Could luggage-free airports help avoid holidays from hell?

Instead of dragging their suitcases to check-in, passengers would pay to have their baggage picked up from home and delivered independently to their destination.

It would be tracked by computer, using the same technology already employed by parcel delivery firms and supermarket home-shopping systems.

The system could end lengthy queues at check-in and security, reduce the effect of baggagehandler strikes and slash the number of bags lost globally each year - currently 30million.

Fuel economies from lighter luggage-free passenger aircraft could save airlines 22 per cent of the industry's annual revenue which, if passed on to passengers, could amount to a reduction of around £30 per ticket.

That should be enough to pay for the luggage service.

The plan will be discussed today at a parliamentary conference organised by the all-party Aviation Group, with executives from the airport operator BAA and Transport Department officials among the guests.

Many passengers are already having to pay to put their bags on to planes.

Ryanair currently charges passengers £10 per flight to check in bags at the airport - or £5 per flight to use the "fastdrop" facility booked on the Internet - to encourage them to bring only hand luggage.

And British Airways' new baggage rules from September mean that an economy longhaul passenger will be allowed a maximum of one bag weighing no more than 23kg or face a £240 excess charge.

BA and Virgin Atlantic already offer a fledgling "luggage-free" service in partnership with the First Luggage company - but MPs say this system could be expanded massively to become the norm.

Committee chairman David Marshall, Labour MP for Glasgow East said: "It is abundantly clear that something has to be done to address the current problems plaguing travellers."

Gideon Kasfiner, boss of First Luggage, which has sent 100,000 items from major airline passengers around the globe since its launch three years ago, said: "Luggage-free airports are the future."

Currently, his company charges from £49 to deliver a suitcase door-to-door to Europe - and typically £69 to deliver a 30kg suitcase from the UK to France, £129 to the U.S. and £319 to Australia. But with economies of scale suitcases could be delivered from £20.

Ryanair said: "It's the sort of thing we'd be very happy to see. Fewer bags lowers our costs on fuel."

Environmental groups are unlikely to give the scheme an unreserved welcome, however, as it would require many more delivery trucks on the road.