First off, if all the overhead bin space is full and you are asked to "gate check" your carry-on luggage the airlines WILL NOT charge you for "checking" that luggage so your question "Is this another way of charging for carry-on luggage?" is moot.

Second, there's no way to predict if there will be space available in the overhead bins. With all the airlines cutting back on schedules to reduce operating costs there is a higher likelihood of more flights being completely full. That means more passengers bringing more carryon luggage. It's not unusual for those later in the boarding process to have limited or no overhead space available.

Unfortunately, what you experienced is becoming more and more common place - it's something everyone has to live with at one time or another. So yes, you can pay extra for early boarding or hope that you fly enough to attain elite status with your airline of choice thus giving you early boarding privileges as a perk.

What I meant by "another way of charging for carry-on luggage" is that I could pay for priority boarding and in that way be permitted to carry on my bag. I understand that I am not charged for gate checking my bag.

I have not encountered this policy before, but I do not fly as much as many here, and I can not therefore attain elite status. In the past, I have seen people offered the option of gate checking their bags to reduce demand for the overhead space, and as that is voluntary, it seems fine to me.

Our flight from Boston to San Francisco was full, and we were able to place our carry-ons overhead. But on the return flight, we were not given any options. The flight was full, but there was still ample space for carry-ons which went unfilled because we were forced to gate check any roll-on bags.

My main question is whether this is common policy on United. If so, I would be inclined to avoid flying this airline when I have a choice. I have not encountered this policy on any other airline, which does not mean it does not exist. I'm just wondering.

Whether you fly UA or not in the future -

always have a "personal item" with any valuables outside of a roll aboard for just that eventuality. Per the contract of carriage for US airlines general, they are NOT responsible for loss or theft of electronics or jewelry from checked luggage.

As of Mar3 UA and Continental will be one airline so this may be common for them. Other carriers have different seating policies but all are moving towards catering more to elites (frequents fliers) than to the average "regular" flier.

The situation you describe happens with all airlines - you are at the mercy of the Gate agents and/or Flight Attendants. As I said, it is becoming more and more prevalent as airlines reduce the number of flights between specific destinations - so flights are becoming more and more crowded.

The policy of proactively telling late boarding passengers on full flights they need to gate check their bags makes a lot of sense to me.

This flight may have been an exception - the flight was full but there was still overhead space.

I've been on many planes where pax open each and every single overhead looking for space, bags crowd the aisles as departure time approaches, etc, and this leads to late departures.

Airlines have a vested interested in getting flights departed on-time, which to me is quite important.

Bravo United. I hope other airlines are more proactive like this.

" I just figured I'd leave my netbook in my own bag and take my chances with it. "

REALLY?

If you got it back you were LUCKY! Next time it comes out too.

Seriously, the valuables go in the carry on that fits UNDER the seat in front of you . Then you don't have to worry about this.


What you need to learn to do is "pack smarter" The rollerboard has CLOTHING and make up. That's it. Electronics, cash etc. go in your "personal" item that will fit under the seat.

Then regardless of what you have to do at boarding you will be "safe"

This happens on all airlines all the time and LOTS of them don't let you "pay to board early" (Delta doesn't for example.)

The netbook has nothing of great value on it and is not particularly valuable itself. That's why I travel with it. And not expecting this, I did not have an alternate place to put it.

I do not have room in my fairly large purse for a computer. And if I had a bag that could carry a computer it would not also have room for my SLR camera. Not to mention my bag of wires, my meds, my other valuables, my smaller camera, a book or my new Kindle, my iPod, heaphones. And what about the nice things I buy abroad that I don't want to put in checked luggage, such as pottery (I do that a lot)?

Makeup? CarolA, you've met me, it's been years since I've touched the stuff.

I have a packing system that has worked for me very well right up until this trip. I bring only a day's worth of clothes in my carry-on, and use it for the things I listed above. So if this keeps up, I suppose I have to get a larger "personal item" without wheels and lug that stuff around airports.

Welcome to the reality of modern travel. Carol is correct - you just have to be prepared for it, with all valuables in a carryon that can fit under the seat in front of you. Even if one has elite status or has paid for access, there is always the chance one gets to the gate late and cannot board before others. Unless one's flying in the front cabin.

Our carry ons are shoulder bags, and are large enough for all our valuables, but not for spare clothing. They fit under the seat in front of us, so we can easily watch them and get into them when we want to use the computer, etc. It is getting harder and harder to do this as the airlines cram all kinds of boxes and cables for the onboard entertainment into the same space. And of course you have to avoid bulkhead seats, where there is no seat in front of you to put your bag under.

>>all are moving towards catering more to elites (frequents fliers) than to the average "regular" flier<<

United, for one, is moving away from catering to elite fliers. They are now selling what were once only available as benefits to elite-level frequent fliers. The benefits for MileagePlus elite-level fliers have been reduced.

United, for one, is moving away from catering to elite fliers. They are now selling what were once only available as benefits to elite-level frequent fliers. The benefits for MileagePlus elite-level fliers have been reduced.



Couple of small points

whether elite based on miles or elite based on paying extra to the airline, my point stands.

And while lower tier elites suffer, UGS and Million Mile fliers have some new benefits so they ARE protecting super elites.

And scuttlebutt re the "new " United is that you will no longer be able to buy premier access or premier bags or premier E+ seating per year - it will go to ta per-FLIGHT cost at some point once the merger is smoothed out. SO whether it's number of miles you fly or dollars you spend, it will still prove problematic for the average non-regular flier.


And there are also strong rumors that Uthe new US may stop the practice of piece b

Could we please have the rest of that last sentence?

