Originally Posted by
benzemalyonnais
I don't see the fuss over not checking a bag. It's 20 minutes of your time (max), and at ATL the bags usually arrive at the same time it takes to get to the baggage claim area.
This is true if you are on a direct flight from origin to destination, and the flight actually makes it to the destination without diversion.
Those of us who have to connect, do have other reasons for wanting to keep the bag other than the minimal extra time at baggage claim.
Once you check your bag, if you want to SDC or need to change flights at the gate due to IRROPS, you have lost the flexibility of getting to your destination with a good chance of your bag making it there too.
I've also seen a diversion where 2 coworkers had carried on and 1 checked. The 2 without checked baggage drove from the diversion airport to our destination (2.5-3 hrs) and arrived there *before* our coworker got his bag back.