Airline passengers might have to rethink how they pack their luggage after reported plans of new seat rules.
Those who travel with the likes of Jet2, Ryanair and easyJet could reportedly face a new problem with their hand luggage allowance.
I mean, it's fairly common to bring a trusty backpack with your on board, filled with snacks, phone chargers and some headphones for the journey ahead.
And we're all pretty aware of what we can and can't take on board.
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Current hand luggage rules
Ryanair
One personal bag with measurements no more than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm.
The airline's website states: "If you purchased Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, including Regular and Flexi Plus (or Plus tickets purchased prior to 11 December 2019), you may carry on board the small and a large piece of Cabin Baggage, weighing up to 10kg with maximum dimensions of 55cm x 40cm x 20cm."
EasyJet
One personal bag with measurements no more than 45cm x 36cm x 20cm.
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"Everyone can bring one small under seat cabin bag per person on board for free," easyJet says on its website.
Jet2
One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag with measurements no more than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm, up to 10kg.
New seat designs
Now, according to data analysts and travel studies, there has been calls for thinner seats on planes, which will result in less room for your bags.
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As per USA Today, expert Christopher Elliott warned: "When an airline announces a new cabin interior, it often moves to thinner seats, which allow it to add more capacity. Installing extra rows of seats usually means subtracting legroom."
He claims he was recently 'unable to sit facing forward' on a flight because of the lack of space between seats.
Though Joe Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance, reckons passengers will just have to 'start packing lighter'.
He predicts that it could take the best part of 10 years to ditch under-seat bags.
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Meanwhile, David Young, a designer who has worked on cabin features for Teague for 20 years, said: "I’d say we’re at a breaking point. We’ve hit as big as we can go.
“Maybe we don’t need carry-ons at all. Someone needs to step out and say, ‘We’re not doing this anymore. This isn’t the right experience for air travel.’”
While nothing has been set in stone as of yet, it's worth keeping this in mind should these plans come to fruition.
LADbible Group has contacted Jet2, Ryanair and easyJet for comment.
Anish Vij