Air travellers face bags of confusion as luggage rules are relaxed

AIR passengers face confusion next week when hand-baggage restrictions are relaxed, because only some airlines and airports will allow more than one bag to be carried on board.

The government has confirmed the one-bag rule introduced after a terrorist scare in 2006 will be lifted from next Monday. But the move could provide a new nightmare for travellers because of the different rules that apply at airports and between airlines.

Most major British airports have been given the green light for the hand-baggage change after satisfying Department for Transport officials that they can handle the extra workload without compromising security.

This follows months of campaigning by airlines such as British Airways, who complained the one-bag rule was unique to Britain and had caused a headache for passengers arriving from abroad and transferring to UK flights.

However, passengers have been warned they must check with their airline – which will have the final say over how many bags can be taken on board.

Airport officials have also stressed there will be no relaxation of the restrictions on liquids in hand baggage.

Edinburgh and Glasgow yesterday joined a list of 21 airports that will not be bound by the one-bag restriction from 7 January. The others include Heathrow, Stansted, London City, Manchester, Aberdeen, Inverness and Prestwick.

However, Gatwick – Britain's second-largest airport – is among several airports that will still operate the one-bag rule for departing passengers. Transfer passengers will not be affected. Luton, East Midlands, Leeds, Bradford and Liverpool are among the others continuing the restriction.

However, a further complication is that, while some airlines will allow passengers to take two bags into aircraft cabins, others may charge for additional bags.

British Airways has already said passengers will be able to carry a briefcase or laptop-size bag on board in addition to the currently permitted small suitcase. Bmi is set to announce a similar move tomorrow.

But EasyJet, Flyglobespan and Ryanair said yesterday that they planned to continue to restrict passengers to one item of cabin baggage. Flybe said passengers would be allowed to carry more than one bag on board if permitted by the airport, but only one of them would be carried free.

A spokesman for the Department of Transport said: "Some airports have coped with the changes, but some need to improve." He admitted passengers might feel confused about the different rules at different airports, but it was the industry's responsibility to inform them.

STRIKES CALLED OFF AS BAA AND UNITE AGREE
THE FIRST of a series of January strikes by workers at seven airports, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow and Gatwick, was called off last night following a breakthrough in talks.

Thousands of firefighters, security, maintenance, administrative and clerical workers were due to walk out for 24 hours next Monday in the first of three stoppages in protest at a decision by BAA, the firm which took over the former British Airports Authority, to close its final salary pension scheme to new workers.

Aberdeen, Stansted and Southampton airports are also affected.

Following several hours of negotiations yesterday, officials from Unite, Britain's largest union, said an agreement had been reached in principle to hold "proper consultations" over the future of the pension scheme before any changes are made.

The agreement will be discussed by union representatives on Thursday, but in the meantime next Monday's strike has been called off.

A further 24-hour strike planned for Monday 14 January, and a 48-hour stoppage on Thursday 17 January will be called off if the deal is accepted by the union representatives on Thursday.