Green Tag gate check bag left on runway @LAX
Mar 28, 2018, 11:16 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Does Non Rev count?
Posts: 588
I'm sorry this happened to you, but like a few other posters pointed out, once in 18 years really isn't a serial incident. Someone goofed at work, it happens. I'm sure many of us here have made a mistake once or twice while doing their job.
Mar 28, 2018, 12:01 pm
#17
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: CLE
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Plat
Posts: 982
While it's certainly less common, problems with gate-checked bags are by no means unheard of. Going back to the CO days, when CLE was a RJ hub, I had to gate-check my bag on virtually every flight leaving my hometown. I had one similar instance to this one -- the bag was tagged, but never loaded... they found it sitting on the jet bridge along with several others, and had to tag 'em and check 'em to our final destination, where they arrived a day late.
My personal favorite, however, was one where the tag snagged something and was pulled off my bag. So upon unloading the plane, they found the bag with the other gate-checked bags, but it had no tag on it.
Because it had no tag, they refused to assume that it had been security-screened and wouldn't give it to me. They actually brought it up onto the jetway so I could positively identify it, and then had to check it all the way to my final destination (significantly Int'l, in that case...), and gave me a hand-written claim tag.
Yep - I was pretty darned angry. But baggage crap happens... My solution after that incident was to refuse to fly UA RJs for awhile. I believe that was the first year I gained dual UA+DL status, because I directed most of my domestic flights to DL from that point forward.
My personal favorite, however, was one where the tag snagged something and was pulled off my bag. So upon unloading the plane, they found the bag with the other gate-checked bags, but it had no tag on it.
Because it had no tag, they refused to assume that it had been security-screened and wouldn't give it to me. They actually brought it up onto the jetway so I could positively identify it, and then had to check it all the way to my final destination (significantly Int'l, in that case...), and gave me a hand-written claim tag.
Yep - I was pretty darned angry. But baggage crap happens... My solution after that incident was to refuse to fly UA RJs for awhile. I believe that was the first year I gained dual UA+DL status, because I directed most of my domestic flights to DL from that point forward.
Mar 28, 2018, 12:01 pm
#18
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Programs: UA PM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 1,293
A bit OT but I was changing planes in AMS and had to take the dreaded bus to the plane. While on the bus, we went around a luggage trolley that was taking checked luggage to one of the remote planes. It was piled high with bags and I could see mine on the top (it is a very distinct colour). Then, to my chagrin, I saw my bag tilt and then slide off the pile onto the service road and the trolley just kept driving.
I hoped for the best that maybe someone else had the same garish colour suitcase that I had but, sure enough, when I landed my bag did not arrive and it took another 24 hours to deliver it.
Nothing major, I can still picture seeing my bag fall off the luggage cart in AMS and knew I wouldn't see it when I landed.
I hoped for the best that maybe someone else had the same garish colour suitcase that I had but, sure enough, when I landed my bag did not arrive and it took another 24 hours to deliver it.
Nothing major, I can still picture seeing my bag fall off the luggage cart in AMS and knew I wouldn't see it when I landed.
Mar 28, 2018, 12:25 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,889
OP seems to want to be extra dramatic - bag likely wasn’t on the runway, and yes, you do have a choice, even if it’s not NS on every route. For the record, I live in CVG, and have for 10 years, where DL/DL Connection have been dominant (though admittedly less so in the last, say, 3 or so years), and can probably count the number of times I’ve flown with them on one hand. Almost every trip I take involves a connection in ORD, IAD, IAH or DEN. there are always options, and if you’re upset that UA left your bag behind, and think that’s a bigger hassle then connecting, then by all means, switch. Keep in mind that this can, and does, happen on every carrier (of course, with the note that yeah, less likely as gate check vs. checked att the counter). And that when it does happen, even on UA, it’s fairly infrequent.
Leaving a bag behind sucks, but what about a cart of bags? I once flew BA LHR-YYZ, and while I got my bags at the end of the flight, was traveling with a group, and about half didn’t receive theirs. Turns out BA left an entire cart of luggage next to the plane before we left, and didn’t load the bags. So it does, unfortunately happen. Sure, you can and should fault UA for it, it is on them. Whether this happening once in 18 years is a good reason to switch carriers, I would say no, but that’s going to be a judgement you’re going to have to make for yourself.
