DL Checkin and Baggage Question
May 26, 2018, 10:20 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 258
Follow up to close it out.
There where 7 us and 10 bags to check with two declared firearms. We went to sky priority lane. Was asked numerous times if we where on same reservation which I replied no because we can’t as we are in different cabins. Said we had to pay for bags which I told her I didn’t think we did. She said okay then said everyone gets one I said I though I got three and they got two. Finally she took them all no charge so I guess it was a success though it took 35 minutes to basically drop bags which seemed pretty long. Someone next to us had flight issue so he tied up a lane for 45 minutes. They only had three sky priority people so it backed up.
She was confused on the gun bag which was a pelican case full of camera lenses, radios, and binoculars. In the case was a steel locked box with the gun. Ammo was in a retail box. She said I had to lock the pelican case at 4 points. I told her I would lock it at 2 points with tsa locks but it was not required. Said I needed the ammo in lock box which is wrong.
Then told to hang out 10 minutes in case an issue from tsa on the handguns. That was not a very clear process it was hang out and check with me later. I waited about 10 mins and just left. I have done the firearm checked bag thing a dozen times and never had issues.
Having fun fun at Yellowstone. Will try this again in slc on Sat.
There where 7 us and 10 bags to check with two declared firearms. We went to sky priority lane. Was asked numerous times if we where on same reservation which I replied no because we can’t as we are in different cabins. Said we had to pay for bags which I told her I didn’t think we did. She said okay then said everyone gets one I said I though I got three and they got two. Finally she took them all no charge so I guess it was a success though it took 35 minutes to basically drop bags which seemed pretty long. Someone next to us had flight issue so he tied up a lane for 45 minutes. They only had three sky priority people so it backed up.
She was confused on the gun bag which was a pelican case full of camera lenses, radios, and binoculars. In the case was a steel locked box with the gun. Ammo was in a retail box. She said I had to lock the pelican case at 4 points. I told her I would lock it at 2 points with tsa locks but it was not required. Said I needed the ammo in lock box which is wrong.
Then told to hang out 10 minutes in case an issue from tsa on the handguns. That was not a very clear process it was hang out and check with me later. I waited about 10 mins and just left. I have done the firearm checked bag thing a dozen times and never had issues.
Having fun fun at Yellowstone. Will try this again in slc on Sat.
May 26, 2018, 11:04 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
Follow up to close it out.
There where 7 us and 10 bags to check with two declared firearms. We went to sky priority lane. Was asked numerous times if we where on same reservation which I replied no because we can’t as we are in different cabins. Said we had to pay for bags which I told her I didn’t think we did. She said okay then said everyone gets one I said I though I got three and they got two. Finally she took them all no charge so I guess it was a success though it took 35 minutes to basically drop bags which seemed pretty long. Someone next to us had flight issue so he tied up a lane for 45 minutes. They only had three sky priority people so it backed up.
She was confused on the gun bag which was a pelican case full of camera lenses, radios, and binoculars. In the case was a steel locked box with the gun. Ammo was in a retail box. She said I had to lock the pelican case at 4 points. I told her I would lock it at 2 points with tsa locks but it was not required. Said I needed the ammo in lock box which is wrong.
Then told to hang out 10 minutes in case an issue from tsa on the handguns. That was not a very clear process it was hang out and check with me later. I waited about 10 mins and just left. I have done the firearm checked bag thing a dozen times and never had issues.
Having fun fun at Yellowstone. Will try this again in slc on Sat.
There where 7 us and 10 bags to check with two declared firearms. We went to sky priority lane. Was asked numerous times if we where on same reservation which I replied no because we can’t as we are in different cabins. Said we had to pay for bags which I told her I didn’t think we did. She said okay then said everyone gets one I said I though I got three and they got two. Finally she took them all no charge so I guess it was a success though it took 35 minutes to basically drop bags which seemed pretty long. Someone next to us had flight issue so he tied up a lane for 45 minutes. They only had three sky priority people so it backed up.
She was confused on the gun bag which was a pelican case full of camera lenses, radios, and binoculars. In the case was a steel locked box with the gun. Ammo was in a retail box. She said I had to lock the pelican case at 4 points. I told her I would lock it at 2 points with tsa locks but it was not required. Said I needed the ammo in lock box which is wrong.
