Originally Posted by
woodd00
Has anyone noticed a crack down on gate checking lately? I was flying on a US flight out of SYR last week and the gate agent basically told people "if you have more than 2 bags you will not be allowed down the the jet way, there will be no gate checking, and I will not hold the plane for you to go out and check your bag at the counter so you might as well go do it now." Then on my way out of MCO to CLT the gate agent said "You don't have to worry about gate checking since there will be none. I heard similar noticed at the UA gates in IAD a week or so back too. I travel about 2 weeks a month and this is the first time I have heard them get this pushy. Are they cracking down? Granted with all the bag fees folks are trying to sneak more on the plane, but no gate check at all?
Carry on rules clearly state 2 bags only. If someone is trying to board with 3 bags then I think they should be sent back to check the third one in. The 2 bag limit is posted in several places and should be pretty obvious. In the event that the bins fill up then I think that someone following the rules with only 2 carry on's should be allowed to check bags (at the gate) at that point. On mainline, the only bags they will actually "gate check" with valet tags (for items returned to the jetway) are wheelchairs, strollers, f/c passengers bags (if there is no space available on the entire a/c) and deadheading crewmembers. All others are checked and can be picked up at baggage claim.
I can only speak for US, not sure what United's policy is or how they make their rules.
FWIW, I've never seen a gate agent refuse to check someone's bag at the door once the overhead bins are full and they are in compliance of not having too many bags in the first place.
