“I started walking towards the back and, no joke, the overhead bin was completely empty. There must have been 10 to 15 of them,” said Telles, who was on the flight. To Boston via Dallas. “They were completely, completely empty.”
Airlines have clear carry-on baggage policies. Passengers are allowed to bring one personal bag and one carry-on bag of a certain size on board. However, even if travelers follow the rules, airline employees may request that their bags be handed over due to dubious claims that no overhead space is available.
“I scroll through major airlines’ social media interactions with passengers almost every day, and the two most common complaints I see are bags being damaged and passengers being asked to check their bags in any case. “There should be plenty of room in the overhead bin for what you’re looking for,” he said.Gary Leff Founder view from the wing blog.
There is plenty of evidence on social media of travelers being mistreated. share photos Garbage bins that are either sparsely occupied or completely barren. So we asked aviation experts and airlines, “What do you get when your bin space is empty?”
@delta There’s so much empty space in the overhead bins, but are they still forcing me to search my carry-on baggage? What gives? literally. There are many vacant ones. That’s ridiculous. I only do carry-on because I don’t want to deal with baggage screening issues. A photo to show. pic.twitter.com/Dm93JpSlWF
— Steph🤎 (@stephanielboo) November 19, 2023
Reasons why carry-on baggage may be refused
Airlines want to depart on time. If even one flight is delayed, it can cause a chain reaction and cause further chaos.
Airlines typically allow 30 minutes to an hour to board, depending on the aircraft, airport, and destination. To stay on schedule, gate agents try to anticipate speed bumps and eliminate them in advance.
“A delay of just a few minutes is important because it can be the difference between a passenger making a connection and a passenger not. It can delay the next flight. It also means the planes aren’t as clean because we don’t spend time removing debris from the planes,” Lev said. “They’re really trying to get their planes out on schedule, and not having to deal with carry-on baggage is a key way to do that.”
In a perfect world, everyone’s luggage would slide effortlessly into the overhead space. However, this is not always the case.
Luggage is not uniform.some travelers ignore size limits or Please put your personal belongings and coats in the overhead bin, not at your feet.others Place the roller bag horizontally without removing the wheels. His one exception to the latter guideline is small airplanes with shallow storage bins, which require all passengers with rollerboards to gate check their luggage.
Traffic jams can occur in the aisle as passengers ponder the possibilities until a flight attendant comes along with a solution. If all else fails, passengers will be required to march their bags to the jet bridge for gate inspection. All of this puts pressure on the passage of time.
“No one wants to go through unnecessary baggage checks, and no one wants to be lied to.”
— Travel Industry Analyst Henry Harteveldt
“Ideally, there should be enough overhead bin space for every passenger to fit one carry-on bag. That’s why airlines are investing in new, larger overhead bins.”Travel said Henry Harteveldt, industry analyst and travel industry president. Atmospheric Research Group. “But this depends on everyone doing their part. Overhead shelf space is limited.”
There are several factors contributing to the rapid increase in carry-on baggage. In 2008, some major airlines began charging for checked baggage. The original $15 fee has since more than doubled. (Southwestern Airlines, which allows free checked goods, is an exception.) Planes are also cramming more people into cabins by adding rows without necessarily increasing headroom.
The gate agent is responsible for keeping the boarding process smooth. A Delta Air Lines flight attendant, speaking on condition of anonymity for professional reasons, said that if a flight departs late, points can be deducted.
“They are the only ones who will be punished for that. You put a mark on your record, and if you get as many points as you like, you can be fired,” the flight attendant said. “So they’re under a lot of pressure.”
Flight attendants act as the eyes on the aircraft, sending up-to-date information about headroom to gate agents. When calculating, flight attendants take into account not only the type of luggage, but also the luggage already stowed during the trip. This is because some types consume more space than others. As the number of available seats begins to dwindle, the gate agent, either with the permission of the flight attendants or on their own, decides to separate all carry-on baggage.
“If it’s a really chaotic boarding situation for the gate agent, they might think it’s really chaotic for us on the plane, too. “We’ll take our best guess at whether to start,” says a Delta flight attendant. He said.
For gate-checked baggage, a gate agent will tag your baggage and roll it to the end of the jet bridge or load it onto a cart. Depending on the aircraft and airport, you can collect your baggage at the jet bridge at your next destination or at the baggage carousel at your final destination (if you don’t have to go through customs).
American Airlines responded via email to questions about the empty compartments, saying its staff uses their best judgment when determining the space between bags and boxes. However, the carrier acknowledged that estimates may vary slightly. Delta Air Lines said in an email that it was switching bag checks from voluntary to mandatory after flight attendants alerted gate agents to the reduced space.
Harteveldt said the airline’s intentions are sincere and are trying to avoid delays, but its tactics are imperfect. “No one wants to have their luggage searched unnecessarily, and no one wants to be lied to,” he says.
Groups that board later often bear the brunt of this practice. For Delta passengers, this could mean the second half of the four divisions. Telles was in Group 7 (out of nine) on the American Airlines flight when the agent told the remaining passengers that their bags needed to be searched. I was in Group 6 when an American Airlines agent made a similar announcement on a flight from Knoxville, Tennessee to Washington, DC. The agent told me that even though the 90-seater plane had several empty compartments, it could only accommodate 25 pieces of luggage.
“The gate staff will receive a threshold for the number of bags they are allowed to carry before they begin the search,” the flight attendant explained. You’ll think, “Oh, 25 bags.” She has over 25 overhead shelves.The problem is that people don’t listen [to the carry-on rules]”
How to avoid getting gate checked
Naturally, travelers who board early will have plenty of space to store their bags. But to get that priority, passengers must: Pay for it or earn it through your credit card membership or loyalty status.
If you fall into one of the early boarding groups, such as military personnel or families with young children, take advantage of them. Strive to be the best in the group, but don’t try to fool yourself by asking for a higher number. It’s like cutting the cafeteria line on pizza day. Also, avoid basic economy, which will put you at the back of the line.
Mr. Lev said he knows the size and bulk of your bag. Please make sure the dimensions are correct, including wheels and handles. Don’t overfill your bag. You may be able to avoid surveillance by carrying a discreet or soft bag, such as a duffle bag or backpack.
According to Delta Air Lines flight attendants, carry-on baggage is often checked in on weekends, on routes with many business travelers, and during busy travel periods such as holidays and summer. So choose your flight times and connections wisely.
“We started noticing it just before summer, but it doesn’t happen as much during slower travel seasons,” they said.
Some people ignore gate-check instructions for carry-on bags and head straight to the plane to find an available spot. Or you might take the bag out of the jet bridge, noticing a small hole to put it in.
“If one or two spaces are empty and your bag is left on the bridge and the ramp is not boarded yet, please speak to a flight attendant,” the flight attendant said.
Once you’ve dropped off your bag, give your gate check tag to the flight attendant and have them adjust the weight and balance tally.
“It’s more like asking for forgiveness than permission,” she says. “Looks like you found the place. You’re awake now. Here’s Tag. Sorry.”