The two most common complaints about airlines on Twitter – regardless of airline – are damaged checked luggage, and that an airline made someone gate check their carry on bag only to have them board and discover that overhead bins had plenty of space left. Sometimes they appear completely empty in passenger photos on Twitter! But here’s one I happened to see right as I saw down on my last United flight.
@united You made me gate check my bag and there are lots of open overhead spots like this one #customerservicefail pic.twitter.com/bgo3Adrf6X
— Beth Meyer (@bethmeyer08) April 27, 2023
On Friday I flew an old United Airlines Boeing 737 with credit card swipe beside the screens. It had the old mostly non-functional wifi (seat back entertainment wasn’t working either), and the old small overhead bins.
United boards these aircraft 40 minutes prior to departure. When I turned up at T-35 the plane was mostly boarded (we were entirely boarded with plenty of time to sit before pushing back). The remarkable thing is that 5 minutes into boarding an agent was tagging everyone’s full-sized carry-on bags for gate checking.
I walked up, she tagged my bag and told me to drop it off at the bottom of the jet bridge. While everyone else whose bag was tagged did just that, I simply walked onto the plane and found one of the dozen or so empty overhead bin spaces – in this case one that was direct across from my seat 12C.
If I’d really been unable to find bin space, my bag was already tagged! It wouldn’t have taken much time to get back to the front of the aircraft and drop it of. There was no risk to an on-time departure anyway. Here’s the thing, though.
- I suppose if everyone did this, there wouldn’t be enough space
- And there would be more passengers trying to get back to the front of the aircraft with their bags
That would mean a bit of a delay, maybe a couple of minutes? But then maybe not, given how early we were to complete boarding. Although this fella never found a seat:
On the other hand United is doing this to everyone after a certain point in boarding, so aren’t they the ones causing a problem for a lot of passengers in the first place? And my plan didn’t cause an inconvenience to anyone.
So did I make the right tactical call, just walking on board and using the overhead bin space at my seat? Or did I do something ‘wrong’ by not dropping my bag off on the jet bridge for gate checking?
My carryon firs under the seat. When an agent tags it to be checked I just pull off the tag, board and stow under the seat.
The key to avoiding stress here is to have a carry on that fits under the seat in front. As small as you can get away with. Bank on not being allowed to use an overhead. Of course with lithium battery restrictions in checked bags this can be a challenge, but having a non-armored hand baggage item thrown in the hold can bring lots of misery later. Everyone wants to have a small wheeled case overhead and a second large bag under the seat, but there are always too many seats and never enough bin space.
If your bag met the size restrictions, you did nothing wrong; if it didn’t, shame on you.
If everyone did it, it would be a mess.
So yes, you are wrong to do it.
I just flew JetBlue nonstop from LAX to BUF and back. The cheapest ticket did not allow a carry-on but was much cheaper than the next higher class of coach. I bought a checked bag for both directions and also an assigned seat for both directions for a bit less than the next higher class of coach which included those. I had to board near the end but that wasn’t much of a hassle. This is how JetBlue handles the situation and has enough room for carry-ons. United could be clever and do the same but they don’t want to. The great thing was that I didn’t have too much on the trip to BUF but I was at the weight limit of the checked bag on the way back. There was no way I could carry 50 pounds of what I wanted to bring back in a carry-on. The flight attendants were also great.
I forgot to add, I have some lightweight foldable duffels to put stuff in if I have a carry-on and it has to be checked. I always have one with me. Some stuff cannot legally be put in the hold such as power banks and lithium ion batteries not installed in equipment (loose). That is actually the law and not something an airline gate agent is making up. The expensive perfume is also not going home with a ground staff person.
Wheeled baggage should be checked. Period. This also solves the problem. If you have a laptop bag or purse, great. Carry it on. If it’s too big for you to carry in your hand, it should go beneath the plane.
Today I was on an AA flight where they were telling passengers repeatedly that it was a full flight and to check their bags and many did.
