yyz_atc_qq

The value I am adding is 59 is not 60. I will give you kudos for not whining about wanting an exception for being 1 minute late. At the end of the day, late is late. regardless of if it's 1 minute or 30 minutes.

On a side note, it drives me crazy when I see SE100K and/or J passengers board with more carryons and/or oversize carryons. We are not above the rules. If they (AC) enforced the rules fairly, consistently, and without exception, there would be enough space for plenty of carryons.

But.... that would mean they would have to improve their checked baggage handling (timely delivery to the belt, less damage, less loss/delay).

skybluesea

delete

JetLife

This thread is about what to do if you are late. Saying don't be late is not adding value.

Mauricio23

Would people please give the "never check bags" mantra a rest? This is a question about checking bags. You can do life without checking bags, we get it, we are all in awe of you. Now please step aside so those of us who must check bags (a service which we pay for in the fares we purchase) can discuss how to better manage specific situations.

RangerNS

Be prepared to not have your stuff with you when you get to where you are going?

FT is a great font of information in exploiting unclear rules or helping to clarify them. In the case of traveling, everything is prep work. Obviously we can't go back in time and help you after you are late, so we are only providing advice for next time.

If you are late, next time, play dumb, beg forgiveness, ask nicely, and see what happens. You broke the rule and are at the mercy of front line staff. A million variables will affect the outcome, anything that happens will be a favor above and beyond what a full J ticket SEMM PAX could expect.

Next time, don't be late.

Next time, and every time you travel, pack your medications, laptop, paperwork and other critical things in your carry on, so your intimidate needs are not affected by a bag being late, lost or damaged, for whatever reason. Still, minimize the reasons you might not ever see that bag again by not being late.

JetLife

There is plenty of advice and experiences I have received here that I can use next time I am late. That is the advice that adds value.

Saying don't be late is idiotic. It's like telling somebody to not get into a car accident if they ask for advice on managing a car insurance claim. Some people just love grandstanding and being condescending here. It is painful to see the total lack of social awareness and small-mindedness.

skybluesea

delete

Badenoch

Being late is quite different than a car accident. Timeliness is more often under your control than not.

What is painful to see is the total lack of willingness of people to take responsibility for their mistakes. Instead they whine and moan about it and then blame someone else. Late is late even if by a minute.

When I check bags I have a small carry-on with essentials and I arrive at the airport with plenty of time to make sure it is checked.

lsquare

Believe me, I know how you feel. Not sure what's with some of the people here, but FT does have good, decent people. Unfortunately, FT also have elitists. If you ask a "dumb question" even if you're new to this field, they'll let you know. Not sure why that's even necessary.

lsquare

That's actually good advice. Although I wasn't late and this was WS' fault (that's a story for another day), my bag did not arrive with me in New Orleans. Fortunately I had insurance.

adambrau

The best way to mitigate 'dropping bags off late problems' is online checkin. If you are checked in, wherever/whenever possible, arriving after the flight is closed to checkin will greatly increase a successful outcome with bag drop. Make sure you know when the minimum cutoff time is for checking in as it is route dependent. Life happens and we all have been late to the airport - that will always be the case!

YEG USER

IMHO, although it may come across as harsh, the advice people are giving to "not be late" is sound; typically the best way to deal with a problem is to avoid it in the first place.

If you are going to be 1 minute late for the baggage drop deadline, you should be prepared to treat it the same way you would if you arrived at the airport after your flight departed. Know what your options are for alternate flights, and any SDC charges, etc. and be prepared accordingly. You can always play dumb/plead your case to an agent who may be willing to bend the rules, but if you absolutely need to check a bag, be prepared to take a different flight.

The alternative is to fly without your checked baggage by taking only your essential items, as pointed out by RangerNS. Although if you have to leave the bag you'd check behind, depending on what airport you're at, etc. you might not have time to find a place to store your luggage.

vernonc

I did this too. My AC flight had UA gate agents and they had left as I arrived late due to a accident on a highway. I took my suitcase along with my carryon thru security. Fortunately it fit in the Xray machine. Got to the gate and had the suitcase gate checked. I obviously already had my mobile BP.

khkchan

Thanks OP for starting this thread - learnt something new: I can take luggage of any size through security as long as it fits the scanner and have nothing prohibited onboard.

YOW transborder check-in agent once did me a favour of printing my bag tag 55 mintues before departure. If I knew the above, I shouldn't need to thank them profoundly

Nazdoom

I don't fly as much as many here -- around 250,000 miles over past three years -- and I don't have status.

I've been late for a flight three times in my life: once 10 mins late on a West Jet domestic (Y) with bags, once 2 minutes late on an Air Canada domestic (J) with bags, and once 12 minutes late on a JAL international (J) with bags. West Jet was more than accommodating, checked me in and then dropped my bag for me in order to save time. JAL agent called supervisor and arranged a running escort all the way to the farthest gate in NRT (letting me use staff security line)... On the other hand, AC said sorry, I can't check you in, go over there to ticketing to see what to do. I was already OLCI'd in for the AC flight, but alas my bag was not tagged in time.

Stuff happens and people can be late.... JAL earned a lot of respect from me over how willing they were to accomodate even though it was my fault (planned the commute based on Narita Express being available but tix were sold out for an hour). For Y, West Jet was also quite accomodating.