$15 Charge for Gate Checking?
 

Had a random thought regarding the new luggage charges. Will the major carriers be charging for gate-checking once the new rules take effect? It seems that it could create some sort of chaos otherwise. Just curious.

IMO it's chaos either way:

If they don't charge for gate checking, people will try (even more) to take additional carry-ons. Regardless of if the pax gets caught and has the bag checked for free or if the bag ends up as carry on, the pax comes out ahead compared to waiting in a check-in line and paying. Result: longer lines at security and chaos at the gate.

If they do charge for gate checking, there are going to be some seriously irate pax when they are forced to gate check their bag due to late boarding, particularly if it is due to a late-arriving connection. The pax will have a point: they brought a legal amount of carry-on, which possibly has already made it through one flight, why should they have to pay because the airline either didn't have enough space or didn't get them to their connection on time? In addition, gate-check charges will mean extra work for gate agents at the busiest moments just before they close out a flight. Result: chaos at the gate.

IMO these bag check charges (for the 1st bag) are disasters waiting to happen which will hopefully flop miserably. In addition to other problems, I find it unconscionable that airlines are allowed to charge for checked bags when TSA bans harmless items needed for everyday life from carryon, such as cosmetics, toiletries, etc. At a minimum, the airlines should be required to allow every pax to check for free a single bag up to 10 lb or so to deal with the (idiotic) liquid ban.

According to The Middle Seat (Scott McCartney) in the WSJ Online today, AA, US, and UA want to bring back metal templates on the X-Ray machines at security. :td::td::td:

And UA is planning to gate check bags from folks in the later boarding groups before they even start to board the plane.

My prediction: this will cause more hate and ill will toward the airlines than ANYTHING they've done before.... especially the metal sizers and those that choose to charge for gate checking.

I would so love it if they brought back the sizers, not the metal open squares, to check bags. I thought the main issue with them at the x-ray machines was different airlines have different sizes?

I think they will be much more strict about carryons. If they are the proper size, they will not charge you to gate check assuming you don't have more then you should. If they just run out of space, if it's a wheelchair or stroller, they shouldn't charge.

If it's too large to be a real carry on, if you have too many, then they should charge you.

But they shouldn't charge because the plane is full and there isn't enough space because nobody but me puts their pack under the seat in front of me (mainly because I don't want to get up to get stuff later).

Better would be if they took old airplane seats and overhead bins to make demos at the checkin and gate areas. If you cannot get your bag in the actual overhead or underseat space of the demo, check it.

AA said they won't charge, but only if your bag fits the carryon dimensions...so if the guy boarding in group 2 brings on the kitchen sink, and fits in the overhead, and you bring on your 43" total bag, and it doesn't fit, you'll be dinged the $15

I go away for weeks and don't check bags. Cosmetics are almost never a problem, because they come in small enough sizes anyway, and toiletries can usually be found mini-sized. If you have some favorite that you absolutely can't live without, repack it in a mini-bottle. Really not that hard. If you have that much of a problem with it, then just pay the $15. But don't say it can't be done.

I don't check bags either, but I've heard from a decent number of frequent travelers, particularly women, that products they use can't be repackaged (e.g., aerosols) and are either too hard to find at various destinations or that the expense and time of purchasing them at destination on each trip would be burdensome. And your argument could be extended to say that, should TSA ban clothes in carry-on, it wouldn't be that hard to just repurchase all of your clothes at destination each time you travel.

I don't believe airlines should be allowed to exploit TSA rules to force passengers into paying a new revenue stream. If the airlines would publicly call for TSA to abolish the war-on-water, when the change would immediately cause a decrease in checked-baggage numbers and weight, then I might give them some credibility. But they don't. Instead they're just grabbing for money hoping to lure pax with "low" fares and then trap them at the airport with fees.

I'm female, and while I used to be picky with my products, it's not worth the hassle of waiting for baggage to take my favorite stuff. We may just need to agree to disagree on this one, but I think if it's that important to you to have large sizes of your favorite things, then pay the $15 and check them.

Funny, because I recall several years ago that it was UA that sued (or threatened to sue) CO to *remove* the bag sizers on the X-ray machines, at least at DEN.

I sure as hell hope so especially those bringing those damned "kitchen Sinks" you know when cruisers start talking about cruising on carry on only you KNOW there is going to be trouble soon.

May I ask why you are so upset about the return of metal templates? The airlines have rules about carry-on size. Do you routinely carry on luggage that exceeds the published limits?

I always carry on my luggage, but I make sure my bags are within the limits. I would be fine with metal templates at the airport, because it won't prevent me from carrying on my luggage. In fact it is likely to help me by reducing the chance that I'll have to gate check my bag due to people filling the bins with oversized luggage.

