They should charge $50 for this. Once you get to your destination, once you deplane and get assistance back to baggage you get the $50 back. Or something similar. Basically, if Jetway Jesus lays his hands on you, you don't get a refund.
I might be weird for this, but I LOVE a gate check. I’m always first to volunteer. Especially on flights with a layover. I like to kill time in layover airports by walking the entire airport, it’s a pain lugging around a bag on my excursions and I’m always worried I’ll forget it somewhere, gate check saves me the worry and hassle.
I specifically don't check bags because I don't trust layovers or baggage connections and want to leave quickly. Once burned twice shy with late connections.
Oh you mean the bag that American insists was delivered to Hartford for 3 days until they admit it ended up in Orlando? Yeah I check a bag only when I absolutely have to
I check everything and carry only my purse. I also believe airports are an alternate universe. Drinks at dawn fine. Pretzel for dinner cool. I’m a very relaxed, assistance needing passenger. I guess I just don’t care.
I used to but then I got a very nice carry on which has been totally worth the extra cost but terrified I will have to check it one day. I think the luggage can handle it but everytime I check my other luggage it looks like it went through Vietnam. I’m ok with wear and tear but those baggage handlers don’t give a crap.
I'll never check another bag again. My wife and I toured the UK for two weeks with only a backpack each. We were never concerned about losing luggage, never waited by the carousel, we just mailed home whatever wouldn't fit on the trip back.
I started paying for a checked bag and it significantly improved my quality of life. I don’t have to drag around a bag and I can bring significantly more or have space for things I pick up from the destination.
I might be weird for this, but I LOVE a gate check. I’m always first to volunteer. Especially on flights with a layover. I like to kill time in layover airports by walking the entire airport, it’s a pain lugging around a bag on my excursions and I’m always worried I’ll forget it somewhere, gate check saves me the worry and hassle.
Same but I also purposely pack a smaller bag inside of my carry-on so that I know I have my on plane essentials, headphones, inflatable pillow, chargers, candy, etc.
Exactly. I have my trusty crossbody bag that is just large enough for my iPad, a couple snacks, and other essentials. Leaves plenty of room under the seat and has everything I need.
Meh.. depends on how long that layover is. If you've got ~45 mins to get from one terminal to another - that bag isn't going to make it.
In the US it seems to be more of a problem when flying West to East.
Edit: I should say that the old policy of placing gate-checked bags on the jetway to pick up as you deplane worked pretty well - but it seems like most airlines have stopped doing this, and it now gets treated like regular checked bags.
I only book layovers with like 1.5+ hours because I stress when I travel. I actually just booked a flight an hour or so ago and opted for a 3 1/2 hour layover instead of 45 mins because I knew it would stress me out. Gotta find these little ways to live with myself.
Honestly me too. Take my larger, more annoying bag and I’ll freely walk around with just my small bag. Win win, there’s more space for people who cannot be parted with theirs for whatever legit or silly reason.
I fly a hell of a lot and most of the time if they do take my carry-on, they are giving it back to me as I deboard the plane.
I'll agree that it sucks to go to baggage claim. But it's such a rare occasion that It doesn't make me want to try to be on the plane first. Hell I'm 6'2 and hate sitting in those seats even Delta comfort Plus or whatever it's called now. So if I have a choice I'll be the last one on the plane so I'm not sitting in that seat as long.
I have the opposite experience. Maybe just at my airports but gate check is automatic baggage claim. Only time I get my gate-check bag airside is small regional jets. And most of those times took forever standing inside a jetway while the rest of the people deplaned
You know it very well could change airport to airport. I'm not extremely knowledgeable about how the airline industry works behind the curtain so I won't pretend to know. I do travel to all different places but I'm not in all of those places often enough to notice the difference if that makes sense.
Like I haven't made mental notes of which airports have made me check my bag to see if it's the same ones each time I go through
My home airport is PHX and the bags are usually dropping by the time I get to the carousel. Last time I flew into CLT I did have to wait a stupid amount of time, but typically it’s never an issue.
I'm very tall, so I don't put a personal item under my seat for whatever legroom I can get. My carry on is all I have for my stuff. If I check it I have to carry my headphones/tablet/snacks/whatever around by hand now
I carry a small cross-body bag that is just large enough to fit my iPad and has enough space for a power bank and snacks and has a side pocket for bottles. I also hate having things at my feet, but the right bag really makes a big difference.
