Delta and carry on baggage

[ColinCodyMom]

We are flying delta next week. I am trying to get our luggage together and I noticed that every carry on that I have (all came with sets) is "too big" according to their size limits. These are marketed as carry ons but are measuring 23 inches or so instead of their 22 inch capacity. Have people had problems with this? Can I really not use the carry ons because the carry on size is not right? I am so confused!! Just wondering what others experiences are with this. I have so many luggage sets that all have the same size carry on. But it misses it by an inch or two. Crazy...

 

[goofy4tink]

Most airlines care about 'linear inches'....so 22x14x9 (usual measurements they seem to use) adds up to 45 linear inches. Add up the 3 measurements for your bag...see if it equals 45. If so, you're good to go. Most airlines won't hassle you if your bags are just an inch or so over. The problem is that bags are supposed to fit into the overhead 'wheels' first, handles out toward the aisle. If a bag is a bit too long to go that way, it now has to go in sideways...which takes up room from another passenger. Each overhead bin should be able to hold 3 correctly sized bags. BUT...how often do we see that happening??? I see many oversized bags going on as carryon.

 

[seashoreCM]

If the airline says 22 x 14 x 9 inches then the additional information of 45 inches is useless.

If any of the dimensions is exceeded then the airline reserves the right to take the bag for checking and also charge the fee.

Not to say that the airline will but if it looks like the bins will be full then you stand a good chance of being charged.

I think that allowable carry on dimensions have on average are a little smaller now than they were 20 years ago.

 

[Brian Noble]

Not to say that the airline will but if it looks like the bins will be full then you stand a good chance of being charged.

On my past few high-load Delta flights, the gate agent has offered to check luggage to final destinations before boarding, at no cost. Presumably, this is for bags that otherwise fit though.

OP: I can't tell you from personal experience, because my carry-ons are all Delta-legal. But...

I see many oversized bags going on as carryon.

I do too. It's always possible that can change between now and then, and in the future if you want to carry on, you really should get a 22" (or slightly smaller) bag. Alternatively, if you expect to fly Delta on a semi-regular basis, having a Delta co-branded AmEx card, at the Gold level or above, gets you one free bag per person on your reservation. The annual fee is around $95 or so, and you don't pay it the first year.

 

[anonymousegirl]

If your bag appears to be too large or overstuffed, the gate agent may ask you to put it in the "sizer" box located next to the gate. If it doesn't fit, you cannot carry it on the plane. I see this a lot with people who stuff the outside pockets of the bags.

I don't know what happens then. Do you have to go back through security to check it and pay for the bag? Or do they gate check it and have payment options there at the gate? Do they check it at no charge (seems unlikely).

Carry on restrictions/policies have changed so much in the past years that what used to be called carry on may now be mis-named.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We flew Delta in June 2011 to California. We were waiting in line to check in our bags and if you had a bag to check and a carry on, she was checking ALL of the bags. Even the carry on. We had no issues since our carry ons were backpacks.

I'm not sure what was going on unless she was on a power trip but she did tell several people they could not carry on particular bags because they were too big and she had to check the extra bags. I couldn't tell if any were too big since they didn't seem to be just by looking at them.

I am sure some folks got by her because they had no checked bags and didn't need to stand in the line but she sure seemed to be enjoying catching people. I think that's what bothered me about it because they are certainly entitled to make sure that folks don't carry on bags that are too big.

I would just be careful and be prepared in case you have to check extra bags.

 

[seashoreCM]

Nitpicking: If you are told you need to check your carry-on, stop right there, open it, take out valuable or hard to replace items, and hand carry the latter.

 

[msmayor]

Nitpicking: If you are told you need to check your carry-on, stop right there, open it, take out valuable or hard to replace items, and hand carry the latter.

Also make sure your carry-on has an identification tag on it.

