simpsonc510

This is a huge topic of discussion on one airline travel site right now. United has sent out an email reminding passengers of the carry-on rules. Many frequent travellers are not happy with this turn of events, but others are happy to see something finally (maybe?) being enforced rather than overlooked, as bag after bag (of all sizes) gets carried onto planes these days. And many folks have more than their two allowed bags (one larger bag for the bin and one personal item for storage under the seat in front of you).

I think I'm with the camp of folks who think it is about time something is done. But then, I always check at least one large suitcase, sometimes two, and I am a 1K with United so my checked bags go for free.

I think that there are bound to be some unhappy customers in the next weeks/months on United as this new clamp-down gets up and running. It could be interesting.

janisj

I always do carry on only. BUT only one true carry-on sized roll aboard and a handbag. One easily fits in the overhead and the other under the seat. I also object to folks schlepping on all sorts of extra 'carry ons'. I never check a bag . . . unless it is gate checked because the friggin airline allowed others to carry on too many things and the overheads are all full.

So great - I wish ALL airlines enforced the rules.

dulciusexasperis

My preference would be to have all overhead bins removed and passengers limited to what will fit under the seat.

You only have to be on a flight that experiences severe turbulence once to understand why. From a safety point of view, there is no way to justify overhead bins. Unfortunately, no airline has the guts to get rid of them.

Kathie

I'm also in the camp of being grateful if they actually start enforcing the carry-on rules. As someone who has adhered to the rules, watching all of those people bringing on multiple carry-ons, watching the people stuff the front overhead bins when they are in the back of the plane, having been hit by falling carry-ons... all I can say is AT LAST!

If they actually enforce the rules, both boarding and disembarking with be much smoother and faster.

simpsonc510

Dulcius, I'm not so sure about eliminating the overhead bins. People should be able to at least stowcoats and smaller bags.

Kathie, yes! At last!

DonTopaz

The root of the problem is the ridiculous amount of time that it can take to have baggage delivered. Used to be that you could count of bags being delivered in 10-15 minutes; now it's not at all uncommon to wait 30 minutes or more. At the same time that airlines were increasing the number of flights, they were reducing the number of baggage handlers. And United is among the worst in this respect (though, to be fair, the other US airlines aren't much netter).

That said, I don't mind the rules being enforced. That would also help in the time it takes for planes to be loaded, when the E+ people are blocking everyone else from their seats as they load the overheads.

newtome

From Tom Bihn luggage's site - (they sell a very popular carryon for biz travelers)

"Published carry-on limit: 9"x14"x22"
Actual sizer dimensions: 10"x15"x23"

Published personal item limit: 9"x10"x17"
Actual sizer dimensions: 9"x11"x18"

For the first time, there are personal item sizers at the United gates, not just main carry-on sizers, so it sounds like they might be serious about policing both items now. My travel agent said she got an email telling her to warn clients that both carry-on items need to be compliant with the rules or they will have to be checked. From her perspective, this is a real problem, since business travelers often have nice leather briefcases or computer rolling bags for their over-sized computers, neither of which will qualify as personal items if they do enforce."

simpsonc510

Maybe I've just been really lucky, but I've never had to wait for very long for my luggage at baggage claim. I travel very frequently and always always always check a bag. For me the thought of having to wait for luggage is not of any significance whatsoever. That short wait gives me a breather before I have to hike to my car or to the airport car rental/shuttle center.

I realize the inconvenience for some travelers. But everyone will be on the same page if rules are finally enforced!

janisj

>>I've never had to wait for very long for my luggage at baggage claim. I travel very frequently and always always always check a bag. For me the thought of having to wait for luggage is not of any significance whatsoever<<

Not me - because I don't check bags . . . but folks I've traveled w/ have had to wait up to an hour several times . . . once didn't get their bags for 2 days . . and once never did get their bag.

For the last 6 or 7 years - folks who want to travel w/ me do carry on only.

dulciusexasperis

Issues like this always result in huge arguments pro and con on forums like Flyertalk.

Whatever rules the airlines choose to put in place (and it is their choice) are the rules everyone will have to deal with. The reason so many people get excited about it is they are looking at it from what suits them personally rather than from what is best for all. Selfishness, in one word. That is of course human nature.

I always remember a person who lived in a condo in which I had a unit who argued for months that they should be able to hang their laundry (swimwear) on the balcony to dry. The rules limited what could be put on a balcony and the intent of the rule was to insure the aesthetics of the building as a whole. Otherwise you have someone painting their balcony bright orange and someone else using it to store old furniture etc. Take a quick peek at how many hits the topic gets on Google. https://www.google.ca/#q=no+laundry+on+balcony

The other issue with carry-on luggage is time. Most people live their life in a rush. Time is money, etc. The concept of doing things at a leisurely pace is beyond their ability to accept. Wow, a whole 30 minutes spent waiting for a bag to arrive on the carousel, the world could end in that much time. There is a reason why fast food was invented. Try telling a Frenchman or an Italian, etc. that they can only have half an hour for their lunch.