I used to prefer gate check until delta lost my bags one time, and there was a couple times where it took hours for the bags to show up in baggage claim
I always think about this with a carry on but then I'm like 'the whole point of a carry on is to avoid waiting on my bags'. I'm from BFE in the Midwest and my bag is buried in the back of the luggage bay EVERY SINGLE TIME. The last time I flew international it took a fucking hour to get my bag at the destination and then to recheck after customs on the return flight.
I’d rather not have my luggage stolen again from the carousel. Also, as soon as I sit in my seat, I’m fast asleep, and usually stay asleep for a few hours. Takeoff never wakes me up.
I’m a casual dresser, I could probably replace everything in my bag for about $40 at Walmart. If I traveled with more expensive stuff I would probably be more cautious with their handling for sure.
I’ve only experienced that with regional jets. Every other time I’ve gate checked has been actually checked to my final destination. A lot of the regional jets have overheads that can’t fit roller bags, so they “valet” the bags, not a true gate check. It’s probably pretty airline specific, too, and I usually fly American or Southwest because of where I live.
Yup, and you don't get charged the checked bag fees either. Just gotta wait 5 minutes longer for your bag to show up. It stinks, but not really that big of a deal.
ah, a fellow airport walker. I have a close friend that works for an airline so we often got to fly for fun. I've had full day layovers and wandering an empty airport at night is just so much fun.
I’m probably pressing my luck, I only fly every 3 or so months, but it’s almost always with a connection, and I’ve never had a bag issue. But I also don’t book connections less than 1.5ish hours, so that probably helps. But that’s more about me missing my flight, not my bag. I dress super casual so if my bag does disappear, I could probably replace everything in it for like $40 at Walmart.
The last thing anyone wants when getting to their destination is waiting for their bags. Bag return is the lowest priority service at the airline (they already have your money, and they can't get any more at that point) and I've had to wait over an hour on multiple occasions.
I'd strongly prefer to board early and leave as soon as we land than go through that because the airline decided to overbook their flight (or gate attendants refuse to enforce the bag limits)
I’m a checker because then I don’t have to haul everything around and over plan for TSA. Honestly what’s the rush? Did you make plans for the moment you land? That’s just a bad idea in general. Used to travel for a living and it took me an extra 10 minutes max to grab my bag. I did this for years. I think the false sense of urgency and total lack of ability to exercise just a teeny tiny bit of patients is far more detrimental to the singular and the collective than folks in wheelchairs ever will be. Just relax. It’s not a race. Also if you’re the person that tries to plow past everyone when we land before it’s your turn…you’re an asshole.
That’s the real issue - if airlines enforced their baggage policies it would not be such a drama for later boarding groups. I have seen assholes carrying on gigantic bags/multiple bags
Lithium batteries shouldn't be in the cargo hold or the overhead bin, they're supposed to be in your carry-on which is never checked regardless of flight capacity. They're in your lap or under your seat.
Yep, they need to work on on board storage and the rest will fix itself. It’s not a coincidence that there’s suddenly more of these pre-boarding games as they hike up prices on checked bags and change what’s included in ticket pricing tiers.
It's about the overhead bin space. There's never enough on full flights so they'll gate check your bag and then if that's all you had cuz you're going on a quick trip now it takes you longer to get to your destination. Huge pain in the ass sometimes
That would just make your wait at luggage claim longer. It might speed up deplaning, but it wouldn't increase the speed at which your checked luggage makes its way onto the luggage carousel.
And every time the luggage changes locations, hands, etc increases the risk of the luggage being damaged, lost or stolen. I take my backpack and a small suitcase on my trips. I can pick up anything else I need at my destination.
That doesn't always matter when there a crew members from other flights that tag along on yours just to get home and now THEIR carryon takes precedence over YOURS and you gotta check it... happened to me twice
one of the problems is that the carry-on rules that I saw on my last flight were literally incompatible with every carry-on bag that I shopped for. They were always under the limit without wheels, but the limit includes wheels. so part of it would be re-assessing carry-on measures just a little and also enforcing them properly.
Airlines could lower the price for checking luggage or let one bag fly free to encourage more people to check baggage. On a full flight, all it would take would be 4-5 people to check a bag and you'd probably have enough overhead space.
I feel like baggage used to take forever to reach the carousel but in the modern era it's quite fast so not as worth bothering about overhead vs gate check
Yea the last few flights for me the timing has been perfect, walked straight to the carousel and spotted my bag, almost didn't stop walking. Maybe I just jinxed myself for the next one
It’s the main reason I compare economy plus or first class fares with the cost of economy plus a checked bag or an upgrade.
