New rules for your 'extra' hand luggage item

[cgichard]

I found this alert by chance on the SQ site:

We would like to inform customers that there will be changes to our carry-on baggage allowance, with effect from 15 April 2015.

The changes are extracted from Article 13 of our Conditions of Contract and highlighted below in bold.
Cabin Baggage Allowance Your cabin baggage may be weighed and measured and, if necessary, charged for in accordance with valid tariffs. All airline members of the International Air Transport Association (“IATA”) have agreed to observe the following baggage regulations. You may carry on board ONE of the articles listed below free of charge over and above your free baggage allowance, subject to the country’s local requirements:

• Ladies' handbag*
• Laptop in bag*
• Document bag*
• Camera / Camera bag*
• Overcoat
• Umbrella
• A walking stick, a pair of crutches and/or other prosthetic devices for the passenger’s use provided the passenger is dependent on them
• Small amount of duty free goods (where permitted)
• Infant food and amenities if the infant is travelling. The total weight of these items should not exceed 6kg.

* The maximum dimensions for these bags are 40x30x10cm each. If the item exceeds the total dimension of 80cm (sum of length, width and height), it will be counted as part of your standard cabin baggage allowance. In this event, you will be required to check in either your cabin bag or the additional item.

I'm intending to do a 5-week trip with hand luggage only (just 7 kg on SQ in Y) and had bought a capacious handbag for the overflow - no bigger than many I've seen others with in photos, but certainly pushing at the 80cm all round limit - so this announcement came as an unwelcome surprise. Has anyone experienced problems with this new ruling, on SQ or any other airline? I really don't want to have any checked baggage as it would mean getting a visa for Turkey to collect & re-check it at IST, rather than simply having it all with me in transit there.

 

[serfty]

I am reading both your post and here: Allowances - Singapore Airlines and am a little confused.

Do you intend to carry on one 115cm bag and an 80 cm bag? If so you should be fine.

I would suggest that what you have posted is in addition to the "free allowance" of that 115cm bag.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I am reading both your post and here: Allowances - Singapore Airlines and am a little confused.

Do you intend to carry on one 115cm bag and an 80 cm bag? If so you should be fine.

I would suggest that what you have posted is in addition to the "free allowance" of that 115cm bag.

I agree with serfty. That read to me as meaning you may complement your free allowance with a handbag or laptop (or any of the other listed items). Otherwise, it'd be pretty unfair for a person requiring a walking stick (perhaps even discriminatory).

 

[mooingchicken]

This is pretty standard airline policies. Your main carry on plus one 'personal' bag. Most people traveling already do this with the carry on plus laptop or handbag. some both.
I honestly doubt they are going to enforce it to much, same as they hardly ever weight carry on bags either. As long as they don't look way to heavy or way over the size limits then you will be fine.

These rules would of been made to enforce on the people who think they can bring 4 bags each, as they need everything including the kitchen sink while on holidays. flying through some ports (asia and US) the amount of "carry on" some people thing is acceptable is crazy.

 

[RooFlyer]

Tangential to topic - Air Canada have announced a pretty rigid enforcement of carry on rules. I posted a link yesterday, but on my phone now do can't link here, sorry.

Needed as passengers reacted in the predictable way when AC started charging $25 for the first checked bag.

 

[cgichard]

This is pretty standard airline policies. Your main carry on plus one 'personal' bag. Most people traveling already do this with the carry on plus laptop or handbag. some both.

Yes, I know the existing rules. My main cabin bag is within the 115cm limit, and I can keep it down to 7kg but only if I can stash a substantial number of items within a capacious handbag. What is new, I think, is the definition of the size of the 'personal' item handbag/laptop/document case; mine is likely to be pushing the limits - it was bought specifically for this purpose but before the size ruling was announced. And didn't the old list also include 'reading matter for the flight', in the extras list with coat and umbrella?

I honestly doubt they are going to enforce it to much, same as they hardly ever weigh carry on bags either. As long as they don't look way to heavy or way over the size limits then you will be fine.

Let's hope you prove right.