But the size doesn't matter when they force everyone to transform their carryons into checked baggage. So again . . . what the heck will they audit? (Of course, it would be nice if they actually DID make everyone conform to the correct size--and number. Maybe then they could give up the overreactive gate-checking.)

Where else BUT the gate are they able to conduct such enforcement?

There’s always those aggravating people in the blue vests outside security.

Aside from the free carry-on checked policy at the gate, those seated in business/domestic first class can also have their gate tagged bag delivered to the gate and not baggage claim. This was a policy from US Airways that was brought over to the merged carrier. Of course, I know that no one wants to let go of their bag, but if it becomes necessary (late boarding or related), remember your options.

I asked for my bag to be delivered to the gate and agent at LGA refused to do that and just tagged it normally and told me to bring it to the airplane door. I removed the tag while walking and of course there were plenty of space even tho I ended up boarding with group 7

This seems to be standard procedure with Alaska - the gate agents starts scaring everyone into thinking there is some abnormally heavy amount of usage on the overhead bins yet when you board they are only 2/3 full.

Good on both FAA and AA. My guess is that similar warnings went to other carriers as well or that, at least, the smart ones will do a better enforcement job before they get nabbed.

In fairness, AA seems to do a decent job of it already in a number of ways:

1. At some stations, there is a baggage handler assigned to the gate area and when a bag is tagged, she takes it and the passenger does not cart it off. Thus, no scamming the system by ripping off the tag.

2. With mainline gate tags which are standard bag tags associated with a PNR, I've twice seen a GA board and ask for a passenger to identify himself and then walk over and advise that the bag hasn't been scanned into the hold and would the passenger mind "looking for it." Queue the violent objections and GA asking whether the pax wants to fly.

Both fees and OH space are red herrings. AA does not charge to do this and the issue has nothing to do with whether there is space as the matter at hand is that passengers are bringing on carry-ons which are too large. While I suppose that there are other features which could be "audited" I doubt that's an issue.

In the interests of other passengers, oversize bags should be intercepted at the gate and the owner charged at rate for excess checked bags. If they don't pay, then the bag doesn't fly.

Well-deserved but impractical.

Best workaround would be not to impose the charge at the gate, but to add a special tag which sends the bag to the baggage office on arrival. One then goes and stands in line to retrieve the bag, pays the bag fee, a penalty fee, and no waivers for "elites".

The bottom line here is that a cheap cloth measuring tape costs less than $1. The crowd lugging steamer trunks on know full well what they are doing.

It isn’t hard to comply. Tuesday I had a few hours to kill in PHL and I found an empty gate and sizer and rolled my bag in to see how close it was to the lines and it was actually shy of both white lines and easily cleared the bar. I believe the sizer allows for a little extra. I worry more about the personal item when flying Oasis in F.

Brilliant strategy that wont work. Youd fit right in with Doug Parker and Smisek cluelessly wondering why your metrics arent working and profits and tanking.

At the security checkpoint would be the most practical place to regulate size. One thing we can count on the TSA is to be REALLY anal about rules.

Like so many things in society, a tiny amount of enforcement would have amazing effects. People getting turned back a couple times and missing their flights and I'd bet they'd find a way to bring a complaint carry-on next time. As for the # of items? It would be tough for TSA to help with that one in any efficient manner.

This whole situation is a microcosm of the USA these days. Bend the rules a little, then a little more, then a little more..... then everyone absolutely comes unhinged when the initial rule is enforced (and usually claims some racism, sexism or other convenient complaint).... or, even threatened that it might be enforced.

Yes. All of the other passengers who are now able to bring onboard "legal" bags because the scammer can't make for a lot of happy passengers.

Customer service strategies which favor scammers only lead to more scammers.

On an LAX-AUS yesterday the FAs started talking about this. Key points to them was that a duty free bag even a bag of food would be considered a personal item, and FAA requested they start enforcement. This sounds like it’s going to be a mess. I know in some flights it seems over half of folks bring a bag of food and wouldn’t be happy if that counted as a personal item.

That’s great. Let them eat that smelly greasy food out in the concourse rather than stink up a tin tube with 150 people in it.