How strict is Delta on carry on size?

[mermaidwannabe]

I'm trying to have my family all take carryons on our flight (Delta and Compass) so we don't have $250 in luggage fees (5 people both ways) plus we are taking ME late so want to have our first days clothes with us for the parks the next morning. (We are checking 2 suitcases).

I have those kid-style little roller suitcases for my 3 kids that they can roll themselves through the airport. The size restrictions are 22x14x9 and they meet this EXCEPT for the black rollers and plastic piece that holds the wheels which adds another 2 inches.

Will I get by with this? Should I just go find some at a thrift store or use duffel bags? This will only be our 2nd time flying in 5 years so don't want to invest a lot of money on bags.

Thanks for any info.

 

[msmayor]

When you measure the size of your carry-on, you are supposed to INCLUDE the wheels and handle in the dimensions. If the wheels add an extra 2" then technically it is oversize.

How strict are they? No one here can really answer. It will completely depend on who is working the gate the day you fly.

My daughter flies Delta back and forth to college and she has seen flights where every single person was required to put any carry-on in the measurement gauge, and EVERY bag that didn't meet the limit was not permitted in the cabin. She's seen folks shifting items because they've overstuffed their cases and made them 'too big'. She's also seen them not check at all.

So ask yourself...are you feeling lucky?

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

When you measure the size of your carry-on, you are supposed to INCLUDE the wheels and handle in the dimensions. If the wheels add an extra 2" then technically it is oversize.

How strict are they? No one here can really answer. It will completely depend on who is working the gate the day you fly.

My daughter flies Delta back and forth to college and she has seen flights where every single person was required to put any carry-on in the measurement gauge, and EVERY bag that didn't meet the limit was not permitted in the cabin. She's seen folks shifting items because they've overstuffed their cases and made them 'too big'. She's also seen them not check at all.

So ask yourself...are you feeling lucky?

exactly!!

 

[somcgregor]

I have flown Delta 4 times in the last two weeks (work related).

On the both flights that I left my home airport on there were people who boarded in Zone 4 that had to check bags through to the final destination when the overheads were full and could no longer handle the bags. This was after they had already moved stuff out and to the seat in front of you. According to the gate agent and flight crew you are suppose to put your personal item under the seat in front of you and the roller bags wheels in in the overhead bin.

I also have had to place my bag on the ala-cart service because the plane I was flying did not accommodate the larger bags. It will all depend upon how many other people have bags they are not checking and how quickly you can get on the plane an what size plane you have. Good luck!

 

[Lewisc]

I have those kid-style little roller suitcases for my 3 kids that they can roll themselves through the airport. The size restrictions are 22x14x9 and they exceed the limit by 2 ninches due to the black rollers and plastic piece that holds the wheels.

I re-worded your post to make it easier to understand. Bags that are too long will only fit in the bin lenghtwise. That means you're intentionally hoping to take sapce that belongs to other passengers.

A bag that only fits in the bin lenghtwise is obviously too big. You may get lucky if the flight isn't full. You may get lucky, the FA might let you gate check the bag but not charge you.

A lot easier to take a bag that fits.

 

[Gary M]

On my last few flights, I have noticed that people have figured out how to game the system. They are getting bags, that are larger than allowed, to the plane and then asked to gate check them by the flight attendant. They aren't charged for the oversized bags.

 

[maxiesmom]

I flew Delta just a couple of weeks ago, and the overheads were all full. To the point where some people had to gate check their bags because of lack of room. Do yourself a favor and get new bags. The ones you have now are too big.

You don't have to spend a ton of money if you don't fly often. Places like Kohls or Target often have huge sales on luggage.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Thanks for your replies. I will just find a different bag! I don't want to take a chance. I flew a few months ago, and I could not believe what people were taking as carryons! They were huge! The ones I have are too long by a few inches and way smaller, but I would hate to have to check it. I did wonder why Delta was letting these people take them on.

I hadn't thought about the bag fitting that way in the overhead (not lengthwise).

Thank you for helping me decide to get a smaller bag!

 

[seashoreCM]

Not sure whether the Size Wise gauges have been replaced recently but the last time I saw the gauges, they would accept a suitcase slightly bigger than the dimensions (22x14x9 inches?) published in the brochures and web site.

Read somewhere that the major U.S. airlines pledged to not follow Spirit's lead in charging for carryons. These airlines have painted themselves into a corner, no way to give an incentive not to carry on.

 

[goofy4tink]

Good decision to get new bags. Otherwise, you're going to be sitting there, at the gate, worrying about whether or not your bags will be allowed. I know...been there, done that. And my bag is exactly the right size..fits perfectly, wheels in. But, I still worry each and every time I use it.

People that knowing bring larger than allowed bags are asking for trouble. They are taking space away from those that are following the rules. I can understand the FA's gate checking a slightly larger than allowable bag for no charge. But, I've seen bags that had to be shoved, pushed and man handled in order for them to fit in the overhead...they were way too large to fit, but the passenger managed to squish it in...taking room away from those who brought the appropriate size bags. I would have no issue with gate checking, for a fee, in that case. That is not charging for a carryon. It's someone trying to get a larger than acceptable bag on for free...when it should have been checked, for a charge.

 

[Brian Noble]

I also think getting bags that fit is wise. That said, while DL is usually pretty good at enforcing boarding order, they generally haven't been too diligent about enforcing carry-on size. That could change---and personally, I wish they'd enforce it a little more carefully---but that seems to be the state of the DL world right now.

Note that if you have a *legal* carry-on, and there is not room for it when you board, you will have to check it through to your final destination and claim it at baggage claim, but you won't be charged for it.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

I also think getting bags that fit is wise. That said, while DL is usually pretty good at enforcing boarding order, they generally haven't been too diligent about enforcing carry-on size. That could change---and personally, I wish they'd enforce it a little more carefully---but that seems to be the state of the DL world right now.

Note that if you have a *legal* carry-on, and there is not room for it when you board, you will have to check it through to your final destination and claim it at baggage claim, but you won't be charged for it.

Oh, I would hate to have to check it even for free! I agree actually. They should strictly enforce the size so they wouldn't have to deal with the no room issue. I'm off this morning to try to find an economical, right-size bag at Target. May even hit the thrift store. It's all becoming so unimportant in light of the fact we are wondering what our 2nd half of our vacation will be like on the Gulf Coast with the oil spill. Not so sound selfish - I feel sick for Florida residents - but we don't do this big of a vacation very often.

 

[disneyag]

you might consider backpacks for your kiddos. I think they are easier than shoulder type carryons. And, backpacks can fit under the seat in front of you, which means no worries about last minute gate-checked bags.