United/bag size

[PattySwind]

Has anyone flown United out of Newark? If so, how strict are they for carry on size?

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I flew out of Newark last summer and there was a man who was "checking/looking" at bags as people were getting in line for tickets/boarding passes. If he thought they were too large, he'd put it in that sample size thing they have. If they were too big, he told them to check it. There was a thread specifically about United and there carry on bags. I think they're just getting stricter.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

UA is clamping down on carry on size. They have new sizers at all the gates, one part for your carry-on luggage, one for your personal item. I have been flying UA a lot lately and can tell you at some airports they are warning passengers at the gate that their bags need to fit in the sizers, at others, they aren't mentioning it. UA has said if your bags are oversized, they will charge you the $25 checked bag fee.

Make sure your bag will fit or check it.

 

[tvguy]

Not Newark, but into and out of Houston and into Phoenix last week on United. You did see that United announced 2 weeks ago that they were cracking down on oversized bags?

However, it clearly was NOT being enforced at the gate on the 2 flights I was on last week. One lady not only had 2 huge carry-ons, but both were too big to even fit in the overhead bins. Only then did a flight attendant tell her she would have to check them. And on the flight into Phoenix, several people tried to avoid the checked baggage fee by carrying their oversized bags to the door to the plane, and leaving them there to be checked. Flight attendants put out a generic page about 3 bags being left there......nobody responded, so then they read the names over the PA and told the folks if they didn't claim them and pay to check them, they would be left behind.


http://www.bostonglobe.com/business...-size-limit/vPNODSCRgFARs2FK2D46GM/story.html

 

[Sagginit]

i flew with them in the fall as carry on only for a weekend trip to vegas. well everyone was doing carry on only, so on the way back they were flagging people before they even got on line to board. there was some girl with two full size duffle bags. they tried to explain the policy as they saw her seated in our area and she wouldn't pay. she got in line and was refused entry and had to pay. they also stated several times they would run out of room and asked for volunteers to gate check carry ons for free.

i used to fly spirit who made everyone use those boxes to size things up, so i am used to it and never risk it.

 

[DawnM]

Only internationally and it wasn't recent. I don't ever carry oversized bags, so I can't really say but it does sound like they are clamping down.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

In the past two weeks, I have heard gate agents warning about oversized bags at PHX, IAD, and SFO. No warning at ORD, IAH or SEA. I would guess many UA employees want to avoid confrontations with angry passengers. Or maybe they're phasing in slowly.

 

[mjkacmom]

My dd is travelling overseas next month for a dance competition, and this has been all over the message boards about United. Typically, dancers have been able to bring their dresses on as carry on (flat triagle bags that stack very nicely in the overheads). Now this seems to be no longer the case. These dresses average about $3000, so no one wants to check them (and even if they just got lost, one couldn't dance without it).

Hopefully someone will come up with a carry-on solution for us (right now the plan B is to have the dancers wear the dress, and then take it off after boarding).

 

[njziggy]

We flew United out of EWR-MCO last weekend. They did mention about the bags. I can't say that they were really policing the issue but, we were glad we adjusted out bags before we went. Both flights we had were newer planes that had "improved" luggage bins. The new ones tilt out and are much smaller that the old fashioned open the door kind. On the flight home, they made an announcement about halfway through boarding to say that there was no more room in the luggage compartments and any one with luggage had to bring ti to front to check. I would make sure that what you have can fit & your additional piece can fit under your seat.Luckily my legs are pretty short and my duffle bag can easily be swished under my seat. Good luck!

 

[elphaba91]

My dd is travelling overseas next month for a dance competition, and this has been all over the message boards about United. Typically, dancers have been able to bring their dresses on as carry on (flat triagle bags that stack very nicely in the overheads). Now this seems to be no longer the case. These dresses average about $3000, so no one wants to check them (and even if they just got lost, one couldn't dance without it). Hopefully someone will come up with a carry-on solution for us (right now the plan B is to have the dancers wear the dress, and then take it off after boarding).

I would try contacting United and asking if there's anything that can be done. Several years ago I had to fly with a set of bagpipes, which can't go in the hold. My case wasn't oversized, but the rest of the band's were, and they were all overweight. We were able to get permission to take our pipes as hand luggage without paying any extra. They just put a tag on the bags (I think it was a first class tag or something) and we were good to go!

 

[mjkacmom]

I would try contacting United and asking if there's anything that can be done. Several years ago I had to fly with a set of bagpipes, which can't go in the hold. My case wasn't oversized, but the rest of the band's were, and they were all overweight. We were able to get permission to take our pipes as hand luggage without paying any extra. They just put a tag on the bags (I think it was a first class tag or something) and we were good to go!

She is travelling with family members who are club level, so she called, and was told it wouldn't be a problem. What a relief!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

She is travelling with family members who are club level, so she called, and was told it wouldn't be a problem. What a relief!

I'm a United 1K and I've never heard of "Club Level." What is that?

I agree that the dresses shouldn't be a problem.