Some might wonder why we need to transfer overweight hand luggage to the cargo hold, even though it ends up on the same aircraft. This has to do with the aircraft’s weight and balance. I will explain why there are specific weight limitations for carry-on and hand luggage.
I’ll also delve into why passengers are charged “excess baggage” fees, which, while costly, are justifiable under certain circumstances.
I hope this provides a clearer understanding of regulations regarding hand-carry items.
Types of Luggage Passengers Can Bring Onboard
Passengers typically carry two types of luggage: check-in luggage and carry-on or hand-carry luggage. By their names, check-in luggage refers to items stored in the aircraft’s cargo hold, whereas carry-on or hand-carry items are those you bring into the cabin.
To ensure that each piece of checked luggage is within safe manual handling limits, there are weight restrictions. These weights help calculate the aircraft’s total takeoff weight, which leaves less allowance for additional cargo.
Additional power acts as a safety margin in case of operational hiccups, similar to how planes are designed to take off with one malfunctioning engine or carry reserve fuel in case of unexpected diversions. In practice, flights are often volume-limited and have sufficient weight margin to depart using less power.
Importance of Weight and Balance for Aircraft Performance
An aircraft might fail to safely take off if it is too heavy. Even if it manages to lift off in the event of an engine failure, it may struggle to continue flying.
Moreover, the weights contributing to potential overweight conditions (mainly passengers and their luggage) might not be evenly distributed within the aircraft’s safe center-of-gravity (CG) range. Overloading could push the CG beyond its forward or aft limits, risking loss of control during takeoff or shortly thereafter.
More weight necessitates more engine power for takeoff, which leads to higher fuel consumption. Considering fuel costs account for about 30% of an airline’s operating expenses, increased fuel usage translates directly into higher costs.
Why Carry-On Luggage Weight Restrictions Vary Between Airlines
While luggage and cargo share space in the hold, cargo has recently become more profitable than passenger service. Each aircraft, such as the Airbus A320, has a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW). For example, an empty A320 weighs 42.6 tons, but the MTOW is more crucial at 78 tons. After accounting for passenger weight and hand luggage, the remaining capacity is reserved for cargo, which is a significant revenue source for airlines.
Consider this scenario: Passenger D is allowed 7 kg of carry-on luggage and two 25 kg checked luggage pieces. If Passenger D has two 20 kg check-in bags and a 10 kg hand-carry, exceeding the 7 kg limit for carry-on, adjustments are needed. Although his total luggage weight is 30 kg, within the 57 kg total allowed, the distribution affects the aircraft’s balance.
If an Airbus A320 carries 175 passengers, the weight calculation considers the assumed weight of the passengers plus 7 kg for each hand-carry item. The overhead bin’s maximum safe weight also includes a safety margin. Passenger D must redistribute some weight from his carry-on to his checked luggage, which has a remaining capacity of 5 kg per item, to maintain safety and proper weight distribution.
Airline Policies: Safety and Market Factors
Airline policies, including those on luggage weight, are established for various reasons, primarily safety, but also for financial and market considerations. Remember, Filipinos often bring balikbayan boxes and pasalubongs, which are stored in the cargo hold, hence the strict enforcement of weight limits. While Delta might not have a carry-on weight restriction in many places, exceptions include Singapore, Beijing, and Shanghai where a 7kg limit is enforced.
At the end of the day, most airlines , or maybe all, impose carry-on luggage weight restrictions for safety, operational, and financial reasons.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
