Gate Check Crack Down?
 

Has anyone noticed a crack down on gate checking lately? I was flying on a US flight out of SYR last week and the gate agent basically told people "if you have more than 2 bags you will not be allowed down the the jet way, there will be no gate checking, and I will not hold the plane for you to go out and check your bag at the counter so you might as well go do it now." Then on my way out of MCO to CLT the gate agent said "You don't have to worry about gate checking since there will be none. I heard similar noticed at the UA gates in IAD a week or so back too. I travel about 2 weeks a month and this is the first time I have heard them get this pushy. Are they cracking down? Granted with all the bag fees folks are trying to sneak more on the plane, but no gate check at all?

I think the issue of "one time departures" is motivating the airlines to be more vigilant about the amount of stuff folks carry on to flights. Combine that with smaller planes that airlines are flying to reduce capacity, and you have companies that are motivated to reduce the amount of carry on luggage.

JMO.

If the airlines aren't allowing gate checks, what do they do with passengers who are within the limits for carry-on baggage but can't stow their bags on the plane because the bins are full?

That's part of what I wonder about. I am one of those people that follows the rules, but so many people do not what happens to us? Granted, I am preferred so I get on first and stow my bag first, but what if I am late for a connecting flight. I have had to run and get to the plane last. +

How would anyone get through the TSA vigilantes with more than the maximum number of carry-ons? I've always found it deplorable that the TSA were focusing on enforcing airline carry-on baggage restrictions instead of protecting the flying public from terrorists, but I've actually had TSA drones tell me I had to consolidate bags (e.g. put a very small "essentials" purse inside my laptop case) before I could go through the line.

I fly mostly AA and it does seem to me that the lines of people down the jetway awaiting their gate-checked bags at the end of the flight are getting longer and longer. Ya think it has anything to do with the checked baggage fees?

Similar to the BP/ID check airline revenue protection check, the TSA has no business caring about how many bags I take through the checkpoint.

I've seen individuals carrying multiple large (2 ft' cubed) packages past the GA without a word being said and then the FAs are either trying to figure where to stow the packages or end up doing a gate check tag to the objections of the pax. I for one would like to see at a minimum better enforcement of the package size carried on if not the number of items.

I for one am really glad to hear this, actually

I'd be very :mad: if they pulled this on an ERJ. I can get a week's worth of stuff into a laptop backpack and a larger rollaboard that fits nicely in the overhead bin of a regular plane. The backpack goes under the seat in front of me. I regularly bring both through "security" and gate-check the bigger one on ERJs since the overheads can't accommodate it. That bag usually contains a couple of suits I had made by my tailor. I am too discreet to mention their cost but I would NOT want to have them go missing. I'd much rather gate-check them and pick them up at my destination.

Don't they realize that rebooking will take a lot more of their effort than gate checking my bag. And if they refuse boarding, they are then responsible for dealing with the consequence.

Oh, I hope they try this on me. :D

Since the bags have gotten bigger, and the bins have remained small, I forsee 1 bag limit soon.:eek:

I haven't noticed it yet. And the TSA drones never say anything about how many pieces of carry on anyone has.

Yesterday, the TSA guy clearly did not want to check my kid's sippy cup and bottle for explosives cuz he knew that stupid strip does squat. That guy seemed to realize a lot of their procedures are retarded.

Carry on rules clearly state 2 bags only. If someone is trying to board with 3 bags then I think they should be sent back to check the third one in. The 2 bag limit is posted in several places and should be pretty obvious. In the event that the bins fill up then I think that someone following the rules with only 2 carry on's should be allowed to check bags (at the gate) at that point. On mainline, the only bags they will actually "gate check" with valet tags (for items returned to the jetway) are wheelchairs, strollers, f/c passengers bags (if there is no space available on the entire a/c) and deadheading crewmembers. All others are checked and can be picked up at baggage claim.
I can only speak for US, not sure what United's policy is or how they make their rules.
FWIW, I've never seen a gate agent refuse to check someone's bag at the door once the overhead bins are full and they are in compliance of not having too many bags in the first place. :)

I flew UA ORD-DCA a few weeks ago and the GAs were really cracking down on people with too many/too big carry-ons. They were gate checking them (for free, even) and made an effort to work the crowd before boarding. Saw several overstuffed carry-on bags fail the sizer test and the GAs were warning women that if they had a purse and a briefcase and a carry-on, they'd have to combine something AND pass the sizer test.

I got nabbed on the outbound leg for having a rollaboard, a laptop case, and a roll of drawings (something I'd done previously). I shipped the drawings on the way back.

>>> what do they do with passengers who are within the limits for carry-on baggage but can't stow their bags on the plane because the bins are full ...?

A: The stuff will have to be put under the seat in front of you. If such space does not exist for example you have a bulkhead seat, then you will have to trade with someone.

A: (really) If your stuff is within the limits it will still be gate checked if absolutely positively necessary since you have already cleared the first screener at the top of the jetway.

You may have read other threads on Flyertalk describing FA's who seemed to work wonders with fitting everything into the cabin. Meanwyile culling the pax who had too many or too large items at the top of the jetway speeds up the FA's job and helps an on time departure.