Dear United: Start enforcing friggin carry-on bag limits!
Feb 6, 2012, 12:07 pm
#76
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: TX
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I liked the idea from an earlier thread (there are many) that would give the passenger, as they were boarding, a sticker unique to the day and flight that they would put on the overhead bag after putting it up. Any bags without stickers, and any bags lengthwise would be removed from the bins and given to the passengers. At that time, the passenger would be offered an opportunity to buy a bag check ticket at 150% of the normal bag check fee. Of course, bags that would fit and that had a sticker when room was exhausted could be gate checked free and a nominal rdm awarded.
Feb 6, 2012, 12:13 pm
#77
Join Date: Jan 2000
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Sorry but I still see Elites as the worst abusers; it wouldn't be so bad on one of the bags being large if their other bag (backpack/notebook case) would go under their seat.
Feb 6, 2012, 12:25 pm
#78
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DAB
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Question: Is it right to shift someone's oversize bag from lengthwise to "wheels out" position, knowing full well the bin won't close and it will have to be removed after others use the remaining space with their "wheels out" positioned bags.
Or is that just being passive aggressive?
Just curious. I'm asking for a friend. Really.
Or is that just being passive aggressive?
Just curious. I'm asking for a friend. Really.
Feb 6, 2012, 12:28 pm
#79
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: What I write is my opinion alone..don't read into it anything not written.
Posts: 9,686
/agree. I board between 35-50 flights a week (and tag bags on many of them.) You work the quantity of flights I do, and you will see that your observation is representative of the total picture.
Feb 6, 2012, 1:30 pm
#80
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Seattle
Programs: exUA, WN
Posts: 203
+1.
I'll be willing to volunteer to gate check before I get near the aircraft for the forseeable future. If there's not a large line to see the GA.
The only people who made any money off this change is Eagle Creek. Needed a new (larger, but still legal) carry on.
Do gate checked bags count against the fuel load like checked ones do? Thought there was a constant amount of passenger + carry-ons and then checked gets added in.
I had checked always in the past. Oh well.
I'll be willing to volunteer to gate check before I get near the aircraft for the forseeable future. If there's not a large line to see the GA.
The only people who made any money off this change is Eagle Creek. Needed a new (larger, but still legal) carry on.
Do gate checked bags count against the fuel load like checked ones do? Thought there was a constant amount of passenger + carry-ons and then checked gets added in.
I had checked always in the past. Oh well.
Feb 6, 2012, 3:47 pm
#81
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I like bulkhead seating, and I have learned to scramble to board early in F to make sure my small personal item isn't at the back of the cabin.
Pet peeve: those carry-on rollaboards that 'expand' (and are packed to take full advantage of maximum expansion). Those are a problem even in a half-full plane - they won't fit wheels in or lengthwise.
Feb 6, 2012, 5:42 pm
#82
Join Date: Dec 2010
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This thread is timely -- the NY Times has just posted an article on "Trench Coats, Vacuum-seal Bags, and Other Ways to Avoid Airline Fees."
It covers other strategies (like flying WN), but does comment
Interesting (kettle-centric, of course) perspective.
It covers other strategies (like flying WN), but does comment
The fee for checked bags seems to vex passengers the most. To avoid it, some travelers stuff as many items as possible into a carry-on bag and then fight for space in the overhead bin.
Feb 6, 2012, 6:13 pm
#83
Join Date: May 2001
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This thread is timely -- the NY Times has just posted an article on "Trench Coats, Vacuum-seal Bags, and Other Ways to Avoid Airline Fees."
It covers other strategies (like flying WN), but does comment
Interesting (kettle-centric, of course) perspective.
It covers other strategies (like flying WN), but does comment
Interesting (kettle-centric, of course) perspective.
"“I would have easily spent hundreds of dollars” getting six bags from Westport, Conn., to Denver"
Has this woman never heard of UPS?
Feb 6, 2012, 6:36 pm
#84
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I have priced UPS and USPS and I have yet to find shipping/mailing a cheaper option than baggage fees.
