Why 7kg carry-on limit if correct size and checked is free?

[milehighclub]

Passenger bags and overhead lockers are one of the biggest causes of injuries to both passengers and crew.

If you look at some of the newer A380 for SQ you will notice their lockers in economy changed so their FA's didn't have to push them up any more as they were too heavy nor could some of them reach. Now they simply lower the locker door. No pushing or straining required.

Everything on the aircraft has a placard for weight. Even the magazine rack says no more than xxkg. I had a quick look in one of the lockers and its maximum weight is 35kg, so at around 5 bags per locker that happens to average out at 7kg. Those airlines that allow everything but the kitchen sink probably have the same placards and are going against what the manufacture has limited it too.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Passenger bags and overhead lockers are one of the biggest causes of injuries to both passengers and crew.

If you look at some of the newer A380 for SQ you will notice their lockers in economy changed so their FA's didn't have to push them up any more as they were too heavy nor could some of them reach. Now they simply lower the locker door. No pushing or straining required.

Everything on the aircraft has a placard for weight. Even the magazine rack says no more than xxkg. I had a quick look in one of the lockers and its maximum weight is 35kg, so at around 5 bags per locker that happens to average out at 7kg. Those airlines that allow everything but the kitchen sink probably have the same placards and are going against what the manufacture has limited it too.

It would be interesting to see the statistics on injuries. 'Greatest number', relatively speaking, might be insignificant.

I mentioned in another thread that a small centre overhead bin on a 777 (sized to fit a single cabin bag+duty free) has a weight limit of 35kg by itself. So they must vary.

 

[Austman]

Passenger bags and overhead lockers are one of the biggest causes of injuries to both passengers and crew.

But it's mostly from small and odd shaped objects, not "proper" cabin bags (like rollaboards). http://flightsafety.org/hf/hf_may-jun98.pdf

Everything on the aircraft has a placard for weight. Even the magazine rack says no more than xxkg. I had a quick look in one of the lockers and its maximum weight is 35kg, so at around 5 bags per locker that happens to average out at 7kg. Those airlines that allow everything but the kitchen sink probably have the same placards and are going against what the manufacture has limited it too.

This study found that airline bins tend to "bulk out" (fill up) well before their weight capacity is reached. http://www.airsafetygroup.org/sites/default/files/CAA2.pdf

So in reality, size and quantity of carry-on luggage are the most important factors. Weight is less so. A 7kg limit on a single, within size rollaboard on a large modern aircraft is probably unjustified except to increase the airline's checked luggage revenue.

 

[Austman]

It would be interesting to see the statistics on injuries. 'Greatest number', relatively speaking, might be insignificant.

Boeing published an article in 2001 that stated there were 4,500 injuries per year. http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_15/overhead.pdf

In 2001 approximately 3,000,000,000 airline passengers were carried. So the injury rates were quite low - affecting about 0.00015% of passengers.

 

[cambriamarsh]

I'd do it myself if necessary. It's a joke as the overall weight is the same, but if it keeps some moron airline employee happy, that's fine.

Esp effective with Ryanair.