Leaving a bag behind sucks, but what about a cart of bags? I once flew BA LHR-YYZ, and while I got my bags at the end of the flight, was traveling with a group, and about half didn’t receive theirs. Turns out BA left an entire cart of luggage next to the plane before we left, and didn’t load the bags. So it does, unfortunately happen. Sure, you can and should fault UA for it, it is on them. Whether this happening once in 18 years is a good reason to switch carriers, I would say no, but that’s going to be a judgement you’re going to have to make for yourself.
Mar 28, 2018, 12:51 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: UA1K | *A Gold
Posts: 767
I've had it worse than that. I was flying IAD-PHL after flying from FRA via LHR. My gate checked bag for some reason never made it on the plane (possibly off-loaded due to weight and balance) and because I had neglected to take off the checked bag tag from my previous FRA-LHR-IAD flights, the bag was sent back across the Atlantic to FRA!! Finally got it two months later!
IMO, UA needs to put in larger bins on these regional jets so that they actually match their carry-on sizers in the terminals - if it fits in the sizer, it should fit overhead!
Mar 28, 2018, 1:07 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,412
Neither the CRJ-200 nor ERJ-145 have sufficient overhead space to make that feasible. If you think they feel claustrophobic now...
Mar 28, 2018, 1:21 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,484
How do you all know that the bag was not deliberately left off, for weight reasons possibly?
Was the plane pushing back and there was random luggage lying in the ramp area, with the baggage cart having left? Was it standing upright, waiting for some further disposition or just "fallen off a truck" and forgotten?
Was the plane pushing back and there was random luggage lying in the ramp area, with the baggage cart having left? Was it standing upright, waiting for some further disposition or just "fallen off a truck" and forgotten?
Mar 28, 2018, 1:26 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: CLE
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Plat
Posts: 982
Mar 28, 2018, 1:43 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: UA1K | *A Gold
Posts: 767
For some reason, I alway end up near the deadheading pilots so I've had the chance to talk to some of them, and they do share our hatred of these smaller regional jets.
Mar 28, 2018, 1:47 pm
#26
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
And then the next step will be to close some small airports......
Mar 28, 2018, 2:52 pm
#28
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,686
As most workers dislike lower cost competition to their cartel like lock on salaries and work rules. They never seem to complain when they’re sitting in the jump seat, or when they’re flying to a city that would have no or reduced service. Funny how people’s attitudes tword a product change depending on the situation and the audience. Human nature at its finest.
Mar 28, 2018, 3:06 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,889
Call me crazy, but I have to suspect that gate-checked bags would be the last possible thing left off the plane for W&B. They'd unload checked bags first, since there's less expectation of getting those back quite as promptly as ones that people physically walked onto the plane themselves. If that was common practice, nobody in the summertime, in DEN, would ever see their bags again...
If UA served only the top, say, 50 US metro areas, or maybe even 100, than sure, that might work. But cutting out RJs would also cut out services to pretty much every small airport in the country, and probably reduce capacity/frequency, not to mention raise fares, at many medium sized airports, too. If carriers want to serve airports like MBS, SPI, MRY, and the tens or more of smaller/mid-size airports (which also have people who need to connect across the country, or internationally), then that won't work. You can't replace CR2/7, ER4s, etc. with 737s in many markets. It's either RJs or nothing.
Mar 28, 2018, 3:29 pm
#30
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: UA1K | *A Gold
Posts: 767
...
If UA served only the top, say, 50 US metro areas, or maybe even 100, than sure, that might work. But cutting out RJs would also cut out services to pretty much every small airport in the country, and probably reduce capacity/frequency, not to mention raise fares, at many medium sized airports, too. If carriers want to serve airports like MBS, SPI, MRY, and the tens or more of smaller/mid-size airports (which also have people who need to connect across the country, or internationally), then that won't work. You can't replace CR2/7, ER4s, etc. with 737s in many markets. It's either RJs or nothing.
If UA served only the top, say, 50 US metro areas, or maybe even 100, than sure, that might work. But cutting out RJs would also cut out services to pretty much every small airport in the country, and probably reduce capacity/frequency, not to mention raise fares, at many medium sized airports, too. If carriers want to serve airports like MBS, SPI, MRY, and the tens or more of smaller/mid-size airports (which also have people who need to connect across the country, or internationally), then that won't work. You can't replace CR2/7, ER4s, etc. with 737s in many markets. It's either RJs or nothing.
Anyways, I didn't mean to cut all the regionals, just some of the older and smaller ones that require a green tag for pretty much any carry-on.
I don't think anyone would miss the CRJ200 which is supposedly a pain to heat/cool and isn't that fuel efficient either.