Look! My Carry-on's Too Big!

[Lewisc]

So no snacks for screaming and crying toddlers and preschoolers. Gee, that sounds like a pleasant flight.

Skybus is pleased to sell you snacks and drinks. The "word" is the FAs get something like a 10% commission. They are following the RyanAir model and plan on making treating their passengers as captive customers for whatever they can sell.

Since their business model is based on additional sources of revenue I'd be expect them to be strict on enforcing luggage limits.

 

[Desnik]

This is yet another reason why I love JetBlue! Check out their carry on limits:

Each customer may bring one bag that fits in the overhead bin plus one personal
item (purse, briefcase, laptop, etc.) that fits under the seat in front of you. Your
personal item must not exceed 18"l x 15"w x 8"h in order to fit under the seat in
front of you.

To fit in the overhead bin, your item must not exceed:

for our Airbus A320: 26 inches length x 18 inches width x 12 inches height

for our EMBRAER 190: 24 inches length x 16 inches width x 10 inches height


If you have a medical assistance item, it will not count as a carryon.


We fly with 2 kids and we only have carryons! One each and we have never had a problem finding luggage that is the correct size. We ship all our toiletries down ahead of time. I would not bring a carryon that is even a half an inch bigger! They will count the wheels and handle if it sticks out. I would just check the bags or go buy bags that is the size your airline allows. Could you imagine the hassel you could cause yourself at the airport!?

 

[jodifla]

This is yet another reason why I love JetBlue! Check out their carry on limits:

Each customer may bring one bag that fits in the overhead bin plus one personal
item (purse, briefcase, laptop, etc.) that fits under the seat in front of you. Your
personal item must not exceed 18"l x 15"w x 8"h in order to fit under the seat in
front of you.

To fit in the overhead bin, your item must not exceed:

for our Airbus A320: 26 inches length x 18 inches width x 12 inches height

for our EMBRAER 190: 24 inches length x 16 inches width x 10 inches height


If you have a medical assistance item, it will not count as a carryon.


We fly with 2 kids and we only have carryons! One each and we have never had a problem finding luggage that is the correct size. We ship all our toiletries down ahead of time. I would not bring a carryon that is even a half an inch bigger! They will count the wheels and handle if it sticks out. I would just check the bags or go buy bags that is the size your airline allows. Could you imagine the hassel you could cause yourself at the airport!?

I've never had any of my carryons questioned or measured. I have one bag that's a bit over what my airline says they allow, and I've always carried it on. It even fits in the over head the short way, because even though it sticks out a shade, the curve of the overhead door covers it.....

I'm not sure what calamity would befall a person with a too big bag. They'd just gate check it.

 

[bavaria]

I suspect that US airlines are going to become more strict with carry on luggage, just as they are in the rest of the world. I have seen people turned away many many times while boarding in Canada, Europe, and Asia.

I've also seen people told at check in that they need to check a 'carry on' item. Air Canada and Lufthansa, among other airlines, often tag bags as 'cabin approved carryon'. If they can turn it into a revenue stream they will (imagine if you have two suitcases and a carryon, but are told to check the carryon - now you have three suitcases and have to pay extra luggage fees. It happens regularly around the world)

And for those travelling to/within Europe, carry on sizes are often much smaller. I use a German laptop case as the American ones often go over the approved size.

 

[Desnik]

I have never had my carryons questioned either. Actually no one even looked or seemed to care. But, for me I travel with my kids and I wouldn't want to have to deal with having to worry about anything other than getting them on the plane quickly!LOL

 

[Lewisc]

The passenger would have to remove items like camera and medicines from the bag before it got checked. The OP is flying skybus and has to pay for every bag that's checked.

Passenger flying other airlines might have already checked two bags and have to pay to check an additional bag.

edited to say neither is a "calamity"

I'm not sure what calamity would befall a person with a too big bag. They'd just gate check it.

 

[bavaria]

edited to say neither is a "calamity"

As per our definition of 'calamity' Others may use a different dictionary, as we have seen around here over the years

 

[klwdisney]

We have a duffle bag that seems pretty big and have brought it on EVERY flight we've ever taken and we just shove it under our seat and it fits fine and the flight attendants are fine with that.

