Aeroflot suddenly and dramatically reduced the list of unconditionally free items allowed in carry-on baggage. The carrier also introduced strict size and weight controls for carry-on baggage. Both steps immediately sparked numerous complaints from passengers, reports Travel.ru's own correspondent.
Aeroflot recently cut the list of free items permitted in addition to the standard 10-kilogram carry-on baggage allowance by a third (excluding items necessary for medical reasons). The national carrier has excluded cell phones, laptops, cameras, video cameras, umbrellas, file folders, and printed publications for in-flight reading. Furthermore, purchases from Duty Free stores are limited to one sealed bag, and the free backpack, previously unlimited in size, must now be no more than 5 kilograms and no more than 80 centimeters in the sum of its three dimensions. A briefcase or handbag with no size or weight restrictions (or the aforementioned backpack), as well as outerwear, a suit in a garment bag, and a bouquet of flowers, have been retained on the list of free items. A number of items necessary for medical reasons are also permitted free of charge.
Aeroflot didn't even bother to announce this move—there's no mention of the reduced list in any news or press releases. As a result, many passengers were caught off guard by the changes at airports. The carrier only vaguely announced the new, reduced list on its social media pages on February 19, with the note "to make it easier for you to create a checklist of items you'll take on board."
Passengers did not appreciate such touching concern. In numerous posts on the same social media platforms, many expressed outrage at the new policy. Among those particularly dissatisfied were photographers, videographers, and others traveling with laptops. Commentators pointed out that certain photographic and video equipment could not fit into Aeroflot's standard carry-on baggage allowance (55 x 40 x 20 centimeters), nor could they be checked in due to their fragility and value. The company has essentially put all these people in a bind—especially those who had previously purchased tickets based on Aeroflot's previous rules. Apparently, there are also passengers who were able to safely carry a camera or laptop on a one-way trip under the previous rules, but will encounter problems on the return flight with the same ticket.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the carrier has simultaneously introduced extremely strict checks on carry-on baggage at airports. Specifically, passengers are reporting checkpoints, for unknown reasons, installed by Aeroflot in the customs control area at Sheremetyevo Airport (in addition to the checks at check-in counters and boarding gates!). Employees at these checkpoints require passengers whose carry-on baggage is even slightly larger than 55 x 40 x 20 centimeters to return and check it in as baggage (if the baggage allowance has already been exceeded, this check will incur a fee – 2,500 rubles within Russia, $50 on short-haul international routes, and $100 on long-haul routes!). Furthermore, passengers with valuable or fragile items in their carry-on baggage are again left in a nearly hopeless situation. According to social media reports, exceptions are not made even in the case of minor excesses of 1-2 centimeters or slightly protruding handles or wheels.
The 55x40x20 cm standard itself is more typical for low-cost carriers. Traditional airlines typically allow slightly larger items—most often up to 56 cm in length, 40-45 cm in width, and 23-25 cm in height. Such items easily fit in the overhead bins of any Aeroflot aircraft and would not pose any problems, but the carrier chose to follow the example of low-cost carriers instead of full-service airlines. The situation is exacerbated by the regrettable pedantry of its employees, likely on instructions from management, who demand adherence to the standards down to the last centimeter. This immediately rules out the possibility of carrying a large number of popular small wheeled bags with a height of 21-23 cm, which many passengers are accustomed to traveling with and which do not cause any problems in the cabin.
To make matters worse, Aeroflot effectively misled the press, the public, and passengers with its press release on February 9. In it, the company announced stricter controls on carry-on baggage allowances, adding the note, "Aeroflot specifically emphasizes that it is not changing carry-on baggage allowances, but is merely strengthening enforcement." However, just a few days later, the carrier cut the list of free items by a third.
Travel.ru apologizes to those of our readers whom we inadvertently misled in our previous article on this topic due to Aeroflot's fault. Passengers wishing to adapt to Aeroflot's new customer-unfriendly rules are advised to fly with spacious briefcases or handbags that are not limited in size, and when purchasing new wheeled luggage, to ensure that they comply with the national carrier's regulations.
Unfortunately, once again, a seemingly reasonable initiative to prevent repeated violations of regulations by individual Aeroflot passengers lugging several large bags onto the plane has been turned into its opposite by the company's thoughtless implementation. As a result, problems have been created out of nowhere for a huge number of Aeroflot and its subsidiaries passengers who do not carry any large bags.
Source: travel.ru