Is my carry on bag to large for Delta ?

[maryj11]

Im worried about the size of my bag it is 23" long 12" wide and 10" high ? It is right at the 45" but I have also read that it should fit easily in their Size Check unit (approximately 22"x14"x9" ? I did take this bag last Sept. with no trouble has any thing changed, because I was thinking it was more than 9 ". Thanks for any help. I leave this Sunday and hate to go buy a new bag but Im worried they have changed the size requirements ?

 

[Maleficent53]

Carry on bag size allowance has not changed. If it fit last year, it should fit this year. However...

When you have a carry on bag, you might still have to check it at the gate. Even if it is small enough to fit in the sizer box, the overhead bins fill up on full flights. Different types of planes have different size of bins. My recommendation if you really want it in the plane with you, don't be one of the last people to board the plane.

 

[At World's End]

If you are flying on a smaller commuter plane (seat two across instead of three) you will most likely have to gate check your carry-on. I have to do this every time. The overhead bins do not accommodate the "standard" carry on size and they will not even let you try. That's why I always carry a backpack with the essentials for the flight (and make sure it's not stuffed). If there is anything you MUST have during the flight carry it in your "personal item" and expect to be without access to any other bag.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you are flying on a smaller commuter plane (seat two across instead of three) you will most likely have to gate check your carry-on. I have to do this every time. The overhead bins do not accommodate the "standard" carry on size and they will not even let you try. That's why I always carry a backpack with the essentials for the flight (and make sure it's not stuffed). If there is anything you MUST have during the flight carry it in your "personal item" and expect to be without access to any other bag.

And anything that is valuable i.e cameras or medications, should go into your personal item as well. If you end up having to gate check your carry on you don't want to have to sit there switching stuff from that bag to your personal item. And sometimes they won't give you the time to do it anyway.

 

[maryj11]

If you are flying on a smaller commuter plane (seat two across instead of three) you will most likely have to gate check your carry-on. I have to do this every time. The overhead bins do not accommodate the "standard" carry on size and they will not even let you try. That's why I always carry a backpack with the essentials for the flight (and make sure it's not stuffed). If there is anything you MUST have during the flight carry it in your "personal item" and expect to be without access to any other bag.

Our plane on the way there is full with 3 seats on each side, we are in row 18 . On the way home it is full except maybe 4 seats there are 3 seats one side and 2 seats on the other, we are in row 30 on the side with two seats ? They have loaded in the past starting with the seats in the back.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Im worried about the size of my bag it is 23" long 12" wide and 10" high ? It is right at the 45" but I have also read that it should fit easily in their Size Check unit (approximately 22"x14"x9" ? I did take this bag last Sept. with no trouble has any thing changed, because I was thinking it was more than 9 ". Thanks for any help. I leave this Sunday and hate to go buy a new bag but Im worried they have changed the size requirements ?

Your bag exceeds the length measurement by one inch, which is the most important measurement. It may or may not fit in the overhead the proper way, wheels first. Depends on the plane.

 

[Maleficent53]

Our plane on the way there is full with 3 seats on each side, we are in row 18 . On the way home it is full except maybe 4 seats there are 3 seats one side and 2 seats on the other, we are in row 30 on the side with two seats ? They have loaded in the past starting with the seats in the back.

Delta boards by zones - not by back of the plane first. The first groups to board are first class, then the Skymiles elites, then the people using the DL AMEX cc to buy tickets and people who pay for early boarding, then the rest in zone 2 and zone 3 which is random seats to spread people throughout the plane. I have seen them not allow preboarding on Orlando flights for families with kids (because that's most of the plane!).

The plane with 3 seats on one side 2 on the other could be your problem. That is the setup for MD88/90 and they have small bins. Just know that you might have to give up your carryon and send it to baggage claim and pack accordingly (breakables/valuables in small carryon bag) and you won't have to stress out over it!

 

[maryj11]

Delta boards by zones - not by back of the plane first. The first groups to board are first class, then the Skymiles elites, then the people using the DL AMEX cc to buy tickets and people who pay for early boarding, then the rest in zone 2 and zone 3 which is random seats to spread people throughout the plane. I have seen them not allow preboarding on Orlando flights for families with kids (because that's most of the plane!).

