To not understand easyJet's obsession with putting hand luggage in the hold.

[NameChangedForTheDay]

Something that's been puzzling me for a while is what is easyJet's (and possibly other airlines?) obsession with trying to put cabin bags in the hold?

Last few flights I've been on, they've cited not enough space in the cabin, fair enough, even though we were probably half way down the queue, so not even the last to board.

Last weekend when we flew, we booked seats up front / speedy boarding and were one of the first 20 to board, and they were saying to leave bags by the steps to go into the hold. Yet there was plenty of space on the overhead lockers.

Then yesterday, we are at airport and the app was giving me notifications encouraging me to do a bag drop and "go hands free"!

I don't get it!

After all these years of being encouraged to travel light, I've gone from being that person with the heavy label stuck on my huge case that's going in the hold, to being able to holiday for a week with just a cabin bag and I've enjoyed the freedom of not having to wait at baggage reclaim.

Yet, they now seem intent to to back to the 'old ways'.

Anyone here work for easyJet that can enlighten me? Other opinions obviously most welcome. 😁

the problem is that Airlines say one thing and mean another. Why have that metal box to help you know if your luggage fits for 'carry on' if they don't then let you 'carry' it on? and like someone mentioned - someone with a hard carry case that is the 'right' size but still massive won't fit at their feet so you can end up with your more considerate luggage stuck under you with less leg room.

Airlines should set a size by which every passenger can fit their luggage in

"airlines should set a size by which every passenger can fit their luggage in"

I'm genuinely confused by this -

All airlines publish dimensions (width, depth, height) of what size hand luggage is allowed onboard.

@diddl you will find that many Ryanair checkins now are automatic. So you out your case on a scale, scan your boarding pass and providing you're not over the weight limit the machine prints out a self-sealing tag and a receipt. You then put the bag on the conveyor belt yourself, usually supervised by a couple of members of staff.

We travel with them a lot, I like the 10kg-bag-in-hold option as I can still take a rucksack on the plane with me and I don't have to take liquids through security. There's rarely any queue at checkin so it doesn't add much time to getting airside.

We travel VERY light. I pack a 25-30l backpack for me and DD. It contains everything we need and fits neatly under the seat in front of me.
Wheelie suitcases/hard shells should be banned from the cabin IMO

I travelled by ferry to France last month. I had forgotten how relaxing it was not to fly. Even the other passengers seemed less aggressive.

Wheelie suitcases/hard shells should be banned from the cabin IMO

I would not travel with an airline that stipulated this for short haul flights. Happily for short haul flight from City Airport- largely business travel- we are all able to fit our modest wheelie bags in the overhead bins

(and we usually take off a bit earlier than the scheduled departure time as it’s all so efficient)