Expect Delays as New Hand Baggage Regulations are Implemented

New hand baggage regulations are due to be implemented at South African airports on Monday 2 February 2015. So if you’re travelling through SA airports in the next few weeks, it’s recommended that you arrive a little earlier as there are likely to be delays caused by those travellers still unaware of the new rules.

The new regulations, as per notification from the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), are that…

You may travel on board with:

• One piece of luggage plus one ‘slimline’ laptop bag or a handbag if you’re an economy class passenger. (‘Slimline’ refers to those bags specially designed to carry a laptop and charger.)
• Two pieces of luggage plus slimline laptop bag or handbag per business/first class passenger

Each bag must: 

• not exceed these dimensions: 56cm + 36cm + 23cm (total dimensions of 115cm)
• not weigh more than 7kg (unless you’re flying with SAA who have been granted an “exemption from SACAA and SAA customers may take cabin baggage weighing up to 8kg”.

If your hand baggage exceeds the limits, you will be subject to the specific airline’s excess baggage rules. Mango spokesperson Hein Kaiser has said in a statement that they will not be penalising travellers for any excess bags that have to be checked in (because they don’t charge per item of luggage within their 20 kg allowance).

Your luggage will be checked before the security checkpoints, and if it doesn’t comply with the new regulations, you will be referred back to the check-in counter where you can check the baggage in as hold luggage.

The new rules are in accordance with the South African Civil Aviation Authority regulations, based on the Aeronautical Information Circular 22-11, from September 15,2002, and are in the interest of enhancing safety measures when flying through ACSA airports around the world. Many South Africans abroad will have already experienced these regulations at some overseas airports.