Carry on luggage warning

[CarolA]

I fly weekly for business. On my last few flights the planes have been PACKED. (Monday I have to fly First Class since there was not a coach seat avaialbe for example!)

As a result, people boarding later have had to gate check their large rollerboards and carryons. Since most of the airlines have gotten fairly strict about not boarding until your row is called you could easily find yourself in this situation.

If you are planning to do carryon you might want to make sure your second piece which fits under the seat has any vaulables and/or things like prescriptions etc...(I do normally check and have had late luggage very rarely in the last 14 years, I can't even recall the last time it was delayed. )

 

[DebbieB]

I went to Rochester NY on Thursday this week for a business meeting. My flight home was on a 50 seat regional jet. The seats were 1 & 2, so there was only an overhead over the 2 seat side. It was a full flight, they asked for 1 volunteer, which someone stepped up for. Luckily I only had my tote bag since it was not overnight for me. Most people tried to get on with those rollaboards. There was no way. So people had to go back up to the front and gate check them. I was towards the back of the plane, when I got off, people were lined up in the jetway waiting to get their gate checked bags. I guess that was better than baggage claim.

 

[Jestocost]

In my experience (which probably includes 40 or so RJ flights in the past year), the larger rolling suitcases are never allowed on the regional jets no matter how crowded they are. They won't fit in the overheads or under the seats no matter what you do.

Also, I find that when travelling to leisure destinations like Orlando there tend to be fewer of the larger-sized carry-on bags (more backpacks, etc. that take up less room), so overhead bin crowding usually is less of an issue.

 

[CarolA]

On a regional jet you will normally get your luggage at the plane.

On a jet your luggage goes into the hold and you will have to go to baggage claim with the exception of strollers and wheelchairs.

 

[marbles127]

Sorry for the stupid question but what's a rollerboard? Is it a suitcase with inline wheels or what?

 

[drizzt117]

I'm assuming a Rollaboard is a small suitcase with the handle and rollers. My fiance has one and bought it specifically because it just fit as a carryon.

Thomas

 

[CarolA]

Thomas is correct. Sorry for using a confusing term. I travel alot and just assumed everyone knew what they were. (I actually think one of the luggage companies trademarked the term when these rolling suitcases first came out!)

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by CarolA
(Monday I have to fly First Class since there was not a coach seat avaialbe for example!)

I bet you're bummed about that one...

 

[georgina]

Originally posted by Jestocost

Also, I find that when travelling to leisure destinations like Orlando there tend to be fewer of the larger-sized carry-on bags (more backpacks, etc. that take up less room), so overhead bin crowding usually is less of an issue.

We have had the same experience. With a lot of families and vacationers, there was plenty of room in the overheads (but these are larger jets, also).

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by CarolA
On a regional jet you will normally get your luggage at the plane.

On a jet your luggage goes into the hold and you will have to go to baggage claim with the exception of strollers and wheelchairs.

Actually not always.

DH and I travelled went to Winnipeg for NYE this year, and the routing was EWR/MSP/WYG and reverse for the way home. We were on Regionals on all four legs, and gate checked our roll-on (one between us) on all the flights. On each landing it was brought to the jetway to claim and take to the next flight or immigration/customs as the case was. Because we were switching carriers in MSP, they were actually more than happy to have us deal with it that way.

Last year I traveled from EWR to BTV and back on a regional, and the proceedure there is to bring your roll-on to the tarmac to check it, then reclaim it on the tarmac at your destination.

Anne

 

[seashoreCM]

I'm still trying to formulate an article on carry on baggage to share, but for now, if you have to gate check something, stop right there and take out valuables.

I contend that you do not have to agree with the checked baggage rules (liability, etc) for a gate check of a properly sized carry on, and the airline still has to fly you for the fare you already paid (including Priceline), perhaps on a later flight (no free hotel room or bump voucher, though).

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[CarolA]

I am not sure you are correct on the airline having to fly you later.

The airline has a contract to get you and your stuff to the destination. They do not gurantee that your stuff will fit in the cabin with you.

Plus as full as the planes have been lately, there is not any gurantee that (a) you would be on a flight you like and (b) there would be any more overhead space on that plane.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by CarolA
I am not sure you are correct on the airline having to fly you later.

