is this really a carry on?

[seashoreCM]

... specify a 45" total limit, and they also specify per-dimension limits of 9x14x22.

Ph.D. in math needed. OT: Pssst! Given those dimension limits, that total is redundant.

 

[mainemouselover]

I have recently had to fly a couple of different trips and I my feelings that carry ons are out of control! I don't like paying the fee, but I do it. It is so much easier then carting a bag all thru the airport, fighting to get a space for the bag when I get on the plane and finally knocking out my fellow flyers while I am pull the bag out! It is my small contribution to try to get the plane off on time!

 

[bumbershoot]

I do know that when we flew right after 9/11, we weren't allowed any carryon at all...a purse and that was it. It was amazing how fast that plane took off, and then how fast we all got off the plane.

Interesting. We flew on the 18th (and home a week later) and had our normal carryons with us. I remember well b/c the Baltimore security lady was having a tizzy (which I understand) over a pack of batteries and took up a lot of time scanning and rescanning, when she certainly could have just unzipped the pocket to see the box (it's the time she took I didn't understand).


I thought duds was really going to use a bowling ball bag as a carryon! NOt with bowling balls etc, though. Guess I thought that b/c I've considered using my ancient bowling ball bag as a travel bag.

 

[goofy4tink]

Interesting. We flew on the 18th (and home a week later) and had our normal carryons with us. I remember well b/c the Baltimore security lady was having a tizzy (which I understand) over a pack of batteries and took up a lot of time scanning and rescanning, when she certainly could have just unzipped the pocket to see the box (it's the time she took I didn't understand).


I thought duds was really going to use a bowling ball bag as a carryon! NOt with bowling balls etc, though. Guess I thought that b/c I've considered using my ancient bowling ball bag as a travel bag.

We flew PanAm, out of a regional airport. It amazed me to see those armed young men there!! We weren't even allowed to bring expensive photography equip with us as carryon. Had to put it in a bin, sign for it and got a claim receipt. The bin was then locked up. Had no issue claiming it at Sanford. But, the teddy bear that my dd had carried, with her on the flight down, had to be stowed in the checked luggage for the return flight. She was not a happy young lady. I tried explaining to the rep at the counter that PanAm had told me on several occasions that the teddy bear would be fine..it would just be scanned. Nope, the woman had the power and by God she was going to use it...told dd to put the bear away! Otherwise we wouldn't be getting on the plane. Nice. We're talking about a teddy bear that is about a foot high...not one that needed it's own seat. Kid still talks about the 'nasty lady'.

 

[bavaria]

I thought duds was really going to use a bowling ball bag as a carryon! NOt with bowling balls etc, though. Guess I thought that b/c I've considered using my ancient bowling ball bag as a travel bag.

Duds has been influenced by his friends and he and his balls will now be flying in First Class.

I flew a few days after 9/11, multiple trips, but didn't have the no carry on rule. I think that it varied greatly depending on country/location etc. And I did fly to DC after 9/11 but that wasn't the rule on my flight at least.

 

[dudspizza]

Duds has been influenced by his friends and he and his balls will now be flying in First Class.

You did not just say that, did you?

(and yes, gentle readers, MrsDuds knows all about the 'woman that duds met online')

SHHHHHHHHHHH, now everyone knows about the woman I met online......

 

[bumbershoot]

We flew PanAm, out of a regional airport. It amazed me to see those armed young men there!!

Kid still talks about the 'nasty lady'.

Poor kid.

Armed people...I don't remember seeing that in Seattle or Baltimore! Just lots of really quiet, worried people....

Duds has been influenced by his friends and he and his balls will now be flying in First Class.

I flew a few days after 9/11, multiple trips, but didn't have the no carry on rule. I think that it varied greatly depending on country/location etc. And I did fly to DC after 9/11 but that wasn't the rule on my flight at least.

Ha! at the first sentence.

We were using Baltimore to get to DC (Southwest didn't go to DC, at least not then) and yeah, carryons were allowed. Sigh, that was a weird trip...visiting DC then...drove right by the Pentagon on the freeway...sigh...

 

[dioxide45]

Unless AirTran has extremely large overhead bins there is no way a 26" suitcase will fit in. The bigger question would be who will be able to lift that over their head to put it in there. We have enough trouble getting a normal sized carry-on suitcase in a bin. You can give it a try but don't be surprised if you are asked to check the bag. Delta is really cracking down on the carrry-on situation since so many people are trying to get around luggage fees. We had to listen to a woman complain the whole return trip in Aug. that she had to check three carry-ons at the gate and pay the fee. Problem was the bags were fuller and bigger than my checked bag to begin with - her bags would have never fit into the the bins.

