Story highlights Malaysia Airlines temporarily banned checked-in luggage on its Europe-bound flights this week

The airline said "unreasonably strong headwinds" limited its ability to safely carry luggage

Aviation expert says such measures are unheard of in the industry

(CNN) Frequent fliers are used to occasionally finding one of their bags hasn't arrived at their destination with them, whether due to a tight connection or airline error.

But few have ever been told prior to boarding that their checked luggage simply wouldn't be joining them on the same flight.

That's what happened to Malaysia Airlines passengers flying to Europe from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this week when the airline announced it was temporarily banning checked luggage from flights on January 5 and 6 due to "unreasonably strong headwinds" limiting the airlines' ability to safely carry baggage in cargo.

Passengers who did wish to check luggage at the airport were told it'd be shipped to them on a later flight.

On Wednesday morning the airline updated its travel advisory saying checked-in baggage would again be allowed on all flights as per the normal allowance.

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