If you aren’t at the boarding gate when your flight is called, you probably aren’t going to get overhead bin space. If the flight is full, and you aren’t among the first half of passengers on the plane, your carry-on bag is likely going to be taken away from you and gate checked.
Half the time when you get onto the plane, though, you still see overhead bins with plenty of space. You were lied to! The bins weren’t full after all. So what gives?
Why would gate attendants lie and say all the luggage compartments are full?
byu/Cassiopeia2021 indelta
This is a common problem for passengers on Delta, American Airlines and United. It doesn’t happen nearly as often with Southwest Airlines, because they allow everyone to check two bags free. That’s changing, so carry-on confiscations will become more widespread there, too. And it’ll be worse, because Southwest is behind other airlines in adding bigger overhead bins that store more bags.
But what about customers being forced to gate check bags when there’s still plenty of space left in the bins? Nothing makes customers mad like being lied to and forced to gate check bags when it isn’t necessary. I see this on twitter as one of the two most common airline complaints (after nicked luggage) that’s accompanied by photos.
- Agents do this because they don’t want to gate check bags at the last minute when it might delay the flight by a minute or two
- They are afraid of getting yelled at for this by their managers.
- So they start requiring passengers to gate check bags before the bins are actually full. If they waited until bins were full, it would be too late – passengers would already be on the jetbridge and maybe in the aisles of the aircraft looking for bin space.
There’s little incentive to make sure customers can get on with their bags. There’s every incentive to avoid low ratings for delayed flights a gate agent is working.
Twenty five years ago U.S. airline passengers could generally bring two full sized carry on bags onto planes, and there wasn’t an issue with too-full overhead space. That’s because planes weren’t as full, and airlines didn’t charge for most checked bags, so passengers didn’t use all the space they were allotted.
Restrictions on carry on bags began with federalized security checkpoints following 9/11. The government didn’t want as many carry-ons having to be screened, so we got carry on limits as a way to speed up lines.
The rush to carry bags onto planes by more passengers didn’t begin in earnest until 2008 when airlines began charging for bags. That pushed a lot more bags into the cabin.
Unfortunately larger bins aren’t a panacea. Even where bins are in theory large enough to accommodate a full sized carry on bag per passenger,
- That requires turning carry on bags on their side, and too many passengers don’t do this (more generally, efficient use of the space isn’t done perfectly every flight)
- Customers put up more than one item, either their personal item doesn’t go under the seat or in winter people bring jackets etc.
Unfortunately there’s no end in sight for this. American Airlines thinks it’ll happen less on their planes when they start boarding 5 minutes earlier this spring. But United and Delta already do this and hasn’t helped them. And as Southwest begins charging for bags, the overall problem will get worse.
US airlines have it backwards: they should charge for carry-on luggage (slows airplane turns and is very expensive as it reduces airplane utilization rates) and stop charging for checked bags (far cheaper to handle with fully automated systems and does not delay flights)
@Peter Westwood airlines make.less.than 5% of revenues by pre-selling travel through their frequent flyer program, so that’s not much.
And while they play accounting tricks to make that part appear more profitable by allocating less costs to tickets purchased with miles than to tickets purchased with cash, it’s still travel sales and probably less profitable if costs were spread evenly.
There’s also a new habit that many passengers have adopted. Many will board and put their bag in the first available overhead bin and then continue farther back to their seats. Th flight attendants in the front of the plan will then declare the bins are almost full and make all other passengers check their carry-on.
Last time that happened to me the baggage tag they put on my suitcase got damaged beyond recognition between the beginning and end of the jet bridge. Weird.
Airline travel is follow rail down the tube’s. Just like rail in 1950-60s human passengers have become a nuisance to flying boxes and other cargo. I am waiting for the day when we humans will be tranquilized, harnessed and hung like sides of beef in aircraft.
The carry on issue is 100% based upon the fees for checked bags. These fees drive many passengers to carry on the luggage they used to check. The FAA should require all fees to be included within the airfare.
[The importance of taking off on time is directly an issue with the FAA. This isn’t about the gate agent “getting yelled at by managers,” it’s about the airline being fined if it is late for take off.] I’ve never heard of this. What is the source of this assertion?
“Also you are only aloud one carryon and one suitcase. That is Federal and not dictated by the airline.” I’ve never heard of this. What is the source of this assertion?
If you buy a ticket that promises you a carry-on as a passenger, you deserve to be able to take a carry on aboard, or should be compensated accordingly, especially if the change comes at the last minute as you’re boarding the plane. They really put you in a bad spot, either risk losing important items, being without your medication, etc. or don’t fly. I have noticed a few airlines, especially international ones, that have started texting passengers the night before or the morning of to let them know that they can check their carry-on for free due to the flight being full. I think this is the best practice if checking a carry-on is going to be required, as it’s most fair for the passenger and the airline. Knowing in advance that your bag will be checked, allows you to plan for the delay at baggage claim, and pack your bag accordingly so you can take out any important items. The only reason more airlines aren’t adapting to this practice is because they’re trying to money grub as many passengers as they can right up until the last minute. I’ve seen people on budget airlines paying for carry-on bags at the check-in counter and then being told they have to check them at the gate. That’s just corporate greed.
