cabin luggage per passenger in Economy and Premium Economy Class (plus laptop, handbag or similar), and two pieces of luggage per passenger traveling first class.
Source:Xinhua
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