Airlines are starting to aggressively enforce their own carry-on rules. On a recent trip through Boston’s Logan and New York’s JFK airports, the baggage gestapo was out in force at the Delta Air Lines terminals monitoring passengers going through the security line.
It seems that this is the last point where the airlines have some control over what gets taken through the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint. Afterwards, the battle will shift to the jetway during the boarding process. Get ready for the advent of carry-on cops.
I think most travelers remember the days before the carry-on liquid ban, when overhead bins were packed full. Then frequent travelers had a wonderful hiatus with plenty of overhead space, as most leisure travelers checked their bags because of their need for favorite shampoos and creams. Now, the world of packed overhead space will come again.
My carry-on cop experience happened while toting a large plastic bag in which I was carrying my ski jacket for a ski trip to Valle Nevado and Termas de Chillan in Chile. Naturally, I had no interest in wearing my ski jacket in 90-degree heat, so I put it in a large plastic bag and draped it over my computer bag and rollaboard.
Sure enough, after checking in at the kiosk and getting into line, a carry-on cop asked, “Are you traveling alone?”
I responded, “Yes.”
“Well, it is forbidden to go through security with three bags,” she firmly told me.
“This is only my ski jacket,” I noted, “a jacket is not included in the carry-on rules.”
“That makes no difference,” she said, “A bag is a bag.”
“OK. I’ll carry the ski jacket through security over my arm,” I suggested.
“Fine, but I want the bag,” the agent said.
I protested and told her that I would simply put the plastic bag in my rollaboard side pocket and thought that would be the end of it.
She said that I would have to give up the “bag.” At which point I asked to see a supervisor, who immediately said, “You’re fine. Go ahead.”
When returning from JFK to Boston, I was again questioned about the plastic bag, however, when the agent at JFK saw it was only a coat, he allowed me to pass without any other questions.
I did hear another passenger further back in line, when turned away with a third bag, pointing out that I was carrying three bags.
To add to the complexity of this situation, I was flying on a Delta Connection flight that allows “gate checking” of luggage. I guess that system — especially at American, United and US Airways — will have to be revamped.
It is not going to be easy dealing with the carry-on baggage issue. The new airline rules are going to put passengers in conflict with agents and when overhead bins begin filling up, and passengers will be in conflict with other passengers.
Airlines don’t even have uniform carry-on size limitations. Wait until they bring out the tape measures and rulers. Now that money is involved, it will probably start to happen. We may even see airlines beginning to charge for carry-on luggage.
Other notes: I saw more passengers redistributing luggage between checked bags at the JFK Delta check-in counters than I remember seeing in the past. When flying LAN to Chile, agents averaged the weight of two checked bags when one bag was over the weight limit and the second was under the limit. That makes sense to me.
However, as I observed, Delta was requiring passengers who did not want to incur overweight charges to move luggage between their two bags. It seems like six of one, half-dozen of another. However, in the airline industry, common sense is not the strong suit.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
As far as “averaging” baggage weight goes…
For the person who has a 70-pound bag and a 30-pound bag and says, well that is my allotted 100 pounds…..what do you say to the people who have to pick up that 70 pound bag? Who pays the medical costs when someone gets hurt trying to move an overweight bag? Half the people who check these bags can’t even lift them onto the scale by themselves! How will they get the bag up a curb?
Do not bring a bag you yourself cannot lift.
Do not carry-on a bag that you yourself cannot get into the overhead.
Stop whining and take on responsibility for your own stuff instead of blaming an airline.
We can always deal in extremes, however the bags I am discussing seem to be those where moving a few pounds to another bag brings passengers into compliance. In the extreme, airlines can and do refuse to carry heavy bags. Or they have systems to deal with heavy bags when passengers are paying for the extra pounds. My point is not to scam the airlines or cause anyone injury, but rather to eliminate the time lost by the check-in agents and others waiting in line moving minor amounts of clothing from one bag to the other to meet weight limits.
This is an example of the common sense approach we need.
Charlie –
It doesn’t make sense to you to have people redistribute weight among baggage, and when I was working behind the counter while I enforced that rule it didn’t make sense to me either. In those days, bag limits were 30kg or 70 pounds, depending on domestic or international.
