AA Increasing Carry On Bag Enforcement, Audits (Oct 2019)
#16
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,352
You're conflating two separate issues, the "we are going to have to gate check roller boards for anyone in group 5/6/7" is for AAs benefit to meet D0 (on-time departure) as they are speculating that those bags won't find OHB space and are trying to avoid gate-checks after boarding has started because that delays departure. The FAA gives pretty much exactly -0- Fs about AAs internal policies that prioritize D0 over everything, what they do care about is that AA stipulated in filings to the FAA what the maximum dimensions of carryons they will allow. I might be wrong here but as I understand it that filing and those dimensions are essentially a FAR which means that AA needs to abide by them and not doing so gets the attention of the FAA, which apparently has occurred and now AA will "self-audit" aka we got this Mr/Mrs regulator, sorry - will fix ASAP please leave us alone. For pax this probably means more scrutiny of bag sizes at least for the short term, like all else in this realm eventually it will fade away until next time....
Last edited by hotturnip; Oct 19, 2019 at 1:17 am Reason: Clarification
#17
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 6,338
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?
#18
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,225
#19
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
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.
#20
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 1,285
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.
#21
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: PDX, OGG or between the two
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 2,863
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.
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
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 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.
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
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.
#25
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SAN
Programs: AA CK, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 839
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.
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,235
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.
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.
#27
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: PDX, OGG or between the two
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 2,863
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.
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.
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Customer service strategies which favor scammers only lead to more scammers.
#29
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.
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,993