Originally Posted by
ffsim
2) If I'm forced to gate check (which I don't mind since it really shouldn't cost me anything as a *G) where does the bag get delivered upon arrival? The carousel with the rest of the baggage?
Since european non-LCC airlines include a bag in the ticket, less people travel with big carryons, and gate checking is not happening. What they sometimes do for small plane regional flights (where overhead space or weight is limited) is that you surrender your bags upon entering the flight from the bus, and you get it back directly before boarding the bus and driving to the gate.