Question about United "Carry-on bags" rules
Mar 17th, 2011, 07:50 AM
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Question about United "Carry-on bags" rules
I haven't flown United in almost 10 years.
We will be flying on a domestic flight next month and want to only have carry on to avoid paying baggage fees. We are continuing on to Europe so we will each have a 9 x 14 x 22 inches bag [these will be checked for the European flight].
United allows "one personal item such as a briefcase, garment bag, laptop computer, purse or small backpack [from their website]" and "must fit under your seat or in the overhead bin".
I am trying to determine what would be allowed as the personal item. I have a fairly small "makeup bag" that will fit under seat but will it be considered too big? Do they really watch that personal bag for size? The bag is 8x8x14 and is softsided and can be squished if needed - about the size of a camera bag or a med backpack.
Must one piece go under seat or can they both go in overhead bins?
We will only have the one personal item, along with the 2 carryon bags.
Will these 3 pieces be allowed or do we run the risk of having to gate check?
We will be flying on a domestic flight next month and want to only have carry on to avoid paying baggage fees. We are continuing on to Europe so we will each have a 9 x 14 x 22 inches bag [these will be checked for the European flight].
United allows "one personal item such as a briefcase, garment bag, laptop computer, purse or small backpack [from their website]" and "must fit under your seat or in the overhead bin".
I am trying to determine what would be allowed as the personal item. I have a fairly small "makeup bag" that will fit under seat but will it be considered too big? Do they really watch that personal bag for size? The bag is 8x8x14 and is softsided and can be squished if needed - about the size of a camera bag or a med backpack.
Must one piece go under seat or can they both go in overhead bins?
We will only have the one personal item, along with the 2 carryon bags.
Will these 3 pieces be allowed or do we run the risk of having to gate check?
Mar 17th, 2011, 08:04 AM
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Deb, my normal "personal item" that I carry on United (many, many times) is an 18 x 14 x 6 (when full) computer tote:
http://www.mobileedge.com/premium-tote.html
This is in addition to a rolling bag (although my usual rolling bag is much smaller than 22"). It does fit under the seat for the most part, although it is a tight squeeze in certain first class seats that have less foot room. I've never had anyone question it.
What type of plane will you be on? The bigger risk may be the rollaboards, particularly if you're in a higher boarding group. On a number of recent flights, the overheads have filled up by the time they get to group 3 or 4, and then they start gate checking.
http://www.mobileedge.com/premium-tote.html
This is in addition to a rolling bag (although my usual rolling bag is much smaller than 22"). It does fit under the seat for the most part, although it is a tight squeeze in certain first class seats that have less foot room. I've never had anyone question it.
What type of plane will you be on? The bigger risk may be the rollaboards, particularly if you're in a higher boarding group. On a number of recent flights, the overheads have filled up by the time they get to group 3 or 4, and then they start gate checking.
Mar 17th, 2011, 08:30 AM
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Going to DC [from ABQ 8:45 morning] we are on AIRBUS A319 Seats 17A and C.
Returning [9:30 flight Sun morn from OHare to ABQ]
EMBRAER JET Seat 9A and 9C- I suspect this is the one that might cause problems.
Returning [9:30 flight Sun morn from OHare to ABQ]
EMBRAER JET Seat 9A and 9C- I suspect this is the one that might cause problems.
Mar 17th, 2011, 09:40 AM
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You should be fine on the Airbus. The "A" seat should get one of you in seating area 2.
The rollaboards will fit in the overheads of the Embraer 170, but they have to go in sideways rather than wheels first, and as a result the overheads can fill up really fast. The last time I took mine on one of those, I was seated in row 3 and had to put my bag above row 15, which is way in the back--and I boarded before seating area 1. The good news is these are treated like all other regional jet flights in that you can check the rollaboards planeside when you board and pick them up planeside when you get off (no fee).
The rollaboards will fit in the overheads of the Embraer 170, but they have to go in sideways rather than wheels first, and as a result the overheads can fill up really fast. The last time I took mine on one of those, I was seated in row 3 and had to put my bag above row 15, which is way in the back--and I boarded before seating area 1. The good news is these are treated like all other regional jet flights in that you can check the rollaboards planeside when you board and pick them up planeside when you get off (no fee).
Mar 17th, 2011, 09:45 AM
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There's no significant difference between UA and other major US airlines' baggage policy. Your "makeup bag" is definitely allowed as your "personal item".
As for whether one piece has to go under your seat, of course that's encouraged, and is just simply good etiquette, especially if the flight is full or pretty full, and others are having hard time finding overhead space. Sometimes, a FA will actually pull that small piece out and ask one to put it under the seat.
Your ORD-ABQ flight is on the larger Embraer E170. Those overhead bins are larger than traditional regional jets, and in fact Jetblue theoretically allows up to 24x16x10 on them when placed sideways (i.e. the "bad" way). Whether they'll force you to gate check your 22" rollaboards depend on how full that flight is, and whether you get on first or last.
