Camera PV 2007 » Digital Camera » Extra carry-on's, Possible nowadays?
Extra carry-on's, Possible nowadays?
Question:
>Just a couple of weeks ago, on a Mesa Air dba America West Express >flight from PHX to ABQ (Canadair RJ, dinky thing), I saw a woman put >her max size rollaboard UNDER BOTH SEATS BEHIND HER!!! And the guy >who sat in those seats was a 300 pound linebacker-looking behemoth. >He took up both seats, apparently had paid for them both. And he said >NOTHING, although his knees were in his chin the whole way.
Maybe he didn’t realize the space in front was his.
Response:
> Now I will tell what caused me to ask this question. Like one poster > said he saw, people with "mega carry ons," when I flew from the UAE to > China with my fiancee in July last year we had ridiculous amounts of > carry-ons, at least five items each! She had gone crazy in the duty > free shop in Dubai and bought two gigantic cans of dried milk, we each > had about three travel bags, and other assorted way too much stuff. > We flew Emirates to HK then on Air China to Dalian. I would never > attempt to do something like this again and now I know what would > happen if I did, especially on US or European airlines. Thanks again.
It is my experience that there is no way to accurately predict what will happen if you try to bring on more than the max amount of carryon bags, etc. It depends on so many things like the airline, the time of day, how full the flight is, how crabby the gate agent is, and so on. I used to always carryon my 22" rollaboard (max legal for United) and my laptop in a backpack-style arrangement. I noticed when I switched to America West that they are more strict about carryon bags, but it all depends. I have gotten on board with both bags in ABQ, done a layover in PHX, and then had some officious snot force me to gate-check my rollaboard when re-boarding the SAME PLANE for my final destination. I sometimes play their game – their rules say a ‘personal item’ such as a laptop, does not count towards the 1 bag limit, so if I take off the backpack straps and hang it on my shoulder, it is a ’shoulder bag,’ which they seem to have no problem with. If they see the backpack straps, they get all hot and bothered and point to the FAA ‘rule’ about backpacks counting towards the 1 item. It’s the same bag either way, the idiots. Mostly to avoid the stress, I’m just checking my bag now. It takes more knocks, and has gone missing for several hours three times in the last 5 months and had to be delivered to my hotel, and it adds 1 hour to each end of my trips, but it beats being given crap by a no-nothing on a power trip. Yes, everything that was said about people not making max use of overhead storage is true – the first people on will put their paper bag full of fine crystal in the overhead, only to have it crushed beyond recognition when others get on board and shove their bigass bags into the space. I have seen morons lay their suit jackets out flat, taking up the entire bin. Yeah, right, Gerald. Let me press that for you. I have have had one idiot take my bag OUT of the bin, put his in, and leave mine in the center of the aisle. He got his bag tossed to him, overhand. Just a couple of weeks ago, on a Mesa Air dba America West Express flight from PHX to ABQ (Canadair RJ, dinky thing), I saw a woman put her max size rollaboard UNDER BOTH SEATS BEHIND HER!!! And the guy who sat in those seats was a 300 pound linebacker-looking behemoth. He took up both seats, apparently had paid for them both. And he said NOTHING, although his knees were in his chin the whole way. I don’t know why the Mesa Air people will let pax bring on ANYTHING at all. Engine blocks, car windshields, etc. Then they say NOTHING when they find creative ways to store it, like in front of the emergency exits, etc, wheras other airlines have a major fit over little things. Go figure. Don’t forget that whatever you carry on is liable to be searched at security and again at the gate (or gates, if multiple legs). One bag is lots of fun. Three bags would be a real picnic. Best bet – try it for awhile, and see how things go. Be prepared to gate-check, in case your idea doesn’t work out. If it looks like you’re just not going to have any joy carrying on your bags, get used to checking them in advance – I have. Sigh. Best Regards, Bill Mattocks
Response:
>Can you pay extra and bring more stuff with you? Or is it completely >impossible now. What if somebody just could not cut it down beyond >three things? Maybe they had a pet, a fragile piece of art work, and >a laptop. Or so many other combinations of too much stuff.
