Cut the baggage carry-on

WHEN it comes to aeroplane travel, hell is other people and their carry-on luggage.

WHEN it comes to aeroplane travel, hell is other people and their carry-on luggage. Here's the thing about carry-on luggage: it's called carry-on because you need to be able to carry it.

I like to think I'm a champion when it comes to carry-on luggage, in that I hardly have any. I carry one small bag that has only what I need for the flight and items such as a laptop and a camera that would be unwise to put in my checked luggage.

My checked luggage, on the other hand, usually makes full use of the baggage allowance allocated to my ticket. My theory is that if you're going to put any luggage in the cargo hold at all, then you might as well put the lot in (and in a lifetime of travelling I have only had my bags go missing once, thank you American Airlines, and they turned up 24 hours later anyway).

Apart from the use of technology, the most common etiquette issue I am asked about regards how people should behave on aeroplanes. Well, readers, I'm glad you asked. In my job as editor of The Australian's WISH magazine, I am fortunate enough to get to do quite a bit of travelling. And the thing about travel is that there's a lot of standing around in queues, which gives one plenty of time to observe other people. What I've observed is the staggering amount of stuff they attempt to get in to the cabin of the plane with them (thanks in large part to airlines placing tighter restrictions on the amount of checked baggage per passenger and in some cases charging for all checked baggage). The restrictions are here to stay, so it's worth thinking about the impact your hand luggage will have on others.

On a recent flight back to Sydney from Europe, I was standing in the aisle after we'd landed and the aircraft had come to a complete stop. Small carry-on bag in one hand, coat, passport and completed landing card in the other, I stared ahead tired and somewhat dazed, waiting for the cabin crew to open the aircraft door.

In this groggy haze, I noticed the diminutive woman seated in front of me struggling to get a suitcase out of the overhead locker (it was so big, it was jammed in). I was thinking that I should probably offer her some assistance just as she looked at me and said: "I don't suppose you're going to help me?" So, like a chump, I put down my small tote bag and attempted to get the bar fridge she had stuffed into the locker out. I'm not going to mention the fact that it exceeded the airline's restrictions on carry-on luggage, or that there is a better way to ask a complete stranger for assistance. If you can flout the law when it comes to carry-on luggage and get away with it then good luck to you - just don't expect other people to carry your carry-on for you.

Similarly, there is limited overhead locker space and it needs to be shared by all the passengers on the aircraft. You should really only take what can fit directly above your seat. The space above the seat in front of you, behind you or beside you is for the passengers in those seats.

It's also a good idea not to spread all your worldly possessions around the aircraft thinking no one will notice, and not to shove or squash other people's hand luggage that's already in the locker in order to squeeze your own bag in. Take your backpack off so you don't hit the passengers who are already in their seats in the head as you pass by.

And if the flight attendant tells you that your handbag has to go into the overhead locker for take-off, taxi and landing, then don't argue with them - they're only doing their job, so just do it.