Thousands of air passengers are likely to be caught out next week by conflicting information from airlines and airports about the lifting of the ban on more than one item of hand luggage.

The Department for Transport is removing the restriction on Monday at 19 airports but is leaving it to individual airlines to decide whether to increase the hand luggage allowance.

Ryanair and easyJet will continue to allow only one piece of hand luggage. BA will allow all passengers one piece of the standard dimensions and one small additional item. Some other airlines, including bmi, are allowing business and premium economy passengers to take two standard items and one small item, while economy passengers will be allowed one standard item plus one small item.

The ban will remain at several airports, including Gatwick, Luton, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool. They have yet to demonstrate that they can cope with screening further bags. Airports easing the restriction include Heathrow, Stansted, London City, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham and Aberdeen.

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