Spokespeople for several airlines said privately that the abuse of carry-on luggage had reached a point where companies felt compelled to clean it up voluntarily before federal regulators stepped in with a set of restrictions that all carriers would be forced to impose. Other carriers also have clamped down on carry-on luggage in the past year. American Airlines Inc. has put its limits on the total number of bags brought aboard or checked. That number is now three per passenger, with no more than two of them allowed as carry-on. And carry-on pieces must be smaller than 23 x 33 x 58 cm, with a maximum weight of 18 kg.
More cramped planes mean even more severe baggage restrictions on charter aircraft.
Charters pack in proportionately more passengers than commercial carriers, leaving less room for luggage in on-board storage areas. Royal Airlines , for instance, allows only one cabin bag per passenger, with a maximum size of 23 x 24 x 50 cm, weighing less than five kg. Canada 3000 allows two pieces of cabin luggage, smaller than 25 x 37 x 50 cm, also weighing less than five kg. If the luggage doesn't fit in the bin, it doesn't make it into the cabin. Sometimes even bags that meet the size requirements fail because of weight restrictions.