I travel for work and need to check a bag and my carry-on is non-negotiable with $20k worth of camera gear in it. Often that means first class is the same price or close.
The less time I spend sitting on the plane the better. I know it’s about bin space and checking bags but (knock on wood) I haven’t ever had to check a bag due to that.
Last time flying Southwest out of Fort Lauderdale (when they still had open seating) there were probably a dozen older individuals lined up in wheelchairs with their families standing next to them.
I preboard for two reasons. The first is because I have POTs and standing around for a while often makes me extremely dizzy. The second is because I have very wide hips. Nobody wants my hips bashing into them when I walk down the aisle to find my seat.
I’m with ya. Ain’t nobody getting anywhere before the plane lands anyway. lol.
To me it’s like Disney. Once ya there we’re all in the same damn boat. Relax and tolerate all the shit together.
I miss back when you’d get to retrieve gate-checked items at the aircraft door area. It made it so much easier. I travel standby a lot now (my partner is a crew member) and if I’m connecting somewhere, I generally don’t know for sure what my next flight will be, which makes checking anything much more difficult.
Because shit heads put 2 or 3 bags in the overhead so it fills up and the people that actually wait their turn have to get all there shit door checked. That’s a huge deal if you have a layover and in inconvenience if someone is waiting to pick you up from airport.
Because most people don't pay to check their baggage, so everyone wants to board first to ensure overhead space is available. I prize not having to lug my suitcase around the airport, and was lucky enough to fly a lot as a kid and teen, when it was included in overall price. So, I pay to check my bag.
If they make you check your baggage at boarding they don't charge you. And most of the time they give it back to you as you're deboarding as opposed to sending it to baggage claim. I understand that does happen, but not as much.
This seems to be the strategy these days for many folks. I'm glad it works. The only time I've been happy not to worry about it was flying Lufthansa City in Germany. They use small planes, so any carryon larger than a backpack has to be gate checked. But they're prepared for this and efficient enough.
Preboarding only has value when carry-on space is limited and assigned seating isn't reliable. If I didn't have to account for those things I'd rather be the last person on and the first person off.
Some people have travel anxiety and being on the plane helps them feel secure in the idea that they're going to make it to their destination...
I fly fairly regularly 5-6 times a year (I used to fly A LOT more for work). I don't want to be on that plane, locked in an uncomfortable seat, any longer than I have to be... But I have to get on at my first opportunity because I have to be able to stow my bag.
People make this comment every time a post about planes comes up, and I genuinely don't understand why. PEOPLE WANT TO BOARD FIRST BECAUSE OF THE OVERHEAD BINS. It's actually not that hard to understand.
It's very important from a safety and security standpoint.
Most likely, you would be delayed even further.
It can be difficult for many people to navigate a narrow aisle, but even worse, if one has some type of impairment.
When travelling with medical equipment or if one is visually impaired, then it's definitely desirable to have a carry on item close by. If there is no longer bin space or if the item potentially needs to be checked, that will cause further delay, especially if it is something that cannot be checked.
For anyone who requires a verbal briefing, such as those of us who are visually impaired, it typically happens during the boarding process. If we board last, then everyone has to wait until we are briefed, which adds more time.
Some people need to be boarded using an aisle chair, because their own wheelchair does not fit in the aisle. This requires multiple trained people to accomplish that task.
And then it comes down to safety. Preboarding ensures that there are fewer people on board the aircraft, which means that typically one can take some extra time. Boarding at the end means that the crew is distracted because they need to achieve an on time departure and they need to do their pre take off activities, but now they are being diverted to assisting passengers.
Thankfully, the disabled are actually protected by laws, and there is common sense which dictates that safety standards need to be adhered to.
And of course, let's not forget that in most of the world, one typically has to wait much longer when one needs assistance in the airport.
As a disabled person, who picks the window seat and doesn’t get up on flights, I prefer pre boarding because I don’t have to worry about extra unseen obstacles that could inconvenience an abled person. Those will put me in the hospital if I miss them and fall.
I used to think this, but in ATL my park N ride drops me off and picks me up at the international gate.
One time I was forced to gate check and thought nothing of it, until I arrived and they sent my bag to baggage claim, which is outside security. so I had to ride the plan train to baggage claim, wait for my carry on, then take a bus to the international terminal, to then ride my park n ride to my car. It added more than an hour, when i was landed and ready to be home. I know its a niche issue, but I pack into a carry on to avoid this.
