# Didn't airlines use to allow two carry-on bags? When did they stop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 5, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-airlines-use-to-allow-two-carry-on-bags-when-did-they-stop/347092 "2006-03-05T01:26:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-airlines-use-to-allow-two-carry-on-bags-when-did-they-stop/347092/41 "2006-03-10T11:31:43Z")
> [@Caractacus Pott](#): > > SmackFu, > On one flight on a US-domestic 737, I had my small computer backpack, small camera bag, and a large paper shopping bag that I got at the newsstand in the airport. It held water bottles, snacks, and a sandwich until the gate agent said I had too many items. So I put the camera bag into the shoppping bag and walked on the plane with 2 items. I guess it helped that I packed the major attitude in my checked baggage. I had the opposite problem once: I had a largish duffle-style bag to carry on. It was my _only_ luggage, and it fit in the carry-on size checker box. The gate agent told me I’d have to check it before boarding. So I took out half the contents and another bag that was inside it, and voila! Two carry on bags and no hassle from the gate agent. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-airlines-use-to-allow-two-carry-on-bags-when-did-they-stop/347092/42 "2006-03-27T16:11:44Z")
To follow-up, I travelled with my carry-on limit bag and a full school-sized backpack and no one gave me a second look when I didn’t check anything. So no worries. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-airlines-use-to-allow-two-carry-on-bags-when-did-they-stop/347092/43 "2006-03-27T17:33:52Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Unless airlines have started seating passengers in the overhead bins or under the seats Don’t give them ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-airlines-use-to-allow-two-carry-on-bags-when-did-they-stop/347092/44 "2006-03-27T22:26:32Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Every flight I’ve ever been on in the US, the aisle instantly packs as soon as the plane stops and often before. Given the choice between standing in a jammed aisle and sitting waiting for the people ahead of me and those behind me who try to rush the door, I’ll stay seated. Definitely. I fly in a lot of smaller planes, and I can’t stand up in most of the aisles without stooping. There’s no way I’m going to hunch in the aisle waiting for everyone in front of me. I prefer to stay seated until there are only a half-dozen or so people in front of me, and then stand up and grab my case from overhead. Everything moves nice and smooth. Of course, by the time I’m ready to stand up a bunch of inconsiderate twits from the row behind me have already crowded into my space and made it very difficult to get up and grab my bag. Grrr. Wait your stinkin’ turn! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-airlines-use-to-allow-two-carry-on-bags-when-did-they-stop/347092.md?page=2)