On a US Airways flight in June, the FA took the carryon from a front passenger to the back of the plane where she found a spot for it.

On the Continental flights this month, I never saw the FA try to squeeze anything on - they always just gate checked it. I never had it happen to me personally, so I don't know if they were adding an extra bag fee on for those people.

It solve that problem for myself, I check-in as much as possible and only carry on a small bag for my camera, reading materials, meds, etc. This summer I have flown through 8 airports, including several international with 4 different carriers and never had any problem with lost or delayed luggage.

In my experience over the last couple of years with US Airways and United they board window seats first, then middle, then aisle. Since I always choose an aisle seat I have had a hard time finding space in the overhead bin. It has been full of coats, shopping bags, duty free, etc. not just a carry on bag. The gate agents really need to step up and stop the extras from coming on.

Just this past winter we were on a flight back from Hawaii through SFO and we did luck out and were able to put our one bag in the overhead and a late boarder came along with an oversize suitcase which was too long to fit and had to go sideways and she proceeded to try to move and squish everyone else's bags. I was just standing up to stop her and a FA came along and took it to the back.

As a chronic heavy-packer, the key is to have a nylon soft-sided carryon (Kipling or LeSportsac) which can be stuffed into already-crowded compartments and are the lightest. Then you must take the largest tote/handbag you can that will fit under your seat (flexible leather or cotton) into which you carry yet another tiny travel purse small enough for i.d., phone, glasses, small enough to take thru narrow aisles and smaller bathrooms. I am not aware of any carriers that board from the front, but there are always 'overhead hogs' who do not seem to observe the unwritten rule of putting your stuff in your row's area only!

I think if they take your bag from you and check it, they just gate check it. That means it will be waiting for you right as you exit the plane. We have to gate check strollers and carseats and have never had a single problem with them not sitting right there. Just make sure you have everything you want for the plane ride with still with you. Tough to open the underplane compartment while in flight. :)

I agree this is becoming more of a problem. I had a Travel Pro rolling carry on, very small, and it worked for about a year before I noticed it wouldn't roll down the aisles anymore, or under the seat! Once in a great while it would fit under the seat, but on most flights it was too wide or tall when laying flat. When I got it, 2005, I had done a lot of research on just how much room was available under seats and it worked fine. No idea what they added or changed on flights not long after that, but it no longer fit. Now I use a narrower bag, a small rolling backpack, that so far has fit under every seat and always in the overhead bin. It holds a laptop, DSLR camera and extra lens, plus other necessary items. I don't take a purse or other bag. I like it under the seat because I often can't reach the overhead bin, or it is too difficult to get into during the flight. It converts into a backpack, also, which frees up your hands. It is a never ending quest to find a bag that works, will hold at least enough stuff for one day until my baggage arrives, if delayed. I realize many pack a carryon for several days, so they might take the "personal item" plus the bag. Good luck, it won't get better anytime soon!

I understand that a gate checked bag will be ready for you right at the exit of the plane, as opposed to a "checked" bag that you have to claim at Baggage Claim...but where do they store the gate checked bags if different from the underplane? Does the gate checked bag have more of a chance of being lost or misplaced? How is it that the gate checked bag gets to be right at the exit of the plane for you, if it is held at the same place that the baggage claim bags are? Just curious. Thanks.

Amy - gate checked bags are stored in the holds underneath the plane, with all the other bags. A handler takes them from the jetway and walks the bags down the steps and puts them in the hold. They're last to go on; so upon arrival, the process is reversed - they are the first ones off and handler walks up the steps to the jetway and deposits them by the door to the plane.

Thank you.
I wondered what differentiated them to the handler so they knew to put them at the plane, and not at baggage claim. :-)

Amy, I've seen the FAs tag the gatechecked bags so they must code them somehow --- but I still insist that anything out of my view can be misplaced, and I would never allow something of great value to be gatechecked. How do I know the baggage handler doesn't carry the bag down to the hold, gets interrupted and someone else picks the bag up and throws it on a cart to Timbuktu. I'm sure that gatechecked bags have occasionally been mishandled.

They tag them differently.

Thank you Suze and all.

I just called them because DELTA's standard carry on size is different than the rest of the airlines. Delta requires 22 x 14 x 9. Other airlines have 11 x 14 x 26. I am going to err on the side of caution, and since my carry-on must have wheels, I am hoping I will find a bag at the store that fits the 22 x 14 x 9 dimensions.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Amy, just curious, what airlines allow a 26" bag as a carryon? I think you'll find that Delta's carryon size is pretty typical.

I just saw your other post - that it's USAir. I'm very surprised they allow 26" bags as carry-ons. Live and learn.

I never heard of a 26" carry-on being allowed! Are you sure about that?

I wouldn't have guess it, but it does say 26" http://www.usairways.com/awa/content...epolicies.aspx

Since I am also flying DELTA, who requires 22 x 14 x 9, and that is what fits their "Smart Wise" fitter, I am going to have to go with that. Too small for US Airways, just right for Delta. :-(

US AIRWAYS

Up to 51 in/129 cm (11 x 14 x 26 in or 28 x 35 x 66 cm)

http://www.usairways.com/awa/content...epolicies.aspx

I am so glad I happened to see this thread. I am flying USAir to Vegas tomorrow and was planning to use my smallest carryon. It is stuffed to the gills w/ everything I'll need for the weekend b/c I refuse to pay their $15/bag fee to check a bag. Now I know that I can switch my bag to another carryon that is a few inches larger. hooray! :)

When did US Air start charging for the first checked bag? I flew them last month and they didn't.

I want to know if Austin was kidding, or really thinks that his carryon has more right to be in the overhead bin than my coat??? Do the math, people: if everyone in the typical 5-seat configuration brings one rolling carry-on, they will NOT fit in the overheads for their row!!!!

I don't get the fuss over paying the $15, when required. If the airline carriers hid that cost by raising their ticket price $15, no one would even notice.