The plane with 3 seats on one side 2 on the other could be your problem. That is the setup for MD88/90 and they have small bins. Just know that you might have to give up your carryon and send it to baggage claim and pack accordingly (breakables/valuables in small carryon bag) and you won't have to stress out over it!

I went and bought another bag with the right measurements so I wouldnt have to worry about it.

 

[sam_gordon]

If you are flying on a smaller commuter plane (seat two across instead of three) you will most likely have to gate check your carry-on. I have to do this every time. The overhead bins do not accommodate the "standard" carry on size and they will not even let you try. That's why I always carry a backpack with the essentials for the flight (and make sure it's not stuffed). If there is anything you MUST have during the flight carry it in your "personal item" and expect to be without access to any other bag.

Don't confuse this with retrieving your bag at baggage claim though. Every time I've been on a commuter plane and had to give up my carryon plane side, I'd retrieve the bag plane side at the destination.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Delta boards by zones - not by back of the plane first. The first groups to board are first class, then the Skymiles elites, then the people using the DL AMEX cc to buy tickets and people who pay for early boarding, then the rest in zone 2 and zone 3 which is random seats to spread people throughout the plane. I have seen them not allow preboarding on Orlando flights for families with kids (because that's most of the

According to Seatguru, Delta boards by zones. 1-3 include 1st class and elites. Zone 4 is the rear of the plane, zone 5 is the middle and zone 6 is the front.
They can have as many as 9 zones.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Delta allows steamer trunks as carryon. I fly them a lot and they are the worst at enforcing their own rules

This means that by zone 4 they are having to gate check. They don't charge for this. Be sure you put electronics,cash, meds, and jewelry in a small bag that will fit under the seat in front of you

Family pre boarding is often not offered on flights to and from Orlando due to the huge volume of small kids.

 

[DebbieB]

According to Seatguru, Delta boards by zones. 1-3 include 1st class and elites. Zone 4 is the rear of the plane, zone 5 is the middle and zone 6 is the front.
They can have as many as 9 zones.

I flew them 3 weeks ago, they have changed it. They call first class > diamond, platnium, gold > silver > zone 1 incl American Express > other zones.

I'm not sure how many other zones because I had zone 1 with American Express. Quite a few people got on before me, I connected in Atlanta so there are tons of elites.

 

[anonymousegirl]

I was on a Delta flight last year to Orlando adn the agents asked for volunteers to gate check roller bags as the flight was full. Then they started calling the zones. I was in zone 2 (AMEX) and this guy with a zone 4 tried to muscle his way on the plane early. Not only did they refuse him boarding at that time, but they noticed his carry-on was HUGE and made him check it--and at a charge.
I those agents!

 

[QueenElinor]

The plane with 3 seats on one side 2 on the other could be your problem. That is the setup for MD88/90 and they have small bins. Just know that you might have to give up your carryon and send it to baggage claim and pack accordingly (breakables/valuables in small carryon bag) and you won't have to stress out over it!

WHat happens in this case is that the side with three seats allows three bags wheels first (the usual configuration). The side with two seats takes two bags lengthwise. It works out, so there is no greater risk of having to gate-check on a plane like this than there is on a plane that does 3 seats on each side.

Having said that, on any plane the overhead bins might be full. Aside from the theft issues, gate-checked bags may not even make it on your plane with you, and may end up having to be delivered to you later, just like checked bags, especially if there is a last-minute plane or route change (this happened to my daughter & her friends). So be sure you have ID on them just like regular bags, and do not lose the claim check. Hers was delivered to the hotel, but one of my daughter's friends never did get his carry-on bag back.

 

[QueenElinor]

The plane with 3 seats on one side 2 on the other could be your problem. That is the setup for MD88/90 and they have small bins. Just know that you might have to give up your carryon and send it to baggage claim and pack accordingly (breakables/valuables in small carryon bag) and you won't have to stress out over it!

WHat happens in this case is that the side with three seats allows three bags wheels first (the usual configuration). The side with two seats takes two bags lengthwise. It works out, so there is no greater risk of having to gate-check on a plane like this than there is on a plane that does 3 seats on each side.

