Flight bag limits not big enough

Obviously a large aircraft with bigger overhead lockers can take larger items than a smaller aircraft and all international carriers recognise this and their gauges are calibrated accordingly. Not with Aurigny, who have introduced limits which apply to smaller aircraft on the Gatwick route than the Embraer jet.

Consequently, virtually all of what used to be cabin luggage is now checked in and the overhead lockers are virtually empty. This adds additional waiting time for the passengers, much to their annoyance and the embarrassment of the check-in and gate staff who all think it's ridiculous but they have to do as they're told.

As for 'slowing down the boarding process', hand luggage has no effect whatsoever, but the new edict has considerable effect on the journey time and convenience of the passengers, which should be Aurigny's concern.

This is a typical bureaucratic decision, taken with no consultation with their customers or the public (who, after all, own Aurigny).

A modicum of common sense would see that the overhead lockers are designed for on-board luggage which will fit into it, not just smaller items as decided by some Aurigny official. Let them do their job.

RICHARD OUTHWAITE,

Le Courtillet,

La Route de Sausmarez,

GY4 6SF.

I BOUGHT two flight bags measuring 50 x 35 x 22cm (if you include the outer circumference of the wheels – 20cm without doing so) some years ago. I have been using these bags on numerous Aurigny and international flights for many years.

Following your article about Aurigny's permitted flight bag size being changed, I have looked for replacements. I've looked locally and in online shops and the smallest cabin bag available is 50cm high. Aurigny specify 48 x 36 x 20cm. As far as I can tell, such a size is not manufactured, so please could Aurigny tell me where these might be bought.

Or might they reconsider and specify a size that customers can obtain – for instance, changing the height to 50cm?

jonesmnr@gmail.com

Name and address withheld.

Editor's footnote: Euan Mahy from Aurigny responds:

'Your correspondent is right to note that the article printed in this newspaper in mid-December was generated from an Aurigny press release. It was sent to the local media so that our customers had ample warning that we are enforcing, not changing, our cabin baggage restrictions (the difference is important). Our maximum size for a single item of hand luggage is 48cm x 36cm x 20cm, which is similar to that of the Flybe franchisee Stobart Air and larger than the maximum size allowed by Blue Islands, Loganair (another Flybe franchisee flying ATRs whose limit is 40 x 35 x 18cm) and the Icelandic airline Wizz Air.

We operate a mixed fleet of aircraft and so our bag dimensions are based on the locker capability of our ATRs, not our jet. The ATRs fly far more sectors across our timetable than our Embraer 195 and it is important to have a bag size that comfortably fits the ATR lockers. When booking Gatwick flights our passengers may well make the outward journey on the jet and return on an ATR and it would be unfair to confuse matters by allowing a bigger cabin bag on the jet and then refusing it on the return ATR leg.

In common with most carriers, we have experienced a dramatic increase in the number of customers choosing to travel with hand luggage only. Invariably, this means that to be able to carry all their personal effects they use bags that exceed our maximum dimensions. Consequently, our overhead lockers fill up quickly, are prone to damage because of bigger bags being crammed into them and, contrary to the opinion of your correspondent, a significant number of passengers carrying hand luggage does slow down boarding.

We operate a single class of cabin, so, in the interests of equality, enforcing our carry-on guidelines means that all, and not just some, of our passengers are able to take one small item of luggage with them in the cabin. Larger bags, weighing up to 20kg, can be stowed free of charge in our aircraft holds. We maintain that not charging for this service is a welcome rarity these days, when many operators levy a fairly hefty fee for hold baggage. Baggage delivery times at our destination airport are generally within around 15 minutes of the aircraft arriving onto its stand and we do not consider this an especially long wait.

Having checked online, a number of manufacturers do supply bags that fit our gauge dimensions.'