My daughter had to gate check her carry-on bag on Delta a few months ago when flying back to college. It got lost (supposed to arrive in Savannah with her, turns out it went all the way to Salt Lake City). Perhaps the best reason it was eventually reunited with her was that it was a Vera Bradley pattern we could send to Delta to help them find it...it had no name on it, just the gate-check tag.

By the way her bag was gate checked not because it didn't meet the size limits...there were about two dozen passengers that were forced to gate-check because there were just too many carry-ons and not enough space.

 

[goofy4tink]

THis is copied directly from Delta's website.....

Carry-on Baggage
Our goal is to provide you with a comfortable and seamless travel experience. To improve onboard efficiency, we ask that you follow our carry-on baggage policy as outlined below.

You may carry on one bag and one personal item at no charge. Please note that all items must easily fit into the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.

Approved Personal Carry-on Items
1 purse, briefcase, camera bag, or diaper bag;
or 1 laptop computer (computers cannot be checked and must be carried on);
or 1 item of a similar or smaller size to those listed above.
Additional Approved Carry-on Items
You may also carry on the following items, which do not count as personal items:

A jacket or umbrella.
Food or drink purchased after clearing the security checkpoint.
Duty free merchandise.
Special items like strollers, child restraint seats, or assistive devices such as wheelchairs or crutches.
Carry-on Baggage Size Restrictions
When oversized bags do not fit in the overhead bins, delays occur. Fees will be applied to the oversized bag if it has to be checked at the gate. To avoid delays as well as fees, follow these size requirements:

Baggage may not exceed 45 linear inches (or 115 cm) in combined length, width, and height.
Baggage must fit easily in the Carry-on Baggage Check, which is located near the check-in counters and at the gate and is approximately 22" x 14" x 9" (or 56 x 36 x 23 cm).

Bolding is mine....evidently the '45 linear inches' is NOT useless. I seldom give out info without researching it first...especially for something like this.

Many oversized bags are allowed onto planes. I have seen passengers standing on seats, trying to shove obviously oversized bags into the overhead bin space. And rather than get off the plane right away, I sat there and watched them try to get it unstuck and then out of that bin...really quite funny to watch. FA's really don't check, GA's really don't check. Wish they did. It would clear up some overhead spaces for those who fall within the size constrictions.

 

[DebbieB]

Many oversized bags are allowed onto planes. I have seen passengers standing on seats, trying to shove obviously oversized bags into the overhead bin space. And rather than get off the plane right away, I sat there and watched them try to get it unstuck and then out of that bin...really quite funny to watch. FA's really don't check, GA's really don't check. Wish they did. It would clear up some overhead spaces for those who fall within the size constrictions.

I once witnessed something funny (?) on a Delta flight. The passenger was having a hard time getting his large rollaboard to fit, he got on late in the boarding process so he could not just put it sideways. A flight attendant said she would look for room in the back to put it. The guy stands there and kept slamming the door to get it to shut. It finally did. He smiled and thought he was smart. After we landed, he got up to get his bag out - the door was jammed shut, it would not open! Thankfully my bag was not in that one but I would have been ticked if it was.

 

[goofy4tink]

I once witnessed something funny (?) on a Delta flight. The passenger was having a hard time getting his large rollaboard to fit, he got on late in the boarding process so he could not just put it sideways. A flight attendant said she would look for room in the back to put it. The guy stands there and kept slamming the door to get it to shut. It finally did. He smiled and thought he was smart. After we landed, he got up to get his bag out - the door was jammed shut, it would not open! Thankfully my bag was not in that one but I would have been ticked if it was.

Don't you just love it when that happens??? I would love the airlines to start charging $15 per carryon bag to use the overheads. They could decrease the checked bag fees...maybe even do the first checked bag free. The amount of carryon being taken onboard now is incredible.

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm not sure what was going on unless she was on a power trip but she did tell several people they could not carry on particular bags because they were too big and she had to check the extra bags. I couldn't tell if any were too big since they didn't seem to be just by looking at them.

