International Flight Baggage Allowances are Getting Smaller

BY Rachel Cagle
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"Functional and travel-​focused products have been bright spots in the accessories industry over the past few years," reports The NPD Group. "2019 revealed an increased consumer emphasis on lightening their load as U.S. dollar sales of carry-​on luggage grew 3% and sales of larger sized suitcases declined nearly as much." Not only that, a study by AirHelp revealed that international flights are also affected by baggage allowances. As time goes on, airlines have only continued to place weight and size restrictions on passengers' luggage.

Present-​Day Baggage Allowances

It's important for Americans to know well in advance of their departure day what their selected airport's baggage allowances will permit them to bring along. According to AirHelp, among all the 45 top airlines they included in their research, the maximum size allowance for carry-​on bags are 22 inches high by 19 inches wide and 9 inches thick, while weighing no more than 15 pounds. Checked baggage allowances are a but more lenient, with the average allowed sizes of bags being 27.5 inches high by 19.5 inches wide and 15 inches thick and weighing around 50 pounds. The common baggage limits without additional fees are just those two bags. Travelers who wish to bring even more luggage with them or back from their international visit should do more research in to the allowances and fees of their particular airline. This can all vary based on variables such as where the traveler is going and their ticket category and passenger status, as well as how much additional space their luggage as a whole will take up.

Today's Popular Luggage Selections

But it's not just airlines that are sticklers for the finer details of baggage allowances. Americans travelers don't want to be bogged down with cumbersome luggage either. Travelers want smaller, more versatile luggage offerings for their travel plans. Hands-​free options are also a big plus for these consumers to allow for even further manuverability. That's why the sales of luggage offerings such as backpacks, fanny packs, luggage sets, sack packs and credit card cases are on the rise currently.

Travel planning, including searching for the best deals, has gotten easier, and travel has become a key marketing message across retail categories," says Beth Goldstein, accessories and footwear industry analyst, The NPD Group. "The accessories that make it easier for consumers to enjoy their experiences — whether looking to get out and about unrestricted by the gear we carry with us on a daily basis, taking a short trip or micro-​cation — will be the products that get their attention, and the sale.”

While Travelers (Domestic) are online planning their next trip, they can be targeted with digital advertisements. Last year, according to AudienceSCAN, these consumers took action after receiving email ads, sponsored search results and ads on daily deals sites such as Groupon.

AudienceSCAN data is available for your applications and dashboards through the SalesFuel API. In addition, AdMall contains industry profiles on department stores and luggage and leather shops, as well as lead lists at the local level. Media companies, sales reps and agencies can access this data with a subscription to AdMall from SalesFuel.


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