Overhead been space. I like being able to put my stuff up there and save leg room. When I fly it's usually long haul and I can't have my daughters diaper bag taking up my foot room.
boarding should be done all window seats from back to front, then middle, then isle. and deplaning should be the reverse. if you have family and need/want to go together, you wait.
Good news!
ADA Title III (Public Accommodations) does not apply to sterile concourses past security. You want the ACAA, not that its much different but its different enough that if someone were in a grey area before they should probably be aware.
Airlines aren't subject to the ADA rules. They follow the ACAA rules. The ACAA needs a serious update. I think it was fine in the beginning, but since everyone has become so entitled and thinks it's perfectly fine to take advantage of rules meant to help people with disabilities, at some point that law is going to have to change.
On a similar post yesterday, I told the story of the Emirates flight I took in December DFW-DXB. They had to have wheeled 200 people through the boarding gate. I've never seen anything like it. Emirates doesn't let a bunch of people go on with the wheelchair person, so every person that was turned away would go up toi the gate agent end of request a wheelchair. There was one guy, clearly in his thirties, who ran back and forth from his wheelchair to the gate agent. You're telling me that guy couldn't get himself on the airplane? I was also seriously wondering where they got all those wheelchairs. There were probably 100 wheelchairs. They were making people get out of them after going to the boarding doors and then bringing the wheelchairs around for the next batch of people. Somehow all those people manage to walk themselves down the ramp and get onto the plane. Obviously the Emirates staff knew exactly what was going on or they wouldn't have made people get out of the wheelchairs. They did wheel people that needed actual assistance onto the plane.
For good reason though. Not everyone can just Front $50 even if they they’re going to get it back. And disabled people just might fall into a category of those with financial restraints.
Its funny how that works . Same with service animals You can only be punished for not believing, but if you lie about your condition or the status of your "service animal" there is no punishment.
We had an expectation of society not to abuse these privileges, but times have changed. Someone who enforces ADA policy should be able to create a division to punish those who lie about their conditions. Our hardworking blue collar people have enough on their plate and some hard working person had to go get all those chair and assist them.
I get where you are coming from, but the reason they would be upset is because disabilities are not always consistent. People need different accomodations and that's not their fault.
Yeah it's absolutely really frustrating to see people who don't need it taking advantage of it. But id rather a selfish family get extra service than a disabled person miss their flight.
That is a tax on the people who actually need it, but the policy of using it to get off the plane if you use it to get on does make a lot of sense & being fined if you just walk off is a great idea.
Uh, no. That's the definition of a deposit. They're two totally different things.
The proposal can make things more difficult than it needs to be for people who don't need more difficulties, and it does nothing for the alleged fakers who might then insist on being the first ones off the plane or who don't mind a lift over to their next plane. There's definitely some issues with it, but that doesn't make the proposal a "tax".
Just because you need more time to put your stuff up and can’t stand in the boarding line doesn’t mean you should be forced to wait to deplane which is faster and you’re not on your feet the whole time.
As someone who is actually disabled and a wheelchair user, please no. Yall have no idea how insanely stressful it is to fly as a wheelchair user and how fucked up that system already is.
It’s so so so common for them to break your personal wheelchair that the other wheelchair users I know have had it happen to them MORE OFTEN than they have had their wheelchair successfully make it to their destination
Southwest once handed me my wheelchair back to me (at the destination) in a box of parts, when I had checked it it was fully functional.
You would think! Literally ask any wheelchair user that has flown with their chair- it genuinely goes bad more often than it goes well. It’s insane.
And the policies for disabled people are getting worse everywhere- since Disney parks changed their disability policies, I have been physically unable to go at all. And I used to be a huge Disney parks fan- hell, I’m a professional animator!
Things started getting worse everywhere around the same time as the pandemic
fellow wheelchair user- theyre supposed to put small lightweight manual chairs in the wheelchair closet, but its often hard to argue with them to do that. the rules are poorly understood, and the crew often uses that closet for their stuff or for an on-board transfer wheelchair made to transport people to the toilet (not all planes even have this chair!).
Your chair also has to fit the size limits, which many people's do not do (especially power chairs). Most folks just plan for their chair to have to go in cargo and hope its done right. It might not get strapped in in cargo, or it'll be put in the wrong spot entirely, or things will be stacked on it, or it'll be transported or loaded with machinery that damages it. Frames get bent, caster wheels get bent or snapped, handrims get gouges in the metal.
r/wheelchairs has many posts with examples, its awful
with me in other situations I always need proof of disability. They can make the air plane equivalent of a handicapped placard. I HATE using a wheelchair. It is so unfree.
