checking the smaller carry on bag
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,458
checking the smaller carry on bag
Since I usually travel for business, I have a large bag with my business stuff and a potentially carry on bag with my day to day stuff.
As a gold and credit card holder, I get 1 free bag - My large bag.
I attempt to check my carry on bag at the ticket counter in for no charge and have been denied. I always check my second bag at the gate for no charge. Why can't I just check the second bag at the ticket counter?
As a gold and credit card holder, I get 1 free bag - My large bag.
I attempt to check my carry on bag at the ticket counter in for no charge and have been denied. I always check my second bag at the gate for no charge. Why can't I just check the second bag at the ticket counter?
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,212
If AA actually enforced bag sizes to something reasonable vs letting anything and everything on, they wouldn't need to allow free gate checking.
#4
Join Date: May 2008
Location: PHL (kinda, no airport is really close)
Programs: AA Exp, but not sure for how long. Enterprise Platinum woo-hoo!
Posts: 4,550
Is your "large" bag within the carry-on size limits? If not, I'd think they won't let you through security with it and wouldn't let you check it at the gate for free, but I don't have firsthand experience with this because I've never tried it.
Is your small bag within the size limits to fit under the seat in front of you?
I can imagine refusing to check something at the counter if it's so small that it might get lost in the press of loading/unloading luggage, but not a normally-formed piece of luggage that's not tiny.
I think you need to provide more details.
Is your small bag within the size limits to fit under the seat in front of you?
I can imagine refusing to check something at the counter if it's so small that it might get lost in the press of loading/unloading luggage, but not a normally-formed piece of luggage that's not tiny.
I think you need to provide more details.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: NYS
Programs: Days of Our Lives, General Hospital
Posts: 1,495
If I'm reading this correctly, you're definitely checking the larger bag at the ticket counter, but you also want to check the second bag, which is of a size allowed as a carry-on. Since you're entitled to only one free check bag, this is no surprise.
As already said, when they allow you to check the second bag at the gate, it's because there's likely to be insufficient space in the passenger compartment. This is at the discretion of gate agents, not ticket agents. If it's known when you're at the ticket counter that the flight will be that full, it would make sense for them to allow checking it then, but I don't think they will ever have that discretion.
BTW, it's a common complaint that passengers are forced by gate agents to check bags that are allowed as carry-ons.
For an upcoming international flight where I'm allowed to check two bags, I plan to check one that is too large to carry aboard anyway, and one that could be carried, taking a third, yet smaller, personal bag aboard with me. I'll be returning by ship and will be allowed only one checked bag on the domestic itinerary back to my departure airport, but for that I'll carry bag #2 plus the personal item.
As already said, when they allow you to check the second bag at the gate, it's because there's likely to be insufficient space in the passenger compartment. This is at the discretion of gate agents, not ticket agents. If it's known when you're at the ticket counter that the flight will be that full, it would make sense for them to allow checking it then, but I don't think they will ever have that discretion.
BTW, it's a common complaint that passengers are forced by gate agents to check bags that are allowed as carry-ons.
For an upcoming international flight where I'm allowed to check two bags, I plan to check one that is too large to carry aboard anyway, and one that could be carried, taking a third, yet smaller, personal bag aboard with me. I'll be returning by ship and will be allowed only one checked bag on the domestic itinerary back to my departure airport, but for that I'll carry bag #2 plus the personal item.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,458
I did not write that post very well. I check a large bag for free, and as long as I am checking a bag I would like to check my smaller, carry on sized bag, for free also. I guess this was more of a rant than a question. It's against the rules and they are not going to allow it. However, I have never been denied the free check at the gate. It would just be nice not to fool with the smaller bag going through TSA.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: OC, CA
Programs: AA EXP, 2MM, HH Diamond
Posts: 831
I did not write that post very well. I check a large bag for free, and as long as I am checking a bag I would like to check my smaller, carry on sized bag, for free also. I guess this was more of a rant than a question. It's against the rules and they are not going to allow it. However, I have never been denied the free check at the gate. It would just be nice not to fool with the smaller bag going through TSA.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,221
I did not write that post very well. I check a large bag for free, and as long as I am checking a bag I would like to check my smaller, carry on sized bag, for free also. I guess this was more of a rant than a question. It's against the rules and they are not going to allow it. However, I have never been denied the free check at the gate. It would just be nice not to fool with the smaller bag going through TSA.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BMI
Programs: AA EXP, Delta, Amtrak, Hertz PC
Posts: 656
Since I usually travel for business, I have a large bag with my business stuff and a potentially carry on bag with my day to day stuff.
As a gold and credit card holder, I get 1 free bag - My large bag.
I attempt to check my carry on bag at the ticket counter in for no charge and have been denied. I always check my second bag at the gate for no charge. Why can't I just check the second bag at the ticket counter?
As a gold and credit card holder, I get 1 free bag - My large bag.
I attempt to check my carry on bag at the ticket counter in for no charge and have been denied. I always check my second bag at the gate for no charge. Why can't I just check the second bag at the ticket counter?
Honestly your best option if you are gold is to see if you can work you way up to platinum under the new rules, that will get you 2 checked bags. Otherwise, you just have to keep playing the game.
#10
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,058
You can certainly take a larger than carry on size bag through TSA and then have it gate checked. TSA is generally not enforcing airline carry on restrictions. The reason for this is sometimes because people are missing the cutoff time for bag check in. Perhaps it varies by airport, but I've done it and I know of others who have done it in a pinch as well.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,221
You can certainly take a larger than carry on size bag through TSA and then have it gate checked. TSA is generally not enforcing airline carry on restrictions. The reason for this is sometimes because people are missing the cutoff time for bag check in. Perhaps it varies by airport, but I've done it and I know of others who have done it in a pinch as well.