IMHO I doubt that the airlines can force people to pay for the gate check luggage. Think how long it would take the GA to process i.e. charges for ten separate passengers? They just want to get the flights out on ASAP.

I don't know the answer but I like your handle.

The real problem I have with the templates is that if they are on the screener belt like they were before, TSA will end up being the 'enforcers'.....

Think TSA can handle obvious exceptions like child seats that won't fit through the templates (or in a sizer, for that matter)?

There can be problems with the 'sizers' at checkin/gates anyway. I once had a UA rep at the gate tell me I had to check a backpack (not a daypack, true weekend backpack). It fit in the sizer - no prodding, the top 6 inches were empty - but she obviously just didn't like the look of the pack, because she still tried to tell me to check it. This was pre-wheelie days, I was having shoulder problems, just couldn't handle carrying a weekend duffle but didn't have enough to warrant checking a bag.

I've also seen people bring on things like a poster tube that strictly speaking couldn't 'fit' in any sizer, but certainly didn't take up much bin space.

My bags are within limits.

The problem is several fold.

1) It makes TSA the enforcers, like they've become revenue protectors with the ID checks.

2) Some airlines have different limits than others (some are specified as linear inches, some are specified as max H, max W, max L)

3) Odd shaped items will be a problem and cause a delay

4) anything that's legal but "out of the ordinary" will cause a delay as it gets resolved - backing the line up

5) the sizers prevent folks from putting the bins or a laptop bag sideways on the belt, taking up more space and slowing the process down as many folks wait until their stuff disappears into the chute before going through the WTMD

6) even small stuff must be centered on the belt. Can't casually drop shoes on there any more without making sure it's carefully centered.

Even though I'm within limits (even pass BAA's strict tests at LHR), I remember how much longer and harder it was when the templates were on before. UA made security put them on at SAT - in the same terminal that WN operated from. You currently have to plan on 30 minutes or more to get through security (the airport says the other SAT terminal has hour-plus waits for security). Even if everyone had the right bags, it would still be slowing the line down 20%.... adding another 12-15 minutes to the wait. Unacceptable.

Another problem will be to determine whether to charge the person $15 or $25 at the gate. If the person already checked one bag, then the fee for the gate-check should be $25. If no other bags were checked, then the fee is only $15. What a mess, as was said.

I am still amazed at how many very small pieces of luggage come off the checked luggage carousel at baggage claim. My guess is that half of these will be carried on if the passenger will be charged for them. Thus, much more carry on luggage in the same finite amount of room for carry on luggage.

John

I don't know, I'm sure they could just have the number of bags checked in the computer - wouldn't take more than a few seconds to figure out the fee. As for the small pieces of luggage, you're right to some extent, but I also bet a lot of them are toiletry kits filled with liquids that can't be carried on.

Or my bag coming in from London with bottles of Really Good Scotch Whisky (I put 2 in my suitcase, another 2 in a small shoulder bag to spread the risk).

Hey, get your cotton-pickin' hands off that conveyor belt!

It was the other way around! Gordon Bethune made this his pet project to remove the templates on the security belts and then changed out all the overhead bins to bigger ones. CO then went after the business traveler by telling them we had bigger overhead bins and we welcomed their rolling bags. All of this was over 10 years ago and things have dramatically changed.

Don't be surprised to see the sizing box come back to the gate area and the boarding agent asking that each bag be placed in the box, checking those that don't fit.

Hey all, I've been reading FT for a while and finally had to register to comment on this $15 nonsense. Along with all the confusion about which bags will be charged at the gate and how they will be handled...what about the tiny planes that are used for regional flights? When I know I'm going to be on a plane with one set of seats on the left and two on the right, I know my (otherwise regulation sized) bag won't fit, so I check it pre-security so as not to have to deal with it. Now, am I going to have to take it through security and roll it to the gate, to be told by the gate agent that it won't fit in the overhead? Will I be charged for that?

The idea of charging for luggage due to high gas costs isn't a crazy idea. But the way the airlines have chosen to implement it is possibly the worst method one could dream up. Why not just charge by the pound for all luggage, regardless of whether it's in cargo or the passenger cabin? It's using just as much gas.

And even then, you'll be at the whim of gate agents. I ended up in a dispute with a GA at CVG one time that I had to escalate to a supervisor. The bag fit the sizer, but putting the bag in sideways meant the soft flap side "bulged" a bit (it was a non-issue if the bag were on its back). GA said "if it even touches the side, it's gotta be checked". We went round and round and I told her to call a supervisor.

Between the supe and a complaint to DL, that wasn't an issue again, but I can see it being so if the GAs are rewarded based on revenue they bring in.

The logistics of collecting money at the gate (or at the bottom of the jetway; or the bottom of the stairs out on the tarmac) would be difficult. That probably won't stop the airlines from trying. :eek:

I can see it now; cash only, "exact change is always appreciated," or else your bags stay behind!