SINCE August, 2006, travellers have only been able to take one item of hand luggage on to flights from UK airports.

The restriction was imposed by the Government after police foiled a terrorist plot to blow up a transatlantic plane in mid-flight.

Now that restriction has been lifted - but only at certain airports.

Travellers boarding planes at Manchester, Heathrow, Glasgow, Stansted and Cardiff can now take more than one piece of hand luggage on their flight, unless they are flying with certain low-cost airlines. Some companies, such as EasyJet, Ryanair, Monarch and Jet2, are sticking to the one-bag rule.

However, the one-bag rule is still being imposed on all flights leaving Blackpool, Luton, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool airports, and for most passengers flying from Gatwick.

Is it any wonder then that some passengers travelling out of Manchester Airport yesterday were a little confused?

Former Bolton couple Anne and Jim Humphries, who work in the licensing trade, did not know that the rule had been relaxed when they left for the airport from their Bury home.

But it saved them £130 as they were facing a hefty bill for excess baggage.

Anne, aged 51, arrived at Manchester Airport with a small handbag Jim, aged 53, decided not to carry any hand-luggage at all.

But when they arrived at the check-in desk for their flight to Goa the couple discovered their hold luggage was overweight.

"We were grateful the restrictions had been lifted as it meant I could buy a bag and put some of the luggage from our suitcases into hand luggage," said Jim, who blamed his son's heavy suitcase - borrowed for the two-week trip - for the extra weight problem.

Russell Craig, head of external communications at Manchester Airport, said the airport had been able to relax the one-bag rule because of a £2 million investment in new scanners, more security lanes and more staff.

"The Government said airports could decide for themselves whether or not to relax the rules and we felt confident we could cope with a potential 100 per cent increase in hand baggage," he said.

A restriction on liquids still remains in force, which means passengers can only take liquids of less than 100ml in their hand luggage.

Mr Craig said: "My advice would be to pack all liquids in your hold baggage."

Student Ben Needham, of Farnworth, said he thought the restriction on liquids had also been lifted.

He said: "I thought the new rule meant you could take liquid in your hand-luggage again. Luckily, I had already packed it in my suitcase," said Ben, who is studying graphic design at City College Manchester and was heading for a five-day trip to Budapest.

Mr Craig said the rule relaxation would be a big help to business travellers.

He said: "There are business people who want to take a lap-top and a suitcase on board their flight and now they can do that."

Some airlines have decided to continue with the one-bag ruling for fear of confusing their customers even further.

From March, budget airline EasyJet will start flying out of Manchester Airport, but travellers will only be able to take one bag on the flights, as is the case with Ryanair, Monarch and Jet2.

Despite initial confusion, Mr Craig is hopeful that improvements to the airport's check-in and security procedures will tempt more travellers to use Manchester Airport.

He said: "We have discovered that passengers only relax when they get through security. We are improving our security and will have 14 lanes, rather than the current seven, by 2009, so that people can get through security quicker and enjoy relaxing before their flight."

It has been relatively quiet this week at Manchester Airport, but the new system is set to be tested properly when families go on holiday during the school half-term break next month.

And an increase to security surrounding passports may provide an added complication.

Anyone applying for a new passport could face a six-week wait under the Government's new anti-fraud measures. Adults applying for their first passport will be called for interview, but those renewing passports can still use the one-week fast-track service.

All passports now issued include a chip storing physical details of the holder's face.

What are the baggage restrictions?

  • One hand baggage limit per traveller still applies at Blackpool, Luton, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool Airports and for most passengers at Gatwick
  • More than one bag can be taken on board at Manchester, Heathrow, Glasgow, Stansted and Cardiff, unless you are travelling with some of the low cost airlines such as EasyJet, Ryanair, Monarch or Jet2, which are sticking to the one-bag rule
  • The advice is to ring your airline, or departure airport, if you are unsure about the rules
  • You can still only take liquids of less than 100ml in your hand-luggage on any flight leaving and returning to the UK and it has to be contained in a small plastic bag and presented at security
  • Make sure you leave plenty of time for getting a new passport because of new anti-fraud measures

See our video on baggage restrictions.