The "Early Valet" service is being trialled on around two dozen flights out of Delta's busiest airports - Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and Seattle. Bags are taken on board by airline staff ahead of passengers.
A Qantas spokesman said from Miami that problems with carry-on were not a big issue for his airline but it had introduced its own system on domestic flights where the baggage destined for the overhead locker is tagged and a second piece carrying personal items were allowed under the seat in front of them.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW REGULATIONS?
"We've experimented domestically with one up one down and people are welcome to have two pieces - we tag one of them and one has to go under the seat. That seems to be working very well."
Air New Zealand allows bigger bags than the IATA guidelines at present but over the past two years has cracked down on the weight of carry-on by imposing a strict 7kg limit for domestic passengers at the departure gate.
Passengers are allowed to take on a handbag or slimline laptop bags as well.
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An Air NZ representative said "in general we find our customers to be respectful of the rules around carry-on baggage, however we are happy to participate in a discussion with IATA around this initiative."
Air New Zealand's rules around carry-on baggage can be found here.
Tom Windmuller, IATA's senior vice president for airport, passenger, cargo and security, said many airlines have different size requirements for carry-ons, which led to confusing.
IATA consulted with Boeing and Airbus to come up with the optimum size and had begun talking with baggage manufacturers to urge them to start making bags that fit the parameters.
He said he expected the bags to be widely available by the end of the year, and that costs would range according to the quality and materials chosen by individual luggage makers.
Those that fit the IATA size specifications would be marked with a tag, or a label, that says "IATA Cabin OK."
However, this label will only be available on new bags, and not for travellers that may already have an ideally sized bag in their collection, AFP reports.
Airlines are not required to sign up for the programme, but Windmuller said the response from airline executives has been favourable so far.
Travel agents back the proposal
Travel agents are backing the move, saying it was "ludicrous" that many airlines had different baggage allowances.
Auckland-based travel agent Gail Sanders said it would be fantastic if all airlines took on board the standard size.
Travellers would be able to purchase luggage straight from a travel baggage shop and know "exactly where they stand", she said.
"It just seems to make sense, doesn't it.
"Many people when they're travelling are actually travelling on a number of different airlines on a trip and it's just ludicrous to think, the same with checked baggage, that the airlines have different regulations."
Hannagan & Greive Travel Associates agent Alex Carr said the only problem with exact measurements was if travellers had luggage that was the right total size, but had different dimensions.
Many airlines had cracked down on carry-on luggage since they started offering seat-only ticket options, she said.
Ms Carr said a weight standardisation would be a bigger issue for travellers.
"If they're going to get that strict on it, that's a problem because you can have one that's horizontally the same measurements but they might have it lengthways.
"It's kind of already partially standardised anyway because most [airlines] have a measurement that if it doesn't fit within, they won't let you on board with it.
World Travellers Warkworth owner Lynette Giles said most airlines adhere to similar guidelines already.
The company gives travellers a guideline of 118cm for the total length, width and height of carry-on baggage, she said.
The new size would bring that down to 110cm.
"We don't have any problems from clients with carry-on luggage. It is what it is, and they accept it for whatever airline they travel with," Giles said.
"If all the airlines went for the same size it would be so much easier for us. And weight system, even for checked-in luggage as well. You can well travelling on multiple airlines but have different luggage allowances on your one itinerary."
Herald readers welcome new rules
Herald readers have also come out in support of the proposed new rules.
Many people wrote of their frustrations with fellow passengers who carried multiple bags or went over the weight limit.
"I'm sure I'm not alone in being fed up with people who ignore the current rules and stagger on board with several bags and a rucksack and then proceed to use every overhead locker within 5 rows of where they are seated to stow it all," said Kevin Steele.
"It annoys me intensely when people bring huge bags into the cabin and stuff them in the overhead locker, pushing and squashing everyone else's bags, potentially wrecking something inside it," said Lynda Crofskey.
Others said that airlines needed to monitor carry-on baggage more closely.
"It is not just a matter of bag size; it is the weight that really causes issues," said Dennis Mowbray. "As a very frequent flyer, I see people who not only have a bag with wheels, which to me indicates it is too heavy to start with."
"It is about time the airlines enforced the rules regarding carry on cabin baggage," wrote another reader.
"Having just flown to London and back, I am amazed about the amount and size of cabin baggage some people take on and are allowed to do so."
However, a few others found the proposed size too small.
"I travel with a camera backpack that is 60 x 40 x 30," said one reader.
"There is no way I would put this through as normal luggage. The camera and lenses would get damaged by the luggage handlers."
"It stinks, from what I can see over the years whole purpose of the airlines is to make your customers even more uncomfortable," Steve Eliopoulos said.
Oversize carry-on luggage has caused frustrations on flights around the world and can even be dangerous.
New Zealand timpanist and conductor Gary Brain was injured during a flight to the United States, when a suitcase fell from an overhead locker and crushed his wrist. As a result of the injury, he was unable to continue his playing career.
- Additional reporting: Eli Orzessek, Lauren Priestley
