OpinionOpinion byIvy CarruthNZ Herald·9 Jul, 2026 12:00 AM5 mins to read Many passengers avoid checking luggage to save money, reduce the risk of lost bags and speed up their journey through the airport. Photo / UnsplashKEY FACTSPlane passengers bring bags onboard for several reasons: to avoid paying checked luggage fees, to reduce the risk of lost luggage and to speed up check-in time.Charging a separate fee for checked luggage first became widespread in the airline industry during the mid-to-late 2000s.American Airlines announced a fee for checked bags in 2008 - widely regarded as the first major airline to do so. People refusing to check bags and grappling for overhead bin space has made boarding an airplane unbearable, writes Ivy Carruth
The first fortunate passengers onboard have stowed their things, gotten relatively comfortable and are stuffing necessities into their seat pockets - earbuds and magazines, sanitising their trays with