Apparently you haven't flown AirTran. We have and have used and carried on a 25" bag. That bag does fit in the overhead bin wheels first. Currently AirTran allows bags up to 55". They wouldn't indicate such a large size if they were not confident that it would fit in their bins.

Pssst..... his tongue is firmly planted inside his cheek.

I am cranky today and already gave him an earful. There I was, listening to Shakespeare sonnets being read aloud, when suddenly the bag signal flashed and I had some sort of garbled message from Minnesota about bowling balls, luggage, and rented shoes.

I have a feeling it was a joke, but I decided to bite anyway.

But otherwise I do agree with my sometimespartnerincrime about 'just because one can doesn't mean that one should'.

Why not. The airline doesn't seem to have an issue with it. It isn't illegal or against their policy, so one should not have to be made to feel guilty for following a policy.

DANG IT! No one was supposed to know I was kidding......... I personally find it crazy that anyone would carry on bowling balls (as some on another message board have said they will do). I also find it crazy to lug around a 55" suitcase as carry on just because the rules say you can do it. The bins are not that big and it is silly to do so just to save $15.

If someone is truly concerned about saving on the luggage fees, then each person should have a roll aboard that is legal on all airlines in the US and use that. Heck, you could even have a purse or small backpack that will go under the seat in front of you....... but a 55" bag as carry on???? a bit much in my opinion....

Duds

Why should I buy a carry on that meets all airlines policies when I fly AirTran almost exclusively. We have flown five times in the past nine months, all on AirTran. If I end up flying a different airline, I would use a bag that meets their requirements.

For an authoritative answer, you might try calling the airline, as each one has different rules. However, if someone were thinking about buying a bag for more than just AT, you might consider a smaller bag, because it sounds like AT's limits are unusually generous.

For example, on Northwest, that bag would not be a carryon: they specify a 45" total limit, and they also specify per-dimension limits of 9x14x22. My experience is that NW's smaller (and more specific) limits are pretty common on US carriers.

They are common to just about all, but not all US carriers. SWA and AT have larger requirements. In all my posts I was only commenting to AirTran as that is what the OP was referring to.

I never cram, stuff, or mash my carry on in to an overhead bin. It fits just fine without that. Now if someone lazily tossed a bucket type open top bag up there laying on its side taking up four times the footprint it needs to, I will stand it up straight. Better chance that stuff won't fall out anyway. All bags should be placed in the overhead bins to maximize space. In most cases the bins are empty when we board anyway.

I would never move someones bag that is already in the bin to another area of the plan. If it is taking up maximum footprint and can take up less in that same bin, it gets shifted. No harm no foul, they should have done that themselves when they put it there on their own. The problem is that many people don't think of this when they are putting their bags in the bin. They just throw them up in a way that fits and then sit down. If they took the time to think about it and were worried someone may touch their bag, they would put it in the bin to maximize space in the first place.

 

[Brian Noble]

They are common to just about all, but not all US carriers.

I guess I was not aware that "pretty common on US carriers" meant all of them as opposed to "just about all". But, thanks for the clarification.

SWA and AT have larger requirements.

SW's limits are more generous than NW's, but not large enough to fit the OP's 25" bag. From the SWA website:

Southwest Airlines limits carryon bag dimensions to 10x16x24 inches.

 

[dioxide45]

SW's limits are more generous than NW's, but not large enough to fit the OP's 25" bag. From the SWA website:

But the OP isn't flying SWA, they are flying AirTran. You should quote AirTran's website, as in the case of the OP what SWA website indicates is meaningless.

 

[Brian Noble]

I already noted that AT has a 55" limit. I'll say it again if it will make you happy. But, you're the one who cited SW as an example of a more generous limit---and in the context of this discussion, it is more generous, but not generous enough for OP's 25" bag.

Which brings me back to my original point---flying with a 25" carryon bag is fine if you'll only be flying AT, but if you might be flying most other domestic carriers, you're going to be checking it.

 

[dioxide45]

I already noted that AT has a 55" limit. I'll say it again if it will make you happy. But, you're the one who cited SW as an example of a more generous limit---and in the context of this discussion, it is more generous, but not generous enough for OP's 25" bag.

Which brings me back to my original point---flying with a 25" carryon bag is fine if you'll only be flying AT, but if you might be flying most other domestic carriers, you're going to be checking it.

I agree. As indicated, we fly AT 100% of the time. When and if we don't we fly AT, we would use bags that meet that airlines limits. If we are able to fit our stuff in to 25" bags then why not use them instead of checking two bags. They have 360 wheels, so getting them through the airport is a breeze. I am a pretty big guy, so lifting them in to the overhead is not hard. If people aren't always up one butt when they are following getting on the plane, they wouldn't need to be worried about the bags hitting them if they were dropped. They don't even get close to the weight limit, if there even is one.

