SW Carryons

[budafam]

I'm traveling with my 5 year old son. We'll have a laptop bag, a duffel bag & then my purse. Will they count my purse as one of the carryons?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Yes, a purse is counted towards your carry-on allowance. You are okay as you are allowed two items per person.

 

[DebbieB]

I'm traveling with my 5 year old son. We'll have a laptop bag, a duffel bag & then my purse. Will they count my purse as one of the carryons?

Yes, your purse and laptop bag count as a personal items but you and your son are both entitled to a carryon and a personal item so you will be OK.

 

[budafam]

Oh! Thank goodness! Thank you so much.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

This type of information is always available on your airline's website:

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/baggage/carryon-bags-pol.html

 

[bumbershoot]

And for ease in carrying, you can out your purse into the bigger bag...

 

[bg4]

what everyone has said so far is absolutely correct - only two carry-ons per passenger.

In reality they do not "usually" enforce pocketbook as a carry-on.

In July wife had laptop bag, pocketbook plus one more with no problem on sw. We also had two golf umbrellas - which I called about night before and was told no problem - umbrellas are not counted as they take up no space in the overhead bin.

My opinion is its more of the sizing of all of the carry-ons as opposed to the numbers.

But officially its two per person if they decide to enforce it.

 

[Lewisc]

Occasionally the TSA will give passengers with too many bags an issue.

NOT THE CASE WITH THE OP but I've read threads where a parent was traveling with young kids. The number of carryon bags was legal but there was no way the parent would be able to get the kids and the bags through the airport. OK you're going to hold each child by a hand. Now how do you handle 6 bags?

 

[vacationclub]

Occasionally the TSA will give passengers with too many bags an issue.

NOT THE CASE WITH THE OP but I've read threads where a parent was traveling with young kids. The number of carryon bags was legal but there was no way the parent would be able to get the kids and the bags through the airport. OK you're going to hold each child by a hand. Now how do you handle 6 bags?

You could buy a rolling fold up luggage cart and stack them together with a bungee cord.

With young kids the airline may let you board early with your cart of carry-ons and your kids. The little luggage cart can fold down and be tied (with the bungee) to one of the carry on bags for storage in the overhead.

As far as carry-ons, untill recently I travelled with a full size carry-on bag, and then a laptop bag, but also a waist-bag (or fanny pack type bag) that allowed me to carry even more stuff on my person that I didn't want to check. When I got to the plane, I simply wrapped the waist-bag around the straps of the laptop bag as it hung on my shoulders, so one bag sort-of became part of the first bag, sort of hanging there. Never had a problem, but I always turned my body away from the gate agent or the FA as I entered the aircraft to minimize their line of sight to my double-bag combo. In the winter I would wear the waist bag backwards so the bag was above my butt, and the coat would cover it, then I'd simply take it off and put it under the seat once I got on.

These days I replaced those two with an even larger net size of a backpack. I stuff that thing. and bring a large wheeled carry-on. Not even a blink from the airlines. As long as the personal bag goes under the seat in front of you, it's good, though you lose some stretching room for your legs or feet.

Regarding the purse, I think it depends on the size of the purse if they will say something about it.

 

[Detailor]

Occasionally the TSA will give passengers with too many bags an issue.

NOT THE CASE WITH THE OP but I've read threads where a parent was traveling with young kids. The number of carryon bags was legal but there was no way the parent would be able to get the kids and the bags through the airport. OK you're going to hold each child by a hand. Now how do you handle 6 bags?

Seems to me to be outside of the purview of a TSA agent. As long as there's nothing in the carry-on bags that's not allowed by TSA why would they care how a passenger gets her/his stuff from point to point?

Sounds more like someone having a bad day than doing their job correctly.

Dick Taylor

 

[vacationclub]

Seems to me to be outside of the purview of a TSA agent. As long as there's nothing in the carry-on bags that's not allowed by TSA why would they care how a passenger gets her/his stuff from point to point?

Sounds more like someone having a bad day than doing their job correctly.

Dick Taylor

Actually, I think the TSA does have some concern over how much you bring onto a plane. Airlines reference the FAA regulations every time they make an announcement about carry on limits. And there are signs at TSA checkpoints showing the kinds of allowable carry ons and how many. I think TSA is simply acting as an enforcement for another gov agency (FAA)

 

[Detailor]

Actually, I think the TSA does have some concern over how much you bring onto a plane. Airlines reference the FAA regulations every time they make an announcement about carry on limits. And there are signs at TSA checkpoints showing the kinds of allowable carry ons and how many. I think TSA is simply acting as an enforcement for another gov agency (FAA)

Perhaps my question sounded too general.

I pulled in the PP's quote as it referenced a particular instance in which the passengers were not over the limits. And, in that case, I stand by my comment about the TSA overstepping her/his authority. I didn't question whether TSA has the responsibility to enforce rules, I questioned their going beyond the rules in that particular case. Whether the children in that situation were potentially too young, in the TSA agent's opinion, to control the carry-ons is entirely moot, three ticketed passengers with six carry-ons is perfectly within the FAA rules. But I will admit that I believe the number of carry ons allowed to be airline policies rather than FAA rules, and I could be wrong on that point.

Dick Taylor

 

[goofy4tink]

Perhaps my question sounded too general.

I pulled in the PP's quote as it referenced a particular instance in which the passengers were not over the limits. And, in that case, I stand by my comment about the TSA overstepping her/his authority. I didn't question whether TSA has the responsibility to enforce rules, I questioned their going beyond the rules in that particular case. Whether the children in that situation were potentially too young, in the TSA agent's opinion, to control the carry-ons is entirely moot, three ticketed passengers with six carry-ons is perfectly within the FAA rules. But I will admit that I believe the number of carry ons allowed to be airline policies rather than FAA rules, and I could be wrong on that point.

Dick Taylor

The TSA mandates only what is inside those bags...not how many or the size. It is the airlines who decide how large the bags can be, and how many each passenger can bring onboard with them.

 

[helenk]

I was travelling for business with my boss, she had her computer bag, a carry on suitcase and a large purse. When we left PHL she had no problem, coming back through Ohare, the TSA agent that was checking ID's told her only 2 carry on items. I had a small purse so I put my purse into hers and I carried that as my personal items, otherwise I am not sure what she would have done.

 

[bumbershoot]

Occasionally the TSA will give passengers with too many bags an issue.

NOT THE CASE WITH THE OP but I've read threads where a parent was traveling with young kids. The number of carryon bags was legal but there was no way the parent would be able to get the kids and the bags through the airport. OK you're going to hold each child by a hand. Now how do you handle 6 bags?

You would be amazed at what you can do if you have to. I've traveled with little DS, his backpack, his big backpack, and my carryon plus backpack that will fit under the seat, AND I've stopped for coffee and snacks. I don't want to talk about bathroom visits with all that, especially since I refuse to use the "big" stalls, and I sure wasnt pretty when I got on the plane, but I did it!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The TSA mandates only what is inside those bags...not how many or the size. It is the airlines who decide how large the bags can be, and how many each passenger can bring onboard with them.

An oversized bag can't get through the xray scanner.

Also, I was traveling with a family member through security once and she had a purse, backpack and a piece of luggage. A TSA agent insisted that she had too many pieces and would not let her through security until she put her purse in the luggage. So it does happen.