POKY DIMENSIONS

I am a British expat living in Cambodia and frequently travel around Asia on business. Recently I purchased a new, quality, quite costly luggage set comprising a large suitcase and a cabin bag.

The cabin bag is no bigger than my current one, which has travelled, without problems, for the past three years. The size is 55 x 35 x 25cm.

This Christmas, I booked to fly Emirates rather than my usual airline. I have since found out that my cabin bag, while fine for Thai Airways (56 x 45 x 25cm), Malaysian Airlines (55 x 35 x 25cm), Singapore Airlines (maximum total dimensions 115cm), British Airways (56 x 45 x 25cm), and every other airline I fly with, is too big for Emirates! Its cabin luggage size allowance is just 55 x 38 x 20cm. My bag is 5cm too wide for Emirates. I have emailed them for an explanation and the response was: “our baggage dimensions have been set to make sure that bags fit in overhead storage”. I do not understand why Emirates overhead storage is smaller than every other airline. Why would Emirates ask Boeing and Airbus to build them smaller overhead storage than the other airlines on its planes?

I am not purchasing a new cabin bag just for the rare occasion I travel with Emirates!

Latonya Ball, Cambodia

EMIRATES RESPONDS:

Emirates cabin baggage dimensions have been set to make sure that bags fit in overhead storage and to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers. In terms of checked luggage, Emirates passengers benefit from one of the world’s most generous baggage policies, which includes 30kg in economy class, 40kg in business class and 50kg in first class.