Hand baggage restrictions were eased at Scotland's main airports yesterday, leading to confusion among passengers.

Following a security clampdown in August 2006, passengers at UK airports were restricted to one piece of hand luggage.

But from yesterday, travellers from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports were no longer limited to taking one hold bag through security when flying.

Passengers can now carry as many bags as their airline allows - a rule being applied at 22 airports across the UK.

But the one-bag rule will remain at some major airports, including Luton, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool.

And low-cost carrier easyJet will retain the one-bag limit for all its flights, regardless of which airport passengers are flying from.

At Edinburgh Airport there was widespread feeling among passengers yesterday that the variations across the country were puzzling.

"It does seem confusing," said IT consultant William Wormald, 57, travelling home to South Africa. "I will take one bag until everybody accepts more."

Airport operators have advised passengers to double-check their baggage allowance before they check in.

Restrictions on liquids, introduced at the same time as the one-bag rule, remain in place.

Chief executive of easyJet Andy Harrison explained his airline's stance. "The only way to maintain a simple and standard policy is to maintain our one-bag policy," he said.