American Airlines basic Economy carry ons

[valskate86]

I have not flown AA in years. We are booked basic economy in September Chicago to Orlando. I understand that our seats will likely not be together and we will be in the last boarding group. No problem with either of those things. We can sit apart for a few hours. According to the website, I am allowed a carry on (I have a 21ish inch wheeled bag) and a personal item. If they try to get me to gate check the bag is there anything I can do?
I think valet check would be fine. If that is still a thing. I just want to have my bag when I leave the plane and not have it go to the luggage carrousel.
Thanks in advance for any insight!!

 

[JimMIA]

It looks like the answers to your questions are pretty clearly spelled out on the AAL website.

Your seats will be assigned, although you can select them 7 days prior for a fee if you don't want to risk it. The carry-on dimensions are specified -- <22x 4x9, including wheels.

It looks like "valet check" is for American Eagle flights only, so I assume any gate checked items would be retrieved at baggage claim.

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/experience/seats/basic-economy.jsp

 

[Riddlepilot]

You are allowed a carry on and personal item. If there is no room for the carry on, which is probable since you'll be in the last group, your carry on will be checked to baggage claim at your final destination. If you're on eagle they will valet check unless it's an e175 then it will be checked to your final destination

 

[bumbershoot]

If they try to get me to gate check the bag is there anything I can do?

Nope. Get your laptops and medications out of it before sending it off.

I think valet check would be fine. If that is still a thing. I just want to have my bag when I leave the plane and not have it go to the luggage carrousel.

I don't think delivery to the gate is a thing anymore at all. I think it's a bummer.

 

[Rach3975]

Piggybacking on this, if you bring a carry on that fits their size requirements and there's no room for it, will they check it without charging you? I don't care that much if my carry on has to go to baggage check, but I'm going to be annoyed if they charge me.

 

[Darcy03231]

Piggybacking on this, if you bring a carry on that fits their size requirements and there's no room for it, will they check it without charging you? I don't care that much if my carry on has to go to baggage check, but I'm going to be annoyed if they charge me.

Yes, they will gate check it without charging you. Most of the flights we've been on they start asking for volunteers for gate checking at no charge well before the flight even boards.

 

[123Dis4Me]

I am also flying American in a few weeks. I have never flown with them. Would I be able to tell on my reservation if it is American Eagle ? It doesn't say - so can I assume it is Just AA?
I am flying Southwest to get to Orlando, and AA back.

 

[valskate86]

Thanks for all the feedback. I guess I’ll just have to see what happens. We chose AA because a carry on was allowed. The point of a carry on for me is to have essentials, a change of clothes, etc in case my check bag gets lost. Checking it at the gate just defeats the purpose of that.

 

[suemom2kay]

I am also flying American in a few weeks. I have never flown with them. Would I be able to tell on my reservation if it is American Eagle ? It doesn't say - so can I assume it is Just AA?
I am flying Southwest to get to Orlando, and AA back.

Yes. It would say in your trip details. Pretty good rule of thumb if you’re on a small commuter jet you’re on a regional airline dba American Eagle, United Express, etc.

 

[123Dis4Me]

Yes. It would say in your trip details. Pretty good rule of thumb if you’re on a small commuter jet you’re on a regional airline dba American Eagle, United Express, etc.

Thanks!

 

[lorenae]

Thanks for all the feedback. I guess I’ll just have to see what happens. We chose AA because a carry on was allowed. The point of a carry on for me is to have essentials, a change of clothes, etc in case my check bag gets lost. Checking it at the gate just defeats the purpose of that.

Because of that, I bought a roller bag that fits under the seat in front of me. It's pretty small- but I went to Italy for 3 weeks with it so it holds more than you think! It was under $40.

https://www.ebags.com/product/trave...eater-with-usb-port/349727?productid=10594772
My personal item is a small backpack that fits on the bars of the telescoping handle.

This fit in every single plane, even the little American Eagle plane! For the flight to Italy, I moved it to the overhead bin so I could have a place for my feet.