It is possible that this was a bit later in the boarding process, and the overheads were already full. Once that happens, they try to get the GA to check the bags so that they don't have to go all the way onto the plane and back out, which only slows down the whole process.

I would love the airlines to start charging $15 per carryon bag to use the overheads.

I've always thought charging for checked bags, but not carryons, was backwards. It would be much easier to get flights turned around if fewer PAX were carrying on bags, and personally I value carry-on more than checked.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Don't you just love it when that happens??? I would love the airlines to start charging $15 per carryon bag to use the overheads. They could decrease the checked bag fees...maybe even do the first checked bag free. The amount of carryon being taken onboard now is incredible.

Fly Spirit! they are charging!

 

[goofy4tink]

It is possible that this was a bit later in the boarding process, and the overheads were already full. Once that happens, they try to get the GA to check the bags so that they don't have to go all the way onto the plane and back out, which only slows down the whole process.


I've always thought charging for checked bags, but not carryons, was backwards. It would be much easier to get flights turned around if fewer PAX were carrying on bags, and personally I value carry-on more than checked.

WAy back when, in the dark ages (actually 2001, right after 9/11) we flew PanAm. You were allowed to bring a purse and maybe a newspaper or book, but that was it for carryon. We had some pretty expensive camera equip in our group.....we were told to 'check' it. BUT, it went into a rubbermaid type container, and locked. We were then given a claim receipt. Worked out just fine. But I have to tell you....the plane was on the ground for about 15 mins total..turn around was incredible. None of that shuffling around trying to squeeze in carryon crap.

Fly Spirit! they are charging!

Ah, no thanks. There are other services I enjoy. I would love it if those airlines that charge for the first piece of checked luggage would do away with that and charge for carryon instead. With having to pay for every piece of checked luggage it seems that more and more passengers are trying to save money by doing carryon only.

Not to mention all those posts we see from people that want to know how to get credit (onto their cc's, not as a voucher) if their fares go down. Or....

'what if I book with SW (getaway fares) and then see that JB has a lower fare...will SW give me a complete credit? But I don't want a voucher 'cause I won't be flying again anytime soon.' People are nickle and diming the airlines to death. They all want a return to those rock bottom airfares of years ago...they look for the cheapest flight they can find and then complain when they can't get refunds if they need to change dates, flights or just to cancel.
There needs to be some kind of a change. Either raise fares a bit and allow for one piece of free checked luggage and then charge for overhead bin usage, or allow people to pay for what they need...piecemeal.

 

[safetymom]

WAy back when, in the dark ages (actually 2001, right after 9/11) we flew PanAm. You were allowed to bring a purse and maybe a newspaper or book, but that was it for carryon. We had some pretty expensive camera equip in our group.....we were told to 'check' it. BUT, it went into a rubbermaid type container, and locked. We were then given a claim receipt. Worked out just fine. But I have to tell you....the plane was on the ground for about 15 mins total..turn around was incredible. None of that shuffling around trying to squeeze in carryon crap.


Ah, no thanks. There are other services I enjoy. I would love it if those airlines that charge for the first piece of checked luggage would do away with that and charge for carryon instead. With having to pay for every piece of checked luggage it seems that more and more passengers are trying to save money by doing carryon only.

Not to mention all those posts we see from people that want to know how to get credit (onto their cc's, not as a voucher) if their fares go down. Or....

'what if I book with SW (getaway fares) and then see that JB has a lower fare...will SW give me a complete credit? But I don't want a voucher 'cause I won't be flying again anytime soon.' People are nickle and diming the airlines to death. They all want a return to those rock bottom airfares of years ago...they look for the cheapest flight they can find and then complain when they can't get refunds if they need to change dates, flights or just to cancel.
There needs to be some kind of a change. Either raise fares a bit and allow for one piece of free checked luggage and then charge for overhead bin usage, or allow people to pay for what they need...piecemeal.

I so agree with you!!!!

 

[emmabelle]

United just had my husband gate check his carryon because the overheads were too full, he was in the last group to board.