But then at age 55 I ended up working outside on the ramp, in the cargo bin, lifting heavy bags above shoulder level to properly position them.
Even 50-pound bags were too much for me to lift, but I did it anyway; one 55 pound bag with a “heavy” tag put my back out for three weeks when I could least afford it.
Bag weight should be redistributed. It may not seem like a big deal for you to move 5 pounds of stuff from one bag to another, but where do you draw the line? 5 pounds, 10 pounds, 20 pounds? Why is 5 pounds OK and 7 pounds not?
I hope you understand my take here.
And if you still disagree with me, lay a 50-pound bag on its side, crouch, lift it vertically with both hands, and put it on a closet shelf at the level of your nose or higher, handle edge out so it can be taken off easily by the people unloading the plane.
I think you will change your mind.
Well, I for one hope the carry-on cops start carrying tasers. It’s people like you, carrying on every conceivable item that make it take forever to board and disembark ancraft. You continue to advise people how to “get away” with more and all you do is slow things down for those of us who play by the rules.
I truly mean it when I say I will definitely pay more to fly an airline that strictly enforces the carry-on rules. Yet the gate agents are usually more worried about offending one peson, the one with the suitcase, backpack, briefcase and sack of food, rather than making the other 150 people happy by making them check their bags.
I don’t really care about $15 a bag an airline might charge. I will not fly that airline, however, because of the carry-on situation they have created with their fees.
Please, be more specific about who’s enforcing the rules. That’s the airline I’ll pick.
As a frequent flyer who checks his bags I want the airlines to enforce the carry on rules. I like having a little leg room on a 3 hour flight, so I put my briefcase in the overhead. I have had numerous flight attendants want to remove my briefcase and put it under the seat in front of me…. so that the other passenger can store her roll aboard in the overhead!!!!!
I check my bag so I can have the leg room. My little brief case is just as important as your big carry-on. Get over yourself.
Common sense and airlines / TSA…..? Are you kidding! Most lines would be half as long if it would apply here, but alas it doesn’t. Hence my baggage tag which reads “IT SUCKS TO FLY!”
I welcome the carry-on cops. I purposely purchased (and use) luggage that will meet even Lufthansas’ stupid carry-on rules. I obey the carry-on rules of the airline I am traveling, why the hell do other people believe the rules shouldn’t apply to them? It does my heart good to watch the Lufthansa personnel making the “take it all with you” travelers check their steamer trunks at the gate. I have been asked the same question Lewis refers to and my response is “no, I brought proper luggage aboard so I could the minimal foot room for my feet”.
I welcome the carry-on cops. I purposely purchased (and use) luggage that will meet even Lufthansas’ stupid carry-on rules. I obey the carry-on rules of the airline I am traveling, why the hell do other people believe the rules shouldn’t apply to them? It does my heart good to watch the Lufthansa personnel making the “take it all with you” travelers check their steamer trunks at the gate. I have been asked the same question Lewis refers to and my response is “no, I brought proper luggage aboard so I could use the minimal foot room for my feet”.
stan leber said “… why the hell do other people believe the rules shouldn’t apply to them?”
Because they are selfish American pigs.
I do not have issues with current size requirements but Lufthansa’s approach to weight is ridiculous. Even with almost everything removed, I still can’t meet their carry on weight requirements with a SLR camera and a small (13in) laptop. Or without a book on a ten hour flight? Hardly the bin hogging carry on. Have you weighed your carry on? I refuse to fly Lufthansa now. Air Canada on the other hand has much higher weight limit, and I didn’t see any issues with carry on space issues on my flight to and from Tokyo.
I don’t trust companies to make rational decisions when it is their profit that’s on the line.
I am a professional photographer, and we need to take our gear with us because we are not allowed to lock our bags if we check them in (TSA locks are a joke), and you can’t ship your cargo easily to some destinations.
I do welcome a size/weight limit, provided there are exceptions for accredited professionals on duty (very small percentage of travellers). That is not the same as somebody bringing in their check in size items to carry on.