By Keith L. Alexander
Tuesday, January 10, 2006

A key lawmaker's suggestion to restrict airline passengers to one carry-on bag has sparked a debate among politicians, travelers, airlines and their employees.

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said it may be time to crack down on carry-ons to allow airport screeners greater flexibility in searching bags for explosives.

Next month, as part of a Feb. 9 aviation hearing, Stevens plans to initiate further debate on the issue. At a hearing last month, Stevens said he was concerned that airport screeners are too busy processing and searching through carry-on bags at airport checkpoints and whether that slows the process of looking for explosives or other dangerous items.

"He's in the preliminary stages of looking at the issue," a Stevens spokesman said.

Other than suggesting passengers be limited to one carry-on, Stevens has not outlined what, if any, specifics he is proposing. So the key question for many travelers -- would purses and briefcases count as one carry-on bag? -- cannot yet be answered.

Those details will be mulled at next month's hearing. Stevens's opinions on carry-on bags surfaced last month during hearings on the Transportation Security Administration's plan to allow passengers to carry scissors and screwdrivers on flights.

"I'd be happier if you permitted passengers to only take one thing on," Stevens said at the time, according to a transcript of the hearing. "Some of those bags are occupying more space in a plane than I do."

It's not the first time strict carry-on limits have been broached. The move first surfaced in 1997 as airlines struggled with overstuffed overhead bins and looked for relief.

But now, in the wake of increased airport security because of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Stevens says it may be time to revisit the airlines' policies.

Airlines allow two carry-ons per passenger, a limit that has been in place since 1987. But as carry-on bags have grown in size over the years, many industry observers have argued about revisiting the issue. Airlines have complained about the hassle of travelers searching for overhead bin space and delaying their flights. And flight attendants have complained about having to help passengers with large bags.

The Association of Flight Attendants has already issued their support of Stevens's idea. "We've always urged them to limit the amount of carry-ons," said Patricia Friend, president of flight attendant's union. "In our opinion, it's more important that the less bags security has to screen, the more attention they can pay to the ones they do screen."

But as Stevens and the flight attendants favor the idea, the airlines, fearing a backlash from business travelers, are less enthusiastic.

At last month's hearing, Jim May, head of the Air Transport Association, indicated that he opposes limiting the number of carry-on bags, saying passengers should be more judicious in packing their carry-ons. Because TSA screeners are able to screen each passenger's bags within two minutes, tighter limits on carry-ons may not be needed, May said.

"I fully appreciate a tremendous number of business travelers that like to be able to carry on a single bag, well packed, plus a laptop computer, a purse in the case of the ladies, etc.," May said at the hearing.

The fear for most business travelers is that if they are carrying a suitcase or a purse, they might have to check their overnight bag, instead of placing it in the overhead bin.

Investment banker Lee Shepard of Redwood City, Calif., said forcing business travelers to check bags would mean longer delays at the airport and would make air travel "even less attractive." At a time when airlines have already cut the number of baggage handlers and some carriers such as Northwest and United have begun charging for checked bags, Shepard said, the proposal would make travel "less convenient."

Reston-based frequent flier Jonathan C. Esslinger said airlines would have to hire more workers and install more airport kiosks to allow travelers to check their bags. "How many airlines have the financial ability to hire a great number of new employees to handle a lot more bags?" said Esslinger, a director with the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Road warrior Eric M. Uslaner, a University of Maryland government and politics professor, said the size, not the number of bags, should be policed. "Now you can carry on anything smaller than a Hummer and force the flight attendants to find somewhere to store it," he said.

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