First time having to deal with paying luggage fees

[connie254]

This trip we are not using SW. I want to utilize my carryon as much as possible. It will be two of us for a week. I already will be taking less clothes and washing clothes midtrip(taking Tide pods,bounce sheets on the checked luggage).
It looks like we can each have a carryon and a personal item. We will be traveling Airtran and I picked our seats(close to front). Will we be first or last to board? How much of an issue with carryon space will it be overhead(like has anyone been told they have to check their carryon due to space limitations?If they remove my carryon, and I use the DME, what is the best scenario?)

[ssei7802]

If you paid for your seats you will be in the first group to board so overhead storage should not be an issue. Some of the last to board will probably have to check their carryons as space fills up fast since everyone tries using carryons to avoid checking luggage.

[Traveliz]

Originally Posted by ssei7802

If you paid for your seats you will be in the first group to board so overhead storage should not be an issue. Some of the last to board will probably have to check their carryons as space fills up fast since everyone tries using carryons to avoid checking luggage.

It's not whether or not you paid for your seats on AirTran because by the time you board everyone has a seat assignment and zone. They board by zones and it is typically front to back. On really full flights before boarding even starts they will over checking for free and at that time you can put your ME tags on them if you want. Sometimes they also do this as you are boarding the plane and you could also just throw your tags on then.

Liz

[goofy4tink]

I know that when I have flown AirTran I have always chosen my seat when booking. Now, I can't remember if I paid anything addtl to board early. But I do know that I have always boarded before a lot of other people. Yes, I sit in the far back of the plane when on AirTran, but I know that I was in a different grouping than the rest of the people, sitting at the gate. I may very well have paid for priority boarding just to get overhead bin access.

[DebbieB]

I haven't flown AirTran in a long time but some of the other airlines will make an announcement that they will check carryon bags at the gate for free because they know it will fill up. You could slap on your DME tag and then not have to deal with it.

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Originally Posted by ssei7802

If you paid for your seats you will be in the first group to board so overhead storage should not be an issue.

Absolutely untrue. Please check airline policies before posting misinformation.

[Greysword]

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[I Am Flynn Rider]

Agree with PP... Onebag.com is fantastic. I've used his methods for international travel and that included the summer that i lived out of one bag for a month in the rainforest and loved it! Bundling works for me.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by ssei7802

If you paid for your seats you will be in the first group to board so overhead storage should not be an issue. Some of the last to board will probably have to check their carryons as space fills up fast since everyone tries using carryons to avoid checking luggage.

Not quite. Yes, those with seats already chosen, prior to airport arrival, will get to board before those who have not chosen seats yet. But, those that have paid to board early will board first. And that doesn't automatically mean those who have prepaid for a particular seat. If I remember correctly, the last time I flew Airtran, last spring, I paid an addtl $6 to choose my seat, each flight, and then it was another $10-12 to get in the early boarding group. Close to $20 addtl.

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

Not quite. Yes, those with seats already chosen, prior to airport arrival, will get to board before those who have not chosen seats yet. But, those that have paid to board early will board first.

This just isn't true. You won't be boarding before pre-boarders, military in uniform (most US airlines), elite frequent flyers and their traveling companions, airline branded cc holders, first and business class, etc. Pre-selecting a seat also does not mean you'll board before someone assigned a seat at the airport. Additionally, if you're flying an airline which boards window/middle/aisle and you paid for an aisle seat, you could end up in one of the last boarding groups.

[maxiesmom]

Originally Posted by lost*in*cyberspace

This just isn't true. You won't be boarding before pre-boarders, military in uniform (most US airlines), elite frequent flyers and their traveling companions, airline branded cc holders, first and business class, etc. Pre-selecting a seat also does not mean you'll board before someone assigned a seat at the airport. Additionally, if you're flying an airline which boards window/middle/aisle and you paid for an aisle seat, you could end up in one of the last boarding groups.

On Air Tan you can pay an extra fee to be among the first to board. In front of anyone who didn't pay that fee, and those who didn't pay for seats at all. So you will have no problems finding overhead luggage space.

I second (or is it third) bringing along extra yellow DME tags. I did just that on our last trip, and was able to check my carry-on bag for free. But you need to make sure you don't put anything valuable or important (like electronics or meds) into the bag you may check. You don't want to have to unzip your bag and be throwing your undies around in order to switch stuff from one bag to another.

[gdrj]

Originally Posted by maxiesmom

I second (or is it third) bringing along extra yellow DME tags. I did just that on our last trip, and was able to check my carry-on bag for free. But you need to make sure you don't put anything valuable or important (like electronics or meds) into the bag you may check. You don't want to have to unzip your bag and be throwing your undies around in order to switch stuff from one bag to another.

Also Airtran and Southwest based on their websites (last checked today) allow carry on's that measure 24x16x10. This allows a larger carry-on than most, if not all carriers (others max at 22x14x9), and gives the opportunity to use a duffle bag as a carry on as long as you can smush if need be.

[ruadisneyfan2]

Originally Posted by maxiesmom

On Air Tan you can pay an extra fee to be among the first to board. In front of anyone who didn't pay that fee, and those who didn't pay for seats at all. So you will have no problems finding overhead luggage space.

I second (or is it third) bringing along extra yellow DME tags. I did just that on our last trip, and was able to check my carry-on bag for free. But you need to make sure you don't put anything valuable or important (like electronics or meds) into the bag you may check. You don't want to have to unzip your bag and be throwing your undies around in order to switch stuff from one bag to another.

How much extra is priority boarding? At some point, it's easier to just pay the baggage fee. IIRC, AT has entire rows that are for those paying for priority boarding. So if I want to sit with my family, most likely I'd have to pay that fee x 4. Whereas I can fit a lot of everyone's clothes in 1 regular size bag and only pay the luggage fee once.
jmho.

[maxiesmom]

Priority boarding is $10 a person. Checking a bag is $25 for each person's first bag, and then $35 for each person's second bag.

[NHDisneyFan]

Originally Posted by maxiesmom

Priority boarding is $10 a person. Checking a bag is $25 for each person's first bag, and then $35 for each person's second bag.

We have paid for the priority seating for our trip next week. After they lost our checked luggage last year the few extra $ is worth knowing we'll have our stuff. I think it is $6 to get a seat assignment? So an extra 4 to board early.