Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Travel Topics > Air Travel
Reload this Page >

Does anyone 'measure' the carry on's anymore?

Search

Does anyone 'measure' the carry on's anymore?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 17th, 2009, 02:15 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,994
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Does anyone 'measure' the carry on's anymore?

`Since they have started charging to check a bag, everyone seems to be dragging more and more on the plane and calling it 'carry on'. Mine is a regulation size small bag, and I carry a large 'purse'...Often, if you board after the first few, forget about putting anything in the 'overhead' bins...and I have seen people heave on the door, straining to close it. Must be hard on the wear and tear aspect of the airplane.

Egad...I hate air travel anymore. And even if you are travellig business, there is a lot of pushing and shoving, sometimes a 'critter under the seat meowing away, or barking, etc. Used to be fun.

We are booked for a long trip in October, and I am dreading the long stretches, to Singapore, and home from Austrailia...hope I can find my zantax then.
clarasong is offline  
Old Jul 17th, 2009, 02:25 PM
  #2  
yk
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 25,877
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, clara. I have been asked to put my suitcase in the "sizer" several times in the last year or so.

I bought a new suitcase last year, and I brought my tape measure to the store to make sure it fits within the requirements.
yk is offline  
Old Jul 17th, 2009, 04:16 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I read recently that there is a possible move to put the carry-on "sizers" on the conveyor belts at the security stations in airports. If you can't get it through there, it will have to be checked. Seems like a good idea ...
scdreamer is offline  
Old Jul 20th, 2009, 07:49 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When we flew Frontier to Alaska two weeks ago, it was outrageous what people were cramming in the overheads! The flight attendant was really frustrated, She had all the overheads open and was moving bags all over the plane to get them to fit. One man was complaining because she put his bag in the rear bin, far away from his seat, and was told that was the only space left, since it was such a large bag.

I was muttering to Hubby that a lot of the "carry-ons" should've been checked suitcases!

Also, is there no limit to how much weight the plane can lift off with?
Virgogirl is offline  
Old Jul 21st, 2009, 03:20 AM
  #5  
J62
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,983
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
In the 20 years or so from 1988 - 2008 I can't recall ever having had my carry-on size checked.

In 2009 I've had it checked twice, both at the gate. Most recently was at SFO where 3 TSA agents stood with a metal sizing rack.
J62 is offline  
Old Jul 21st, 2009, 06:42 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
BA was measuring them at Heathrow T5 just a couple of weeks ago. They were eyeballing carryons while people were gathering up at the gate area and then having the people with bags that looked oversize put them in the sizer. They were good at knowing which ones were too big, even a tiny bit too big.
evecolorado is offline  
Old Jul 21st, 2009, 07:16 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,220
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I tend to think it's often which agent you get. But within the last couple of years, we've had carry ons sized AND weighed (both were international flights). Other times, nothing.
dfr4848 is offline  
Old Jul 21st, 2009, 10:48 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,407
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've seen other passengers' carry-ons sized at the gate when flying AA out of LAX. Haven't noticed other carriers sizing but I've been flying mostly AA this year. Prior to this year, I'd also not noticed any sizing.
Patty is offline  
Old Jul 21st, 2009, 03:54 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 97,186
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Mine have been weighed more often than they have been measured.
suze is offline  
Old Jul 22nd, 2009, 07:02 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Like J62, I have not had much experience with having bags "sized". I am pretty careful about staying within limits and have only had to gate check a bag on regional jets, which should be expected.
I do wish the airlines would be more strict with carry on restrictions.
SamH is offline  
Old Jul 22nd, 2009, 12:35 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I saw a bag being weight and measured at Tampa, back in Feb. Can't recall which airline. I was on United, but this was at security before you hop on the shuttle out to a terminal. Anyway, the bag was taken, as it was too big/too heavy. I agree with everyone who wishes the airlines would be more strict w/carryons.
simpsonc510 is offline  
Old Jul 24th, 2009, 03:28 PM
  #12  
P_M
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 25,036
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
On my trip to Romania last month I carried on all of my luggage on the flights over, no questions asked. On the return I was checking in at the Bucharest airport and when I told them I was not checking luggage they asked to see my carry ons. They saw the little suitcase so they wanted to weigh it. They said it was way too heavy and I had to check it. So to answer your question, sometimes they measure or weigh it and sometimes they don't. The standards are not the same everywhere.
P_M is offline  
Old Jul 24th, 2009, 10:35 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,164
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just for fun, I held my carry-on spinner up next to the rectangular drawing near a gate that illustrated valid dimensions. The body of the piece almost fit in the length dimension (28 inches, I think). It was very close. But the four wheels extended an inch and a half outside the box.

When I stowed the piece in the OHB on a 757, I put it in handle first, i.e. with the feet sticking out. It fit perfectly with no pushing on the bin door to close it.

This rollaboard bag, like many, has a narrower top than base, and the bins are tapered in the back, so the luggage fits the bin better feet-last.
mrwunrfl is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
1derlust
Air Travel
7
Jul 15th, 2019 10:09 PM
Ty0604
Air Travel
16
Jul 2nd, 2015 02:05 PM
aliska
Air Travel
11
May 11th, 2010 09:55 AM
kleroux
Air Travel
4
Aug 29th, 2006 05:43 AM
jcat73
Air Travel
5
Feb 20th, 2004 04:40 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -