Though I feel for the female traveler described above, there are/were solutions.

1 - Put the purse in the bag BEFORE being confronted. Once the argument starts, the gate agent will win, same at security.

2 - Drop the computer bag and get a briefcase that has more room. I assume this might have been the typical computer bag that has very little room for anything else. I have not used one of those in 10 years.

3 - Get a smaller purse maybe?

These are the rules. They are reasonable, though I think they have little to do with increased security since we will be jamming even more into less bags.

OK, I'm female, but I honestly don't know what women keep in large purses. One of my favorite purses is a little MacKenzie-Childs sock - actually smaller than many wallets - that perfectly holds my American Express card, my driver's license, my car key and a pen. I can't think of anything else I need.

I agree that there are obvious solutions and I have no doubt that I will still be able to take international trips without checking baggage, even under these new, more restrictive requirements.

My point is that if the female passengers are required to find new ways to adapt, then why aren't the crew? The airline knows that there is a large segment of high-status flyers that never check bags and simply couldn't fly/travel/work efficiently if they were required to do so.

When flights must be changed enroute due to weather or mechanical problems, the first question they ask is, "Have you checked any luggage?" The answer, "No" is always greeted with the response, "Good, then we can rebooked you through...........".

FA's can gate-check a rollaboard. It is virtually impossible for a gate-check to be misrouted, and they're returned promptly upon arrival. I agree FA's should not be checking luggage the regular way.

If you see an FA at security or sitting in the terminal with a rollaboard and two other things, the rollaboard may be headed for the belly. Of course, with the new carry-on restrictions, FA gate-checking may no longer be necessary.

Besides, who cares? Passengers and crew have always been treated a little differently. This shouldn't be news.

Yes the FA's should be exempt from the FAA rules and carry on. I don't think it's unreasonable to have a roll-on, tote and purse given the possibilities of a long multi segment trip of 4 days. They are required to carry certain items and have uniforms suitable to wear. (I don't think anyone would believe they can afford hotel dry cleaning costs).

I don't think when you see a FA running through the airport it is to catch the bus home but rather to make a connection and have an on time departure. Lets give them a break, they deserve it.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by NoStressHere:
[B]

if I buy some clam chowder in Boston and try to carry it on, is that a third item?

I read somewhere, before the official FAA regs release, that food, coats, and disability related items don't count as part of the two allowable bags.

Sylvia

Ranting on.

drtravelswrites:

and I wholeheartedly agree. I also think it is equally or perhaps even more reasonable for me to have a roll-on, tote and purse, given the 100% guarantee of a long multi-segment trip of 4 days. An FA only needs a uniform the jacket of which he/she will be wearing whereas my business trip may well require busniess, casual and formal wear for my meetings.

If I am required to adhere to an unreasonable rule that I can no longer carry a purse, they should be able to do so as well.

there doesn't seem to be any overhead space above the jump seats. are they taking our space?

Geez Punki and I've thought so highly of all your other posts (hey, 99% is pretty good) but I have to respectfully disagree here. FAs may need 2 - 3 extra uniforms depending upon length of assignment - I think a few work up a sweat especially with meal service and shorter flights and I know I'd appreciate them changing for the next day . I think most of them go out of their room during layovers so casual clothes are needed. They cannot check luggage so it MUST be carried on.

I think the new rule is to keep the wait at security down and I think crews need this exception as they don't have the options we do.

drtravels, I not only respect your right to disagree with me, but welcome your input. I can assure you that I have learned many times more things from discussions with those with different points of view than I have from people who agree with me.

You will notice that FA's only wear their jackets when walking through airports. Then they hang them up, put on their aprons and go to work. I can see 3 or four extra shirts and aprons, but not extra uniforms.

I work hard too and I am sure that they pack for a 4 day trip just about what I do--1 jacket (worn on the plan and hung up), 1 pair of slacks, 1 skirt, (or maybe 2 pair of slacks or 2 skirts, depending on personal preference) 1 clean shirt and underwear/stocking change per day, sleepware and casual wear. I can get by nicely with only one extra pair of shoes, unless I am going dancing enroute and then I need good dance shoes.

Beyond that we need cosmetics, eye/skin and hair care products, special tea, and personal reading material.

All this can fit nicely in a roll-aboard with
plenty of room to spare. I can even fit in a formal outfit.

My work, however, requires that I have a latop and business files--one more bag--and I am used to carrying a purse for ID, money, credit cards, travel documents, lipstick, compact, and cell phone.

I can get a coat/jacket with a lot of pockets and get around the purse, and I am happy to make that sacrifice to save American air travel.

If I am willing to be an even smarter packer than I used to be, why aren't the crew?

Punki, the purpose of the rule is to shorten the wait at security. Ideally, security should not be rationed, but that's what we have for now.

There are about 20 times as many passengers as there are crew. Holding the crew to the same carry-on standards as the passengers reduces the number of carry-ons by only 2.3%, assuming the crew carries three things and passengers carry two things.

Punki: Perhaps in the end it comes down to different professions have different benefits. FAs also get to go into the cockpit; passengers do not. FAs get to stand up when the seatbelt sign is on; passengers do not. FAs get to bypass security lines (while not bypassing security); passengers do not. FAs get to go through specially designated customs and immigration lines; passengers do not (with a few exceptions). And now they get an extra carry-on - great for them.

By all means fight to have your carry-on limit increased if it's important to you, but it seems so unlike you to argue to have a benefit taken away from someone else.

Oh dear. Most passengers that I have observed on my now 16 flights since 9/11 (it would have been more if they hadn't cancelled some of my flights) are carrying one and only one bag. They are not serious flyers.

I am a very serious flyer and my point is that all hard core flyers, crew AND 100,000-200,000+ passengers, who simply cannot check baggage, should all be held to the same standard.

I fly about 200 flights a year. I really can't keep up MY pace and check baggage any more than an FA can check baggage.

Whatever I am held to, they should be held to. If that means a special dispensation for 100K+ flyers, so be it, but something needs to be done or the airlines will suffer by the loss of their most important customers/revenue source.

letiole, I am absolutely not fighting to have to have a benefit taken away from anyone else. I am fighting for equality among all very serious flyers--FAs and the passengers who pay a huge part of their salaries, as well.

What I am really trying to say is that if I am required to think smarter in my packing to support the FAA and the airlines, then surely the airline employees (who have far less demands upon them for luggage than I) can think smarter and make a bit of a sacrifice as well.

Come on, I have almost never seen a pilot with more than a roll-aboard and a tote bag and we all know that the tote bag contains flight info. Why do the FAs need sooooooooooooo much more than the actual flight crew?

I.e., yesterday the young male FA in civvies who carried three full sized bags, was a serious discredit to UAL and to the airline profession, both in his excess and in his attitude.

We all need to work together in this if it is going to work.

Punki,

I have to agree with you. It has been relatively easy for trips this summer, but Winter will require a bulkier wardrobe. I cannot accomplish my job without my uniform, and will carry that on my outbound leg whenever I travel.

My uniforms and after-work wear are mutually exclusive, thus I have to carry quite a few items when I travel. I must admit that I was greatly relieved once I heard that laptops were ok as a separate piece of luggage. If that were not so...other means of transportation would prevail.

I do try to limit my carry-ons to times when they are essential, but this policy is ludicrous. Might a simpler policy be to charge per carry-on. This could reimburse the secutity for all the extra workload, and might even tighten airline policy on crew luggage.