RickSeaney.com

FareCompare.com » RickSeaney.com » Be Sure Your Carry-On is REALLY a Carry-On (Beware the Baggage Police)

June 23, 2008

Be Sure Your Carry-On is REALLY a Carry-On (Beware the Baggage Police)

Filed under: Security, Airline Fees — Rick Seaney @ 12:03 am

Think you can avoid new baggage fees by squishing the contents of a huge suitcase into a carry-on? Think again: the baggage police are looking for you.

A colleague flying American recently noticed that at the beginning of the security line, agents were forcing the carry-on brigade to place their bags in one of those metal frames to determine if they were the “proper” size. Most were not (”way over-stuffed,” according to colleague).

Did this slow the security line? Not in this case; alleged transgressors were pulled to the side, while non-bag-toting folks sailed on through.

Meanwhile, the baggage police showed no mercy; traveler after traveler was sent back to ticketing to check (and pay for) their bag.

« BREAKING: United to Require Minimum Stays for MOST Tickets United Airlines Cheapest Airfare Hike - Insider Info »

8 Comments »

Were these TSA’s or American’s agents? TSA is already doing the job for airlines by checking for IDs…

Comment by Andy — June 23, 2008 @ 3:16 pm
My friend says he’s pretty sure these were airline employees, and not TSA.

Comment by Rick Seaney — June 23, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
Well, I can’t say I agree with their fee for the first checked bag (even though I’m exempt on the airline I pretty much fly all the time), but I’m glad at least they are starting to enforce the carry on rules, which they never seemed to do before.

I’ve seen people traveling alone bringing on 2 rollerboards (of course, you’re only supposed to be allowed one bag of that size), then proceed to put both into the bin lengthwise, ensuring each bag took up twice as much room as necessary. And I’ve seen plenty of bags that certainly never should have been allowed as carry on’s in the first place.

However, I wonder how much of the projected revenue from the baggage fees will go toward salaries for employees policing the security lines instead of helping the airline’s possibly eek out a profit. It must take quite a few employees at some locations, for example, at DFW for AA, or ORD for UA, to effectively police the line.

Comment by Elliot Campbell — June 23, 2008 @ 7:08 pm
About time, how many times have you seen women get on the plane with a baby bag stuffed to the gills and I bet its a bit more than what baby needs, a stroller, and then a carryon, and the purse you could fit a small country into.

Not to mention whatever was bought in the duty-free.

Good luck enforcing this one, LOL.
Kay

Comment by kay martin — June 25, 2008 @ 10:30 pm
Just came back from a trip to Mexico city; mexican airlines are getting into the carry-on policy also. This Aerocalifornia started runing the engines just before the passengers got on board, wow Tijuana city was hot, i guess they are trying hard to save on gas… experience of mine was excellent trough check points, metal detector and the rest of the hassel, I fly often and I know and try to get updated.
Enjoy the trip and do not act as I’ve never told…

Comment by Francisco — June 26, 2008 @ 12:09 am
Rick,
Could you post a list comparing carry-on bag size requirements for each airline (both overhead & underseat), ala your great new Airline Fee Chart?

I have been wanting to purchase a new carry-on for underseat storage that would be accepted across the board, but haven’t had the time to research each & every airline website.

I have seen a number of bags measured over the last 5 years, but I cannot remember if it was TSA or the airline. However, I had a flight attendant tell me on the domestic leg of a return int’l trip that I MUST check my (((previously cleared))) carry-on–until I rolled my bleary red eyes at her & said that it had fit just fine on the exact same model plane on my outgoing flight. Which it did again. I had my grandfather’s photo slides from the early-mid 1900s in my bag, & was not about to let it out of my sight!

BTW–that was on NW Airlines. I will NEVER NEVER NEVER fly with them again. If they are the only airline available for a trip, I will instead drive to avoid them.

Cheers!

Comment by Jean — June 29, 2008 @ 11:47 pm
what size exactly IS allowed? I dont hasve one of those frames here at the house to see if it fits…but I Do have a tape measure…
Dan

Comment by dan turner — June 30, 2008 @ 5:00 am
on the contrary, at the SFO airport on my way to amstedam, i was able to pack my hand carried baggage with books since my 2 bags were overloaded! hmmm. was just lucky i guess.

in asia airlines ( i.e. KLM and northwest ) are usually very strict about the weight, like the carry on bag shouldnt be more than 10 lbs.

Comment by roselle rivera — June 30, 2008 @ 11:08 am