The Luggage Debate
As Louie and I prepared for our annual January trip to New York for the GT awards event, the debate over luggage came up again. Do we check it or carry it on?
The question is more of convenience rather than cost. The $15 per bag charge wasn’t going to put a major dent into my 2010 budget. Still, it is always nice to avoid extra charges if possible.
The absolute worst-case scenario is to plan on carrying on my bag, only to be told as I am boarding that the overhead compartments are full and I need to check my bag. In that case, not only will I have to deal with luggage claim, but I will have to fill out the tags at the last minute. Plus, I could have used a bigger bag and just checked it at check-in. This has happened to me twice and is a major annoyance.
On the surface, it is easy to blame the passenger who brings on one bag (which is already questionably oversized), plus a personal bag (which is more like a gym duffel bag), plus a laptop case (which seems to be larger than laptops I have seen), plus possibly one more small bag for under-the-seat stowage. That’s four bags, by my count.
Don’t get me wrong, that person deserves some of your ire, but let’s put the blame where it belongs. The airlines need to enforce tougher standards for carry-on bags.
My longtime friend, Sky Torvis (former radio personality in Bisbee, Ariz.), once asked me why airlines don’t charge for carry-on bags. What a radical yet perfectly logical concept.
There should still be enforced limitations, but passengers should pay more for the convenience of carrying on a bag (or four). Wouldn’t that make more sense? At least I could get some satisfaction knowing that the luggage hog was coughing up some cash!
– John Wroblewski, distribution specialist
January 20th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
This also annoys me to be waiting to board a plane and see one person have 3 bags with them and finding out that once I board my space above my seat is already taken. I mean if you are going to bring that much luggage, check your bag. Airliners should enforce a stricter policy when it comes to carry-ons but most of the platinum, gold, or elite members are exception to these rules and usually don’t have to pay a fee. If people are just trying to avoid the $15 fee then airliners should lower it to $5, that way more people might be inclined to check their bags. Because if a family of 4 are traveling on vacation, that $15 can add up quick.
January 22nd, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Big Money raises several good points and so did John.
Especially in these tight times, charging an extra $15 doesn’t help encourage travel. Like you wrote, there should be stricter checking on the carry on’s.
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Sky Torvis? I remember him from the old days. Great guy.
I hate the whole carry on process. People take forever and try to bring on their whole wardrobe. Slim it down people and get it in those compartments quickly. It shouldn’t take 10 minutes. Keep in mind that others are waiting!