Aer Lingus have an interesting one, if you buy their cheaper fares you have to pay to bring a bag on board BUT you actually get 10kg allowance free to check in. This seems quite a clever approach as they monetize the convenience of bringing on board, but the incentive is there to speed up boarding by not having to play bag Jenga and mess around with gate checks. As a European now living in the US I’ve noticed in general this seems to be more of a US problem, in fact I don’t think I’ve ever been on a European flight where they’ve had to gate check bags. Also there are less boarding groups and less “gate lice” I wonder why that is
The solution is simple. Charge for *all* luggage, regardless if it is carry-on or checked. in addition to making boarding much quicker and passengers less irked, this will:
– Most accurately allocate costs to those who create the expense.
– Improve airline revenue overall.
– Increase incentives for passengers to become frequent flyer participants, as the benefits of having fees waived will be bigger.
– Keep the government out of the business. The government shouldn’t be regulating bag policies and such.
They could charge by the # of bags or simply by;total weight (or a weight cap). Ideally they would go further and include the weight of the passenger in the formula, but of course too many people will whine about this and claim that their weight isn’t something they can control.
Much of the time, I just rip the gate check tag off my bag in the accordion and take it on anyway. I’ve never not found a spot.
This article doesn’t fully explain the situation. Most airlines use an algorithm, based on historical data, to determine when during the boarding process to stop allowing carry-on bags. Some gate agents use a little counter they hold in their hand to track bag count to stop at the right point. No process is perfect, so sometimes there are cases where bins fill up and other cases where bin space is left over. But the airlines have every incentive to get it right so will continue to find ways to improve.
Had this happen to me 2 weeks ago. I flew 3 legs of a round trip 4 leg trip had a duffle that was not full that fit perfectly in 3 different American Airlines planes (one older model overhead bin, one newer model, and one reconfigured older model).
When I was leaving Dallas to DC the gate agent said I need to check my bag despite boarding in group 1 because it would not fit.
Of course there were empty bins and the same size duffle had fit on 3 previous flights.
The subjective is ridiculous
I’m not convinced everyone is dragging everything onboard just to save a few bucks. For most people who travel with any regularity it’s about convenience, efficiency and reliability.
I want to get off the plane and be on my way. I don’t want to wait around for 20 min at baggage claim. I also don’t want to deal with a lost or misconnected bag. Doesn’t happen much, it she. You fly as much as I do the number suggest it’ll Happen to me once or twice a year, and it’s a mess when it happens.
While Gary would suggest leaving with empty overhead bins is a failure of the airline I would say it’s outweighed by improving on-time performance.
I am opting to rent a car and drive longer distances to avoid flying. I have been traveling for work for over 20 years, and it is clear the airline industry hates its customers. This is just the latest in a long line of slaps in the fave to fliers.
Easy solution every seat gets room for 1 bag in the bin above. If your bag is too large then it gets gate checked! Also I wouldn’t be against charging for carry on bags! This delays boarding and de-boarding!
To jns: the word is “allowed” not “aloud” please go back to school and stop showing your ignorance
Personally, F that $hit.
My carry-on is a vintage LV roll-aboard my late husband gave me as a gift.
It holds my laptop & medications.
A few emergency necessities.
If I wanted to chance it getting lost or stolen, I’d check it at the curb.
Being FORCED to gate check it?
Deal breaker. I’d miss the flight.
The other day, I saw not one, not two, but three passengers In a row who significantly slowed down the boarding process by bringing on bags that were too large to allow the Space Bins on Alaska’s 737-MAX8 to close.
Many airlines have those baggage templates in the gate lounge. They might consider having a roving GA to enforce the size issues on obviously oversized bags such as these.
Later, another guy brought on two bags, neither of which would have fit under his seat.
This stuff is getting out of hand, and it needs to be addressed. I don’t think denying carry-ons when there’s open bins is the answer, but some form of preboarding size enforcement would be a start.
Flew AA international yesterday and was scolded at boarding for having a small clutch that the gate agent kept saying to combine with my carry on. I just said I would, and when I boarded the plane put the clutch in the seat back pocket and my bag in the overhead bin as I intended to do. No fuss for anyone. Don’t know what the gate agent wanted to argue for.
Goes into a larger issue with AA. Their gate agents are often rude to passengers including those with top AA status.
I prepurchased a 50 pound plus check-in bag on ZIPAIR and when I got to the airport I asked if I could just bring it on board as a carryon instead, as the bag was carryon sized and I wanted to get through customs more quickly when I landed. They called the manager on me for having even asked. I was required to make them take the bag as checked luggage. I purchased a full flat seat and each seat had it’s own massive overhead bin with the seat number on it, i.e. each passenger in that section received their own personal overhead bin. Almost every bin in the “full flat” section was either empty or only had a personal item in it. Craziest luggage policy I have ever seen. But I quickly learned never to try and ask for an exception to a rule in Japan.
@Denver Refugee
“I used to make day trips with only an under-seat laptop bag. Why should I subsidize other people’s checked luggage by having it in the base fare?”
Ah yes. You fell for the airlines lies. You really think that if airlines are going to charge more for carry on bags, they will pass that saving on to you? They will make it appear that way with “saver” and “unbundled” fares but the reality is they will be raising prices for everyone. You won’t be saving any money but airlines will make you feel like you are
Does this really happen all that often? I’ve been on 100+ flights over the last years and haven’t seen an overhead bin closed when it wasn’t full, except when there were fewer passengers.
Dave S –
That interesting. It’s my experience that EU flights are generally a free for all when it comes to boarding. It’s directly in relation to the amount of 2nd and 3rd world paxs.
Same problems for the same reasons in the US.