Recently I’ve noticed Luftansa is getting really strict with carry on limits. Unfortunately not the size but the weight. I had to check my rollerboard, after I removed my laptop, digital camera and Headphones (there was no way I’d check my Bose). Of course I could carry these Items with me, but not the case I had them all stored in. Which of course weighed less than 13kg after I removed all my stuff from it. I also had a Luftansa ticket agent remind me I was only allowed 1 carry on after she noticed I had a fanny pack (very small just held my travel wallet )on. And I’m Star Aliance Gold. Paul
Response:
Wow, thank you everyone for all the responses. Of course I would do a better job of planning than than my hypothetical passenger. Now I will tell what caused me to ask this question. Like one poster said he saw, people with "mega carry ons," when I flew from the UAE to China with my fiancee in July last year we had ridiculous amounts of carry-ons, at least five items each! She had gone crazy in the duty free shop in Dubai and bought two gigantic cans of dried milk, we each had about three travel bags, and other assorted way too much stuff. We flew Emirates to HK then on Air China to Dalian. I would never attempt to do something like this again and now I know what would happen if I did, especially on US or European airlines. Thanks again.
Response:
> Can you pay extra and bring more stuff with you? Or is it completely > impossible now. What if somebody just could not cut it down beyond > three things? Maybe they had a pet, a fragile piece of art work, and > a laptop. Or so many other combinations of too much stuff.
Your best bet is to call the airline and ask. Your chances of doing this vary from one airline to the next and one flight to the next. Flights that are full might be a problem. If its a really essential item, have it shipped and insure it.
Response:
You can play all the what if games you want, what if I was rushing and forgot my wallet and all my ID at the house, what if I was late and didn’t want to leave my guns in the car (that actually happened by the way in I believe Atlanta), what if I really had to go and only had 38 cents for a ticket, etc. They don’t care. If they are enforcing the rules at the counter, gate, and security checkpoint (and that is one huge if) then they will wither make you check it (at the counter), go back to the counter and check it (at the security gate, and then get at the end of the line again) or gate check it (at the gate).
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You can pay extra and bring more stuff, but you can not have three carry > ons. You are better to ship something, because if they do decide to stop > you at the gate they will gate check stuff, and that is pretty much a sure > fire way to have something broken. You are better off to ship and insure > the artwork, if it breaks then it’s covered. > What if someone had three or more things they are carrying and they > are hurrying to catch their flight. The items are their overnight > bag, a laptop, and a grocery bag-sized bunch of stuff from the duty > free. For some reason, despite the normal expectation like Chanchao > mentioned that they would usually let you have a little bit too much > with you, but this time they are really cracking down on too much > carry-ons. What is the pax going to do? Leave something at the > security desk? These items are too valuable to just abandon one of > them. But Mike states very firmly you cannot have three carry ons. I > know this hypothetical pax should have planned better but what happens > in a case like this?
Response:
> You can pay extra and bring more stuff, but you can not have three carry > ons. You are better to ship something, because if they do decide to stop > you at the gate they will gate check stuff, and that is pretty much a sure > fire way to have something broken. You are better off to ship and insure > the artwork, if it breaks then it’s covered.
What if someone had three or more things they are carrying and they are hurrying to catch their flight. The items are their overnight bag, a laptop, and a grocery bag-sized bunch of stuff from the duty free. For some reason, despite the normal expectation like Chanchao mentioned that they would usually let you have a little bit too much with you, but this time they are really cracking down on too much carry-ons. What is the pax going to do? Leave something at the security desk? These items are too valuable to just abandon one of them. But Mike states very firmly you cannot have three carry ons. I know this hypothetical pax should have planned better but what happens in a case like this?
Response:
> What if someone had three or more things they are carrying and they are > hurrying to catch their flight. The items are their overnight bag, a > laptop, and a grocery bag-sized bunch of stuff from the duty free. For > some reason, despite the normal expectation like Chanchao mentioned that > they would usually let you have a little bit too much with you, but this > time they are really cracking down on too much carry-ons. What is the pax > going to do? Leave something at the security desk? These items are too > valuable to just abandon one of them. But Mike states very firmly you > cannot have three carry ons. I know this hypothetical pax should have > planned better but what happens in a case like this?
They have boxes and tape; you can toss the least fragile/valuable stuff into one of those. Buy a newspaper and scrunch it up for padding if you need to. miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu New mini photo-feature: Life in DC: http://travel.u.nu/dc/
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You can pay extra and bring more stuff, but you can not have three carry > ons. You are better to ship something, because if they do decide to stop > you at the gate they will gate check stuff, and that is pretty much a sure > fire way to have something broken. You are better off to ship and insure > the artwork, if it breaks then it’s covered. >What if someone had three or more things they are carrying and they >are hurrying to catch their flight. The items are their overnight >bag, a laptop, and a grocery bag-sized bunch of stuff from the duty >free. For some reason, despite the normal expectation like Chanchao >mentioned that they would usually let you have a little bit too much >with you, but this time they are really cracking down on too much >carry-ons. What is the pax going to do? Leave something at the >security desk? These items are too valuable to just abandon one of >them. But Mike states very firmly you cannot have three carry ons. I >know this hypothetical pax should have planned better but what happens >in a case like this?
