MOST passengers looking to save money on their next flight may opt to travel with only hand luggage.
However, the huge rise in hand luggage travellers has led to delayed flights – and could mean more expensive tickets.
With most budget airlines now charging to check in a suitcase, passengers now often resort to taking a small suitcase into the cabin instead.
But most plane cabins are not made to include enough space for all of these suitcases, along with personal bags.
This then leads to chaos on flights with both crew and passengers trying to find space for them in the overhead lockers.
Not only that, but passengers with wheeled suitcases also take longer to get through the aisle.
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Caroline Marete, who has a PhD in aviation technology told CBC: "If there are more passengers trying to get their cabin carry-ons through the aisles, this delays the entire process of boarding and also disembarking the passengers that are arriving."
If one plane is delayed, it can cause a knock-on effect on the rest of the planes due to take off.
This then affects airlines which could bump up ticket prices, as the planes make no money when sitting idle.
Travel analyst Henry Harteveldt backed this up, saying the boarding process also takes longer than ever due to this.
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He said: "If you go back into the 1970s and '80s, airlines would board flights maybe 20 minutes before departure.
"But we didn't have this jostling for space in the overhead bins."
Other flight crew revealed some of the craziest things they have had to find space for on the plane.
One woman brought her entire wedding cake on, while another who often flew a popular Disney route said there were "lightsabers and massive stuffed MIcky Mouses".
Airlines are now even introducing dynamic pricing – which changes depending on demand – for luggage fees.
Traveller John said he was charged $500 (£411) by Thai Airways to bring an extra 18kg worth of luggage onto a plane.
And others have said they have been charged for "oversized" luggage despite claiming it fit in the airport sizers.
Passenger Sergio Diaz said he was told to pay $50 to check his projector in, even though it was "not much bigger than a laptop".
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And Patricia Hall, who was flying from New York to Orlando, was charged $89 for her tote bag which they said was too big.
Here are some sneaky ways to get around the hand luggage rules, including stuffing pillowcases and putting bags under your coat.
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