Relax. The sizing box is for those customers that pretend to be totally clueless about the size of their refrigerator size bags. I don't use the box unless it is very obvious that the customer's bag is too large to fix into any space. It's a tool for me to prove to the customer that their bag is not going to be allowed as a carryon, but will be checked to their final destination.

Of course nobody has any problem with this, but the issue is that not all GAs are as sensible. I've certainly traveled in the past with bags that are *well* under 45 linear inches, but still don't fit in the sizer, and been forced to gate-check by overzealous GAs. In fact, the backpack I use now fits this description (and fits under the seat in front of me, fwiw). Fortunately this has not caused a problem yet on CO, so I'm not complaining, but it seems like a legitimate worry given the likely inconsistency from GA to GA.

We aren't all lucky to get YOU at our gate though

Some GAs have major issues and seem like it is their mission to ruin someone's day...

Back in the thread that announced this change I actually drew a picture of the box, including measurements. It is 22"x14"x9" totaling 45 linear inches.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...&postcount=194

I am not saying this to be rude in any way but if I am working lead and you attempt to get on the plane with more then you should... One of those bags is going to get checked. I make sure I have gate check tickets with me. There are just to many bags coming on the plane and they finally did something about it. It delays boarding, people get knocked around on the aisle seats while some try getting there house down the aisle, and last it makes it very hard to manage bin space and having to turn bags. No one stows there bags properly taking up more bin space and no one listens when we ask not to place jackets in the overhead bin. If it is one thing I am all for is this new bag policy. I hope I am not working your flight .

I know your patience has to be tested by the people that seem oblivious and try to drag on their armoire. But those people are obvious and your decision to make them check a bag should be easy.

You said "�and you attempt to get on the plane with more then you should... One of those bags is going to get checked." What is "more then(sp) you should"? Is that your judgment call? It has to be, because when I wrote CO requesting information on the size limit of the personal item I received no response. So this is left up to a judgment call at the gate which means what can be carried on really varies from day to day. I guess I will just have to concede that this is part of flying.

"There are just to(sp) many bags coming on the plane and they finally did something about it." Actually, not really. This is a quote from the CO website, "When you bring your bag onboard, you save time - avoid lines at the check-in counter and waiting at baggage claim - so you can ease in and out of the airport." So CO encourages a carry-on. I acknowledge that they did not say "bags" but if every passenger brings the allowed carry-on does that not actually exceed the space available?

I know people here are going to disagree with this but I would rather CO charge a fee for the carry-on and have the first checked bag free. I would gladly pay $15 for the space and convenience.

How about just making that the second bag they try to bring onboard is $15 and the first checked bag is free...

All I ever bring onboard is my laptop bag, nothing else... and it is quite small so can easily stick it under my seat if need be to free up bin space... and have done so on more then one occassion.

No way I'm ever checking that bag though, too many goodies for the baggage goons to think about stealing stuff

I saw a Flight Attendant in uniform board a flight last Friday with 4 bags.
To top it off, it was an RJ and she wasn't even working that flight.
Not sure if she was CO or CO Express.

Uniformed crew members are exempt from the 2 bag carry on rules, even when they are not working the flight.

Just of follow up.

I received a response from CO about the size limitation for the carry-on "personal item". The response was "The only restriction on the personal item is that it is able to fit under your seat." That works for me. At least it give me a good idea of the size.

I'll second that. Keeping all my luggage with me is a luxury I would gladly pay for.

This is why passengers think that they can bring everything on board. I have a friend who is an FA with Delta and we always argue about this because she thinks everyone should check everything so she doesn't have to deal with the bags on board. I pointed out to her that she doesn't have to check her bags and she made some comment about having to make connections for her next flight. Like passengers don't have connections. I then asked her if checking bags was so good why crews didn't check their bags on the last flight of the day. She didn't have an answer for that. FA's and other crew should be limited to what they can bring on board just like the rest of us.

So well said. All these carry-on issues come down to one thing for me: the airlines (including my beloved Continental) have lost, delayed, and (yes) pilfered my checked baggage so many times that I will now do anything possible to avoid checking my bags. If airlines want us to check our bags & bring smaller carry-ons, then they should invest in better baggage handling and tracking systems. And to the earlier posters point about paying for greater carry-on privileges: I would do it in a heartbeat. Frankly, if I'm paying somewhere nearing $1,000 for a roundtrip FC or Y ticket, I would gladly pay a lilttle extra to not get hassled about my carry-ons. Everything else seems to be going a la carte these days, why not overhead bin space: that's the most valuable commodity on the plane from a passengers point of view.

Next will be Seat usage fee, seatbelt utilization surcharge, oxygen fee, paid toilet, $10 to turn on the overhead light, $100 fee if you press the call button (customer assistant fee), and don't for get to tip you FA's and the flight deck crew on your way out the door.

Unlike passengers, however, crew members can get a last-minute change from, say, a EWR-PHX flight to a EWR-SEA flight depending on the airline's needs. I would imagine it would be really inconvenient to pull and re-check every crew member's checked baggage every time they get a schedule change... (Or worse: A crew member is switched to another flight, but their bag doesn't make it.)