Working with airlines and aircraft manufacturers including Boeing and Airbus, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade association, unveiled a new best-size guideline on Tuesday for carry-on bags at 21.5 inches tall by 13.5 inches wide and 7.5 inches deep. That’s 21 percent smaller than the size currently permitted by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
Eight major international airlines have already decided to adopt the new rules: Air China, Avianca, Azul, Cathay Pacific, China Southern, Emirates, Lufthansa and Qatar. “We’ll certainly be announcing more big carriers,” said Chris Goater, a spokesman for the transport association.
The existing size is what I can fit under the seat in front of me, provided I don’t mind losing the legroom. That suitcase is good for maybe two nights, provided I go light on the toiletries and don’t need a second pair of shoes.
My question is, Why???
If that size bag already fits under the seat, why shrink it? Are they going to shrink the seats even more? The current ones are already almost too small even for my skinny rear — and I’m practically undersized by modern American standards. In your typical 767 jet, I don’t think they could cram in another row or column of seats even if they really, really tried.
So again: Why?
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