As for whether one piece has to go under your seat, of course that's encouraged, and is just simply good etiquette, especially if the flight is full or pretty full, and others are having hard time finding overhead space. Sometimes, a FA will actually pull that small piece out and ask one to put it under the seat.
Your ORD-ABQ flight is on the larger Embraer E170. Those overhead bins are larger than traditional regional jets, and in fact Jetblue theoretically allows up to 24x16x10 on them when placed sideways (i.e. the "bad" way). Whether they'll force you to gate check your 22" rollaboards depend on how full that flight is, and whether you get on first or last.
Mar 17th, 2011, 12:54 PM
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I realize that UA and other majors policies are similar, but I have flown Southwest almost exclusively for the past 10 years, so I really wasn't sure, Ray.
I guess we are safe to do the 2 roller carryon/bags and my makeup bag.
Thanks for the input, all!
I guess we are safe to do the 2 roller carryon/bags and my makeup bag.
Thanks for the input, all!
Mar 17th, 2011, 01:14 PM
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You are totally fine with airline's policy with carryons, so you'll never be forced to pay a baggage fee for anything. But there's always a chance that there's no room for your rollaboard - like when you get to gate late and have to board last - and is forced to gate-check them (for free). If I'm taking a rollaboard and a personal item, I always put my medicine, money, camera and other valuables in that personal item, and not in the rollaboards.
Mar 18th, 2011, 10:30 AM
#8
This is off-topic and shouldn't concern you DebitNM. You got good advice above. I am just taking this post as an opportunity to vent, which I very rarely do (IMHO).
United FAs announce that your primary storage area is under the seat in front of you. I want to tell them that no, the primary storage area is in the bins over my head and that the space under the seat in front is part of the passenger area. My one small backpack, the only thing I carry on, is not a personal item. It is my only piece of luggage.
United FAs announce that your primary storage area is under the seat in front of you. I want to tell them that no, the primary storage area is in the bins over my head and that the space under the seat in front is part of the passenger area. My one small backpack, the only thing I carry on, is not a personal item. It is my only piece of luggage.
Mar 18th, 2011, 02:12 PM
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"Personal item" is defined liberally - many people bring full-sized briefcases with computer as a personal item (and briefcases are listed as allowed personal items). Your makeup case is fine.
Had an interesting thing happen to me 2 weeks ago at Boston Logan at security. I had a legal carry-on suitcase and computer tote - plus tiny purse (just big enough for a wallet - perhaps 2"x4"x6". In security line the TSA guy told me I had to fit the purse into my computer tote since I could only have a carry on and ONE personal item. It fit easily - no problem - but never have I had TSA look at size/quantity of luggage.
Have a good trip
Had an interesting thing happen to me 2 weeks ago at Boston Logan at security. I had a legal carry-on suitcase and computer tote - plus tiny purse (just big enough for a wallet - perhaps 2"x4"x6". In security line the TSA guy told me I had to fit the purse into my computer tote since I could only have a carry on and ONE personal item. It fit easily - no problem - but never have I had TSA look at size/quantity of luggage.
Have a good trip
Mar 21st, 2011, 12:49 PM
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Gail - I had the same exact experience at SFO recently. I guess they are cracking down. And this is definitely a small purse - I wore it during the entire flight. But they wouldn't even let me get in the security line before I stowed my purse.
Mar 21st, 2011, 12:58 PM
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Similarly, after the liquid bomb scares from flights departing from the UK, most UK airports enforce an "one carry on" rule that's absolute. The reason behind that is that they are inspecting luggage more carefully and the more pieces the longer it takes. It's not because terrorists were combining liquids from their official carryon and from their personal item.
Mar 22nd, 2011, 03:21 AM
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This must be fairly new as they said nothing about my passport/ ticket holder purse slung across my chest and normal carry on when I flew from the UK 17 months ago. Though perhaps they let it slide as a passport carrier, I don't know. Being all cloth, velcro, and paper, it didn't set anything off and I wore it through security actually quite accidentally.
Mar 27th, 2011, 03:51 PM
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I am confused.
Does the OP have three items for one person or three items for two people (the "We" part of the statement) If it's three items and one person check one.
Gail, and others......
There is no "little purse" exemption..... It's TWO, not TWO plus my little purse, my shopping bag etc...
(And I am a woman. I travel weekly with TWO items,no "little purse" required!)
Does the OP have three items for one person or three items for two people (the "We" part of the statement) If it's three items and one person check one.
Gail, and others......
There is no "little purse" exemption..... It's TWO, not TWO plus my little purse, my shopping bag etc...
(And I am a woman. I travel weekly with TWO items,no "little purse" required!)
