No denied boarding compensation if reserved overhead bin space is unavailable
Jun 13, 2019, 12:20 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Jun 13, 2019, 12:21 pm
#17
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My tools travel in the belly of the plane in a locked Pelican. I also have insurance for my tools. I board in Group 1 or 2 and rarely use the overheard bins. I like having everything I need within reach. Listen, it's unfortunate but not unheard of. It was your choice to take the later flight.
Jun 13, 2019, 12:47 pm
#18
Moderator: American AAdvantage
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On May 25, I was boarding AA flight 2555 from DFW to DTW departing at 12:30 PM. My boarding pass was for a main cabin extra exit row seat in boarding group three. As the agent was about to scan my boarding pass, an announcement was made that all the overhead bin spaces were full. Passengers were not allowed to enter the jetway with their roller bag as their carry-on was now forbidden to board with no available bin space. After the announcement, passengers with a roller bag must surrender their bag at the gate and, assume all risks of loss or damage for fragile checked bags or, take a later flight if they did not want to be denied boarding for their scheduled flight. On arrival, your passenger bag must be retrieved at baggage claim.
American Airlines advertises on their aircraft that the main cabin extra and first class overhead bins are reserved. As groups five through nine had not boarded, the reserved overhead bins should have been available. The gate agent said once an announcement was made that overhead space is full, the only remedy was to take the next flight, which was AA 2753 departing 6:42 PM. if you want to carry-on your standard size roller bag. The gate agent was also concerned about an on-time departure so they claim they did not have time to check for available closet or overhead bin space. The flight departed four minutes early.
Because of high-value electronics in my carry-on, I waited more than six hours for the next flight. However, due to a mechanical issue of a flat tire on the next flight AA2753, our scheduled departure of 6:42 PM was now 7:47 PM. Why pay more to select a first class or main cabin extra seat if the bin space for your luggage is not reserved and easily accessible as advertised. Flight delays due to an American Airlines mechanical issue on flight 2753 and the lack of reserved overhead space for my one piece of hand carry luggage are frustrating. AA did not offer involuntary denied boarding compensation but instead offered 7,500 AAdvantage miles for the inconvenience of arriving more than seven hours late. Is this fair? What would you do?
Main Cabin Extra overhead luggage bin on American Airlines.
American Airlines advertises on their aircraft that the main cabin extra and first class overhead bins are reserved. As groups five through nine had not boarded, the reserved overhead bins should have been available. The gate agent said once an announcement was made that overhead space is full, the only remedy was to take the next flight, which was AA 2753 departing 6:42 PM. if you want to carry-on your standard size roller bag. The gate agent was also concerned about an on-time departure so they claim they did not have time to check for available closet or overhead bin space. The flight departed four minutes early.
Because of high-value electronics in my carry-on, I waited more than six hours for the next flight. However, due to a mechanical issue of a flat tire on the next flight AA2753, our scheduled departure of 6:42 PM was now 7:47 PM. Why pay more to select a first class or main cabin extra seat if the bin space for your luggage is not reserved and easily accessible as advertised. Flight delays due to an American Airlines mechanical issue on flight 2753 and the lack of reserved overhead space for my one piece of hand carry luggage are frustrating. AA did not offer involuntary denied boarding compensation but instead offered 7,500 AAdvantage miles for the inconvenience of arriving more than seven hours late. Is this fair? What would you do?
Main Cabin Extra overhead luggage bin on American Airlines.
You aren’t eligible for IDB because failing to remove valuables and carrying them aboard as or in a “personal item” size bag is not cause for involuntary denial of boarding, nor is choosing voluntarily to deboard yourself because overhead space is full requiring gate checking your rollaboard sized bag.
That’s pretty much SOP, not only for AA.
For future travels, AA FAs do not police or enforce overhead baggage space even if it’s placarded.
Turns out that the “enhanced bin access” is just going to be the installation of placards on bins above Main Cabin Extra seats noting that this bin are reserved for the MCE seats. However, flight attendants will not be responsible for monitoring the usage of these bins. - link to The Points Guy
Illustration below is Pelican’s wheeled tool chest and other products.
Last edited by JDiver; Jun 13, 2019 at 12:57 pm
Jun 13, 2019, 12:48 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2018
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@OP Pardon the unsollicited advice, but if you have "valuable electronics" I would recommend not dragging them in a roller case to begin with.
Unless it's been padded to the extreme.
...in which case it will be okay in the hold too.
