AirTrain "personal item" allowance

[aharbin88]

I have never flown AirTran before, and will be taking my first trip to Disney World with them in 11 days.

I wanted to make sure that I was aware of all their policies before I packed, and I was a bit concerned with their list of items that constituted a personal item. They list a coat as a personal item. So, if I'm reading this right, I could not bring on the plane with me my purse, my carry-on, and my coat. Is this right? I don't remember this being a policy at Delta or American.

I'm traveling with my husband and 2 daughters, the youngest of which is under the age limit of having to buy a ticket. I was planning on having all 3 paid ticket holders bring a carry-on piece of luggage; I would carry a diaper bag (with my small purse stuffed inside), my husband would have my laptop bag, and my daughter would most likely carry her pillow as her personal item. All four of us would have a coat. I thought maybe we could all just wear our coats through the security checkpoint (or at least up to), but I wondered how they would react at the gate if we were wearing/holding them. Are they going to make us leave them? Are they going to make us shove them in our carry-ons? Are they not even going to care? I just think it's so strange that a person couldn't carry a purse and a coat onto a plane. Weird.

Thanks for any feedback you can give me!

 

[dudspizza]

I have never flown AirTran before, and will be taking my first trip to Disney World with them in 11 days.

I wanted to make sure that I was aware of all their policies before I packed, and I was a bit concerned with their list of items that constituted a personal item. They list a coat as a personal item. So, if I'm reading this right, I could not bring on the plane with me my purse, my carry-on, and my coat. Is this right? I don't remember this being a policy at Delta or American.

I'm traveling with my husband and 2 daughters, the youngest of which is under the age limit of having to buy a ticket. I was planning on having all 3 paid ticket holders bring a carry-on piece of luggage; I would carry a diaper bag (with my small purse stuffed inside), my husband would have my laptop bag, and my daughter would most likely carry her pillow as her personal item. All four of us would have a coat. I thought maybe we could all just wear our coats through the security checkpoint (or at least up to), but I wondered how they would react at the gate if we were wearing/holding them. Are they going to make us leave them? Are they going to make us shove them in our carry-ons? Are they not even going to care? I just think it's so strange that a person couldn't carry a purse and a coat onto a plane. Weird.

Thanks for any feedback you can give me!

Sounds like a lot of stuff you want to bring on the plane...... Are you checking luggage or are you trying to avoid luggage fees by each having a carry on piece of luggage?

Most likely, there won't be any issue as the coats will slide in the overhead above the carry on, but if they are bulky, winter coats, they may become an issue. As more people try to save money by doing carry on only, the overhead bins are becoming more packed, some to the point of having to gate check carry ons of the last people to board.

So, think about everything you may need and go from there. We will typically leave our coats in the car when we fly and make sure everyone has a sweatshirt or something on to get to the terminal. We are in Minnesota, so it gets plenty cold around here.

Best of luck. In my personal travels, a carry on AND a personal item have been fine as long as the personal item stows under the seat in front of you. Technically, you will have 2 personal items and they both should go under the seat in front of you since you are also putting a carry on up top....

Duds

 

[aharbin88]

I realized after I typed that that it did seem like I was bringing a lot of stuff, but nothing I considered major. We're coming from Tennessee, so our coats won't be very heavy, so I just looked at them more as removable articles of clothing than as an "item." I could see how a heavy winter parka could be, though, so that's why I was unsure as to their treatment of this rule. Our girls' coats will most likely be easily stuffed in their carry-on since they're so small, but I'm not sure the same will be true of mine and my husband's. I have a feeling I'll have our carry-ons packed to the gills!

I am trying to avoid baggage fees, but I'm not 100% sure that I'm going to be able to do that. I tend to be an over-packer, so there's a good chance I'll have to check a bag and all this will be moot. I just want to be as prepared as possible, jic.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[DebbieB]

I fly all the time and I've never heard of a coat being counted as a "personal item". I've had my purse, my laptop and my coat anytime I've flown in the winter.

 

[bumbershoot]

Just wear the coats and don't worry about it.

 

[cm8]

Just wear the coats and don't worry about it.