And then you board the plane and it’s got the newer space saver bins and everyone’s bag would have easily fit onboard…
Hello!!!! I’ve been flying for ever. With the checked baggage an additional cost why not? It’s free. Only Americans cry about dumb things. I fly first class so I can check my bags, and, take a tiny bag with essentials. What’s so hard about that? The reason it takes to disembark is because people with carry on that they don’t need. Why??? Does it make people feel better to hold people up for no reason? Business people who carry on devices for work yes. Dummies who feel the need to have a carry on for no reason is annoying AF. How do we really know about available space in the bins until boarding?
The only issue I have with this is you posting it and letting everyone know you “got away with it”. So, exactly what you said, others that read this will do the same and the ensuing delays occur.
Is it really necessary to write about everything v(b)loggers do, every “hack” so everyone knows and thus, those that already knew and it was their little secret, can longer get that advantage.
Had this happen to an American Airlines flight out of Philadelphia on Dec 30th. But most people who were not white were allowed to bring their bag on the plane, which was the same size as mine, and the whites were asked to check on bags that you could clearly see were sized appropriately. The gate agent team was all black. Blatant discrimination.
You, being asked to check in a hand carried luggage when there was enough over head binspace is uncalled for
If I’m paying to fly FC and my roller bag is regulation size,then they damn well should not be requiring me to gate check it.
@ Gary — If they are stupid enough to let this happen, I say go for it.
Hey, i guess it’s all about you.
Thanks for the pro tip! Why should we be one of the chumps that blindly do what we’re told!
I’ve been on 2 flights this year where I watched gate ignore their own carry on policy – HA in HNL: a family of 5 boarded at the first opportunity for group 3; each family member has a roller type bag and a backpack that was stuffed – the same size as their individual roller bag – not personal item sized. The backpacks and their roller bags could not fit underneath the seat in front of them so they took up space in the overhead for 10 bags. Meanwhile other passengers that didn’t push their way to the front of the line, had to check their items.
My last trip was on UA, where I hold the highest earned status and pre-boarding ahead of group 1. I was casually leaning on a pillar about 20 ft from the jet bridge door in the terminal. I was disrupted by a loud bang when a man approached the pillar and threw his three bags against the pillar. I gave the items a sideways glance because of the bang; there was a full sized garment bag, a rolling suitcase, and a fully stuffed backpack (none of the items were personal sized); all were to big to fit under a seat as well. The 2 agents did not say anything as he boarded.
Most GAs do not want the role of the carryon police, and some do not want to engage with rules as many are quickly overridden by their supervisor or manager – it’s an FAA policy about limiting the # of items.
Karen always says… the rules are for everyone but me as she boards with a huge beach bag, a roller bag, and a big purse. When told she must check an item… she stuffs the huge purse into an already full beach bag and gives the GA a full on smirk. As soon as she is out of view from the GA, she removes her purse and continues to board with all three bags exposed.
Other passengers observe all these behavior and rule breakers… and think… I’m going to do this as well – chaos ensues.
Don’t get me started with books on pool/beach chaises and not showing up until 12n.
I travel with a roller bag, and a small lounge-fly purse; it’s so small, it can fit under the footrest in the Polaris cabin. I’m not writing this for a pat on the back… it’s just any thing larger or heavier actually triggers back spasms, and affects my capacity for breathing.
People like you are selfish and self-centered. Big deal. It makes me angry that I play by the rules while jerks like you get away with this stuff for free
The agent’s priority is to ensure an on-time departure. Should you ignore their instructions only to find there is no appropriate place to stow your bag do not assume they will take a departure in order to check it. you may find that your bag will not travel with you. No one to blame for that but yourself.
A large percentage of people complain about recent changes and/or growing airline direction to “check your bag” before boarding. Then they complain about “empty” luggage bins above.
I was fortunate enough to travel business class and each time I was shocked how often people were lugging on a large suitcase, a carry on item, a large purse – – – sometimes adding up to 4 or 5 items. The airlines were sick of it but “everyone’ wanted the convenience of having all possessions near them. On several occasions several just “threw” their bags above in business.
Several times I was asked to ship mine through . . . no problem, that is life. Please, just ponder a reality. Many complain no matter but the reality is, more are now flying and the airlines has had to
set a limit with ALL of us.
The comments on here are off the rails Nextdoor type.
Straight to the answer – you are a self centered jerk for doing what you did.
And yes you are promoting other people to be a jerk and in the long run killing good vibes for everyone.