Check the carryon. (Y’know, they only call it that because of the size, you *can* check it, really!) Plan better for time. Sounds like this scenario could be mitigated two ways (time, carryon load) by skipping the duty-free shops. This really isn’t hard if you take responsibility for yourself. Banty
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You can pay extra and bring more stuff, but you can not have three carry > ons. You are better to ship something, because if they do decide to stop > you at the gate they will gate check stuff, and that is pretty much a sure > fire way to have something broken. You are better off to ship and insure > the artwork, if it breaks then it’s covered. > What if someone had three or more things they are carrying and they > are hurrying to catch their flight. The items are their overnight > bag, a laptop, and a grocery bag-sized bunch of stuff from the duty > free. For some reason, despite the normal expectation like Chanchao > mentioned that they would usually let you have a little bit too much > with you, but this time they are really cracking down on too much > carry-ons. What is the pax going to do? Leave something at the > security desk? These items are too valuable to just abandon one of > them. But Mike states very firmly you cannot have three carry ons. I > know this hypothetical pax should have planned better but what happens > in a case like this?
That is the passengers problem. They shouldn’t have assumed they would be able to take it on the plane. Why should an exemption be made for them? They might possibly be able to check the carryon bag. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You can pay extra and bring more stuff, but you can not have three carry > ons. You are better to ship something, because if they do decide to stop > you at the gate they will gate check stuff, and that is pretty much a sure > fire way to have something broken. You are better off to ship and insure > the artwork, if it breaks then it’s covered. > What if someone had three or more things they are carrying and they > are hurrying to catch their flight. The items are their overnight > bag, a laptop, and a grocery bag-sized bunch of stuff from the duty > free. For some reason, despite the normal expectation like Chanchao > mentioned that they would usually let you have a little bit too much > with you, but this time they are really cracking down on too much > carry-ons. What is the pax going to do? Leave something at the > security desk? These items are too valuable to just abandon one of > them. But Mike states very firmly you cannot have three carry ons. I > know this hypothetical pax should have planned better but what happens > in a case like this?
Response:
><snip> > Well, no – it’s always been a problem to some extent or other for other > passengers. I’ve had folks ask me if they can stash an extra carryon in >my > footspace! ("You’re not using it for anything".) >Have you really had that happen? I hope you suggested an "alternate" space >for the carryon, one that apparently had plenty of room.
Yes – I really had that happen. It’s one of several incidents on one flight which I ascribed to its being a TWA (back in 1987) flight from SF-JFK which seemed to be one leg of a epic international journey for most of its passengers. Quite a few were apparently on an immigration journey, from the Phillipines to NYC, or California to Israel, etc.. Whole extended families with terrified grandparents in tow, etc. Bless them all on their brave endeavors, but what a continuous uproar it was! People were carrying mega carry-ons, often things loosely stuffed into paper bags, and many pax apparently had never flown before. Tantrums in the checkout line over luggage weight restrictions, screaming infants *and* screaming elders, pax begging the FAs to move them, trying to consolidate up to 12 people who had been booked apart. As to what I did – I said "no". I got shocked looks from the large group occupying most of the row of seats I was in (middle seats, DC10, I think it was). I have to put the feet on the end of my 36" inseam legs somewhere, and that somewhere is under the seat in front of me. Banty
Response:
Can you pay extra and bring more stuff with you? Or is it completely impossible now. What if somebody just could not cut it down beyond three things? Maybe they had a pet, a fragile piece of art work, and a laptop. Or so many other combinations of too much stuff.
Response:
>Can you pay extra and bring more stuff with you? Or is it completely >impossible now. What if somebody just could not cut it down beyond >three things? Maybe they had a pet, a fragile piece of art work, and >a laptop. Or so many other combinations of too much stuff.
Ship something. Banty
Response:
stuff about "Re: Extra carry-on’s, Possible nowadays?", to which I would like to add the following: >Can you pay extra and bring more stuff with you? Or is it completely >impossible now. What if somebody just could not cut it down beyond >three things? Maybe they had a pet, a fragile piece of art work, and >a laptop. Or so many other combinations of too much stuff. >Ship something.
Yeah, like the pet especially. 