Then told to hang out 10 minutes in case an issue from tsa on the handguns. That was not a very clear process it was hang out and check with me later. I waited about 10 mins and just left. I have done the firearm checked bag thing a dozen times and never had issues.
Having fun fun at Yellowstone. Will try this again in slc on Sat.
OP - to save hassle I would ask an agent or Supervisor to manually cross link your PNRs and also leave notes that you all could not be booked on 1 PNR, and ask the check in agent do their best to honor your baggage allowance across both PNRs. I am certain with similar language in your PNR any check in agent would apply the waivers instantly. It's otherwise silly for them to want you to PAY for FC but then try to use your paid upgrade against your companions for bags.
You are correct on what you noted about firearms. The times I have done it, I had to walk the bag myself over to a special TSA area - where I could watch it be inspected - and when finished, TSA put a sticker on it and gave it to a Porter to who placed it on a baggage cart and said he would take it from there. I would hope most airports have a similar setup for transparency, and also efficiency as TSA is the one that could have issues with the bag; no need to unnecessarily check status with a DL counter agent.
What station was this at, by the way? Did you check in at SLC for your outbound?
May 26, 2018, 12:00 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,784
Follow up to close it out.
There where 7 us and 10 bags to check with two declared firearms. We went to sky priority lane. Was asked numerous times if we where on same reservation which I replied no because we can’t as we are in different cabins. Said we had to pay for bags which I told her I didn’t think we did. She said okay then said everyone gets one I said I though I got three and they got two. Finally she took them all no charge so I guess it was a success though it took 35 minutes to basically drop bags which seemed pretty long. Someone next to us had flight issue so he tied up a lane for 45 minutes. They only had three sky priority people so it backed up.
She was confused on the gun bag which was a pelican case full of camera lenses, radios, and binoculars. In the case was a steel locked box with the gun. Ammo was in a retail box. She said I had to lock the pelican case at 4 points. I told her I would lock it at 2 points with tsa locks but it was not required. Said I needed the ammo in lock box which is wrong.
Then told to hang out 10 minutes in case an issue from tsa on the handguns. That was not a very clear process it was hang out and check with me later. I waited about 10 mins and just left. I have done the firearm checked bag thing a dozen times and never had issues.
Having fun fun at Yellowstone. Will try this again in slc on Sat.
There where 7 us and 10 bags to check with two declared firearms. We went to sky priority lane. Was asked numerous times if we where on same reservation which I replied no because we can’t as we are in different cabins. Said we had to pay for bags which I told her I didn’t think we did. She said okay then said everyone gets one I said I though I got three and they got two. Finally she took them all no charge so I guess it was a success though it took 35 minutes to basically drop bags which seemed pretty long. Someone next to us had flight issue so he tied up a lane for 45 minutes. They only had three sky priority people so it backed up.
She was confused on the gun bag which was a pelican case full of camera lenses, radios, and binoculars. In the case was a steel locked box with the gun. Ammo was in a retail box. She said I had to lock the pelican case at 4 points. I told her I would lock it at 2 points with tsa locks but it was not required. Said I needed the ammo in lock box which is wrong.
Then told to hang out 10 minutes in case an issue from tsa on the handguns. That was not a very clear process it was hang out and check with me later. I waited about 10 mins and just left. I have done the firearm checked bag thing a dozen times and never had issues.
Having fun fun at Yellowstone. Will try this again in slc on Sat.
May 26, 2018, 1:38 pm
#19
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
No good deed goes unpunished.
Depending on how one calculates it, the agent gave OP a $150-200 break.
Anyone senior at DL who happens to bother to read this thread would likely send it off as a model for what not to do in training. No brand benefit to DL and a revenue loss on top of it !
Depending on how one calculates it, the agent gave OP a $150-200 break.
Anyone senior at DL who happens to bother to read this thread would likely send it off as a model for what not to do in training. No brand benefit to DL and a revenue loss on top of it !
May 26, 2018, 3:52 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 258
I don’t know if it is to long. We where checked in already. Was 7 people bag drop in 30 minutes. Is 14 people an hour per agent what delta plans on?
May 26, 2018, 4:01 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 258
Thanks for the update and glad it all worked out. I thought Widgets had posted that DL had an internal policy to allow a waiver for MEDALLIONS for up to 8 passengers on a separate itinerary. This is different from the DL Amex policy that some others had been quoting.
