AA Increasing Carry On Bag Enforcement, Audits (Oct 2019)
#301
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,262
But, this is a zero-sum game. If I take a scammer bag, there is no room left for yours.
#302
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#303
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 376
Someone brushed by this person monitoring the entry to security, and well, she (the monitor) had a hissy fit, and yelled at TSA "He's not compliant! He's not compliant! Do not allow him to enter!"
Honestly can't remember how things worked out, but there's your authoratay in action. Yelling.
#304
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: CMH
Programs: BA Gold, AA Plat, NK $9 fare club
Posts: 666
I think if you have the "standard" 22x14x9 bags and don't over-pack it, you'll be alright.
#305
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: UA 1K and PP, AA PPro (3MM, former CK), Marriott Ambassador and LTT, Uber One
Posts: 1,347
Couple of data points -- this weekend at LGA, they had AA employees at the entrance of the security line with 2 sizers, but they seemed more interested in verifying Pre status than checking bags. With that said, I didn't see anyone try to enter with an egregious violation. At PHL, a supervisor-type came over and repositioned the sizer and stood with it right after the BP scanner. I was the first on and was not hassled...I had my "basically compliant" rollaboard and personal item. When I say "basically compliant" one could argue whether the rollaboard fit "comfortably" into the sizer or perhaps quip about a 1/4 inch on length or width, depending how the handles were sitting, but both items meet the requirement IMHO. I did hear a couple of people boarding talking about how their bags were checked because they were too large. I have no idea how over they were. But the flight was very lightly loaded, so they weren't denied just for the purpose of having enough bin space.
#306
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
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Posts: 3,191
So it seems after all... AA gate agents will either enforce the bag sizes or they wont.
but look at it this way..
now instead of worrying about everything that has to do with getting thru an airport.
you can now add "will my bag pass the GA for my flight" drama.
but look at it this way..
now instead of worrying about everything that has to do with getting thru an airport.
you can now add "will my bag pass the GA for my flight" drama.
#307
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,645
Your choice
#308
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#309
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
I had a wonderful encounter with one of these friendly AA employees at the JFK precheck security line. She embodies everything about NY that made me leave the city and find a new home ;-). I had a bag that is compliant, i was on a 24 hour trip with hardly anything inside... maybe she wanted to see if she could stick a credit card in between the sizer and the bag ;-). I dont know, i ignored her and walked on to the tsa agent and was through before she could understand what had happened.
I’m sorry this will both all thr law and order types out there, but there was 2 inches of clearance above my bag, enough for someone near me to layer a coat up there. i understand something that is either wider than it ahould be or so fat that it doesnt fit in a bin at all, but eyeballing a roller bag like what i had and deciding you want to check it seems more like an employee who woke up on the wrong side of the bed than a well thought out policy.
I’m sorry this will both all thr law and order types out there, but there was 2 inches of clearance above my bag, enough for someone near me to layer a coat up there. i understand something that is either wider than it ahould be or so fat that it doesnt fit in a bin at all, but eyeballing a roller bag like what i had and deciding you want to check it seems more like an employee who woke up on the wrong side of the bed than a well thought out policy.
#310
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,645
1) do nothing and just "fear the GA drama".
2) make sure bags are compliant (does not imply flight will be drama free)
Obviously, you are for 1).
#311
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If AA wants to manage to the sizer, they need to sizer basically every bag. Consistent, easy to enforce rules. Not this rubbish they have now.
#312
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: SAN
Programs: AA CK, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 839
I recall, probably around 20 years ago, at SAN there were clear plastic templates that were attached to the front end of the TSA bag scanning equipment. If your bag didn’t fit through that template, you had to go back to the check-in counter. That device wouldn’t check for length violations obviously but it solved some issues with width and depth. I don’t know why these disappeared or exactly when but they weren’t around long.
#313
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This is the key - MAJOR violators. Targeting single (obviously) business passengers with the typical basic load of a rolling carryon and personal item is counter productive. They are not the problem with baggage overload in the cabin. The most flagrant violators are families with children (too many items) and infrequent flyers who have no clue about cabin baggage size restrictions.
I don't have an issue with AA holding a line with this either. But do so consistently as opposed to one agent bringing out a vernier calipers and the other allowing 4 bags through.
#314
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Groveland, FL, USA
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I recall, probably around 20 years ago, at SAN there were clear plastic templates that were attached to the front end of the TSA bag scanning equipment. If your bag didn’t fit through that template, you had to go back to the check-in counter. That device wouldn’t check for length violations obviously but it solved some issues with width and depth. I don’t know why these disappeared or exactly when but they weren’t around long.
Last edited by rtpflyer; Nov 12, 2019 at 4:11 pm Reason: Forgot to quote
#315
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
There are also some business travelers who flaunt the rules. Roller bag + garment bag + briefcase/backpack or other examples. They're used to no enforcement, so they may as well.
I don't have an issue with AA holding a line with this either. But do so consistently as opposed to one agent bringing out a vernier calipers and the other allowing 4 bags through.
I don't have an issue with AA holding a line with this either. But do so consistently as opposed to one agent bringing out a vernier calipers and the other allowing 4 bags through.