10 clever luggage tips from a flight attendant

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

Airlines cracking down on carry-ons ....

Airlines cracking down on carry-ons - Well-Mannered Traveler - MSNBC.com

Airlines cracking down on carry-ons
Cheating the new baggage fee system won't work — being smart will

By Harriet Baskas
Travel writer
MSNBC contributor
updated 11:50 a.m. ET, Mon., June. 16, 2008


Harriet Baskas
Travel writer


If your next airplane seatmate seems unusually roly-poly, it may be because he stuffed his pockets with extra underwear and layered on several outfits in an effort to avoid paying to check his bag. (this will be ME!)

And why not? A few months back, most major airlines announced fees for checking a second bag. Then American Airlines announced that it would begin charging travelers for checking their first bag: as of Sunday, non-exempt passengers purchasing tickets on American Airlines must pay $15 each way for their first checked bag and $25 each way for their second checked bag. Not to be left behind in the “what else can we charge passengers for” race, United Airlines and US Airways last week announced similar policies. United's new fees apply to tickets purchased beginning June 13th. The first-bag fees on US Airways kick in July 9th.

Will other airlines follow suit? You bet. continue.....

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

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.

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.

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.

From the article above....

"But what about the traveler who ends up having a carry-on bag gate-checked because there’s no room for the bag in any overhead bin? When the new fees are fully in place, Wagner says, passengers will be charged if their carry-on bag exceeds the legal size limit. If, however, the bag is in compliance, no charge will be levied. So don’t be surprised if tape measures and yardsticks soon become standard issue accessories for flight attendants and gate agents."

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

This is the reason why I love Southwest. Just came back from a long weekend to PA from MA for less than $100 round trip and they still take 2 checke bags and allow a carry on. Of course.....things may change - but for now they have my business!

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

This is the reason why I love Southwest. Just came back from a long weekend to PA from MA for less than $100 round trip and they still take 2 checked bags and allow a carry on. Of course.....things may change - but for now they have my business!

Apparently Southwest locked into oil/fuel costs at $54/barrel - it is now over $130/barrel - they are the only airline not losing money!

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

Only for part of their needs, not all---fuel hedging only works if the price of oil actually varies. If it only goes up, hedging only delays the inevitable.