AirTran, Gate Check, and Magical Express

[alexy]

When AirTran gate checks your bags do they come back to the gate after the flight or do they follow the rest of the checked luggage??

Currently planning for the 5 of us to to all use carry-ons and paid extra for priority seating to have a better chance of getting an overhead, but then I thought it may just make sense to volunteer to gate check the bags with ME tags and to not bother with them at MCO.

 

[peemagg]

Volunteering only works if they ask. On our last trip on the way down they asked for volunteers. On the way home, they didn't. I wouldn't necessarilly count on them asking. If you want to use the ME luggage system, then I would bite the bullet and pay for a few of the bags.

 

[alexy]

Thanks! Yes, I understand that "gate checking" is not a sure thing and we are checking our one big bag. My question is more centered on does the gate checked luggage end up at the gate or not? The last 2 times I've flown (on 2 other airlines) one had the bags at the gate and the other at the carousel, so I was just wondering what the standard is at AirTran??

Because I upgraded to priority seating, we should be able to use the overheads, but if there is an opportunity and the bags go with the checked luggage, I want to volunteer because with 5 of us it would just be simpler. . .

 

[dioxide45]

It all depends. We gate checked a couple bags on our last trip. They placed a yellow tag on them, we were told to pick them up at baggage claim. Ask the attendant when you gate check if they will be on the jetway when you land or at baggage claim.

There was an earlier thread on this and it was recommended that you put a DME tag on those bags before you leave home, so if they are gate checked through to baggage claim for some reason they will be picked up by DME. If they are picked up on the jetway, then those tags won't matter. Better to have them on the bags just in case.

 

[WeLuvTink!]

I've never gate checked anything (on any airline) in which is was not returned to me when I got off the plane. True for strollers and roll aboard suitcases that the commuter plane was too small to allow in the overheads.

Yes, this applies to all my trips on Airtran in/out of MCO too.

 

[alexy]

I've never gate checked anything (on any airline) in which is was not returned to me when I got off the plane. True for strollers and roll aboard suitcases that the commuter plane was too small to allow in the overheads.

Yes, this applies to all my trips on Airtran in/out of MCO too.

Thanks! I've flown American and got by bag back at the gate, but have also flown Delta and had to retrieve my bag at baggage claim, which was a bummer 'cuz that was last place I wanted to be after a long flight!

In the end, I'm glad we have the priority seating to get the overheads. . .If we end up able being able to gate check and use ME, it'll just be a bonus!!

 

[DebbieB]

Typically on a full size plane luggage goes to baggage claim. RJ's with small overheads are picked up at the gate.

 

[chelleb1974]

Wondering if the amount that was paid for priority seating was more, or the same, as the cost of checking the bags?........

 

[dioxide45]

Wondering if the amount that was paid for priority seating was more, or the same, as the cost of checking the bags?........

The priority seating fee is the same now as the cost for checking the first bag, each is $15.

 

[VAN]

The only time I have had carry-on luggage taken at the gate and put with the regular baggage was on Continental in Detroit. The gate agent clearly let us know that the plane's overheads were full (not true) and that they were taking our bags to be checked through to our destination. (This ended up being a nightmare because our next leg got cancelled and I had to go to the baggage office to find the bag in order to take it with me on our rerouted itinerary through a foreign country!!!)

All other times if we were on a commuter plane, it was stated that they would be put out on the jetway for when we got to the next gate.

So, the gate agent will tell you but almost always it will need to be picked-up by you at the next gate/jetway as you exit the plane.

 

[JessGWI]

Im not positive of the technical terms here, so I will do my best to explain. It will depend on how the gate is set up when you return to the airport. If you or going to be going through one of the little tunnel things into the airport directly from the plane, it will be at baggage claim. If it is a small regional plane that doesn't have overhead space and you will be walking down the steps of the aircraft and then into the airport, it will probably be there waiting for you.

But, that being said, why not just pay the $15 and check your bags, knowing you won't have to worry about this, versus paying the same fee for priority seating. You're actually more likely to have your bags gate checked if you are the LAST person on the plane when all the bins are full.

 

[VAN]

The little tunnel thing is a jet-way. There is a door that they will open and put your carry-on/checked luggage inside of. This is the same area that people with strollers will pick up the stroller that was "checked" at the gate as well.

So, unless they say pick-up in the baggage area, it WILL BE in the jet-way/gate for pick-up along with strollers, etc. upon arrival.

Only once have I had them put my carry-on in the regular baggage hold of the plane and then they clearly told me that I would pick it up at the baggage carousel.

 

[peemagg]

The little tunnel thing is a jet-way. There is a door that they will open and put your carry-on/checked luggage inside of. This is the same area that people with strollers will pick up the stroller that was "checked" at the gate as well.

So, unless they say pick-up in the baggage area, it WILL BE in the jet-way/gate for pick-up along with strollers, etc. upon arrival.

Only once have I had them put my carry-on in the regular baggage hold of the plane and then they clearly told me that I would pick it up at the baggage carousel.

I had a bag with parts for my mobility scooter that I was gate checking and I had it tagged that way by the people at the gate. When I got to Flint, the bag was not waiting for me. I had to go to baggage claim to get it. The baggage handlers took it upon themselves and took the tag off of my bag and sent it the other way. They then put the tag that they took off and placed it on my scooter which already had its own tag on it. It wasn't a big deal, but was a bit of a pain when you are expecting things to be at the jet-way and it's not. It is also a good thing that nothing in that bag was damaged, because being that it was medical equipment, it is full replacement value and does not fall under the same rules as regular luggage. There is not maximum value for medical equipment.

 

[cruisingkat]

We flew Air Tran Chicago to Ft Myers and they asked for volunteers to gate check their carryons. We did gate check one carryon, but kept the other (with medication, jewelry, etc) with us. The plane was very empty. Our gate checked luggage went on the baggage carousel and was picked up with the checked luggage.
Flying back Orlando to Chicago, they did not ask for people to gate check their carryons. The plane was completely full and they did ask for one volunteer to be bumped. So I don't think asking for carry-ons to be gate checked has anything to do with the fullness of the flight. Hubby thinks it has to do with the weight distribution.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have always had to pick up my gate checked items. If the plane empties right onto the taramak, I have picked up my bag there. If we use a jet-way, the bag is placed up there for me to grab. I have honestly never heard of it getting to the luggage carousel before.