No More Checking Bags at the Gate? Please Let This Catch On
Jeff Edwards January 21, 2019
American Airlines is doing its part to make the need to check carry-on bags at the gate a thing of the past. No, the carrier isn’t waiving sky-high checked bag fees for more passengers – instead, the carrier is slowly doubling overhead storage space and giving gate agents more information about the carry-on capacity of individual aircraft.
The nearly automatic need for passengers to gate check carry-on bags is becoming less of an issue on some flights operated by the world’s largest airline. A combination of policy changes and adding overhead storage space is starting to make the need for passengers to surrender their bags on the jetway much less likely at American Airlines.
At its core, overstuffed overhead bins can be traced directly to the extra seats squeezed into economy class cabins and steep fees charged for checked bags. The airline isn’t likely to risk revenue by dealing with either of these issues – in fact, bag fees were just recently raised nearly industry-wide and American Airlines management defended squeezing more seats into its aircraft. AA is, however, slowly giving passengers more in-cabin storage space for their carry-on bags.
While the inability of human beings to comfortably use the lavatory on many Boeing 737 MAX aircraft has dominated the headlines, the new planes also come equipped with “space bins” which, according to Boeing, can accommodate 50 percent more bags than standard overhead bins. American is also retrofitting some older 737 planes with the space bins and employing similar space-saving bins on its Airbus A321 aircraft.
In addition to holding more luggage than previous generations of bins, the space bins are easier to load. The unique configuration also makes the space less inviting for space-wasting personal items such as hats, coats and other loose items.
Perhaps more importantly, as Boarding Area’s Gary Leff points out, the carrier is giving gate agents more information about the amount of overhead space available on individual planes. This advance notice that the equipment at the gate has space bins will in theory make it less likely the gate agent will order passengers to begin checking their carry-on items – especially given American Airlines’ near-obsession with on-time departures where every second counts.
[Photo: Shutterstock]
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For well over a year, AA has been asking people to check their bags at the gate for FREE..... seems like a normal thing to do if you are Group 6, 7, 8 or 9. I will say that if you are Group 1 or 2, and you need overhead space, its best not to be late (like back in the great 80s/90s when not everyone had a roller bag). AA makes it very nice to fly. Reminds me of all the people who bulk up their shopping carts at Publix on the lower level and never pay for it (since they cant see it from the Checker). People love their short cuts.
IMHO, the best way is to allow free CHECKED bags, and charge for CARRYON bags. That way, at least I think, more people would check bags, resulting in less carryons, and quicker boarding! Only bring one bag on board, check the rest or pay for the 2nd carryon.
Umm, that article for "space bins" was written back in 2015. Did these bins take 3 years to be released or were they out 3 years ago and it's just taken airlines 3 years to decide to use these bins? If the latter, why did they wait 3 years?
@ Marathon Man. Hear, Hear. That used to be the case with the exception of excess pieces of luggage and overweight luggage. I remember flying before planes had overhead bins (which were first introduced on the 747 in 1969). Back then and before, all other planes of the day still had the old open racks above (Boeing planes had that "pod" on the underside which contained the emergency oxygen masks). The increased luggage fees pretty much make any savings for enduring the discomfort of sitting in steerage class moot. If you travel with 2 bags as I do (to balance and lessen weight i need to carry I have severe arthritis) that is another 140$ on most airlines added to the ticket price. Suddenly that 400$ round trip ticket costs 540$. At the very least they need to waive luggage fees for premium seating on domestic flights as combined with the higher fare it often comes fairly close to restricted advance purchase first class fares (which waive the luggage fee give you food and refreshments for free, has priority boarding, and offers a lot more leg and hip room).
Stuffed overhead compartments are a result of lax carryon size enforcement as anything else. When I travel foreign airlines on non-US routes the overhead bins are much less full. It's not that the seats are less dense; often they're actually more dense. And it's not that baggage fees are any less making it more attractive for people to check bags; except for full-fare type tickets you're generally paying extra starting with the first checked bag. The difference is non-US airlines have stricter rules about size and weight for carry-on bags and they're more likely to enforce them.