Hodge podge airline hand luggage rules must be standardised to stop passenger abuse, Unite demands

Unite, the UK's leading union, is calling for hand luggage rules to be standardised as differences across airports and airlines is driving abuse against workers by angry passengers caught by unexpected surcharges.  

Airlines across the UK have different standards for hand luggage size and weight and levy different charges. They also have differing enforcement policies and incentive schemes for ground handlers who have to flag hand luggage that contravenes the rules.

Due to the different standards and the variable enforcement of often sizable and unexpected extra charges for hand luggage that contravenes specific rules, airline workers regularly face abuse from angry passengers.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The industry needs to get its act together and introduce standardised hand luggage rules. The current situation is not only unfair on passengers but is resulting in airport workers facing abuse on a regular basis. This is totally unacceptable.”

As a member of the European Transport Workers Federation, Unite has led the campaign supporting a standardisation of hand luggage rules across Europe and within the EU.

The EU has now adopted a standardised single free to carry on hand luggage principle. As the EU is the single biggest destination for UK passengers, Unite believes UK airlines should adopt the standardisation as quickly as possible. 

Oliver Richardson, Unite national officer for civil air transport, said: “Adopting standardisation will end the confusion for passengers, who absurdly can face different rules on return trips because the enforcement standards differ at each airport. The current situation is driving disruptive passenger incidents which airport workers are bearing the brunt of. It needs to end.”