More airlines are making this change to carry-on luggage - and Aussies are not on board
More airlines around the world are looking to amend their carry-on baggage policies, meaning travellers are being asked to cough up an extra fee for hand luggage that used to be included in the original ticket price.
With airfares remaining stubbornly high, paying an an additional fee to bring a wheelie-bag or large backpack on board could put more people off flying.
In an exclusive Nine reader poll we asked the question "would you pay an airline for carry on luggage?"
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Carry-on luggage is generally still included by most airlines. Getty Images/iStockphoto
While low-cost and budget airlines have traditionally given customers an option to include checked luggage or not, many carriers are now following the same framework for simple hand luggage.
Only seven per cent of respondents said "yes" they would be willing to pay an additional fee for carry-on.
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"If airlines charged a reasonable price for carry on baggage I am sure that many people would pay the price for convenience," one person pointed out.
"If I have no choice about paying for carry on luggage the yes I would pay," another person commented, adding: "If a similar priced airline offered free carry on then I would opt for that airline."
An overwhelming 80 per cent of respondents said they would not pay any extra to take hand luggage on board.
What our readers thought. Nine/Graphic: Polly Hanning
"I have paid for my seat on the airline, that includes the space above me for my carry-on luggage," read one comment.
"I don't think I would want to be paying any extra fees," another agreed.
Many said if they were asked to pay extra they would choose another airline.
"I will go to Perth on foot," one person quipped.
A small number of respondents (13 per cent) said they were "unsure".
"Airlines charge a fee for anything they can. We pay an enormous amount for tickets and baggage already," one reader wrote.
Some people try to travel with only carry-on luggage. Getty
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Many travellers said it would all depend on whether airlines actually cracked down on carry-on allowances.
"Would never pay for carry on luggage and I am dead against folk who sneak all the extra on board to put in overhead lockers," one person said.
"Airlines need to get tougher on the amount of so-called hand luggage being brought on board a plane. It takes time to put it all away and then holds up the disembarkation process as well," another added.
While a third wrote: "Carry on luggage is a joke. I've seen people who appear to be leaving home and take everything as carry on luggage."
Nine/Graphic: Polly Hanning
A growing trend
Canadian airline Air Transat introduced fees for cabin bags on some tickets in February. The airline will only allow one personal item, such as a handbag or small backpack, in its cheapest fare, Eco Budget.
Air Canada started charging economy passengers to bring anything larger than a handbag or small backpack aboard many flights from January.
Meanwhile in December, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security in India also introduced new regulations around hand luggage allowances on both domestic and international flights.
So far, no Aussie airlines have started charging for taking bags into the cabin, as long as you stick to the rules.
