As a former clothing company merchandise presentation geek, I’ve always been amused at all the money that airlines spent on development and implementation of the standard silver chrome metal crate that airlines have at their various check-in counters to measure your luggage to fit their carry-on standards. Having designed and paid for similar racks to hold and display clothes in stores, that expense by airlines hasn’t been cheap, but unlike the stores in any mall around the world where those racks are actually used, I’ve yet to remember in the past 5 years ever seeing anyone actually stick their luggage in one of those sizers.
Now, it could have been you when I wasn’t on your flight, but in todays’ pile it high and deep method of carry-ons, I was absolutely elated to recently hear that American Airlines is eliminating those sizers because, “they are ineffective.” There’s simple proof for anyone thinking that the airlines don’t get it. But, then again, maybe the airlines really don’t get it because American now says that they are considering new designs that could handle different shapes. Trust me on this one, there is no sizer in the world that will hinder the most desperate frequent flyer from avoiding an extra baggage fee. So, American and other airlines around the world - “… come gather round sizers wherever you roam, and admit that the waters around you have grown…” Yes, the times really are a’changing.