Here’s how the new rule could potentially affect your travel plans. The New Rules of Flying: Have you ever booked flights, only to find that the cost of checking a bag had gone up? If so, then you’re familiar with what the industry calls the three-11 rule, which allows airlines to charge customers extra fees in addition to normal ticket prices when demand rises during certain times of the year.
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What exactly is the 311 Rule?
Passengers are allowed one carry-on item and one personal item, such as a purse or briefcase. The items must be smaller than 16 x 14 x 8 inches (41 x 35 x 20 centimeters) when measured with their handles and wheels removed.
Passengers can also bring onboard coat and garment bags measuring no larger than 6.5 feet (2 meters) by 6 feet (1.8 meters). That allows passengers to have an additional small bag under their seat during flights.
And if you’re wondering what 311 means? It’s part of an international standard for sizing luggage that was created by aircraft manufacturer Airbus back in 1999.
It includes three numbers: One refers to width, another to length and another to height; all measured in millimeters.
Here’s how it affects you…
The 311 rule was passed in 2012, but it’s just now going into effect, so you might not have heard of it yet. But if you’re planning to fly within Europe in 2018 and beyond, there’s a chance that you’ll be impacted by it.
Basically, it dictates that any country belonging to an EU-wide air travel agreement has to pay certain fees for every flight operated out of its airports—regardless of whether or not they are domestic flights.
The European Commission has estimated that complying with these new regulations will cost U.S.-based airlines about $3 billion per year, and other carriers about $4 billion per year between them.
How to avoid paying higher fares
If you hate getting ripped off by airlines that jack up prices for peak travel dates (and who doesn’t?), here’s some good news: There is a way to avoid paying more money for flights. The tactic is called The 311 Rule, and it just recently became effective at some of America’s biggest airlines.
What Is The 311 Rule? The 311 Rule is based on an obscure bit of law that requires U.S. domestic airlines to post their schedule changes online at least two weeks in advance, with no added charge or obligation to customers.