Originally Posted by
warreng24
What they SHOULD have offered you was to gate check one of your carry-on bags for no charge. Then you would be within the two-item limit.
The OP said gate check was offered, but the OP did not want to gate check any of their items.
Originally Posted by
HereAndThereSC
It's been my understanding that duty free bags are exempt from the carry-on rules... I mean, if you board an international flight with 1 carry-on + 1 personal item, and you buy something from the on-board duty free... Then you're breaking the rule on your connecting flight?
Although
the document I found this in itself appears to be out of date, I don't believe this list of items excluded from the carry-on allowance is:
1) an overcoat
2) an umbrella
3) a reasonable amount of reading material for the flight]
4) crutches/canes/braces or other prosthetic device (s) on which the passenger is dependent
5) snack sacks and other food items brought onboard by the passenger for personal consumption
6) child safety seat which must be used either in a confirmed ticketed seat or in an available seat beside the parent/guardian
I have always stored my duty free items on the rare occasions I made such purchases within my allowed carry-on limit. Note that the carry-on limit is a maximum, you are not required to meet it, so if you expect to buy duty-free, you should adjust your carry-ons accordingly.