Restrictions on checked-in bags ‘good news’ – TravelMole guest comment
TravelMole guest Comment by Hugh Clark, managing director of Rohan
It would be hard to have missed the current debate on passenger baggage allowances being played out in the media.
I personally am not of the view that it is necessarily a bad thing for air travellers. In fact, I think that by encouraging us all to become more aware of, and responsible for, the impact of our luggage choice, the end result will be a more efficient and enjoyable flight experience for all involved – from passenger to cabin crew to baggage handler.
There is, of course, an economic upside for airlines, but once we have re-educated ourselves on the baggage allowance process, eg: what we can and cannot take on board and what goes into the hold, then things will become more efficient all round, which is good news for all involved:
*Good news for check-in staff and cabin crew who are able to give clear guidelines on what can and cannot go onto the plane thereby removing ‘debate’ and speeding up the check-in process
*Goods news for passengers who no longer have to compete with cramped space in overhead lockers caused by overlarge bags and cases
*Good news for air travellers who will be encouraged to take more compact luggage onboard ensuring quicker clearance at the airport
*Good news for air travellers who are less likely to be delayed on arrival or departure as a result of baggage issues
*More good news for travellers who may benefit as a result of fewer bags for airlines and airports to loose, which when you consider that SITA recently reported up to 30 million travel bags are mishandled every year and more than 200,000 are stolen or lost, is not insignificant
So, I think that a more rigorous policy relating to baggage is good news. Ultimately the end result will deliver a more efficient flying experience, quicker turnaround times and fewer delays and penalties.
At Rohan we are in fact throwing our hands up in delight at the news, which could potentially lead to incremental sales, as it reinforces everything we’ve been saying about clothes, travel and comfort for the last 30 years. By developing our clothing to be as light-weight, packable and easy-to-care-for as possible, we are giving travellers the freedom to travel … and truly believe that he who travels lighter, travels further.
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