cactus_flyer

I'm a US Silver and traveled on a first-class ticket from Europe back to the US, with two carry on-bags - a laptop bag and a carry-on size bag. In Frankfurt, I bought some duty free items. They gave me a separate bag. Everything fine on the transatlantic LH in F, no problem having the duty free bag in addition to the regular carry on pieces. Same in DEN upon going through security.

Upon boarding at the Gate, gate agent (claims to be a supervisor) tells me I'll either have to consolidate my bags or check one in or "I couldn't fly". My regular two carry on's contained items I never check. I tried to consolidate, but it didn't work.

So he requires me to buy an additional seat. He starts out with close to $1k, but his more friendly gate agent associate agrees to sell me an Economy ticket and upgrade it to First Class on my Silver status. Flight was maybe 1/2 full.

Has anybody every experienced anything like this?

During boarding I saw two more passengers having more than two carry-on pieces (plastic bags in addition to their regular bag), but they walked on the plane fine. They were both non-status passengers in Y.

tommyleo

This is insane. Take it up with Customer Service immediately and request a refund for the full amount. If that does not work, dispute the charge on your CC.

cwe84

So your complaining about the GA enforcing the FAA rules about carryons. You are allowed one carryon and one personal item. The rules do not say you are allowed one carryon one personal item and one duty free bag. The GA gave you the option to consolidate your bags and you chose not to. The GA gave you the option to check the bag and you chose not to. The only other options were to buy a seat or not fly. The only exceptions are a meal/takeout bag, an infant bag, or an assistive device.

I don't get where you feel your entitlement is here. You had three your allowed two. You were given your options and you chose the one that had a cost associated with it.

USPhilly

Hmm. I do think the GA was right in not allowing the 3rd carry-on (duty free bag.) Does anyone know for sure? Of course, the 2 carry-on rule should have been enforced for everyone.

warreng24

What they SHOULD have offered you was to gate check one of your carry-on bags for no charge. Then you would be within the two-item limit.

HereAndThereSC

It's been my understanding that duty free bags are exempt from the carry-on rules... I mean, if you board an international flight with 1 carry-on + 1 personal item, and you buy something from the on-board duty free... Then you're breaking the rule on your connecting flight?

HTSC

uva185

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9630/4.7.1.40 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

That's insane!

For what its worth when flying First Class you can have it gate checked and pick it up on the jetway upon landing. I've started doing this when the F bins are full to avoid swimming up stream to retrieve my bag.

cwe84

Thats not an option though. The FAA doesn't see that your within the limits when you valet your bag. It does however see a difference when a seat is purchased for one of those bags.

cwe84

Duty free is not exempt. You are expected to be able to place that item in your carry on. If it is a liquid you are expected to place it in your checked luggage before rechecking it.

PHLDividends

Did you get mileage for your bag's extra seat?

I agree that, based on what you have said here, the GA should have exercised some discretion and "overlooked" your duty-free bag.

starflyer

I imagine the OP feels entitled to the same treatment as other passengers - i.e. "During boarding I saw two more passengers having more than two carry-on pieces (plastic bags in addition to their regular bag), but they walked on the plane fine. They were both non-status passengers in Y. ". This may or may not be reasonable based on carryon bags and the size/contents of the duty free bag versus the plastic bags.

Billiken

Especially on a 1/2 full flight, according to the OP.

Beckles

The OP said gate check was offered, but the OP did not want to gate check any of their items.
Although the document I found this in itself appears to be out of date, I don't believe this list of items excluded from the carry-on allowance is:

1) an overcoat
2) an umbrella
3) a reasonable amount of reading material for the flight]
4) crutches/canes/braces or other prosthetic device (s) on which the passenger is dependent
5) snack sacks and other food items brought onboard by the passenger for personal consumption
6) child safety seat which must be used either in a confirmed ticketed seat or in an available seat beside the parent/guardian

I have always stored my duty free items on the rare occasions I made such purchases within my allowed carry-on limit. Note that the carry-on limit is a maximum, you are not required to meet it, so if you expect to buy duty-free, you should adjust your carry-ons accordingly.

cwe84

It also could have been takeout which is allowed under current guidlines. He doesn't know so he shouldn't assume unless he knows without a doubt what the reason was. Also they could have checked their bags without making a fuss. Another thing is how does he know they were non status they could have been *A. The point is it doesn't matter he does not know the particulars of the other passengers.

cwe84

I disagree with that. If we overlooked it every time then the one time on a full flight we would get the "on my last flight" schpeal. I swear when we do our jobs and with consistancy you complain we don't bend the rules to YOUR way of thinking. When we bend the rules for others YOU report us.