No-frills airlines ‘may charge for carry-on bags’

Low-cost carriers could be just a heartbeat away from charging passengers to bring carry-on luggage aboard their flights, one leading expert has claimed.

With airlines long raking in extra cash for hold luggage, Rick Seaney of FareCompare.com says charging for handheld bags is simply a "logical progression".

The tried-and-tested no-frills business model is to keep basic fares as low as possible, while generating extra revenue by charging for every conceivable add-on.

Priority boarding, baggage allowances, in-flight meals, audio headsets and even the not-so-optional privilege of checking in have all attracted extra fares.

But in an alarming new twist, Mr Seaney is now predicting that one of the few vestiges of full-service air travel – free cabin allowances – could soon be axed. He wrote on his blog: "First the airlines charged a fee for a second checked bag, then for a first and, well, what's left?

"At the very least, there will be some sort of overhaul of the 'carry-on bag system' because changes are overdue, and why wouldn't the airlines like to make some money off of it?"

As a first step, Mr Seaney suggested that the low-cost market will move towards a concept of "universal bag size". Many airlines currently show lenience in enforcing cabin baggage restrictions, which he argues is a missed opportunity for cash-strapped operators.

"No-one wants to pay for something that used to be free," the expert admitted. "On the other hand, TV used to be free, too, but we sure got used to paying those cable and satellite bills."

© Cheapflights Ltd

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