 

[pjstevens]

My daughter was traveling to WDW for the college program yesterday. Packed for four months in two suitcases and a carry on. Got to Philly airport and they said her carry on was too big for us airways. I was certain i measured it (i did measure her new luggage itself). So she'd have to check it. When I found it was $80 to check it I about died. The lady was very kind and we were able to pack some of the items in her other two bags (may have put them just over the weight limit though, but she slid them across the scale so quickly I think she didn't want to weigh them). Fortunately this worked out fine for us (I just shipped a box to her this am with things she couldn't fit in). I have learned that I will check each airlines requirements as each are different.

 

[ducklite]

So no snacks for screaming and crying toddlers and preschoolers. Gee, that sounds like a pleasant flight.

Not all toddlers and preschoolers scream and cry for lack of a snack. Most parents make sure their children are well fed prior to boarding. Toddlers and preschoolers are able to go two hours without a snack.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I'm not sure what calamity would befall a person with a too big bag. They'd just gate check it.

I'm sure if that carry-on was full of snacks and toys for your kids you'd find it a calamity.

Anne

 

[NotUrsula]

Skybus is pleased to sell you snacks and drinks. The "word" is the FAs get something like a 10% commission. They are following the RyanAir model and plan on making treating their passengers as captive customers for whatever they can sell.

Just FYI, RyanAir doesn't try to forbid passengers bringing their own food (well, except for hot drinks in cups, which they claim are a safety hazard), so long as you can manage to keep the total size of your carryon under the limit, which is strictly enforced. On RyanAir you can take one piece, which must weigh less than 22 lbs, and it cannot measure larger than 21.65" x 15.74" x 7.87". IME, most domesitc passengers on RyanAir tend to bring their own food/drink on board; the ready-to-eat food sales (not the duty-free chocolate) only do well on flights that cross borders.

The FA's on RyanAir *do* keep the food and duty-free products moving, though; if they don't make their sales quota, they won't keep their jobs. The FA's also serve as part of the RyanAir ground crew. I always get a kick out of seeing the female FA's out on the tarmac pulling wheel blocks whilst wearing high-heeled pumps and a calf-length royal blue wool coat.

I'm guessing that SkyBus needs to be more hard-line about food because they are not able to take advantage of the duty-free goods market. However, I'm also guessing that they are not stocking products that are safe for infants/toddlers, or at least not a lot of them. Personally, I don't board ANY flight with a baby without carrying 24 hours worth of food/drink for that child -- you never know when you might get stranded on a runway for hours, and I don't trust an airline to re-supply in that situation.

 

[Lewisc]

Unless it's changed the CoC doesn't prohibit outside food. I don't think a rule that's not contained in the CoC is enforceable.

I'm guessing that SkyBus needs to be more hard-line about food because they are not able to take advantage of the duty-free goods market. However, I'm also guessing that they are not stocking products that are safe for infants/toddlers, or at least not a lot of them. Personally, I don't board ANY flight with a baby without carrying 24 hours worth of food/drink for that child -- you never know when you might get stranded on a runway for hours, and I don't trust an airline to re-supply in that situation.

 

[jodifla]

I'm sure if that carry-on was full of snacks and toys for your kids you'd find it a calamity.

Anne

Good point, but I normally have snacks and the like in a grocery bag, so I could just slip it out.


and re your other point, I find flights tend to drag well on beyond 2 hours by the time you count checking in, security, waiting at the terminal, waiting on the runway, flying, waiting to get off the plane, waiting for your luggage.

My flight with all that time was was about six hours. And yes, most preschoolers and toddlers get hungry within that timeframe.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Couple of points...

First of all, I never would have guessed Skybus, either. Go Figure.

Two, Skybus will make you check your carry on if ANY of the 3 dimension measurements are too big. How do I know this? People will do almost anything to get out of paying even $5 more. Consider the fact there could be up to 155 other people wanting to do the same thing. In addition to my keen sense of human nature, I also happen to know they have a scale AND a measuring bin at the gate... and the dimensions of the bin are exactly what they list as maximum for carry on size. If your bag won't fit properly down into the bin, you must check it (and pay any corresponding fees.) Similarly, if your bag fits into the bin yet there remains a portion above the side (i.e., your bag is too tall) you must check the bag and pay the fees. And, of course, if your bag is over 22 lbs, you must check it and (altogether now) pay any corresponding fees.

Lastly, understand that baggage fees are significant revenue source for them. They know that only so many folks will fall for the <insert length of flight here> time-share presentation. There's a reason your tickets were so cheap. If they had a phone number... I'd tell you to call and ask.

Pay the $5 or get a smaller carry on. Simple.