Pyridoxine

This is exactly correct, we just landed now and still have to taxi to gate. Even if I sprint and make it, the chances of my bag making it are iffy. An plus I leave Seattle at 8 am heading to Vancouver, then onward to about 10 other cities over next few days. So.....this could suck not having my bag. Let's hope this ground crew is hopping...

freshairborne

True that. But there's a rule in UA Ops Specs that says that in addition to all the numbers, weights, or other dimensions of a piece of luggage, any UA employee has the right and power to decide where a bag ultimately ends up. If a flight looks like it'll have a lot if extra space, an FA or GA can allow an oversize bag in the cabin. Conversely, if space is very tight, the FA or GA can tell you that your hatbox will have to be checked. They don't make that widely known because they don't want employees getting all "power-trippy" about it, but the rule exists nonetheless

Essentially, an OpSpec becomes FAR, as in Federal Law, so best to just go along with the agent or FA; they carry the power of federal law in their words.

FAB

Pyridoxine

Ran my ... off and barely made it, will see if my bag makes it....will update on arrival...

zombietooth

Agree with you on all points. However, in this case, OP stated that there was plenty of space, seemingly removing the discretion of the FA/GA in that regard. However, since they have all of the power, we are always at their mercy. The only Ace in our hand is a willingness to miss one's flight. The complications resulting from having to find and remove a checked bag in that case can cause even the most strident GA to yield. However, I would never recommend taking any but the most conciliatory tone with them in these situations.

fastair

As this is a domestic leg, why would anyone find and remove any checked luggage if you fail to board? When one surrenders a bag to be checked to a destination in the lobby, you accept the fact that the bag will be transported to that destination. The claim check given to you in the lobby as a way to claim it at the destination printed on it kind of confirms that.

notquiteaff

Interesting. Thanks.

I am all for enforcing the size rules for carry-ons, but it appears that wasn't the issue here.

I have never run into the situation that the OP described, but if I did (ie if my appropriately sized bag was force-gate-checked without reason), the DOT would hear about it (at least in aggregate my complaint might then count for something).

zombietooth

Not referring to PPBM. I am referring to suspicious behavior of a passenger refusing to board a flight at the gate who already has checked baggage. Last I heard, the Feds want the bags removed for a passenger that refuses to board the flight for whatever reason. Has this changed?

notquiteaff

Might also be good to remember that the bag about to-be-force-checked can contain items not allowed in checked luggage such as loose batteries.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...batteries.shtm

Always Flyin

I'd like to hear the measurements of the actual bag at issue...

zombietooth

OP sounds like a reasonable guy, so perhaps he will post the actual dimensions, including wheels/handle. However, having personally witnessed capricious enforcement on numerous occasions, I lean towards giving him the benefit of the doubt.

notquiteaff

UA 62 appears to have left four minutes early (10:32pm). If the bag didn't make it, this was the last flight for today and the first one tomorrow morning won't arrive until 8:25am, so OP might be separated from his bag for a while.

Pyridoxine

Just landed in Seattle, about to go find out if I'll have clothes for the next 4 days of mileage running.....

Grace B

If he had to run to make his connection, I don't see how his bag could have made it (could be proven wrong though).

Did the OP say what his status was? Might have made a difference.

I would suggest that the wise approach is to always pack a smaller bag within your carry-on. It need only be cloth (or even plastic), but in such circumstances you just transfer your most treasured possessions to your much smaller bag and pockets and let the horrible FA gate-check an almost empty roll-aboard. Then who cares if it is lost, damaged or otherwise mistreated, your insurance (and UA) will cover that.

Must say that such bad treatment has never happened to me, but my carry ons are rather modest.

Pyridoxine

[QUOTE=Grace B;16222111]If he had to run to make his connection, I don't see how his bag could have made it (could be proven wrong though).


I basically full on sprinted the entire terminal and the closed the door probably 3 minutes after I boarded. We pushed back prob 3-4 after that. I will be very surprised to actually see it here in Seattle....here's for hoping tho....

karenkay

Pyridoxine, please keep us updated. i hope your bag made it.

i had a gate agent once insist on gate checking my bag, (my upgrade hadn't cleared and it was a full flight). she put the tag on it and told me to wheel it to the door of the plane and leave it at the end of jetway. as a 1k, boarding early, i knew there'd be space...so i stood in line with everyone else, pulled the gate check tag off once i was out of sight of the agent and boarded the plane with my bag.

as i boarded, i said to the flight attendant 'gate agent said i'd have to check this, but can we see if there's space?' there was PLENTY of space, and FA said 'no problem.'

i've seen GA's do this in a variety of cities, where they pick no status pax and insist they check a bag...and then the flight leaves with overhead space available. i don't really get that.