Having said that, on any plane the overhead bins might be full. Aside from the theft issues, gate-checked bags may not even make it on your plane with you, and may end up having to be delivered to you later, just like checked bags! So be sure you have ID on them just like regular bags.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I was on a Delta flight last year to Orlando adn the agents asked for volunteers to gate check roller bags as the flight was full. Then they started calling the zones. I was in zone 2 (AMEX) and this guy with a zone 4 tried to muscle his way on the plane early. Not only did they refuse him boarding at that time, but they noticed his carry-on was HUGE and made him check it--and at a charge.
I those agents!

Your SURE this was Delta? The same airline that let the passenger in front of me bring on FOUR carryons? And that's routine with the Delta "elite" (Also known as the "entitled and rude" LOL!)

Seriously you got a great agent, but that's not the Delta norm! MOst of the time they do nothing! LOL!

They do enforce SOME of the boarding zones.

 

[anonymousegirl]

Your SURE this was Delta? The same airline that let the passenger in front of me bring on FOUR carryons? And that's routine with the Delta "elite" (Also known as the "entitled and rude" LOL!)

Seriously you got a great agent, but that's not the Delta norm! MOst of the time they do nothing! LOL!

They do enforce SOME of the boarding zones.

I KNOW! But I am sure it was Delta--I watched them measure his bag and as I headed down the jetway, I could hear him saying "But I don't want to check it" and the gate agent saying that he did not have any other option except not to fly that day.

 

[DebbieB]

WHat happens in this case is that the side with three seats allows three bags wheels first (the usual configuration). The side with two seats takes two bags lengthwise. It works out, so there is no greater risk of having to gate-check on a plane like this than there is on a plane that does 3 seats on each side.

Having said that, on any plane the overhead bins might be full. Aside from the theft issues, gate-checked bags may not even make it on your plane with you, and may end up having to be delivered to you later, just like checked bags! So be sure you have ID on them just like regular bags.

I don't think that's correct. The overhead on the side with two seats is shorter because it's over 2 seats instead of 3. The same number of bags can fit side by side, they just can't be as long. That's why the FA's will usually tell people with rollaboards to use the 3 seat side and use the 2 seat side for smaller bags.

 

[sam_gordon]

WHat happens in this case is that the side with three seats allows three bags wheels first (the usual configuration). The side with two seats takes two bags lengthwise. It works out, so there is no greater risk of having to gate-check on a plane like this than there is on a plane that does 3 seats on each side.

It CAN'T work out unless you have a bin for every row. IIRC, each "bin" spans ~two rows. So on the 3 seat side, you have one bin that will take three bags, but it has to service 6 seats (two rows).

Now, if someone doesn't have a bag to put into the upper bin, THEN things can work out.

 

[QueenElinor]

I don't think that's correct. The overhead on the side with two seats is shorter because it's over 2 seats instead of 3. The same number of bags can fit side by side, they just can't be as long. That's why the FA's will usually tell people with rollaboards to use the 3 seat side and use the 2 seat side for smaller bags.

The bin is not as deep, but it isn't shorter (or narrower, depending on how you look at it). I just flew on this type of plane, and yes, you can fit two rolling bags end to end. That is what the flight attendant told us to do, and it worked fine. On the other side, the bin was the regular depth and so they went in wheels first (three of them).

It CAN'T work out unless you have a bin for every row. IIRC, each "bin" spans ~two rows. So on the 3 seat side, you have one bin that will take three bags, but it has to service 6 seats (two rows).

Now, if someone doesn't have a bag to put into the upper bin, THEN things can work out.

I didn't say there was room for every carry-on, just that it works out the same as any other airplane. It's true that the left side of the airplane (facing down the aisle) only holds two, but there are fewer seats on that side.

Proportionally you have the same number of seats per "rolling bag space" in the overhead bins on an MD 80 as you do on a bigger plane, such as a 727. The ratio is still about 2 to 1, depending upon how close they decide to put their rows. And of course, on a really big plane like an older 747, there might be even less because of all the seats in the middle. The fact is that most people (especially leisure travelers) don't take rolling carry-on bags, which is great for people like my family who only take a rollie, and have for years and years due to the convenience. However, more and more people are going this route because of baggage fees, and now we're seeing gate-checking on bigger planes where we never used to see it.

On regionals, of course, (like the Canadairs) we always have to gate check because they're little planes with little overhead bins.