PASSENGERS flying with a budget airline from the UK will need to be extra vigilant about their hand luggage, with tighter rules being enforced. AirAsia offers non-stop flights directly from both London Gatwick and Heathrow airports to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. However, its customers have been warned that stricter inspections are set to be carried out at the boarding gate.
Anyone found to be over the luggage limit with likely have to fork out for additional baggage fees. According to AirAsia’s website , passengers can bring two cabin bags weighing up to 7kg in total on board their planes. This can be made up of a wheelie suitcase and a small personal item, or one backpack.
Read More on Luggage However, that bag must fit in the overhead compartment and cannot exceed the dimensions of 56cm x 23cm x 36cm. Meanwhile, the airline states that personal items must be no larger than 40cm x 30cm x 10cm and must fit under the seat in front. Passengers were warned by Spot not to try tying, wrapping, or strapping multiple items together.
They said: "They will not be counted as one piece." Most read in News Travel What's more, duty-free purchases also count towards passengers' baggage limits, unless they are in a Security Tamper-Evident Bag (STEB) with proof of purchase. That means passengers can't go too crazy with their pre-flight purchases, unless they're willing to pay extra for the excess baggage.
Any suitcases or backpacks that are over the size or weight limit, will also need to be checked in, also for an extra fee. Steve Dailisan, AirAsia Communications and Public Affairs Head & First Officer claimed that the rules are in place to ensure the airline sticks to its schedule. He said: “Our cabin baggage policy is in place to support on-time departures by ensuring a faster and seamless boarding and disembarking process.
“Adhering to the cabin baggage policy is crucial to avoid unexpected higher charges at the airport and reduce congestion which affects the guest experience, especially during boarding and disembarkation." We've rounded up how much hand luggage you can take on UK airlines when booking their most basic fare. Ryanair One personal bag measuring no more than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm EasyJet One personal bag measuring no larger than 45cm x 36cm x 20cm Jet2 One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm weighing up to 10kg TUI One personal item that its underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm weighing up to 10kg British Airways One personal bag no larger than 40cm x 30cm x 15cm and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm 25cm weighing up to 23kg Virgin Atlantic One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 36cm x 23cm weighing up to 10kg The excess baggage charges vary for the airline, depending on which route passengers are flying on.
However, for the route serving the UK, it's around £9.75 per kilogram over the permitted limit, according to the airline's website. READ MORE SUN STORIES Meanwhile, this hand luggage bag fits perfectly on almost all budget airlines.
And Sun Travel's experts revealed the essential items they never leave behind..
