HELP.... checked baggage question

[mickeymousefan]

Ok, just got off the phone with a rather unhelpful and confusing Air Tran agent.

My question is.... are you allowed to bring a duffle bag as a piece of checked luggage??? Per AirTran only military personell are allowed to . Does anyone know why. She told me I can only check "luggage". What defines luggage? Do I have to buy another suitcase or can I bring a more structured soft bag???

 

[NotUrsula]

A duffel-bag that is meant as luggage is not the same as a military duffel bag.
Most airlines will not take military-style duffel bags or serious hiking backpacks with drawstring tops as checked baggage from civilians unless you bag it up inside a plainer bag, because that type of bag has a LOT of straps, buckles, snaps, etc. that can and do snag on the baggage-sorting machinery, and they don't want to pay you for damages to the bag. These bags also tend to be large--so large that they exceed the maximum bag-size limits.

If you are speaking of a smaller heavy soft bag that has a zipper closure and short-loop handles, but not a lot of dangly hardware sticking out, don't worry about it. This sort, for example, IS luggage: http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=2113735&AK=1 (Note that with any bag with a detachable shoulder strap, you should take off the shoulder strap and put it inside the bag when you check it.)

 

[mickeymousefan]

Thank you for clarifying ..... the Air Tran agent was not at all helpful with my questions about this!!! I think what we have will be fine.