Why don’t they pay to gate check the carry on? If you want me to pay for checking a bag, you should pay me for gate checking it for you. It would be only fair and you would be able to get volunteers easily.
M Casey doesn’t want a pat on the back she wants pity
You are entitled and think that you need an explanation for everything you are asked to do. It’s why some workers don’t feel like going above and beyond for passengers. I’ve witnessed fights and was cursed at because of bags when simply doing what I was supposed to do as an airline employee.
Once the Agent tags your bag it is included with the weight/balance numbers for the flight deck. Also the Ramp employees know their count. Taking a bag on that has been tagged can result in false numbers and the Ramp looking for a bag that is missing.
A one minute delay to you may not be much but the airline gets knocked for it. Why don’t ppl just follow the rules when asked? I check everything and walk-on hands free, no worries. Ugh and the ppl with multiple bags holding up the TSA line because they can’t handle all that they have.
I don’t have to fly now, and life is great! I cancelled my FF cards and look forward to the day things settle down. And if they don’t? Good luck to ev er ryone else!
I have an Osprey rolling duffel backpack, that meets the carry-on requirements of 22 x14x9 that most airlines worldwide respect. There are plenty of airlines that charge for that carry-on, on Economy Lite or similar, but I just pay a little more. In addition to my curated clothing, it has a CPAP, meds, insulin, a tablet and keyboard. It is not prepared to be checked. I carry no personal item except maybe a small nylon bag I have with for purchased snack/drink that I picked up by the gate. My phone, NC earbuds and USB cable are in my pocket, so when I’m done with that nylon bag I can just stuff it back into my carry-on.
I do have a tiny, 3oz, fabric daypack that can be folded into itself until it’s not much larger than my fist as an under seat plan B for the CPAP, meds, insulin and tablet. I hope I never run into that situation, but if I calmly explain it and they are insistent, I will set my bag down, probably blocking the gateway while I unload items into that folded up daypack.
Then, I will open up my rolled up, tiny, tightly bound 8oz, 96 liter duffle, which is also inside of my Osprey. I can make that duffel just the size needed to hold my Osprey backpack, with two zip ties. It’s an emergency duffle bag in case I decide to bring back a bunch of souvenirs or clothing. However in this case it would serve to slide my Osprey carry-on backpack into, so as to protect it in the bowels of a jet. Plan C.
If the agent tagged your bag and you found room on board for it, you should take the tag off and let the agent or a flight attendant know that you brought it on board.
The problem is well know. Selfish people that have a carry on and a backpack and a purse and grocery bags. They consume more than one spot of overhead space.
However, it’s not their fault. The airlines allow this to happen so people will do it. Kick up a big enough stink and staff will scurry away.
If you put soft items in the overhead then prepare to have my hard case smashed into it.
Gate checking your items allows the flight crew a better idea of the weight in the aircraft. Since the bags in the overhead and under seats are not counted for the weight and balance of the aircraft, this can possibly put the aircraft in an over weight situation, it is better to gate check larger items. It has been highly suggested by the FAA to limit in cabin luggage.
Easy. Give free checked bags like highly profitable airlines do (Southwest). You already have the personnel to load them anyway.
If you must, charge for carry on bags, which use up lots of aircraft time, GA time and make it much more stressful to fly.
First of all, Americans think only about themselves and are spoiled little brats. Just for that reason, I would drive across country before I flew, even if they GAVE me lifetime fist class. Screw all you got shots who think you’re the only. one on the planet.
Hi @gary. Did you do the wrong thing? Absolutely and unequivocally yes. You were told what to do by the people who “run the show” and instead you decided that, essentially, you know better, and did what you want. How can there be any question?
Whether there were ultimately spaces available or not is completely irrelevant – you disregarded the directions that you were given.
“It wouldn’t have taken much time to get back to the front of the aircraft and drop it off” – that is a shockingly self-centered view. Disrupting the flow of people onboarding so that you can push back to the front with a bag? Creating extra work for the flight attendants which would not have been needed had you simply followed the directions. You think this is ok? Really?
Now, I too am often frustrated by the carryon thing, baggage rules in general, and an ever increasing list of other completely inconvenient and unnecessary (in my opinion) things that happen on when travelling these days, but the directions given at in the moment are what need to be followed. Period. There is plenty of time later to complain formally.
