American tested the idea in seven cities earlier this year and found getting people without overhead bin luggage on early sped up boarding time and improved on-time arrival performance.
There are still four layers of security: presentation of valid government ID, boarding pass, x-ray inspection of carryon luggage, and passing through a magnetometer for the presence of metal.
Speaking on the BBC, Brown said the devices will be put into place gradually, as will checks of carry-on luggage for traces of explosives for passengers boarding flights at British airports.