Select experienced travelers plan affordable trips via acareful review of cheaptravel options, such as cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages andthen circumvent airline baggage fees by carrying oversized bags to the gatewhere they usually are checked for free.
United Airlines has decided to more strictly enforce itsrules restricting the size of carry-on bags. Workers at security checkpoints have been asked to start identifyingbags that are too big to be carried on planes.
Recently United distributed new bag sizing boxes at mostairports and notified frequent fliers by email of its carry-on oversized bagsrules.
Most airlines have size limits on carry-on bags that havebeen in place for years, but airlines have enforced them very inconsistently.
Passengers are usually allowed one carry-on bag that can beplaced in an overhead bin and can be no larger than 9 inches by 14 inches by 22inches. Fliers are also allowed to bringone personal item such as a purse or laptop bag that will fit under the seat infront of them.
There is a long standing practice whereby travelers flyingwith an oversized carry-on can have the bag checked for free at the gate. However, United passengers who get stopped atsecurity for trying to carry an oversized bag are now being directed to go backto the ticket counter and pay the airlines $25 checked bag fee.
Some travelers complain that Uniteds crackdown is part ofa larger attempt by the airline to collect more fees. United disagrees, saying that it is takingthis step to ensure that compliant passengers can find space in the overheadbins. In the last several years, thefinal group of passengers to board has often been forced to check theircarry-ons at the gate because overhead bins were already full.
Airline experts believe that Uniteds new baggage directivewill result in more revenue for the airline and likely delay the boardingprocess unless fliers are better educated. Compliant passengers should benefit by more overhead space opening up.
United collects $638 million in annual checked bag fees andhas stated that it hopes to collect an additional $700 million for extras suchas baggage fees and the sale of extra legroom over the next four years.
Enforcement of other airlines bag sizers at securitycheckpoints has been sporadic. AmericanAirlines asks its employees in some of its largest airports to do an eyeballtest on size of carry-ons. Delta AirLines says that during peak times at hubs and larger airports it has staffnear security to look for oversized carry-on bags.
United is now enforcing its oversized carry-on rules muchstricter than other airlines. Its bagsizers can determine whether bags will fit in overhead bins and underpassengers seats.
United now encourages passengers on its website to use thenew sizers to find out whether your carry-on and personal items are able to bebrought on board, so you can check any bags that are too large right there inthe lobby.
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