 

[Day-Day]

I have taken advantage of the free baggage check when offered at the gate when I have a relatively long layover coming up at a connection; especially if I'm flying home. This allows me to wonder the airport and eat a meal during the layover at the following airport without hassling with my carry-on bag.

The downside to this is that I have to wait at my final arrival for my luggage. Based on the last two times I have done this, I am now leaning towards keeping my carry-on instead of checking it. Seems like it took forever for luggage to arrive.

 

[3threebabies]

I would take your Magical Express tags with you, so you can attach the tag if your bag gets checked. I know it doesn’t help with your issue regarding the bag in your possession, though. Also, do you have a tote bag or backpack that fits within the personal bag measurements? I always fit a lot in my tote bag. If you want a smaller park bag, don’t use that as your personal bag and pack it flat in the carry on.

 

[JimMIA]

Thanks for all the feedback. I guess I’ll just have to see what happens. We chose AA because a carry on was allowed. The point of a carry on for me is to have essentials, a change of clothes, etc in case my check bag gets lost. Checking it at the gate just defeats the purpose of that.

No it doesn't. You're going to have checked luggage; you have to go to baggage claim regardless.

In fact, unless you have something in the carry-on that you want with you at all times, gate checking is probably easier. Easier to deplane, and you would not have to drag your carry-on through the airport to baggage claim.

 

[georgina]

No it doesn't. You're going to have checked luggage; you have to go to baggage claim regardless.

In fact, unless you have something in the carry-on that you want with you at all times, gate checking is probably easier. Easier to deplane, and you would not have to drag your carry-on through the airport to baggage claim.

I had USAir/American lose my gate checked bag though a few years ago. So there is that possibility if she has connecting flights. I did not have any checked luggage, just that carryon.

 

[JimMIA]

I had USAir/American lose my gate checked bag though a few years ago. So there is that possibility if she has connecting flights. I did not have any checked luggage, just that carryon.

Right, I didn't consider connecting flights. Good catch!

 

[seashoreCM]

If your airline's basic economy allows a carryon and if that has to be gate checked, then you are treated no differently than passengers in regular economy just ahead of you in line who also had to have carryons gate checked,

 

[jec6613]

Even as someone with status, there is very little to do to prevent gate checking, with basically only FAA mandated exceptions: you aren't allowed to be separated from medical equipment or medications, and Li-Ion batteries can't go in the hold (or anything containing Li-Ion batteries).

Since the bulk of my carry-on is camera gear, cell phones, laptops, tablets, and a CPAP, when I point out that my entire carry-on still has to go into the overhead except for two pairs of socks and underwear and my razor and toothbrush, so they're putting an empty bag in the hold, then they make somebody else check it.

If I were flying basic economy, I'd check everything except a bare minimum to go 1-2 days without your checked luggage, and just carry a cabin bag. But I also get free checked bags even in basic economy, so...

 

[Rach3975]

Thanks for all the feedback. I guess I’ll just have to see what happens. We chose AA because a carry on was allowed. The point of a carry on for me is to have essentials, a change of clothes, etc in case my check bag gets lost. Checking it at the gate just defeats the purpose of that.

I hope you don't have to check it, but you could put essentials in your personal item just in case. When we fly, I'll have a weekender bag as my carry on and a backpack as my personal item (with my purse inside). I'll load the backpack with a days' worth of stuff just in case, as well as the things I'll want available on our travel day.

 

[valskate86]

Thanks again for all the feedback. my concern is that the gate checked bag then has the same potential to be lost as my checked bag. If both are lost, I have nothing until the airlines find it. Not to mention if I need anything for the day (pool, springs) until DME delivers my bag to the resort. Not to mention I wouldn’t have to go baggage claim for my checked bag as DME is handling it; but now would have to if my carry on is checked. Yes I realize I can put a few things in a personal item. In addition to the two nights at the resort, we are getting on Disney Fantasy. If for some reason my carry (which has now been gate checked) and my checked bag are lost, I’m screwed with my measly space in the personal item. Yes, I also have insurance so I could replace everything in the luggage and most likely be reimbursed for it; but then I also have to spend time out of my vacation figuring out transportation to a store and shopping for just enough to get me through.