Carry On Crackdown in Effect: 22x14x9...But I didn't know..?

Travel pro George Hobica experienced something last month at New York LaGuardia Airport that had never happened to him before — the airline rejected his carry-on bag.
Told by an American Airlines Inc. representative that his 15-inch-wide bag exceeded the airline’s 14-inch width limit for carry-ons, Hobica was sent trudging from the security checkpoint back to the ticket counter to check his bag (HAHA)
He made his flight, but he came away from the experience convinced that something has changed at the airlines — if not the rules, then the enforcement of those rules.
“They’re being persnickety,” Hobica, Airfarewatchdog.com president, suggested Thursday.
Hobica didn’t know if his was an isolated incident. But after he recounted his experience in an article in early June, he heard from many other travelers saying they too had been caught in a carry-on crackdown, not just on American but other big carriers.
“A lot of people said, ‘I had the same problem.’ ‘Same thing happened to me.’ ‘Same thing happened to me, but different airline,’” Hobica said.
“The sizes have been more or less the same, but the policies as far as enforcement have definitely changed,” Hobica said.
American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller said Thursday that his carrier’s policies for the size of carry-ons have been the same since 2008, although it recently made merger partner US Airways’ policies consistent with American’s.
American and US Airways, as well as Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Airlines Inc., have the same size limits: The length of a carry-on bag can be no more than 22 inches, the width can be no more than 14 inches and the depth can be no more than 9 inches.
“The size restrictions have not changed. In 2008, we introduced the 22-by-14-by-9 bag sizers. In 2010, we standardized measurements by putting signage out that says that all bags must fit in the sizers and not exceed those dimensions,” Miller said.
Some other U.S. carriers have higher limits. Southwest Airlines Co., Frontier Airlines Inc., Virgin America Inc. and JetBlue Airways Corp. all set the limits at 24 by 16 by 10inches. (Frontier began charging travelers a minimum of $25 for a carry-on bag this spring.)
In June, American and US Airways added some flexibility to allow some odd-shaped items like poster tubes that exceed the 22-inch length limit but whose length, width and depth total no more than 45 inches. In addition, they’ll allow soft-sided garment bags if the three dimensions don’t exceed 51 inches.
Miller said the carry-on rules are designed to help the carriers get their flights out on time. In addition, it’s important for American and US Airways to align their policies as they prepare to eventually put their operations together, he said.
Hobica said United in March changed its rules to make its carry-on limits more restrictive. Before, its contract of carriage said that no side of the bag could be more than 22 inches and the total of the three dimensions could not exceed 45 inches. Now, the rules spell out the maximums of 22, 14 and 9 inches, he said.

Whenever I travel on DL, they always make me check a bag, even on a revenue ticket. At least they don't make me go all the way back to the ticket counter and are able to gate check it. If they intercepted him at security, that's one thing but :angry: if they sent him back from the gate.

Crackdown has even happened on the nonrev side. Used to be unlimited, since space available anyway, but last trip, they said 2 checked in luggages per Nonrev. Know anything Spongbue?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 29palms

Crackdown has even happened on the nonrev side. Used to be unlimited, since space available anyway, but last trip, they said 2 checked in luggages per Nonrev. Know anything Spongbue?

---

29 that is DL policy. 2 bags up to 50lbs. I occasionally know a agent or two that will let me go over by 10lbs...

I still think that is quite generous, however, wtf? The bags travel Space Available. That means if there is space, if not, it will go on another flight. WTF over? No biggie here in the states, but if I'm traveling to Philippines or something like that, like bring goodies to Philippines or back from Philippines or WHEREVER, now we gotta pay up. Ok, so we pay up if we go more than 50lbs each baggage. Hey, I'm not bichin....or am I?

Slowly but surely, the airlines reminds me of CHARMIN toilet paper. Why? Because, Charmin used to give you a lot of ROLL in the bundle, now over the years, I bet that roll in the bundle has gotten about 50 percent less and cost 50 percent more.....(for example.) And like the Hershey bar. Remember how big they used to be? What is it now, and how much does a Hershey bar go for these days? We are becoming victims of our own cost cutting endeavors. What's the point of enjoying a flight when you gotta squeeze up against everyone else. What next in passenger seating? Donuts tray like seats? Just lay down next to each other and no farting please?

I'm not sure if you're talking about checked or carry-on, Palms, but I'll answer both for ya.

We get the same carry-on allowance as everyone else - that 1 plus 1 thing is an FAA policy, so we can't really change that for nonrevs. Of course, there are some exceptions, like food and umbrellas and medical devices that don't count with the allowance.

Checked bags we get 2 bags per person, but they can also be 70 pounds each. Trust me, as a former ticket agent it takes a lot to get a checked bag to exceed 70 pounds. Sporting equipment is also allowed for one of those checked bags, though not for buddy passes (unless extended family buddies, that's fine). Do you have access to SHARES? GG PASS BAG has a pretty good list of the nonrev bag rules. If you don't, let me know and I can PM you a copy.

I have access. Appreciate the clarification. And 70 pounds per luggage checked in like you say, is quite generous. The carry on I agree, if possible, throw it in the cargo compartment. No reason for people to be carrying heavy bags to the overhead bins. But space available is space available. What difference does it make when I carry two bags versus ten? If they go space available what's the difference right?

Again, assuming "carry" means "carry-on" into the cabin, it's an FAA regulation. We couldn't allow it if we wanted to.

Assuming "Legs" means "Legs".

I went to the pub last night and saw a fat chick dancing
on a table. I said, "Nice legs."
The girl giggled and said, "Do you really think so."
I said, "Definitely! Most tables would have collapsed
by now."