Yep, you are the one we all shake our heads at and wonder why you thought you so special/clever that you didn’t have to listen to the people who are trying their best to board a plane efficiently and are now pissing everybody off.
I know it seems like a small delay of a few minutes to reorganize your bag if it doesn’t fit, but you are missing the bigger picture of all the many moving pieces needed to get an aircraft out on time.
If you board with a bag and cannot find space, you can’t get that bag back to the front of the plane until everybody else has taken their seats. By then the cargo hold is like closed, the belt loader removed and driven away, the final baggage numbers transmitted to load control, and the pilots have calculated their take off performance based on the final numbers. If there are any bags that will not fit in the cabin it’s a big deal to fix after the fact.
The gate agents are keenly aware of this as they may have disciplinary action taken against them if they routinely struggle with on time performance.
So yes, please if they ask you politely to gate check you bag, you are not only helping them but also the other 200 passengers trying to get to their destinations on time.
Absolutely the right move, done it myself.
I really wish you had not given this advice. I travel every two weeks, and have done so for twenty years. My flights are always full, and there is NEVER any overhead space for those individuals in groups four and beyond. I see individuals act against the recomendations of the air staff who bring their bags onto the plane. This causes delays when these bags then have to return to the front and be checked. That was really stupid advice, but now some morons are going to read your article, like me, and ignore the experts. thanks for the additional pains I will endure. But you did get it published so good for you……putz.
Can you imagine if everyone did this?
The other issue is that if checked bags were free, more people would be inclined to check them prior to boarding. This would greatly decrease the burden on TSA screening, which is basically a tax on everybody. We always travel with a carry-on above and backpack under the seat. To assure that we can, we either pay for comfort plus or priority boarding, that’s our fee for a carry-on. It would be much simpler to just charge for carry-on, and make checked bags free and would significantly speed boarding and TSA screening.
My problem with this is the reason it is “carry-on” is so you can carry it on. Some people carry certain irreplaceable items in that carry on. It could be medical equipment, it could be mementos, it could be expensive jewelry or other very costly items that one does not want out of one’s hands where it may get lost or stolen.
If the plane cannot handle carry-on items, then there should be no carry-on or paid-for carry-on that cannot be bought if space is filled.
It’s not only wrong, not dollowing the instructions of a flight attendant is a felony by federal law.
The right way to go here would have been to gate check the luggage and them complain to the airline afterwards if there was still room
I always check my bag I don’t want to be bothered with it until I declare why would I want to lug around a bag with me through the airport at any connections just one more thing to worry with
Unless you have your gold bullions and life saving medical device in there; there’s not enough ok reason to ignore as asked as you could potentially put your and everyone’s safety and sanity in jeopardy.
I wish overhead bins didn’t exist. It always takes a long time after landing for everyone to find their bag(s) and get off the plane. If it can’t fit under the seat in front of you, just check it.
Yes you are wrong. The gate agents are required to count the number of bags that are possible being placed in the over head bin and when that count is reached all other bags are supposed to be checked to go with the already checked baggage. Once they gate checked your bag ramp agents are expecting you to follow directions it’s all to do with weights and balance of the aircraft.
Of course you did nothing wrong. You were merely looking after the most important person in the universe. Everyone knows that the airlines impose these policies only to inconvenience passengers and make flying more dangerous, so you were the true hero of your story.
I just wanted to add a bit to my comment. I carry all my meds (20 per day), whatever jewelry I want to take, 2 tablets and a sweatshirt. I put everything in a small tote bag. Not a roller bag. Easily fits in an overhead
Checked bags must all be scanned prior to putting them in the belly of the aircraft. Every bag with a tag must be accounted for…. Wether you check it at the counter, or at the gate. Doing what you did is not only a safety issue, but an FAA violation with steep consequences. You are lucky you didn’t get caught, get fined or cause a delay.
Shame on you!
The proper thing to do would be to take your bag down and ask the Flight Attendant if there is space. If space is available, they can remove the checked bag tag and give it to the agent. The agent will scan the tag and remove the bag from “inventory” and then when bags are synced before door closure everything matches us.