Restrictions on hand baggage were eased at some UK airports amid confusion over just where the new rules applied.
The British Department for Transport (DfT) gave approval to some airports to allow passengers to carry two pieces of cabin luggage.
But the restriction limiting passengers to just one piece of hand luggage stayed in force at many other airports.
The major airports which will now allow two pieces of hand baggage are Heathrow, London City, Stansted, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle.
But the one-bag rule remains in force at Gatwick, Jersey, Belfast City, Luton and Leeds/Bradford.
But while airlines including BA and bmi said they would allow passengers to carry on two pieces of luggage at the designated airports, easyJet said it would continue to enforce the one-bag rule.
The restrictions were brought in after police uncovered an alleged terrorist plot to plant explosives on aircraft at Heathrow in August 2006.
The DfT has been under growing pressure to ease the rules because of the disruption being caused at UK airports, notably Heathrow.
BA said passengers could take on one piece of luggage plus one briefcase or laptop bag.
Bmi said its new rules meant that business class or premium economy passengers travelling long haul could take on two bags.
Other travellers would still be restricted to one piece.
Both BAA which runs seven UK airports among them Heathrow and the Airport Operators' Association advised all passengers to check with both their airline and the airport before travelling.
Flying figures reach new high
International passenger figures for flying rose by 9.3% in November compared with the same month in 2006.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said the figures showed the "fastest growth rate recorded in 18 months."
IATA said it was higher than the 7.7% figure for growth in October and for the 7.5% growth for the first 11 months of 2007.
But Giovanni Bisignani, the IATA director general and ceo, warned that 2008 could see both a slow down in the rise in demand and a slip in the aviation industry's profits.
The regional showing the highest rise in demand was Latin America which had a 20.1% rise followed by the Middle East which showed an 18.3% increase.
Asia Pacific (8.8%), Europe and North America (both 7.6%) and Africa (5.8%) all showed rises as well.
Mr Bisignani said: "The global economy ended 2007 on a surprisingly strong note. The November surge in passenger demand has been critical in combating high oil prices and helping airlines end 2007 with an industry profit of US$5.6 billion - the first since 2000."
But he added: "We ring in 2008 with a warning bell. Passenger demand growth is expected to fall to 5%.
"High oil prices and the impact of the credit crunch will see industry profitability slip to US$5bn in 2008."
Amadeus signs deal with eTRAVELi
GDS and travel IT company Amadeus has signed a long term deal with European Travel Interactive (eTRAVELi), a Nordic online agency.
Under the deal, Amadeus will provide eTRAVELi's subsidiaries Seat24 and SRG Online with travel content and fare-search technology.
eTRAVELi is one of the larger online agencies in Northern Europe and grew by 50% in 2007.
Ralph Axelson, its ceo, said: "We aim to use our position as a market leader in the Nordic region as a springboard for growth across Europe.
"Amadeus' technology will provide the ideal platform as we aim to become one of Europe's leading online travel companies."
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