Rejected hand luggage at the gate

[Dannyboy39]

Don’t know whether it’s just me, but I’ve seen a real uptick in the number of airlines and handling agents checking gate bags on several low cost airlines, more so in western Europe. Name no names because this seems to be a trend across several of the bigger players.

It now feels like every single flight, about 30-50% of passengers are targeted to place their items in the frame to see if it fully fits. More often than not these don’t fit marginally where likely it would indeed fit in the overhead lockers.

Presumably staff are being incentivised to find these bags? This didn’t feel too prevalent before last year. Maybe it’s just my own anecdotal evidence.

I write this as someone who has never been targeted, but tend to check bags in more often than not. I see stories on social media of people using bags on many prior occasions and then being hit with fees more recently. I don’t buy this “saves time” nonsense either.

On the flip side, I’ve seen many occasions where overhead lockers are full to the brim on full service carriers, more so than what was probably intended.

[bbrown1664]

As a passenger i am glad when i see this as people basically take the mickey with their carry on bags meaning my small rucksack which will crush down to nothing as its basically carrying my kindle only ends up under my feet making my journey uncomfortable as the overheads are full of bags that should be checked.

Its about time that ticket prices were raised a little and a free hold bag was given to people once again. I know some people like to make a quick exit from the airport but most just do carry on as they dont want to pay for the hold bag.


And one bag should mean one bag

[Abrahn]

A couple of years ago we, about 170 people, were all summoned to a company event. We were all issued with identical 40x20x25 bags, the company being too tight to pay for hold luggage. We flew two different carriers from three different airports (Luton, Gatwick and Manchester).

Roughly a handful on each flight had their bags rejected. I wasn't present, but multiple witnesses report that when the inconsistency was pointed out the response ranged from indifference to threats to remove passengers from the flight. One report was that a request to use metal cage thing as proof was rejected.

My conclusion is that ground staff are given a target per flight and that this creates widespread fraud.

[Load Toad]

I'm happy when this happens.

I see passengers regularly taking the pi55 carrying backpacks, front packs, LP top bags, duty-free and oversized bags of all descriptions, taking up all the overhead space and under the seats, etc. And not only on budget flights

[BonnieLass]

I have seen more 4 wheeled "cabin" bags being stopped than 2 wheeled and no wheeled. One specific type of bag can be difficult despite the fact that they are designed for the overhead bins...the Truckie child's wheeled case due to their sometimes awkward shapes.

I have not had a problem with the bag that I use, but more than once it has gone into the wardrobe/cupboard at the front of the aircraft cabin a few times due to other pax filling the overhead bins. Eventually I started to ask if I could stow my bag in the cupboard since it is so much easier to retrieve when getting off the plane than fumbling about in the overhead trying to free it amongst the duty free booze bottles from the other pax.

[ZFT]

Most carriers I've used recently ask that duty free bottles not be placed in the overheads but under the seat in front.

[SpringHeeledJack]

I'm both happy and unhappy at these checks, but have only personally been 'checked' the very rare time over the years because I try not to take the P and travel considerately. Yes, way too many do seem to misunderstand what is a reasonable amount to bring as cabin baggage, but also it seems that there is a incentivised revenue stream at play as well, which seems to rule out reasonableness especially with soft bags that are by nature a bit lumpy and might not fit neatly in the bag measuring cages at the gate. Perhaps a standardised size of cabin bag allowance (depending on aircraft group size) across the industry might also help with cabin baggage misunderstandings ?

As mentioned above, it is the inconsistency from the airlines and staff/contractors that seem to be in dire need of an overhaul, so that passengers can see that they WILL be penalised if they disregard the cabin-baggage rules, but that the rules and attitude are fair and seen to be fair. I would also like to throw in the ring that there should be no special grace given to anyone based on gender, a seat occupying passenger is simply that. Passengers with young children and passenger carrying medical devices as before unaffected.

[BonnieLass]

Originally Posted by ZFT

Most carriers I've used recently ask that duty free bottles not be placed in the overheads but under the seat in front.

From my experience with specific airlines that I have used Iberia, BA and AF allow it in overheads (tbh the CC's don't have much choice since they cannot monitor everything that gets crammed into the overhead bin...if they see it when doing the bin closing/seatbelt check they will remove it and put it in the cupboard at the front if the owner doesn't make themselves known)

Emirates and KLM won't allow it into the overheads, its uder the seat or in the cupboards.

I do often wonder about the weight of baggage and stuff inside those bins, especially when taxiing etc cos the noises that come from them is alarming sometimes, creaking, groaning etc

What is the weight limit on the overheads when fully stuffed so much that the lid needs to be wrestled shut?

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by BonnieLass

What is the weight limit on the overheads when fully stuffed so much that the lid needs to be wrestled shut?

Bins are typically marked (inside) with the weight limit. Unless you have a group travelling with gold bars in their carry-ons, bins are invariably going to bulk out before they hit that limit.

[Saintsman]

I suppose what winds up people the most is that their bag is rejected on the return flight. If it was good enough to go out, why isn't it coming home?