OP - to save hassle I would ask an agent or Supervisor to manually cross link your PNRs and also leave notes that you all could not be booked on 1 PNR, and ask the check in agent do their best to honor your baggage allowance across both PNRs. I am certain with similar language in your PNR any check in agent would apply the waivers instantly. It's otherwise silly for them to want you to PAY for FC but then try to use your paid upgrade against your companions for bags.
You are correct on what you noted about firearms. The times I have done it, I had to walk the bag myself over to a special TSA area - where I could watch it be inspected - and when finished, TSA put a sticker on it and gave it to a Porter to who placed it on a baggage cart and said he would take it from there. I would hope most airports have a similar setup for transparency, and also efficiency as TSA is the one that could have issues with the bag; no need to unnecessarily check status with a DL counter agent.
What station was this at, by the way? Did you check in at SLC for your outbound?
OP - to save hassle I would ask an agent or Supervisor to manually cross link your PNRs and also leave notes that you all could not be booked on 1 PNR, and ask the check in agent do their best to honor your baggage allowance across both PNRs. I am certain with similar language in your PNR any check in agent would apply the waivers instantly. It's otherwise silly for them to want you to PAY for FC but then try to use your paid upgrade against your companions for bags.
You are correct on what you noted about firearms. The times I have done it, I had to walk the bag myself over to a special TSA area - where I could watch it be inspected - and when finished, TSA put a sticker on it and gave it to a Porter to who placed it on a baggage cart and said he would take it from there. I would hope most airports have a similar setup for transparency, and also efficiency as TSA is the one that could have issues with the bag; no need to unnecessarily check status with a DL counter agent.
What station was this at, by the way? Did you check in at SLC for your outbound?
we where leaving out of Orlando on a Friday early afternoon. In the past the firearm procedure for Orlando was the agent walks you to tsa they scan it on the spot and give you a thumbs up. The procedure last week was the agent does their part and they toss it on the belt behind them same as any other bag and away it goes to tsa world.
We leave out out of slc a week from today for the return. Will see how it goes and any difference in procedures. Two years ago last time I flew out of slc they had me take the bag to a tsa agent who hand inspected the entire thing. Took everything out and swabbed it. Hopefully not looking for gun powder residue.
May 26, 2018, 4:07 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 258
No good deed goes unpunished.
Depending on how one calculates it, the agent gave OP a $150-200 break.
Anyone senior at DL who happens to bother to read this thread would likely send it off as a model for what not to do in training. No brand benefit to DL and a revenue loss on top of it !
Depending on how one calculates it, the agent gave OP a $150-200 break.
Anyone senior at DL who happens to bother to read this thread would likely send it off as a model for what not to do in training. No brand benefit to DL and a revenue loss on top of it !
May 26, 2018, 4:16 pm
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
The policy provides checked bag fee waivers to up to 8 people on your reservation. You had 1 companion on your reservation.
The fact that the others' PNR was linked to your PNR isn't the same thing. You got a break. This isn't a "depends on how you look at it" situation.
The fact that the others' PNR was linked to your PNR isn't the same thing. You got a break. This isn't a "depends on how you look at it" situation.
May 26, 2018, 4:52 pm
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 258
Okay then the gold desk assumed I would get the break as they told me what to do in order to receive the benefit. It is what it is. If they want to charge then on the way back so be it.
May 26, 2018, 4:54 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
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Also depending how you look at it my status provides me benifets. If the policy / procedure is to grant me and my party bag allowance, which the gold desk said is the case, I got what delta says is part of my benifets. Not sure I would call that a break. Was the meal I was served on my FC ticket also a break? Depends how you look at it I guess.
May 26, 2018, 5:01 pm
#26
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
I mean, it's very likely you will get the bag fees waived. It's probably one of the most-frequently bent rules. Just don't start thinking it's one of "your" benefits that you're entitled to.
May 26, 2018, 5:39 pm
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 258
May 26, 2018, 5:44 pm
#28
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May 27, 2018, 10:40 pm
#30
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
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Posts: 12,159
You could always have one of the medallions buy F and the other Y, and one of the non-medallions buy F, then swap seats on the plane. That way, everybody is in a PNR with a medallion. Only problem is the wrong person gets the bonus miles for F. Otoh, medallion might get a free upgrade so the group has an extra person in F.