Last edited by chollie; Feb 6, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Feb 6, 2012, 6:37 pm
#85
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This thread is timely -- the NY Times has just posted an article on "Trench Coats, Vacuum-seal Bags, and Other Ways to Avoid Airline Fees."
It covers other strategies (like flying WN), but does comment
Interesting (kettle-centric, of course) perspective.
It covers other strategies (like flying WN), but does comment
Interesting (kettle-centric, of course) perspective.
Feb 6, 2012, 7:17 pm
#86
Join Date: May 2001
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But my impression was that they decided to fly out with two extra people rather than pay for 6 bags with the daughter's ticket because she said that she "quickly discovered that the price of hauling the baggage across the country was almost as much as buying another ticket." Indeed excess bags beyond two are $100 each.
The first two bags on CO go for $60 and shipping the other 4 (assuming 50 pounds each) would be about $212 Fedex ground--including door to door service. No way they flew two people round trip for that much. And I'll bet the bags were not 50 pounds each, either.
Feb 6, 2012, 7:29 pm
#87
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UA enforce this: If it CAN'T go into the overhead WHEELS first and allow the bin to close FORCE people to check it; NO EXCEPTIONS on wheeled luggage. Hand out "Yellow Cards" to people in 2012 explaining in 2013 your bag will have to be gate checked and if you are asked to gate check the bag more than 2 times the 3rd time onward you will be asked to pay for the gate check!
Two thoughts:
1. A few years back at security (in Chicago at least) on the x-ray machine entry belt was a frame that the baggage had to pass through to get into the machine. This helped minimize the size of baggage that could be carried on board;
2. Last November in South Africa I could not get to the check-in desk without first having my bags weighed. If the bag was over 7kg it was labeled as such and had to be checked in. And at the gate was a 2nd checker with a mobile scale just to be sure you were not cheating - and they weighed all the carry on again. If the bag was over the 7kg, they took the bag from you!
1. A few years back at security (in Chicago at least) on the x-ray machine entry belt was a frame that the baggage had to pass through to get into the machine. This helped minimize the size of baggage that could be carried on board;
2. Last November in South Africa I could not get to the check-in desk without first having my bags weighed. If the bag was over 7kg it was labeled as such and had to be checked in. And at the gate was a 2nd checker with a mobile scale just to be sure you were not cheating - and they weighed all the carry on again. If the bag was over the 7kg, they took the bag from you!
Last edited by iluv2fly; Feb 6, 2012 at 7:55 pm Reason: merge
Feb 6, 2012, 7:30 pm
#88
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1
It would be interesting to understand why some airlines have almost no limit weight for their carry on luggage, besides the size.
If I remember correctly American Airlines max weight allowed is 40 pounds! I don't think you can stuff 40 pounds of content unless all you put in there is metal. Now another airline like Transaero allows only up to 8 pounds. Why is this. The numbers just seem too far apart.
If I remember correctly American Airlines max weight allowed is 40 pounds! I don't think you can stuff 40 pounds of content unless all you put in there is metal. Now another airline like Transaero allows only up to 8 pounds. Why is this. The numbers just seem too far apart.
Feb 6, 2012, 7:50 pm
#89
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Yeah, Air Asia has the same rule, but it is not usually enforced, except sporadically in KUL.
Feb 6, 2012, 8:21 pm
#90
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I disagree. Wheels in or out shouldn't matter. If it has to go sideways it gets gate checked.
That's a real problem for some people. My laptop bag is going to weigh over 7kg and it certainly shouldn't be checked. It does fit under the seat of every plane I've ever tried it on.
That's a real problem for some people. My laptop bag is going to weigh over 7kg and it certainly shouldn't be checked. It does fit under the seat of every plane I've ever tried it on.
Most of us manage to accommodate last minute schedule changes that put us on RJ's. A 7K carry-on limit isn't much different - inconvenient, maybe, but do-able. You just learn to really pare down to essentials - maybe 'just' the laptop in a sleeve, pick up the laptop bag at your destination, along with any cables/chargers/etc.