[BonnieLass]

Originally Posted by Saintsman

I suppose what winds up people the most is that their bag is rejected on the return flight. If it was good enough to go out, why isn't it coming home?

Ah but dirty laundry (the clothes worn at resort or wherever) never goes back in the case the same way does it, so it makes the case expand a bit.....and some people just don't know how to pack a case properly in the first place

[Less Hair]

Any size conforming carry-on luggage should fit "under the seat in front of you" (*except emergency exit and first rows) anyway. No bins needed. This is why refusing it or forced check-in do not make sense to me. Airlines like Ryanair want less checked in baggage in order to reduce lost bags and costs.

[BonnieLass]

Originally Posted by Less Hair

Any size conforming carry-on luggage should fit "under the seat in front of you" (*except emergency exit and first rows) anyway. No bins needed. This is why refusing it or forced check-in do not make sense to me. Airlines like Ryanair want less checked in baggage in order to reduce lost bags and costs.

There is one thing about placing hand luggage under the seat infront that may have a bearing on whether you get your baggage placed in the hold instead.....saggy lifejacket pockets

I have noted that the older the aircraft, the less space tween floor and saggy lifejacket pocket and on flights with older aircraft, I have seen more hand baggage rejected to the hold. So perhaps check in staff are aware of the age of the plane and are more strict with hand baggage if they know there is an issue of lifejacket pocket saggyitis?

[SWBKCB]

Every airline I've flown on has made the restrictions on hand baggage quite clear - if you don't meet those requirements, that's your fault. Doesn't matter if other people on the flight "get away with it" or "it was alright on the way out". Take some personal responsibility.

Airlines and the rest of the airline industry regularly tell is that "safety our first priority" so I can't stand the hypocrisy of allowing bottles of duty free in the cabin.

[Davef68]

Originally Posted by Dannyboy39

Don’t know whether it’s just me, but I’ve seen a real uptick in the number of airlines and handling agents checking gate bags on several low cost airlines, more so in western Europe. Name no names because this seems to be a trend across several of the bigger players.

It now feels like every single flight, about 30-50% of passengers are targeted to place their items in the frame to see if it fully fits. More often than not these don’t fit marginally where likely it would indeed fit in the overhead lockers.
.

Probably because most of the low-cost ones have reduced the size of the 'free' permitted hand luggage (e.g. Easyjet) - the flight case I have used for 20 years (which was smaller than the previously allowed size) is now too big in one dimension, so I've had to replace it with a smaller one - or pay a fairly hefty additional fee.

No doubt many are either trying it on (in case of no checks) or don't realise their bag is too big.

[Alsacienne]

Just from what I've seen ... full overhead lockers can cause damage to medical equipment that has to be carried as hand baggage such as CPAP machines ....

[ZFT]

Originally Posted by SWBKCB

Every airline I've flown on has made the restrictions on hand baggage quite clear - if you don't meet those requirements, that's your fault. Doesn't matter if other people on the flight "get away with it" or "it was alright on the way out". Take some personal responsibility.

Airlines and the rest of the airline industry regularly tell is that "safety our first priority" so I can't stand the hypocrisy of allowing bottles of duty free in the cabin.

..or selling it on board!

[Dannyboy39]

I'm all for people being put in their place if they clearly are breaking the rules. But people being asked to check bags in and pay significantly for the privilege for what is a very marginal non-compliance doesn't sit right with me. Especially as there is more space up above on newer aircraft and also below seats as they become thinner and lighter.

At the end of the day, we all work in this industry and it reflects on us as a service provider.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by Saintsman

I suppose what winds up people the most is that their bag is rejected on the return flight. If it was good enough to go out, why isn't it coming home?

The correct reaction is to be grateful that you didn't get clobbered on the way out too.

Happened to us at LIS last year - not having flown EZY for a while, we hadn't twigged that they had reduced the allowable carry-on size in the meantime.

They put a hold baggage label on mine after it failed to fit the gauge and stung me for the charge, then told me to take it out to the aircraft, where it would be put in the hold. Inexplicably, the label detached itself en route to the steps and it ended up in the overhead where of course I already knew it would fit.

[FUMR]

Originally Posted by DaveReidUK

The correct reaction is to be grateful that you didn't get clobbered on the way out too.

Happened to us at LIS last year - not having flown EZY for a while, we hadn't twigged that they had reduced the allowable carry-on size in the meantime.

They put a hold baggage label on mine after it failed to fit the gauge and stung me for the charge, then told me to take it out to the aircraft, where it would be put in the hold. Inexplicably, the label detached itself en route to the steps and it ended up in the overhead where of course I already knew it would fit.

I had similar experiences (some time ago now) when my bag would cause no problem and fitted comfortably on my flights inbound to BHX but oddly enough didn't meet the requirements outbound. I too would have a label put on the bag and these too would always mysteriously disappear between the gate and the aircraft. Cabin crew never ever questioned the bag. I used the bag all the time and never had any issues with it except for the one handling agency at BHX. It was btw neither RYR nor EZY. I'm all for rules but make them fair and be consistent!