New process / algorithm for determining if some bag gate checking will be needed
Apr 14, 2017, 5:04 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,969
New process / algorithm for determining if some bag gate checking will be needed
For my flight today, at the gate, the GA said their "algorithm" told them that they needed to pull 18 carry-on bags to be checked and if no one volunteered, they will be "forced" to do so. (Overhead bin issue, not W&B.)
I have never heard this before. is this something new?
Unfortunate choice of words given the recent incident
I have never heard this before. is this something new?
Unfortunate choice of words given the recent incident
Last edited by username; Apr 14, 2017 at 5:24 pm
Apr 14, 2017, 5:15 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
I think the GA was making up their own algorithm. If I have 24 bunnies and 6 run away how many bunnies do I have left, ok 18, gets on PA, we need to have 18 carryons checked per the algorithm because they won't all fit in the overhead bins.
Apr 14, 2017, 5:19 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,969
Right, before the flight. I should have been clearer.
Apr 14, 2017, 5:23 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
Well, if airlines actually enforced the 1 carry on and 1 personal item thing overhead bin space wouldn't be a problem. Every airline I fly on there are quite a few people with 3-4 items and the GA's just let them on the plane even though that very same GA just made the announcement over the PA. And if you do have 2 items, put 1 under the seat in front of you, not both in the overhead, but FA's don't enforce that, even though they just made an announcement to that effect.
Apr 14, 2017, 5:27 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DMV
Posts: 2,092
Well, if airlines actually enforced the 1 carry on and 1 personal item thing overhead bin space wouldn't be a problem. Every airline I fly on there are quite a few people with 3-4 items and the GA's just let them on the plane even though that very same GA just made the announcement over the PA. And if you do have 2 items, put 1 under the seat in front of you, not both in the overhead, but FA's don't enforce that, even though they just made an announcement to that effect.
Apr 14, 2017, 5:42 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Plat, 1MM
Posts: 2,182
This has been around forever. I think they generally don't cite the specific number of bags, but I've certainly heard it often enough. The idea is to solicit gate checks early so they don't have to do them at the last minute.
Apr 14, 2017, 5:50 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: BWI
Programs: UA 1MM & 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 255
I've never heard this phrasing before. Since BWI has no lounge, I'm always at the gate when they make the baggage announcement and they usually say they'll run out by group 5, so if you check your bag now it'll be free and you can board between groups 2 and 3. There's always people who take them up on the offer.
Apr 14, 2017, 5:52 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,461
Apr 14, 2017, 6:23 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,686
There is a relatively new addition to our software that takes historical numbers of gate checked bags based on day of week, equipment, dptr time, and route, along with load booked and estimates the numbers that will need to be checked based on overhead space. It's still far from perfect, but it isn't terrible (I think it needs more data to be more accurate.) Things such as large school groups with only backpacks throw it off. Clearly on a full airbus to LGA, the numbers are far higher than on a widebody or a flight to any place other than LGA.
Apr 14, 2017, 6:51 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
Well, if airlines actually enforced the 1 carry on and 1 personal item thing overhead bin space wouldn't be a problem. Every airline I fly on there are quite a few people with 3-4 items and the GA's just let them on the plane even though that very same GA just made the announcement over the PA. And if you do have 2 items, put 1 under the seat in front of you, not both in the overhead, but FA's don't enforce that, even though they just made an announcement to that effect.
