DME and carryon bags

[Dis_Dreamin]

I've got a short trip planned and my wife and I think we can pack our stuff in carry-on bags only. My concern is if we get to the gate and they are 100% capacity and we have to gate check our bags. If we put the Yellow ME tags on our carry-ons (just in case), and are wearing our park clothes when we board, would ME pick up anything gate checked as well, or are gate checked bags separated from all the other bags?

I know I can just run down to the luggage carrousel and grab them on the way to the DME buses, but it sure would be nice, if we had to gate check, to not have to grab them and have the bags delivered to our room .

Anyone have any experience with this? Not trying to scam the system, just trying to work out all the different scenarios in advance.

 

[ZoeBell]

I've got a short trip planned and my wife and I think we can pack our stuff in carry-on bags only. My concern is if we get to the gate and they are 100% capacity and we have to gate check our bags. If we put the Yellow ME tags on our carry-ons (just in case), and are wearing our park clothes when we board, would ME pick up anything gate checked as well, or are gate checked bags separated from all the other bags?

I know I can just run down to the luggage carrousel and grab them on the way to the DME buses, but it sure would be nice, if we had to gate check, to not have to grab them and have the bags delivered to our room .

Anyone have any experience with this? Not trying to scam the system, just trying to work out all the different scenarios in advance.

Aren't the gate checked bags waiting for you as soon get off the plane? It's always been that way for me. I usually have to check a bag(damn hair products). But the few times I haven't and the gate checked the bag they taken it from me right before I stepped onto the plane and given it back to me as I got off the plane.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Aren't the gate checked bags waiting for you as soon get off the plane? It's always been that way for me. I usually have to check a bag(damn hair products). But the few times I haven't and the gate checked the bag they taken it from me right before I stepped onto the plane and given it back to me as I got off the plane.

The one time I had to gate check a bag in the Atlanta Airport it had to be picked up at the Baggage carousel just like any other bag that was normally checked.

I don't know the answer to OP's question but I wanted to let you know that I think different airports handle the gate check of bags different ways.

 

[Dis_Dreamin]

Aren't the gate checked bags waiting for you as soon get off the plane? It's always been that way for me. I usually have to check a bag(damn hair products). But the few times I haven't and the gate checked the bag they taken it from me right before I stepped onto the plane and given it back to me as I got off the plane.

I know they do that with strollers, but I've not heard of other gate checked bags being delivered in the concourse when deplaning. Perhaps GaSleepingBeautyFan is right about different procedures at different airports. I guess the main question should be amended with flying into Orlando International (MCO).

The one time I had to gate check a bag in the Atlanta Airport it had to be picked up at the Baggage carousel just like any other bag that was normally checked.

I don't know the answer to OP's question but I wanted to let you know that I think different airports handle the gate check of bags different ways.

 

[DebbieB]

If it's a full size plane (not a regional), they typically send the bags to baggage claim. Lately they have been announcing at the gate if anyone wants to check carryon bags for free so that the overheads will not be full and people will be forced to gate check. I would confirm then if they will be sent to baggage claim. If yes, put the DME tag on.

 

[ZoeBell]

The one time I had to gate check a bag in the Atlanta Airport it had to be picked up at the Baggage carousel just like any other bag that was normally checked.

I don't know the answer to OP's question but I wanted to let you know that I think different airports handle the gate check of bags different ways.

I think it would be up to the individual airline,no? United was the one who gate checked my bag on the concourse and brought all the gate checked bags back to the concourse when we landed.

 

[DebbieB]

I think it would be up to the individual airline,no? United was the one who gate checked my bag on the concourse and brought all the gate checked bags back to the concourse when we landed.

It also depends on the size of the plane.

 

[ZoeBell]

If it's a full size plane (not a regional), they typically send the bags to baggage claim. Lately they have been announcing at the gate if anyone wants to check carryon bags for free so that the overheads will not be full and people will be forced to gate check. I would confirm then if they will be sent to baggage claim. If yes, put the DME tag on.

That would explain it. I'm usually going Buf -> NYC area

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Aren't the gate checked bags waiting for you as soon get off the plane? It's always been that way for me. I usually have to check a bag(damn hair products). But the few times I haven't and the gate checked the bag they taken it from me right before I stepped onto the plane and given it back to me as I got off the plane.

No, gate checked bags are delivered to baggage claim except when everyone has to gate check bags in the case of flying a small regional jet or propeller plane.

 

[Dis_Dreamin]

No, gate checked bags are delivered to baggage claim except when everyone has to gate check bags in the case of flying a small regional jet or propeller plane.

We won't be flying a regional or turboprop. Airtran flies the Boeing 717 out of IND.

So, if gate checked bags end up at baggage claim, it would be a safe assumption that DME picks them up. I think we'll put the yellow tags on, just in case.

 

[Sandi]

We won't be flying a regional or turboprop. Airtran flies the Boeing 717 out of IND.

So, if gate checked bags end up at baggage claim, it would be a safe assumption that DME picks them up. I think we'll put the yellow tags on, just in case.

I wish we had done that for our trip last April. We were forced to check our carry on bags for our connection flight in Detroit. After we got on the plane, we discovered lots of room for checked bags in the cabin but weren't permitted to retrieve our bags. We had to go collect them from the baggage carousel in Orlando. This was on Delta. Our regular checked bags had the yellow tags and didn't get on the carousel, which was fine. The whole thing was irritating. Were I you, I'd bring the ME tags along, but not attach them to the bags until you are asked to check them (if you're asked to do so).