>>whether elite based on miles or elite based on paying extra to the airline, my point stands.<<

Okay. I suspected that was what you meant, but you wrote "elites (frequents fliers)". You don't have to be a frequent flier to be an "elite". You can be a "regular" flier, or a first time flier, and pay for the services previously called benefits.

And you don't even have to pay. Just get the right credit card. Everyone can be "special".

Here is what was in my personal item for a recent flight

Laptop, IPad, digital SLR, zoom lens, wallet, Bose noise cancelling headphones, magazines, jewelry case, wallet, glasses case, hand lotion, , two cell phones, water bottle, Luna bzrs, misc junke ... this is just what you have to do now. This stuff has to be able to under the seat.

Notice there is no purse. It goes in the 22" roller board along with clothing, makeup ALL the power cords, work papers etc... You are right purses won't hold laptops...that is why its not a good personal item.

It is not "logical" but it is the way that works. When they take my Rollerboard I just shrug. (and being elite doesn't help. I had to give up my bag on Delta last week and I am as "elite" as they come.)

1) last sentence on my prior post was a mistake - left over from what I was trying to write originally. Ply it no mind.

2) Is is really crazy to think that posters here of all people would understand my LARGER point - that the airlines are catering to those with status, elite fliers, high-paying fliers - the main point being your garden variety leisure traveler is SOL.

Jeez...

Carol, what kind of bag do you use that fits all that stuff? Sounds like I need that. And I guess I'll have to take my luck with pottery and other purchases in checked luggage.

We are in agreement mztery. That was just a rant. jeez. Also, I was giving the OP a clue.

The clue: get the right credit card and you can get priority boarding with it. One of the Mileage Plus Visa cards or CO OnePass Mastercads or the Explorer card. There are different levels of benefits, I think, depending on the level of the card. These apply to UA/CO flights. There may, or may not, be a card that gives priority boarding and/or other benefits on multiple carriers (some form of Amex, maybe).

At least the last 6-7 (or more) UA flights I've taken have had that announcement that the #4 boarding group will need to check their bags due to no space remaining. Planes are FULL. Overhead bins are FULL (a lot of people bring MORE than their 'fair share' of bags and take up more space than they should). I always check bags and only carry on a purse and small duffel or tote.

I'm a UA elite, 1K, so I board within the first group or two, depending on how they are organized at the gate. No problems with putting my (small...not rollaboard) bag into the overhead bin. I like bulkhead seats so I must stow my carry on items as they cannot be placed at my feet. I like a small slim purse that I can stuff between my seat armrest and the wall! I can sometimes do this, and not have to get into the bin for items during the flight.

RE: the merger between UA and CO. I do indeed see some elite benefits being diminished, but I'll keep flying UA.

I really wish airlines would start charging for carryons... and leave the first checked bag free (up to a certain weight).

And enforce carryon size, while they are at it.

If there were a charge for carry-ons, what would we do about items that should never be put in checked luggage? Pay extra for medications?

If they would allow one free bag, there wouldn't be so many carry-ons, and so many oversized ones. But then the airlines would have to pay handlers to move them around; instead they are having you do it.

I always bring an empty spare Baggalini to bring home fragile treasures, and if I am ever told I can't bring my carryon bag I will just pull any valuables out of it, put them in the Baggalini, and let them have it. They can't make you check valuables, electronics, meds, etc.

I might buy a cello while we're in Paris. I can't wait to deal with the headache of bringing it home.

Nikki, my wheeled carryon looks like an oversized purse, so the one time they wanted people with roll aboard bags to gate them them, I just shoved the handle back in and carried it like a purse. I also pretend it's a purse when flying in Asia on budget airlines that charge by weight for all luggage

http://bagexpo.com/40823wd.html

I also keep all my electronics, valuables, meds, book, lotion and other must-be-carried-ons in a very lightweight bag (actually a Fodor's bag!) inside my wheeled bag. If I was forced to check the luggae, I'd just pull that out, and let them check the other bag half empty.

flygirl, I absolutely agree with you about charging for carry-ons and being strict about size control. It's sometimes seems ridiculous what people bring on to the plane rather than checking in and it's getting worse.

Totally agree. Charge for carry-on, and free check bag! You see everything but the kitchen sink (and I sometimes wonder if it hasn't also been included!!!) and the sizes of the bags... no way!! It most definitely is getting worse all the time.

Lucy, bingo! I think you've found the answer for me. I have ordered that bag.

I automatically gate check my carry on when flying certain UA/Skywest flights as they're regional jets and the overhead space is tiny. I remove valuables and put them into a smaller, tote bag to carry aboard. I've been doing this so long I don't even think about it anymore, I just automatically make the transfer while sitting at the gate waiting to board. I've only had trouble once, when UA somehow managed to destroy the zipper of my carry on after it had been gate checked.

Lucy, I've seen bags like that, but have not yet gotten one. I have a closet just for various luggage pieces! I think I have something for every sort of trip....haha. But, that said, I will have to replace to 4-wheeled pink/white polka-dotted 26" (check bag) as I have lost the rubber on one of the wheels on this trip that I'm on right now (Europe). For a very cheap bag that I bought in Bangkok, it has survived relatively well now for several years. No one else tries to claim it for their onw at the carousel...haha.

I'll be luggage shopping when I get home!

I buy most of my luggage at Ross these days. They are decent quality and cheap ($39-59). When the airlines ruin them - which they do on a regular basis- I don't feel so upset.

Carol- I think I remember that bag! Or maybe just a FB picture of you with it! My daugher has an Aloha print bag that is also VERY easy to spot!