Budget airline EasyJet is cutting down the size of hand luggage by more than a third, refusing to guarantee that passengers' belongings will be stowed in the cabin if they breach the new tight restrictions.
Travellers already facing a tight squeeze will be forced to pack even lighter if they don't want to wait for their bags at their destination.
Hand bag capacity is being reduced from 56cm by 45cm by 30cm to 50cm by 40cm by 20cm . Anyone carrying more than that may have them taken at the boarding gate and put in the hold.
Easyjet said that passengers would not be charged to have their excess hand baggage put in the plane's lockers. The charge for having a suitcase checked in on a flight is between £9 and £19.
Despite that the move may irk some families, carrying nappies and bottles on board. Skyscanner magazine suggested perhaps wearing one's luggage, reviewing a range of overcoats and gillets with extra-capacious pockets.
Gillian Edwards of travel association ABTA told the Times: 'It is a commercial decision for each airline as to how much hand baggage they allow and the charges they impose for hold baggage.
'They must, however, be transparent about their policies and charges."
Easyjet has also announced it is to introduce new flights from Inverness to London next year, increasing its capacity between Inverness and Gatwick by almost 30%.