The airlines may not like it, but a blanket ban on hand luggage is a brilliant idea

Allowances vary wildly from one flyer to another. Let’s say goodbye to the days of being charged for using overhead lockers, writes Janet Street-Porter

Carry-on carry on: checked luggage is the new normal (Simon Calder)

Michael O’Leary says new guidelines from the Department for Transport relating to hand luggage are “rubbish” – but he’s already at war with the government.

The Ryanair boss has joined forces with easyJet and the owners of British Airways in legal action to try and get the UK’s new 14-day quarantine restrictions reversed.

To add to his woes, the government has now asked airlines to ban hand luggage claiming that placing all baggage in the hold exposes passengers to less risk of contracting coronavirus.

According to O’Leary, each suitcase will be touched by at least eight members of staff from check in to arrival, whereas hand luggage only comes into contact with its owner.

If only a trip using his airline was that simple. In my experience, every locker is jammed to bursting with hand luggage. On their website, Ryanair say all ticket prices include a small bag which must fit under the seat in front (a very small space).

Anything in the overhead locker has to be paid for, and that can cost each passenger from £6-£20. Hand luggage allowances vary wildly from one airline to another – so banning it altogether doesn’t seem such a bad idea. You can always wear rubber gloves to collect your cases on arrival.