This idea is not practical. Right now, the labor is divided where the passengers seat themselves, stow their carry-ons while the baggage handlers...handle the baggage. This saves time and time is money. The slower this storage procedure gets (we are not trained at lifting our own gigantic bags to a height above our shoulders), the fewer flights per minute take off from airports, thus making both them as well as the airlines lose more money. Not to mention the design changes all airplanes would have to undergo to fit all that luggage in the cabin area. Aisles would have to be wider, both on and off the aircraft. I just cannot imagine any other convenient arrangement considering just how much baggage we all lug around.

I would propose exactly the opposite. Airlines should prohibit carry-on luggage altogether, remove the overhead bins, and let people carry only a purse, backpack, or brief case. It takes so much time for all those people to lug all those suitcases up to the overhead bins! And then s-o-o-o much time for them to get them back down at the end of the flight! Think of how much more smoothly we would be able to get on and off the plane if that interminable luggage-wrestling dance in the aisles were abolished!

Here's someone with a serious brain storm? When my wife and I returned from Europe in 1980, we had most of our belongings in Suitcases and miscelaneous bags. Ah, not to forget a 4 year old and a toddler of 9 months old. Try to get all of that in one move on to an Airplane. Hmm, a re-thought may be in order.

I think the carry all should be an option for short flights. As some one that worked in an airport, I know how much bags are lost/damaged and this will eliminate the problem

How would this work on the new Airbus 580, a double decked 650 passenger aircraft?

nightmare. imagine, disembarking from that packed plane after a 9 hour transatlantic flight...the long narrow line, all that luggage. ugh...thinking about it makes me cringe.

This sounds like the stuff Ryanair do to save money. Their latest idea is not to allow hold luggage because it causes delays. They will only allow the small amount you are able to carry on (I'm surprised they don't have outside toilets yet).

I think it's a great idea. I hate losing luggage and am desparate to carry on my bag - invasiraibly small but over the weight allowance for cabin baggage.

I suggest that it could be done like offshore (oil industry) helicopter journeys - you carry your own bag to the tarmec, and then airfield personnel pack it in the helicopter hold in fornt of your eyes. When disembarking the same procedure is followed. This is just like long distance coaches too... This solution would be quicker and cheaper for sure. No need for conveyors, nor the vehicles to run around the airports. This would also work for families with push chairs, as the push chair and all other rolling stock could be used to get all the way to the plane!

Just a guess, it would take 5 hours to board the plane.

And where do you think that you would put that luggage?

just glad to hear others voice the idea of prohibiting carry-on luggage altogether. I travel by air to work every week and never carry anything on the plane. I have never lost checked bags and almost always find it a quick and routine task retrieving my suitcase at the baggage area.

it is confusing to me that at a time of terror people are so spoiled and ignorant to allow their routine and senseless convenience to override a simple solution to security, airline loading efficiency, and increased airline 'on-time' percentage.

For frequent travellors to frequent destinations.1. Go to airport with practically no luggage.2. At the destination, collect your "baggage" from pre-deposited "services" that heep your clothes drycleaned and pressed and store your toilet articles etc.3. Complete your business-deposit your luggage in to the serive. The service can also serve as "Airline" lounges and can become competitive. Advantage-before checkin counter.4. Fly easy back.