10 clever luggage tips from a flight attendant

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

10 clever luggage tips from a flight attendant - Tips - MSNBC.com

10 clever luggage tips from a flight attendant
Check it out! Bag the controversy and find your happy medium

By James Wysong
Travel columnist

updated 2:07 p.m. ET, Tues., May. 13, 2008

Should you avoid the wait at your destination while accepting the risk of the airline losing or damaging your luggage? Or just lighten the load and hope for the best?

Many travel experts suggest carrying on all baggage versus checking. As a flight attendant, I may seem like the last person to be impartial, but since I am also often a passenger, I see both sides.

As the airlines invent new ways to extract the almighty buck from the passenger, it is apparent that common sense has checked out. This is the case with the new trend of charging passengers a fee for checking in multiple bags. Anyone with a lick of sense will tell you that once airlines charge for a second bag, more and more passengers will start carrying them on board, adding to the sea of already overcrowded storage space. This will mean more hassles at the gate, delays, and those of you who only bring on a small bag will many times have to store it in the cramped space under the seat in front of you.

My only explanation for the lunacy is that the airlines have plans for charging for extra carry-on bags next.

There are good arguments for both sides of the bag controversy.
continue....

[skierbri10 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close skierbri10]

Of course, they won't charge you to check your bag at the gate, if it doesn't fit.....I hope..

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

Of course, they won't charge you to check your bag at the gate, if it doesn't fit.....I hope..

Actually, I hope they DO charge if it's too big. Too many people are carrying on GIANT BAGS and this practice needs to stop. Gate-check is being used as a convenient way to check your bags and it's unfair to all who check the oversize bags prior to getting to the gate.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

There are two cases of "it doesn't fit." One: the bag is bigger than the allowance (i.e. doesn't fit the little "template"). Those folks should be required to gate check, and charged if that's the airline's policy. Two: there is no more storage space, because other customers have already boarded and occupied it. If the bag is otherwise "legal", I would think it should not be charged.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

There are two cases of "it doesn't fit." One: the bag is bigger than the allowance (i.e. doesn't fit the little "template"). Those folks should be required to gate check, and charged if that's the airline's policy. Two: there is no more storage space, because other customers have already boarded and occupied it. If the bag is otherwise "legal", I would think it should not be charged.

Well, that should be fun for the flight attendants and gate agents to figure out. When to charge, when not to charge.......and how to charge.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

Here's an easy fix: keep the template at the gate---they are already there for the most part. If a bag doesn't fit the template, the bag's owner is free to leave the bag there, or take it back to the check-in counter.

Simple.

[skierbri10 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close skierbri10]

Actually, I hope they DO charge if it's too big. Too many people are carrying on GIANT BAGS and this practice needs to stop. Gate-check is being used as a convenient way to check your bags and it's unfair to all who check the oversize bags prior to getting to the gate.

I was talking about running out of space, not the size of the bag. Being that I fly standby most of the time, I have to think about that. Sometimes, the crew is closing the door as soon as I start down the aisle. A few times, the planes is being pushed out as I am sitting down. Gotta be quick when you are an airline employee.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Here's an easy fix: keep the template at the gate---they are already there for the most part. If a bag doesn't fit the template, the bag's owner is free to leave the bag there, or take it back to the check-in counter.

Simple.

And while they take the bag back to the check-in counter, I suppose that we all sit on the plane and wait for them to come back and board the plane? Of course, now their luggage has to be trucked to the plane. Wait some more? Not liking this idea, not at all.

[skierbri10 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close skierbri10]

And while they take the bag back to the check-in counter, I suppose that we all sit on the plane and wait for them to come back and board the plane? Of course, now their luggage has to be trucked to the plane. Wait some more? Not liking this idea, not at all.

All they would really have to do is go to the gate the planes is at and have the gate agent tag it, charge them, (I guess) and have the baggage people put it in the baggage hold.

[x3skier Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close x3skier]

All they would really have to do is go to the gate the planes is at and have the gate agent tag it, charge them, (I guess) and have the baggage people put it in the baggage hold.

Seen it done dozens of times when the bins are full. Not much of a delay if any.

Of course I never know if it was really loaded or not.

Cheers

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Warning Luggage Thefts at BWI


Jun 16, 2008 - Police Investigate AirTran Luggage Thefts At BWI Airport

Baltimore Maryland (WJZ) Two AirTran baggage handlers have been arrested.
They are accused of stealing passengers' luggage at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

There are two cases of "it doesn't fit." One: the bag is bigger than the allowance (i.e. doesn't fit the little "template"). Those folks should be required to gate check, and charged if that's the airline's policy. Two: there is no more storage space, because other customers have already boarded and occupied it. If the bag is otherwise "legal", I would think it should not be charged.

I agree.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

And while they take the bag back to the check-in counter, I suppose that we all sit on the plane and wait for them to come back and board the plane? Of course, now their luggage has to be trucked to the plane. Wait some more? Not liking this idea, not at all.

Why would we wait for them? Charge them, yes! Wait? no. It's their own fault - it's easy to find out the acceptable dimensions. If they think they might be required to check it, they should go even earlier to the airport to allow for the risk THEY are taking.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

And while they take the bag back to the check-in counter, I suppose that we all sit on the plane and wait for them to come back and board the plane?

Of course not. They can take the next flight, on a space available basis, of course.

Next time, perhaps they'll read the rules for what they can and cannot take on!

-brian, who admits that folks bringing kitchen sinks as carry-ons is one of his pet peeves.

[x3skier Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close x3skier]

Coming back from Panama last weekend, there was a group with three gituars in cases as carry ons. Didn't see if they bought seats for the instruments. I guess I should be happy they did not have a drum set as well and were not in First Class next to me

Cheers.