Comments on: Should Congress dictate carry-on bag sizes?

By: John

John — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 23:24:01 +0000

Perhaps passengers need to stop being selfish jerks and follow common sense. It is rediculous that it would take an act of congress to get people to pack proper size carry-ons and check the rest. Those of us who follow the rules frequently have to gate check their bags because everyone else boards with too large or too many items and fill the overheads and get away with it.

By: AirlineEmployee

AirlineEmployee — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 04:12:11 +0000

As an airline employee (check-in counter), we do try to enforce this at the ticket counter at time of check-in. We have a sizer and employees in place to spot the oversized, overstuffed bag(s). However, many passengers refuse to even put their bag in the sizer and start the argument / debate immediately. The usual line is as follows:…… “I’ve gone through a hundred airports with this bag”, …….. “this IS a carryon !!” (no matter what the size), “are you calling me a liar ?”,…….”I’m 1k, Premier, Global Services, a Million-mile flier”……..
We’re sick of hearing it…….The sizer tells the whole story…..it either fits or you have to make it fit…….Don’t show me your other crap – three shopping bags full of $hit and expect me to turn a blind eye. Unfortunately a lot of these people get through checkpoints because they have the boarding pass printed in advance and somehow get by.
YES……I want the TSA to do the dirty work………TRY ARGUING WITH THEM WHEN YOU HAVE TO GET ON A PLANE, THEY WILL SEND YOU RIGHT BACK TO THE TICKET COUNTER TO CHECK THE BAG….., God, pleeeease let it happen !!!

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:38:13 +0000

nadabrainiac September 1, 2009 at 11:21 am
Frank, an oversize bag should never get as far as the jetway. While you seem to focus on the customer’s contribution to the problem, you seem to be overlooking the fact that your fellow employees are just as culpable.
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So, that YOU can travel on a dime, have YOU noticed how many airline employees there are at the gates? Two if your lucky. One pulling tickets and one at the podium, using the computer. Now, throw in wheelchairs, elderly, blind, non english speakers, and the poor agent is swarmed.
Same with the aircraft. Your lucky if you see 4 Flight Attendants on a flight with a seating capacity of 200 passengers. First class is being served predeparture beverages. Catering may have showed up late and the aft attendant is verifying meals and galley items. Throw in a seating issue and everyones BUSY, BUSY, BUSY.

The TEMPLATE being returned to the security area would PREVENT all these issues from getting to the gate area. It cant be argued into the aircraft, because it FITS OR IT DOES at the security area. I would rather see the issue being argued with a GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE then an airline employee. See who wins that argument.

You’re comparing us with European travelers? Unfortunately, during the 80′s and 90′s, the flying public learned that “COMPLAINING” gained them extra miles, upgrades, free headsets, free drinks and the like. Now, that most carriers in the country are under great pressure to control costs, that era, thankfully is gone. But, the attempts at it still exist, and it exist with passengers who also think any RULES dont apply to them.

BIG BAG? WONT FIT THROUGH THE TEMPLATE, CANT COME ON THE AIRCRAFT.

PERIOD.

By: Lyngengr

Lyngengr — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:35:26 +0000

The government should mandate a specific size that ALL carryon bags must fit at the security checkpoints. Sort of like the templates at the gates a lot of the airlines have, which of course they never use. I’m in favor of a rigid metal rectangle that any questionable bag either fits into or gets checked. There would be plenty of bin space for everyone if this policy was followed.

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:49:54 +0000

I have been saying for years that the airlines should be charging for all carry-on bags; and not charging for checked bags. This would pretty much eliminate the waste of time every flight attendent spends looking for space on board to stow away someone’s ridiculously oversized bag on full flights. We would all be happier and the majority of the flights would take off on time! The airlines should have realized that by charging for checked bags it would push the public towards trying to carry-on everything and delay departures. This is common sense people, but sadly something the airlines just don’t seem to be able to grasp……

By: Laura Townsend Elion

Laura Townsend Elion — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:44:18 +0000

As much as I hate excessive government regulation, any carry-on limitations ought to address how much these bags can WEIGH!

I’m tired of being hit in the head by some 50 pound bag by the jerk that can’t wait to get off the plane who pulls it down in a hurry, (hitting me, waiting patiently in my seat), as soon as the plane pulls into the gate.

By: nadabrainiac

nadabrainiac — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:21:11 +0000

Frank, an oversize bag should never get as far as the jetway. While you seem to focus on the customer’s contribution to the problem, you seem to be overlooking the fact that your fellow employees are just as culpable. The bag should have never made it past the ticket counter. If using the kiosk, a screen could easily pop up, requiring the customer to physically check a box declaring their carry-on is within the displayed size limits, with an explanation about the consequences of lying. This really shouldn’t be something the flight attendent should be enforcing or explaining to customers. If your coworkers do their job better, your job will be easier. It’s a problem I don’t see on Ryanair – everything is consistently weighed and measured before you get a boarding pass. They treat overweight as overweight and oversize as oversize. You can take something out of your bag to lighten it, or they will be happy to lighten your wallet. Passengers arrive expecting the rules to be enforced, and all employees know that is their responsibility, to the passengers and their employer.

By: kelley

kelley — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:54:07 +0000

What a silly notion, that creating this law will make the problem go away. If an employee doesn’t enforce the existing rules, how much more likely is it they would enforce it if it is a law? The application would be just as inconsistent and arbitrary as it is with the current airline rules. Pretty much like real life outside the airport.

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:49:48 +0000

OTC August 31, 2009 at 11:59 am
Perhaps our elected officials should spend time focusing on more important problems than carry-on size, airlines are private businesses and should be able to set any limit they desire
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BUT, SAFETY is a government issue:

Couper, director of airport services for United, said United is concerned about the issue for three reasons. Too many carry-on bags leads to chaos in the aisles. The added time spent finding extra space for too many bags also delays flights. Finally, there is the safety issue.

The AFA, a flight attendants union, estimated in 1996 that as many as 4,500 passengers and 3,600 flight attendants a year are injured by falling carry-on bags.
Carry-on bags are one of the leading causes of on-the-job injury to flight attendants.

AFA President Friend pointed out that flight attendants’ on the job safety is not protected by OSHA, but is dependent upon action from the FAA. “Your agency has failed to take responsibility for adequately protecting [flight attendants'] occupational safety and health,” she charged.

By: Jay Clip

Jay Clip — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:45:00 +0000

The government does NOTHING efficient, inexpensively, or well. Keep the government OUT of the size-wise business. If Passenger Smith is boarding an ERJ-145 regional jet, his laptop bag is going to be a tight fit. And if Passenger Jones is boarding a Boeing 777 heavy, his rollerbag, laptop bag, and coat will fit in the overhead just fine. PLEASE – leave airplanes to the AIRLINES. Keep TSA at the checkpoint.