I personally, check my bag simply because I choose to carry things that will not get through security screening for carry-on. I put what I want to carry ahead of any other consideration. I'm never in that much of a rush and if I were, I would be questioning WHY I am in such a rush. I also prefer 2-3 hour lunches.

simpsonc510

Well said, dulcius!!! (applause)

Iowa_Redhead

<<<My travel agent said she got an email telling her to warn clients that both carry-on items need to be compliant with the rules or they will have to be checked. From her perspective, this is a real problem, since business travelers often have nice leather briefcases or computer rolling bags for their over-sized computers, neither of which will qualify as personal items if they do enforce.">>>

And that's part of the problem. The rules are very easy to find before you buy a ticket and saying "my bag doesn't fit those rules but I want to take it anyway so I'm going to" is obnoxious. As long as the rules are clearly published ahead of time people should grow up and follow them, it's really not that hard.

I wish all airlines would enforce this and that they'd also enforce the 'only one bag in the overhead, personal item goes at your feet' idea. I also get annoyed by the ones who put their bag in one of the first overhead bins they get to and then proceed to go back to their seat 15+ rows further back. Stop it. Take it with you or you'll end up forcing someone else to look all over the plane to try to find a place for their stuff. It seems to fall under the same general idea that if you can't lift it into the overhead bin by yourself then you shouldn't carry it on (with some leeway for injuries and the like). If you can't navigate it down the aisle to where your seat is then you shouldn't carry it on.

Airlines should hire retired elementary school teachers to remind people to behave themselves properly rather than act like a bunch of unruly chimpanzees throwing poo at each other.

suze

I'm all for enforcing the existing rules. Or changing the rules to better match reality. Either way is OK with me.

DonTopaz

Why does dulciusexasperis think that s/he ought to set <i>my</i> priorities? Dulcius and her claque don't care about waiting 30+ minutes for luggage, and somehow their logic is, "I don't mind waiting, so why should you mind?"

The simple answer: It's no business of yours why I mind. Maybe I have something better to do with my time. Maybe you don't -- I neither know nor care. You prefer to check your bags, and I respect that choice. I choose to pack so that I can carry-on whenever possible, and that's my choice. Not only does that mean that I'm not waiting for my bags, it gives me far more flexibility to change flights when there's a delay/cancellation after I've checked in.

I'm fine with setting up rules and applying them. I'm not fine with someone telling me what ought to be important in my life.

dulciusexasperis

Such thin skin DonTopaz. You are of course free to do as you choose with your life. However misguided. Life life in a rush to your hearts content.

DonTopaz

That's the best you could come up with? An <i>ad hominem</i> remark? Really? Maybe you shouldn't have been in such a hurry to respond.

suze

<<I'm not fine with someone telling me what ought to be important in my life.>>

It's all he ever does on this forum. I have not seen one single post that gave actually useful advice or helpful information to the question at hand. He lives to make fun of other posters here.

He has plenty of time to wait for baggage since he retired early and doesn't have to work for a living (like the rest of us fools).

29FEB

Suze, just curious re " Or changing the rules to better match reality."

I think you're always very logical and wonder what you had in mind?
And I agree with enforcing existing rules.

simpsonc510

I don't think anyone here is trying to tell others what they should or should not do when it comes to baggage, whether checked or carried onto the plane. My only hope is that everyone will comply with the rules. There will be lots of unhappy people in the beginning, I'm sure.

Sorry to veer off subject, but....... the truth be known, IMO:
The fast food industry has changed this country immeasureably. "I want it and I want it now" is in play in so many facets of our lives. I was in high school before the first McDonalds moved into my town. There was something rewarding about saving for what you wanted. My husband's and my first house was not our dream home with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. I still don't have those (not that they are even on my wish list). But had I wanted them, they would have waited until affordable, which would be 4-5 houses down the line and not the very first one!

Now back to the subject at hand.

mrwunrfl

United is not doing this for our benefit. This is just part of their $2 billion cost cutting program.

In my opinion, these are rules that don't need to be enforced because they are followed well enough. That person with the over-sized bag either has a good reason to carry it or they don't know better. That third carry on might be a medical device and not count in the limit. I don't know and I don't care. Do you feel anxious waiting another 3 seconds for that lady to stow her third carry-on? I don't.

You can look at enforcement as preventing a customer from "getting away with something" or as the the airline not giving a customer a break. I choose the latter. It just means more work for FAs who will be gate-checking or plane-checking luggage, all the while explaining that they have to do this per company policy and they will do it without apology.

There is a United bean counter out there that figured that enforcing the rules is going to save a buck per flight and multiply that by enough flights and you got something that sounds like real money.

There is no benefit for you or me in this. We are all just cattle. This is just one more cattle prod to keep us in line and moving quickly.

Waiting 30 minutes for a checked bag is outrageous and ridiculous and preposterous and several other negative adjectives. It is 30 minutes of your life that you will never get back. And all the while you are wondering if the bag is actually going to show up.

I wonder: has the imposition of checked bag fees resulted in any improvement in baggage delivery time or reduced the amount of lost/delayed luggage?