Airport gate agents & carry ons

[Anonymous]

I always pay extra to check my bag even when small because i am always zeroed in on to give up my bag at the gate and for some reason it stresses me out. i am a 5'2" ww. Maybe people who are taking on giant bags are already boundary pushers so the FAs think the rule followers with smaller bags will be easier to get to give them up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of bag is it? Maybe time for a new bag if it’s 15 years old.

Briggs & Riley

I’m OP and it’s a samsonite. It’s in great shape, why would I replace it? (As an aside, we also purchased a new samsonite 2 years ago for a trip abroad and it started to rip after 3 trips. They don’t make em like they used to!)

Also to other PPs - yes, I am white, and totally the same experience when traveling with my DH - who has NO status and never gets questioned. I’m feeling a little better/validated that it’s not just me.

You would replace it b/c it seems to be constantly an issue for you. I’m similar height and size and I have a 20 yr old Tumi bag and nobody has ever questioned it. There is something up with your bag. But if you don’t mind getting hassled then change nothing.

[Anonymous]

If you're the highest status, you're boarding early. Politely ask them for their names so that you can complain about their harassment. Be polite about it. You're just about the only type of flyer that airlines actually care about

[Anonymous]

Your size has nothing to do with it. GA may just be in a bad mood. I’m the same size as you and rarely if ever get told I need to check my bag and there are times it really is questionable whether it will fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're the highest status, you're boarding early. Politely ask them for their names so that you can complain about their harassment. Be polite about it. You're just about the only type of flyer that airlines actually care about

Airline employees only care about status and pleasing members insofar as it relates to them losing or not losing their jobs for upsetting them. The airline cares 1000% more about on-time numbers, more so than it cares whether a status member is a little annoyed they were made to check their bag to ensure an on-time departure. Don’t kid yourself; you are a number, and not the one that matters.

[Anonymous]

You’re getting it because you’re a petite woman. I too am 5’0. No one believes I can get my bag in the overhead or even lift it. I am very strong and have no issues though. The flight attendants get sick of dealing with elderly and women who can’t list their bags into the overhead and they don’t want to lift them for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Use a backpack instead. I'm also a smaller female and always use a carry on sized backpack.
Whenever I fly on one of those smaller planes where they make everyone check their rolling carry-ons, I always stop to allow them to take my bag too-but they always tell me that my bag is fine. Many times my backpack is even bigger than the small rolling bags that other people have, but they tell me I can bring mine aboard.

+1

I use a backpack (Nomatic travel backpack) and an underseater (Samsonite) for my normal business trips. I carry onto every plane American flies.

[Anonymous]

I'm 5'1, 110 pounds and the same thing happens to me. And I have several different correct sized bags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 5'1, 110 pounds and the same thing happens to me. And I have several different correct sized bags.

Same and I’m average height. Definitely women get these “requests “ more. If phrased as a question, I say “no thank you” and keep moving. Otherwise I say “I know it fits in the sizer but we can check if you’d like.”
And yeah I’d put in a customer service note.

[Anonymous]

Yep, I'm Delta Plat and an also a petite female. My carry on fits easily in a regional jet overhead bin, yet every now and then, I get the GA-on-a-power-trip telling me my bag won't fit. I KNOW it fits -- even on those small CRJs - I've done the drill many, many times.

Also, I'm typically carrying batteries for electronics inside of there, so I also tell them that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep, I'm Delta Plat and an also a petite female. My carry on fits easily in a regional jet overhead bin, yet every now and then, I get the GA-on-a-power-trip telling me my bag won't fit. I KNOW it fits -- even on those small CRJs - I've done the drill many, many times.

Also, I'm typically carrying batteries for electronics inside of there, so I also tell them that.

This is the answer. You have to inconvenience the GA. Just tell them you have know your bag will fit, but that you have lithium batteries, and that you aren’t getting out of line to remove them, you’ll do it right there. They’ll wave you on. They won’t want to waste time holding up the boarding process. Just start opening your bag and making it a thing right there.

[Anonymous]

My carryon has a small front pocket in which I always pack a fabric sewing measuring tape. Whenever someone questions the size of the bag, I hand them the tape and encourage them to measure it. Then they wave me through.

I do like battery mention. That would work.

[Anonymous]

It’s a power play on the gate agent’s part.

[Anonymous]

Couple things.
1) I think it is human nature that gate agents try to approach people who aren’t going to flip out on them who look cooperative to help out. Your smiles and politeness may be giving off this vibe.
2) If you are in one of the earlier boarding groups I wouldn’t think they would make this request of you and if you’re not, anyone is fair game.
3) you can continue to patiently show them your bag is the correct size with the sizer
4) having to gate check a bag is really not that big of a deal, especially if you have a decent size purse to put important items
5) being a petite sized younger aged female confers a LOT of better treatment in nearly every other area of life compared to everyone else. You don’t realize this must likely because you haven’t walked in anyone else’s shoes. But the feeling you’re feeling in this one singular area of life is contrasted by your excellent treatment compared to obese people, older people, etc etc. Obviously that doesn’t make any of this ok, but most people don’t get the good treatment you’re used to getting most of the time.

[Anonymous]

5'10 and I've never been hassled over the size of my bag. Might be something to the height thing.