AA Increasing Carry On Bag Enforcement, Audits (Oct 2019)
Nov 3, 2019, 10:17 am
#256
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SAN
Programs: AA CK, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 839
There are plenty of infrequent, inexperienced passengers who are the ones we most associate with the kitchen sink syndrome however, as someone who has been on the road for 30 years, I’m also surprised at my fellow business travelers who travel what I consider to be baggage heavy.
Nov 3, 2019, 10:22 am
#257
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
There are plenty of infrequent, inexperienced passengers who are the ones we most associate with the kitchen sink syndrome however, as someone who has been on the road for 30 years, I’m also surprised at my fellow business travelers who travel what I consider to be baggage heavy.
Nov 3, 2019, 10:23 am
#258
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,247
At CLT today, the GA made specific mention to carry on allowance (much more than I've seen previously) and said overstuffed carry ones would be checked with the sizer and checked. The most egregious violator opted to self check before trying to checking in . A few borderline cases were asked to try the sizer or combine bags to get to two. The gate next to it had no enforcement and I noticed someone with an oversized bag go through. So as anticipated, this will be a GA dependent enforcement.
If you have to check for having more pieces than allowed or a huge bag, AA should charge for it.
Nov 3, 2019, 6:10 pm
#260
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: Southwest A-List Preferred, Delta Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold Elite, Avis PP
Posts: 191
Didn't notice anything announcement-wise in the gate area for my two flights from MCI and DFW today. Was expecting to hear some more noticeable announcements on the enforcement but there wasn't anything out of the ordinary.
Nov 3, 2019, 6:21 pm
#261
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Location: BOS/UTH
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This is key. There is no penalty, so even if your bag is disallowed, you'll be forced to check it and be in the same situation you would have been if you had checked it originally. Maybe a $25 gate check fee for all bags rejected after trying the sizer would discourage this behavior.
Nov 3, 2019, 6:29 pm
#262
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: MSP
Programs: SkyMiles, Global Entry, Non-Rev
Posts: 101
Jfk today, the bag check woman prior to entry to TSA check point was incredibly rude and demanding. We’re on CX but passengers in front of us she checked their bags and said as it could not easily go into sizer it needed to be repacked. They were able to force it but she was on a total power trip and put her arms up to block them. Non AA employee.
Nov 3, 2019, 6:32 pm
#263
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
And not delaying the boarding process. Tag the bag to the destination baggage office and have the bag fee + penalty (no waivers for class of service, status, or credit card) collected at the destination.
Nov 3, 2019, 6:55 pm
#264
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA, TPA
Programs: AA EXP, AS MVPG, FB Gold
Posts: 287
At least I bought it in Prague, at a price closer to what you would pay in Germany, but I never intended that I would check it (for the exact reasons you cite) -- until this jaunt on AA with their "enhanced" enforcement of FAA regs.
Nov 3, 2019, 7:09 pm
#265
Join Date: Sep 2006
Programs: Some more than others
Posts: 773
For the first time in many, many years my bag got sized at LAX T4 last Sunday at the escalator to go up to PreCheck and Clear security. They had two G2 staff, one checking boarding passes, the other bags. Mine passed easily so I was on my way, just out of the ordinary. Nothing different at the gate or on the two AA flights Ive taken since then.
Nov 3, 2019, 7:15 pm
#266
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA, TPA
Programs: AA EXP, AS MVPG, FB Gold
Posts: 287
I had a very compliant (international-sized) rollaboard and a soft-sided garment bag. I had never before been stopped from bringing a garment bag on board with me, even in addition to a carryon and a large-ish tote bag as my personal item.
But on these trips, the garment bag was enforced as a second carryon, which of course I wasn't about to gate check. (Per current aa.com data re: carryons, the garment bag was correctly classed as such.)
So my Rimowa became the sacrificial lamb.
I will add that even the preliminary screeners before the TSA and pre-check weren't willing to let me pass when I first attempted to. I backed off and bypassed them by going through Flagship First, where I was very graciously permitted passage -- but I still had to gate check the "extra" carryon.
I won't even mention the cost of my flights, in cash plus J-to-F upgrade instruments, but this really seemed like nit-picking in extreme, to me.
But on these trips, the garment bag was enforced as a second carryon, which of course I wasn't about to gate check. (Per current aa.com data re: carryons, the garment bag was correctly classed as such.)
So my Rimowa became the sacrificial lamb.
I will add that even the preliminary screeners before the TSA and pre-check weren't willing to let me pass when I first attempted to. I backed off and bypassed them by going through Flagship First, where I was very graciously permitted passage -- but I still had to gate check the "extra" carryon.
I won't even mention the cost of my flights, in cash plus J-to-F upgrade instruments, but this really seemed like nit-picking in extreme, to me.
Nov 3, 2019, 7:17 pm
#267
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, WI
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, HH Diamond, National Executive
Posts: 1,786
No enforcement at all in PHX today at the gate I left from or the one next to it. It was much appreciated as my bag today was borderline whether it’d be accepted!
Nov 3, 2019, 7:25 pm
#268
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Nov 3, 2019, 7:31 pm
#269
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA, TPA
Programs: AA EXP, AS MVPG, FB Gold
Posts: 287
New sheriff in town, it would appear.
Nov 3, 2019, 7:34 pm
#270
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: SEA, TPA
Programs: AA EXP, AS MVPG, FB Gold
Posts: 287
And I'm really only complaining -- whether you see fit to believe me or not -- that all this was entirely unexpected and a change of protocol from what I've been used to for years. Or I'd have planned my packing accordingly.