 

[dudspizza]

Ok, I will restate what I was getting at.

IF, you can lift a 55" bag into the overhead bin without hitting anyone or needing assistance, without bumping anyone with it as you go down the the very skinny aisle, without disturbing others, and the bin closes... go for it.

My wife and both of my kids would not be able to even get a bag like that down the aisle without hitting someone. I will pay the fee and leave it at that.

If anyone can do all of the things above, more power to you and enjoy hauling that heavy bag all over the airport.

Duds

 

[goofy4tink]

You did not just say that, did you?



SHHHHHHHHHHH, now everyone knows about the woman I met online......

Oh, I do believe she did...crazy lady. And I have to say that some of the nicest people I've met have been through the DIS. But, some of the most 'not so nice' as well. Just like in real life I guess.

You guys make my mornings!!

 

[LSchrow]

Duds has been influenced by his friends and he and his balls will now be flying in First Class. .

just to note: he did say three balls.........
wouldn't that sort of (ahem...) unusual occurance alone cause a bit of a commotion in somewhat staid first class?
i would think a plane would most certainly be delayed if a flight attendant noticed .

 

[sln88]

thanks Dioxide for all the info. I feel better about using the bag I have. I guess this is one of those touchy subjects with some people. Even when someone is following the rules. Our other 3 roll ons are not quite as big as this one. I have my hub and 2 boys to help get the bags up if need be.

Call me cheap, call me frugal, I will avoid checking bags if I can now that they charge for them.

Next time we go somewhere, southwest will be at our airport and hopefully they will still have free bags

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

From the Southwest site, regarding carry-on dimensions.

Southwest Airlines limits carryon bag dimensions to 10x16x24 inches.

End of discussion regarding Southwest.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

From the Southwest site, regarding carry-on dimensions.

Southwest Airlines limits carryon bag dimensions to 10x16x24 inches.

End of discussion regarding Southwest.

It's interesting that the maximum dimensions each direction and the total maximum on Southwest both are the same. This suggests that you cannot have an 18 wide bag just becuase it is only 22 inches long.

On American Airlines, on the other hand, the maximum dimensions are 22" long / 18" wide / 10" deep, which adds up to 50 total inches, even though the total allowed bag dimension are 45". Ths advantage to this is that each passenger has some flexibility (if your carry on is 20" long and 10" deep, you can have up to 15" wide, but a 22" long and 9" wide deep bag can only be 14" wide.) The disdvantage is that you bag can fit in the sizer and still be too big to comly with the rules. -- Suzanne

 

[Halbleib1]

We flew PanAm, out of a regional airport. It amazed me to see those armed young men there!! We weren't even allowed to bring expensive photography equip with us as carryon. Had to put it in a bin, sign for it and got a claim receipt. The bin was then locked up. Had no issue claiming it at Sanford. But, the teddy bear that my dd had carried, with her on the flight down, had to be stowed in the checked luggage for the return flight. She was not a happy young lady. I tried explaining to the rep at the counter that PanAm had told me on several occasions that the teddy bear would be fine..it would just be scanned. Nope, the woman had the power and by God she was going to use it...told dd to put the bear away! Otherwise we wouldn't be getting on the plane. Nice. We're talking about a teddy bear that is about a foot high...not one that needed it's own seat. Kid still talks about the 'nasty lady'.

I will never forget my experience flying for the very first time and landing in Paris. I was so nervous walking through the airport with the armed guards standing there with machine guns with a blank stern look on their faces. I was so nervous I was going to be stopped for something that I walked as quick as I could while trying to look like I was not nervous or in a hurry. LOL Keep in mind I was only 18 at the time and from a small town. Never experienced anything like that before. When we left Philly we had none of that in the airport. This was before 911 as well so security was no where near as tight as it is now. We could take anything on board pretty much. Coming back they actually weighed our carry ons and they had to be pretty small. (Was not expecting the weighing part as my uncle who was in the military and flew all the time said they never checked that- he said to put as much as you could in carry on so your reg. bags would not weigh too much. Boy was he wrong. ) Mine was too large so I was made to check mine with everything I had bought on the trip in that one bag. Also different airports had different rules even though it was the same airline the whole time. So you never really know when they are going to tell you that you have to check your bags.

BTW: Security is still not as tight here as it was overseas than. Yes we have more of it but still not good enough in my opinion.

 

[Halbleib1]

From the Southwest site, regarding carry-on dimensions.

Southwest Airlines limits carryon bag dimensions to 10x16x24 inches.

End of discussion regarding Southwest.

They also will except them if you use the 50" rule. Otherwise many people including myself on our last trip would have been denyed their carry ons. I have never seen them even check people's bags. And they sure do not check the weight of them. Different airports may vary though. We fly BWI to MCO.