What a carry-on! Cathay Pacific won't cut maximum size of bags in cabins, despite new international guidelines
Airline allays concerns after it signed on to new international standards dictating smaller uniform sizes for onboard luggage
Cathay Pacific passengers can relax - the airline insists it has no plans to cut the maximum size of carry-on luggage in cabins despite signing up to international guidelines that would set a smaller standard.
The airline raised eyebrows last week when it became one of the first to sign up to new guidelines from the International Air Transport Association that set a one-size-fits-all standard for carry-on bags.
The move led to concerns that travellers would have to measure their bags at the airport like passengers flying with low-cost airlines, and pay more to stow oversized bags in the hold.
But a Cathay spokeswoman confirmed the maximum size of carry-on bags would remain at 56x36x23cm, as opposed to the 55x35x20cm limit under the IATA guidelines. Instead, the guidelines would allow for agreements with baggage manufacturers to sell bags carrying an "IATA Cabin OK" logo.
"We have no plan to make changes to the standard at this stage," the spokeswoman said of Cathay's baggage rules.
But, under the guidelines Cathay has signed up for, luggage with the IATA logo would receive priority when overhead lockers in cabins filled up.
Tom Windmuller, IATA's senior vice-president for airport, passenger, cargo and security, said: "The development of an agreed optimal cabin bag size will bring common sense and order to the problem of differing sizes for carry-on bags."