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That is much better than my experience!! I was red eye sfo-ord tues night. Flight late, ga announces flight is boarding and LITERALLY every person jammed in line to board. I was f, and likely about 40th to board. I literally got pushed out of way by a person with 4 on her pass. Looked at ga and he didn't care at all. It's one thing to try and board fast, but when we got out no faster because it was a cattle car during boarding process.........it was a terrible experience. Sfo, as big as they are, seem to consistently do a bad job controlling the boarding process IMO.
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Originally Posted by HappyCoachFlyer
(Post 16959577)
I don't think that is it.
Most airlines (ie: not Southwest) charge to check bags. This causes people like me to carry on bags that are carry-on legal and which get checked on airlines that allow free checked bags. For example, when on the return leg of a trip, I'll be happy to gate check my rollaboard for free, since it is likely full of nothing but dirty clothes. I find it amazing that the airlines basically force you to carry that bag aboard and take up the bin space when you have no intention of accessing anything in it for the entire flight.... you are only carrying it on to avoid their bag check fee.... and then since you took up the bin space, it runs out and others are forced to gate check stuff that didn't want gate check. Letting me gate check it for free means that I don't have to lug around my dirty laundry... and to then give me priority boarding for free as well... shows just how screwed up that checked-bag-fee policy is... |
This seems like a great idea and good step forward. The more people you can encourage to part with their bags before boarding, the less gate-lice we have and faster boarding for everyone.
I would take it a step further and say those who check a bag at the check-in counter should be at LEAST as rewarded because their bags are definitely on board early and it further speeds up the security lines. It's crazy that the passenger behavior that is MOST helpful to the airline (short of not taking any bags) is dis-incentivized so harshly with baggage fees. The current scheme is entirely backward from an efficiency point of view. New ideas need to be tried - the erosion in boarding civility is at an all-time low. |
Originally Posted by HappyCoachFlyer
(Post 16959577)
you are only carrying it on to avoid their bag check fee.... and then since you took up the bin space, it runs out and others are forced to gate check stuff that didn't want gate check.
Letting me gate check it for free means that I don't have to lug around my dirty laundry... and to then give me priority boarding for free as well... shows just how screwed up that checked-bag-fee policy is...
Originally Posted by sfogate
(Post 16959983)
Most of the people that bring their bags to the gate are doing so to avoid the checked bag fee
Originally Posted by walkerci
(Post 16961672)
When you fly 45+ trips a year, that 20-45 minute wait at the baggage carousel adds up to a lot of wasted time. Even if checked luggage is free, I won't do it unless my bags are too big to carry on (multi-week trips).
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Originally Posted by boolean64
(Post 16957906)
But if you're checking a bag, why on earth would you want to get on the plane any earlier than you have to?!
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Originally Posted by sfogate
(Post 16959983)
This isn't a new practice for CO at SFO but we have found that it works to speed up the boarding process. Most of the people that bring their bags to the gate are doing so to avoid the checked bag fee and are delighted to give up their bag at the gate before boarding. This incentive is aimed for the infrequent flier that always is clogging the boarding area and must get on the plane asap. Also if we get these bags early enough the rampers can load them and close up the cargo bins sooner.
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Originally Posted by derodnight
(Post 16957492)
On the red eye from SFO to BOS and the flight is full and already running late. The gate agent added a creative twist to get people to gate check carry ons: premier boarding in addition to the customary waived fee.
I have never seen this done before and thought it was pretty clever. Though I laughed when I thought of adding even more people to the premier cattle call - wondered if this was to get the flight out on time or just policy now. Anyone else see this in the field or other creative gate management techniques?
Originally Posted by Often1
(Post 16959966)
+1 - The only reason to board early is for OH space. Back in the day, F was boarded last. If you don't need OH space or much of it, let the kettles rush on and you can board at your leisure.
Originally Posted by g_leyser
(Post 16965197)
With all due respect, I really wish you wouldn't give gate-checkers Premier boarding. It's enough of a zoo already with CO's stupid new boarding process. :td:
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Originally Posted by Innerloop
(Post 16963093)
I would take it a step further and say those who check a bag at the check-in counter should be at LEAST as rewarded because their bags are definitely on board early and it further speeds up the security lines. It's crazy that the passenger behavior that is MOST helpful to the airline (short of not taking any bags) is dis-incentivized so harshly with baggage fees.
The current scheme is entirely backward from an efficiency point of view. |
Airlines need to start charging a 250 dollar premium for any gate checked bag.
It would encourage checked luggage very quickly. |
Originally Posted by UAGuy2
(Post 16967136)
Airlines need to start charging a 250 dollar premium for any gate checked bag.
It would encourage checked luggage very quickly. |
Originally Posted by UAGuy2
(Post 16967136)
Airlines need to start charging a 250 dollar premium for any gate checked bag.
It would encourage checked luggage very quickly. |
Originally Posted by UAGuy2
(Post 16967136)
Airlines need to start charging a 250 dollar premium for any gate checked bag.
It would encourage checked luggage very quickly. |
Originally Posted by raehl311
(Post 16974198)
I always thought the airlines had it backwards. Don't charge to check bags; charge to put bags in the overhead bin.
I would be interested to see what their baggage handler loss runs look like pre bag fee to post bag fee. |
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