Seriously, often it’s not really a problem if you have a few extra items. I’ve seen people check in dogs in those plastic cages as well. Seen them going on the belt; byebye fluffy..! (This was for a 1 hour flight though). If something is obviously likely to break then they mostly won’t force you to check it in. Remember most business travellers will at least have a laptop and some kind of garment bag for suits, then add some kind of shopping bag from the duty free. No problems. Cheers, Chanchao
Response:
> >I once had an FA ask if she could put a woman’s small briefcase in my >footspace for takeoff, only — the woman was in a bulkhead seat, and the >overhead bins were full. > I wonder how much of the "overhead bins are full" problem is due to > people not using optimal bin packing.
I think that’s a lot of it, though some planes are better for this than others. I flew Alaska last week, SNA to OAK — their 737 had smaller bins that didn’t allow placing rollaboards in the long way. On the other hand, Continental’s 737 between SNA and EWR permitted this, so four could fit in each bin, instead of just two. Also, on Alaska, the front bins were stuffed with pillow, blankets, magazines and other paraphenalia, which took up considerable space. > On one plane I got on recently, > the overheads were 22" deep, and the doors even had labels telling > people to put their bags in with the bottom of the bag facing out > (so that the long axis was perpendicular to the aisle), so that > more bags could fit in the overheads.
Right — CO’s bins are like this. > But most people were putting > their bags in with the long axis parallel to the aisle, so that only > two (instead of three or maybe four) bags could go into each overhead.
I’ve seen FAs rearrange bags when this happens. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Fortunately, the flight wasn’t full, but it could be a source of "bin > hog" problems on a full flight. > — > Timothy J. Lee > Unsolicited bulk or commercial email is not welcome. > No warranty of any kind is provided with this message.
Response:
>I once had an FA ask if she could put a woman’s small briefcase in my >footspace for takeoff, only — the woman was in a bulkhead seat, and the >overhead bins were full.
I wonder how much of the "overhead bins are full" problem is due to people not using optimal bin packing. On one plane I got on recently, the overheads were 22" deep, and the doors even had labels telling people to put their bags in with the bottom of the bag facing out (so that the long axis was perpendicular to the aisle), so that more bags could fit in the overheads. But most people were putting their bags in with the long axis parallel to the aisle, so that only two (instead of three or maybe four) bags could go into each overhead. Fortunately, the flight wasn’t full, but it could be a source of "bin hog" problems on a full flight. — Timothy J. Lee Unsolicited bulk or commercial email is not welcome. No warranty of any kind is provided with this message.
Response:
<snip> > Well, no – it’s always been a problem to some extent or other for other > passengers. I’ve had folks ask me if they can stash an extra carryon in my > footspace! ("You’re not using it for anything".)
Have you really had that happen? I hope you suggested an "alternate" space for the carryon, one that apparently had plenty of room. I once had an FA ask if she could put a woman’s small briefcase in my footspace for takeoff, only — the woman was in a bulkhead seat, and the overhead bins were full. I wasn’t happy about it, but agreed (we were in first class, so it wasn’t too uncomfortable). What amazed me is that, though the FA was suitably appreciative, and thanked me several times, the woman acted as if she had a right to my footspace — no thank you, no acknowledgement of any kind. As soon as we hit 10,000 feet, I handed the woman her briefcase and said, "Please find somewhere else to stow this for landing."
Response:
You can pay extra and bring more stuff, but you can not have three carry ons. You are better to ship something, because if they do decide to stop you at the gate they will gate check stuff, and that is pretty much a sure fire way to have something broken. You are better off to ship and insure the artwork, if it breaks then it’s covered.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Can you pay extra and bring more stuff with you? Or is it completely > impossible now. What if somebody just could not cut it down beyond > three things? Maybe they had a pet, a fragile piece of art work, and > a laptop. Or so many other combinations of too much stuff.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >stuff about "Re: Extra carry-on’s, Possible nowadays?", to which I would like >to add the following: >>Can you pay extra and bring more stuff with you? Or is it completely >>impossible now. What if somebody just could not cut it down beyond >>three things? Maybe they had a pet, a fragile piece of art work, and >>a laptop. Or so many other combinations of too much stuff. >Ship something. >Yeah, like the pet especially. >Seriously, often it’s not really a problem if you have a few extra items. I’ve >seen people check in dogs in those plastic cages as well. Seen them going on >the belt; byebye fluffy..! (This was for a 1 hour flight though).
Well, no – it’s always been a problem to some extent or other for other passengers. I’ve had folks ask me if they can stash an extra carryon in my footspace! ("You’re not using it for anything".) And then there’s the who-can-stuff-the-overhead-first game. And from what I understand airlines are cracking down on carry-ons. Call ahead and see what the requirements are. Check in and/or pay extra (or are you one of those folks trying not to check anything?), or ship ahead. This really isn’t that hard, and will save you and everyone else some hassles. Banty