Luggage Restrictions

Frequent fliers know how important it is to pack smart

If you fly infrequently, whether for business or for pleasure, the restrictions placed on carry-on and checked luggage by a number of alphabet-soup organizations - for example, the FAA and the TSA - can make your head swim. It hasn't always been that way; Sept. 11 changed the way Homeland Security keeps the friendly skies secure, which includes more restrictions on luggage. That means it's more critical than ever to know exactly what you can and can't bring aboard your next flight.

Size and weight restrictions for carry-on and checked luggage are set by individual airlines, often to widely varying standards. Even your final destination influences what and how much you can take with you, with long-haul international flights offering more flexibility than short domestic hops.

• Carry-on luggage - Some airlines allow carry-on bags that are 50 linear inches (height + weight + width), but that's larger than the norm in the industry. Weight restrictions for carry-ons range from 11 to 70 pounds.
• Checked luggage - Weight limits for checked bags are all over the map, as well, depending on the airline, the destination and the class (economy, business) of the seat you purchased. Business and first-class passengers enjoy more generous weight allowances, often twice those of passengers flying in coach or economy seats.

Call ahead or check the website of the airline you're using before packing. Size and weight limitations should be clearly indicated.

In the Bag

The contents of both types of luggage - that is, what you can take with you into the cabin of the airplane and what can be stowed in your checked bags - are regulated in the U.S. by two government organizations: the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Breaking the rules is risky business. At a bare minimum, you'll be delayed while going through security screening, something that can fray the nerves at the best of times. The other, more severe, punishment for packing prohibited items - a visit from the local police and a possible court date - is even less appealing. To avoid putting a damper on your travel plans, be sure to know and strictly adhere to size and weight restrictions and content restrictions.