This is something which causes both drivers and passengers equal aggravation. You’ll notice in the ‘Megabus mentions in other blogs’ above that this guy is unhappy with the luggage allowance interpretation. In this case the customer is in the US where the Megabus luggage policy, taken from the website, is “Passengers are advised that megabus.com will accept up to one piece of luggage per passenger. For guidance this should be no more than the size of a standard suitcase and should not weigh more than 50 pounds”. The problem is what is the size of a standard suitcase? And what is meant by size? A snowboard may be longish in one direction but it’s thin and narrow – the volume should be less than the ‘standard size’ suitcase limit. If one driver wants to interpret the vague luggage policy as saying the longest dimension of the item mustn’t exceed the longest dimension of a non-defined ‘standard suitcase’ then they’ll refuse the board. If another driver takes the view that it will take up no more space, by volume, than a suitcase then they’ll let it on! The UK luggage policy is the same apart from metrification of the weight limit to 20Kgs. It would be much easier for everyone if Megabus were to define this notional standard suitcase as ‘X’ x ‘Y’ x ‘Z’ inches/cm and allow its volumetric equivalent.

In the US the hand luggage policy is pretty clear “Passengers can also take on board one small piece of luggage that will fit in the overhead storage compartment”. If only it were that clear in the UK. The UK policy is “Passengers can also take on board one piece of hand luggage up to the size of a small to medium sized hold-all”. This is so vague as to be useless. Why say a ‘small to medium’ bag? If a medium one is allowed on there seems no point to saying a small one is allowed on! Personally, I adopt the American policy even though I drive in the UK! When passengers have larger rucksacks, holdalls etc. than I think reasonable I tell them that it’s fine if they can get it into the overhead locker, otherwise it goes into the hold. There are two reason for trying to control the amount of hand luggage – it’s often piled on the seat next next to the passenger as a method of trying to keep the seat empty and thus deprive other passengers of being able to sit where they wish. And secondly I don’t want lots of loose luggage flying around inside the bus in the case of an accident. Passengers are required by law to wear seat belts so they don’t fly around, luggage should be equally constrained in the overhead lockers.