The airline has a contract to get you and your stuff to the destination. They do not gurantee that your stuff will fit in the cabin with you.

Plus as full as the planes have been lately, there is not any gurantee that (a) you would be on a flight you like and (b) there would be any more overhead space on that plane.

Personally, I would love to see all carry ons banned except for what fits under the seats. I have been whacked too many times to count.

 

[CarolA]

Gail,
I got whacked this morning. The guy did not even apologize for hitting me in the sholder with his HEAVY suitcase. (It was too heavy for him which is why he lost control!) SHEESH! (And my luggage was in the cargo hold)

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Personally, I would love to see all carry ons banned except for what fits under the seats. I have been whacked too many times to count.

ITA! Wish the airlines would either start strictly enforcing carry on size limitations or charge extra for any bag that doesn't fit under the seat (except for FC passengers, of course, LOL). I see lots of things that definitely exceed the specified maximum size.

In addition to saving us from getting whacked, it would speed up the boarding process if people wouldn't have to drag and stow all that stuff! I say charge 'em $$$$ for the priviledge!

 

[abitjaded]

Originally posted by CarolA
I am not sure you are correct on the airline having to fly you later.

The airline has a contract to get you and your stuff to the destination. They do not gurantee that your stuff will fit in the cabin with you.

Plus as full as the planes have been lately, there is not any gurantee that (a) you would be on a flight you like and (b) there would be any more overhead space on that plane.

They don't even have to get your stuff on the same flight as you. United often has flights to Hawaii where they load the passengers and put the luggage on a later flight due to weight limitations. Looks pretty stupid to see half the flight still watching that luggage belt go round and round.... The worst is they seem to delight in leaving off children's car seats, so you have to borrow a really nasty looking one from them.

Carla

 

[NotUrsula]

Just FYI, you can always gate-check a carseat to be sure it gets there when you do. If security questions it, tell them that the child will be sitting in it on the plane (the security folks do not pay attention to what sort of seat is or is not allowed on an aircraft, so they will always let them through.)

Having gotten it to the gate area, the airline will have to let you gate-check it if you a) don't have a seat for it, b) if the child is too large, or c) if the seat is the sort not permitted for use on aircraft.
I always do it on connecting flights, and quite often on non-stop flights.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by NotUrsula
Just FYI, you can always gate-check a carseat to be sure it gets there when you do. If security questions it, tell them that the child will be sitting in it on the plane (the security folks do not pay attention to what sort of seat is or is not allowed on an aircraft, so they will always let them through.)

Having gotten it to the gate area, the airline will have to let you gate-check it if you a) don't have a seat for it, b) if the child is too large, or c) if the seat is the sort not permitted for use on aircraft.
I always do it on connecting flights, and quite often on non-stop flights.

they can also send you back to the counter with it.

 

[NotUrsula]

Gail, I suppose they could send you back, but in something close to 100 domestic flights where I have arrived at the gate w/ carseat in hand, I've never had that happen. (BTW, all these were post-9/11.)

Gate-checking a carseat is pretty routine. There is every justification for insisting on having it on the same plane you are on; since the child cannot leave the airport via private vehicle without it. Also, gate-checking a carseat is the safest thing to do, because having it end up under the weight of most of the other luggage in the hold could conceivably crack the shell, rendering it unsafe. When I point this out, always very politely, I'm always allowed to gate-check.

 

[inkkognito]

We usually do carry-on only, as we visit FL a lot for weekends, and I have seen the same issue: flights are getting more crowded and carry-on sizes are getting out of control. ATA used to be more strict, but they are very lax now. We always have bags that will fit under our seats, but sometimes we choose an exit row that does not have space in front because it is across from the jump seats. We never used to have a problem, but the past two times we sat there, we almost didn't get a bin.
We do carry-on mainly because of the ridiculous wait times at Midway for luggage (often over an hour). When we absolutely want to be sure we get space, we take the rear-most exit row on the 757-300, which is always in the first call. If making sure your luggage is in the cabin is more important than being in the front, that can be a good strategy.
Barb