What everyone else said. I don't want to give them the opportunity to lose my bag and I don't want to wait at baggage claim for it. What they should do is charge for carry-on and check for free. I'd gladly pay to carry on and not worry about whether there's enough overhead space.

Anonymous wrote:If all airlines would just go back to free checked bags to begin with, this wouldn't be an issue. (Its not an issue on SW whenever I fly them.) This is an unintended consequence of their money grabbing.

I agree that checked bags should be free. They should instead charge for bags in the overhead compartment (but not for bags that fit under the seat). A convenience fee of sorts. Additionally, I would like for the airlines to seat travelers without overhead bags in the front of the plane. I am so tired of waiting 10+ minutes to get off the plane while people struggle to get their overhead bags out. They can sit in the back and take as much time as they need once the rest of us are off the plane.

You get through customs and border security a lot quicker if you don't have to wait to get your baggage before going through (and then rechecking your baggage in after you pass through) when you have a connecting flight in a foreign country.

Anonymous wrote:My favorite was the year that heathrow refused to allow gate checked baggage- including STROLLERS-- to be picked up anywhere except at baggage claim. So there we were with my twin 2 year olds, all their carry on stuff, all of mine and no stroller until we got through immigration and passport control. I told them that wasn't going to work -- so they put us in a wheelchair with the kids and hauled me and DH through the halls of Heathrow for 40 minutes until we got to baggage claim. Talk about ridiculous.

It sounds to me like you overpacked. You had two adults, and two children. Each adult wears a backpack and carries a kid.

I've noticed that baggage claim times have gone way up since they started charging for checked luggage. I think they've reduced baggage handling staff.

Anonymous wrote:I don't mind gate checking my carryon if it's returned at the jetway at the end of the flight, but I don't do it if it's going to end up at the baggage claim.

This. But seems like it’s always going to baggage claim. I purposely packed lightly to avoid waiting and hassle at baggage claim, so will avoid it unless forced.

My favorite was the year that heathrow refused to allow gate checked baggage- including STROLLERS-- to be picked up anywhere except at baggage claim. So there we were with my twin 2 year olds, all their carry on stuff, all of mine and no stroller until we got through immigration and passport control. I told them that wasn't going to work -- so they put us in a wheelchair with the kids and hauled me and DH through the halls of Heathrow for 40 minutes until we got to baggage claim. Talk about ridiculous.

If they allowed people who voluntarily gate checked to retrieve their bags at the gate instead of baggage, I would happily give mine up. Unfortunately, I have never had less than a 15-20 minutes wait to get my baggage. Usually my wait is 30+min.

I always ask if they allow for gate retrieval, and if the answer is no (almost always), I do not voluntarily check it.

Anonymous wrote:Baggage claim takes no time at all. Put your must haves and valuable in a SMALL carryon that fits under your seat.

BWI is the worst. I hate flying there and arriving late at night on a flight from the west coast. I have easily waited 30-45 minutes for my luggage.

The other thing is, why should I inconvenience myself when I don't get anything out of it? If the airline were to at least give away a $25 food voucher, or a voucher for a free checked bag on a future flight or I might consider it.

Check it at the gate...l

If all airlines would just go back to free checked bags to begin with, this wouldn't be an issue. (Its not an issue on SW whenever I fly them.) This is an unintended consequence of their money grabbing.

My reluctance to check a bag is a holdover from when I was living back home. Our small local airport would regularly take upwards of 45 minutes to get the baggage to baggage claim so I always tried to avoid checking a bag.

Now that some airlines are making guarantees of baggage getting to baggage claim within a certain period of time and the wait times seem to be getting shorter, I'm loosening up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Baggage claim takes no time at all. Put your must haves and valuable in a SMALL carryon that fits under your seat.

False.
I've waited over 30min at DCA and let's not even talk about IAD.

So my reasons are same as others give, though I will sometimes voluntarily check a bag if I'm on the way home and can easily give it up. But reasons are:
--carrying electronics / photo equipment that can't safely be checked
--heading away from home and want my at least my first day's stuff with me
--don't want to wait at baggage

Dulles takes even longer. It’s normally 1 hour at least.

Maybe I don’t travel enough but baggage claim has never been a hassle for me. I’ve been to Orlando, Boston and Vegas in the past few weeks and each time by the time I got off the flight, used the bathroom, and walked to baggage claim by bags were coming out. Where are you all going that saving those extra minutes is so critical?

The only time I’d hesitate checking a bag is if I arrived so close to my boarding time. Usually I feel confident in my timing though because I go early. Clearing security in any timely way is much more of a concern for me!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the problem is not the carry on, its the fact the people are bringing 2-3 carry ons.

airline need to limit it to ONE carry one per person. if woman brings a purse. BAM thats her carry on. if a guy brings a back pack. thats it.

make a rule, stick to it and be consistent with the enforcement.

They have made a rule. One carry-on and one smaller personal bag.

but they generally don't follow the rules... people will bring two carry on luggage types or two larger bags put it over head and screw the rest of a passengers as they take up more over head space. and when a dozen people do this. the folks who by luck of the draw get to board last get fucked.

one bag over head, and one bag at your feet. deal with it.....