The following is a proposed rule change to standardize the regulations governing the dimensions of carry

- on baggage for flights in the United States. Currently, carry

- on baggage is regulated by each individual FAA certificate holder. This has led to great disparity regarding the maximal size for carry

- on baggage. For example, the following table list s the maximum carry

- on baggage dimensions for the twelve ( 12 ) major passenger carriers (as classified by the U.S. Department of Transportation):

Airline Max L ength (in.) Max Height (in.) Max Depth (in.) Source

Alaska Airlines 24 17 10 Here

Allegiant Air 22 14 9 Here

American Airlines 22 14 9 Here

Delta Air Lines 22 14 9 Here

Frontier Airlines 24 16 10 Here

Hawaiian Airlines 22 14 9 Here

JetBlue 22 14 9 Here

Southwest Airlines 24 16 10 Here Sp rit Airlines 22 18 10 Here

United Airlines 22 14 9 Here

US Airways 22 14 9 Here Virgin America 24 16 10 Here

This confusion is further aggravate d by the International Air Transport Association’s recent suggestion that optimal carry

- on bags should be no larger than 21.5 inches by 13.5 inches by 7.5 inches , significantly smaller than the limits enforced by all 12 airlines listed ab ove. This will only encourage some airlines to further cut gate

- checking costs by reducing their carry

- on limits, increasing the diversity of carry

- on regulations and decreasing standardization.

The current situation has an economic downside as well. Div ersity of requirements hurts the luggage industry since it is impossible to manufacture carry

- on bags that are guaranteed to meet size restrictions. Diversity also hurts the airline industry since carry

- on bags that are too large are often allowed through ticketing and security before needing to be gate

- checked upon

boa rding. This increases the labor cost of the lugga ge stowing process and the time cost to the boarding process, reducing the profitability of the airline industry. Most importantly, diversity hurts consumers because they are unable to purchase carry

- on bags that are guaranteed on all flights, leading to a need to purc hase more luggage, and they are often unable to accurately determine if their items needed for a trip will fit into their carry

- o n, leading to a need to pay to check bags more frequently than necessary.

The economic benefits of standardization are well established as well as long known . The adoption of the Constitution in 1787, the federal enforcement of the standard gauge for rai lroads in 1863, and the establishment of the Federal Communications Commission in 1934 to regulate radio and television broadcasts are just a few of the many actions undertaken for the sake of standardization that led to sustainable economic growth in spec ific economic sectors. This proposed rule change will similarly lead to economic growth in the luggage industry and the airline industry, as well as encouraging growth in consumer travel.In addition to the economic advantages, the advantages to airline passengers ought not to

be overlooked. Airline passengers will no longer suffer the stress of having their carry

- on luggage denied access to the overhead compartments due to the multiplicity of perplexing regulations. Removing stress from passengers’ experiences will lessen tensions b etween passengers and airline carriers , leading to fewer disagreements and fewer customer service clashes. This gain in travel efficiency aligns with the FAA’s goal of a creating “ the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world ” (see http://www.faa. gov/about/ ).

The proposed maximal dimensions below are a compromise. They incorporate the modal length and height maxima of 22 inches and 14 inches, respe ctively, while incorporating a maximal depth of 10 inches, which is found in the restrictions of every airline that has more

generous max ima than the mode.

This proposed rule change is to amend Title 14 §121.589 (a) to read as follows (the emendations are demarcated in italics) :

Carry

- on baggage. (a ) No certificate holder may allow the boarding of carry

- on baggage on an airplane unless eac h passenger's baggage has been scanned to control the size and

amount carried on board in accordance with an approved carry

- on baggage program in its operations specifications

, provided that this program does not prescribe greater restrictions on the dimen sions of carry

- on baggage than those in subsection (i), (ii), and (iii) below . In addition, no passenger may board an airplane if his/her carry

- on baggage exceeds the baggage allowance prescribed

below: (i) a maximum of twenty

- two (22) inches in length ; (i i) a maximum of fourteen (14 ) inches in height ; (iii) a maximum of ten (10 ) inches in depth.