Unless it's been padded to the extreme.
...in which case it will be okay in the hold too.
Jun 13, 2019, 12:50 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 464
Carry one of those big, very thin, light weight duffles, stuff your roller inside it, and simply carry your bag on the plane. Somehow a bag with wheels makes it look infinitely larger to a GA than a duffle bag of the same size or larger.
Jun 13, 2019, 1:18 pm
#21
Join Date: Nov 2013
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Was the GA actually printing luggage tags for each bag, or was it one of the "leave it on the jetbridge" deals? the latter I would have just walked on board with it and tried to find it, and let the FA take it if there really was 0 space at Group 4... Which I find hard to believe. And if they were taking the time to print bags for possibly 100 passengers, that sounds like a challenge to hit the D0.
All around, poor performance. I think it would be cool if airlines started doing what BA does in Heathrow - on full flights they e-mail passengers and offer them to check their bag for free (at the counter not at the gate) as long as it's carry-on sized.
All around, poor performance. I think it would be cool if airlines started doing what BA does in Heathrow - on full flights they e-mail passengers and offer them to check their bag for free (at the counter not at the gate) as long as it's carry-on sized.
Jun 13, 2019, 1:21 pm
#22
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: PHL
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And TSA approved locks. It's a deterrent more than anything. TSA is the biggest weak link in lost/damaged items like this. They LOOOOOOVE to open every Pelican when you take it though security. They aren't so good at snapping the latches back when you check items. The locks help keep the thing together when they forget to latch properly.
Jun 13, 2019, 1:22 pm
#23
Original Poster
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I sympathize, and AA overdoes their implied promises of what they offer, but: The announcement in question is often made even when there are bins available. Once it has been made, expect rigidity and resistance to taking your rollaboard size case aboard. It suck, for sure. You can thank the “D0” memos and emphasis by management on D0 vs customer centered service.
For future travels, AA FAs do not police or enforce overhead baggage space even if it’s placarded.
For future travels, AA FAs do not police or enforce overhead baggage space even if it’s placarded.
Jun 13, 2019, 1:33 pm
#24
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Was the GA actually printing luggage tags for each bag, or was it one of the "leave it on the jetbridge" deals? the latter I would have just walked on board with it and tried to find it, and let the FA take it if there really was 0 space at Group 4... Which I find hard to believe. And if they were taking the time to print bags for possibly 100 passengers, that sounds like a challenge to hit the D0.
All around, poor performance. I think it would be cool if airlines started doing what BA does in Heathrow - on full flights they e-mail passengers and offer them to check their bag for free (at the counter not at the gate) as long as it's carry-on sized.
All around, poor performance. I think it would be cool if airlines started doing what BA does in Heathrow - on full flights they e-mail passengers and offer them to check their bag for free (at the counter not at the gate) as long as it's carry-on sized.
Jun 13, 2019, 1:49 pm
#25
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Reserved means it's only for the use of MCE customer. It does not mean you hold a guaranteed reservation for a fixed amount of overhead space.
If only MCE customers used the reserved overhead space, and it was completely consumed, there is nothing in your ticket/reservations/T&C's that entitles you to compensation.
You chose not to board, you were not denied boarding.
If only MCE customers used the reserved overhead space, and it was completely consumed, there is nothing in your ticket/reservations/T&C's that entitles you to compensation.
You chose not to board, you were not denied boarding.
Last edited by CPRich; Jun 14, 2019 at 11:26 pm
Jun 13, 2019, 1:58 pm
#26
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The two agents working the gate insisted you leave your roller bag at the gate. After the announcement, passengers were not permitted to enter the jetbridge with a carry-on roller bag. Passengers then had to wait for a receipt if they surrendered their carry-on at the gate before being allowed to enter the jetbridge.
Jun 13, 2019, 2:35 pm
#28
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The worst one of these I had was on Delta. A redeye 757 that was very lightly loaded, I was boarding towards the end of the Sky Priority group and the GA announced the overhead bins were full and all rollerbags would be valet tagged at the podium and collected on the jetbridge. I just ripped my tag off before I got to the ramp guy by 2L and sure enough, as if it wasn't obvious enough already there was acres of space, both in FC and the cheap seats.
Jun 13, 2019, 2:58 pm
#29
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I know that often when I fly on an E175, E190 or CR9 the GA wants me to gate check my shoulder bag which I know will easily fit in the overhead. I take the red valet ticket, shove it in my pocket, walk on the a/c and easily stow my bag.