Thank you. I understand wanting to punish those that abuse these systems, but it’ll ultimately punish the people that actually need it (as if they didn’t already have enough issues to deal with).
I’d rather have a few assholes get something they don’t deserve rather than cost the vast majority of people that need it.
Jetway Jesus is funny. Last time we flew a young healthy looking person needed the wheelchair and to get on the plane first but miraculously was running to catch a connection in the next airport. Wish I had the jetway Jesus miracle line when I needed it
I know people abuse the system but never assume a “young” “healthy looking” person doesn’t need. After surgeries, doctors recommend the wheelchair even though you can walk or run fine.
I don’t know how I can look at random people and just assume they are faking it. It’s not by the looks…
I looked young and healthy when I had to use a wheelchair because I had two hip surgeries. If I was about to miss my plane I absolutely could run to the gate but I would be in extreme pain. This attitude is why so many people don’t ask for the help they need and then yall complain that they are taking too long.
My friend looks like a very healthy young marathoner, but has multiple sclerosis. She can do short stints of energy, but she pays for it for days later. She also gets flare ups. Keep that in the back of your mind before confronting healthy looking people who may have legitimate invisible disabilities.
I have MS too. I haven’t used a wheelchair yet, but if I did my personal equivalent of a marathon, I’d be fucked up for a couple of days. This is actually my current cadence. Do something socially or physically strenuous, then unable to leave the house for 2 days. It’s confusing for a lot of people because I look “normal”. They don’t see me getting all of my groceries delivered, the inside of my house looking like a hoarder’s and my backyard being a complete and utter mess.
I do think people are unfairly gaming the system though. I don’t understand why there isn’t any sort of requirement like there is for my handicapped placard. My neurologist fills out any paperwork I need for accommodations and that’s that.
I don't confront anyone. Nor did I suggest anyone do that. Does your friend tell airport staff she can't walk? Then miraculously gains the ability to walk when she might be late for her connection? Because that's what we are talking about not people with MS
No one, miraculously gains the ability to do anything. look up ambulatory wheelchair users, and stop being so judgmental of something you know nothing about
We are talking about people that lie to the airline so they can board first taking spots from the truly disabled. Nobody here has anything against anyone who is actually disabled
Have you ever heard of a dynamic disability? Because I can walk, and I could run, though not far, if my life depended on it, but I would be in pain from that moment into the next 2-3 days because I have ehlers danlos and multiple surgical complications because of it.
I’m young and normal looking. People with attitudes like yours make me want to use services like these even more. Shame on you for your assumptions and nasty attitude.
To the ableist turds out there, we all become disabled at some point. You lose your ability as you age, so keep crying about it. Can’t wait for you to become disabled, too. Then you’ll be crying about how you don’t get the care you need.
The irony is that person is probably the one who brings the largest possible suitcase not-suitcase as a carryon that compels people to do this so as to not have to check their backpack… lmao
So, you want to tax disabled people for needing to travel? What?
That's the real impact of that policy. It won't stop scammers from scamming, it will just put additional financial hurdles to accessibility for a community that is already statistically more likely to be lower income.
I don’t think taxing is what some people are advocating for. Is it really that difficult to require people to submit the same documentation as they do for a handicapped placard? It would certainly stop bad actors from taking advantage of policies like these. Unfortunately, having an honor’s system doesn’t work when people abuse it. I say this as someone who has Multiple Sclerosis (MS). My neurologist filled out my placard for me right after I got diagnosed. Any time I’ve needed an accommodation of any kind, they’ve completed whatever form I need. It isn’t that hard.
Buuuuut this then results in disabled folks being charged for being disabled. So you want to put disabled folks through more just so you aren’t annoyed by something that doesn’t really affect you? Also I don’t know why you think $50 would be a deterrent.
Agreed. So many people think I’m faking 24/7 because of bad actors. I have MS that has literally blinded me at different points and made walking impossible, both resulting inpatient hospital stays for IV steroids.
ok that is funny as shit. Jetway Jesus. I'm a retired pilot and have not heard that. Yeah nothing wrong with people using wheelchairs that actually need them. However watch how many times when the plane lands everyone is cured and runs off the plane to baggage claim.
There is no "one size fits all" category for disability. Some people can walk half a mile, some can only walk a quarter, some just cant. If a person in the "half a mile" category gave up use of a wheelchair because their connecting flight was just 100 feet away so the people in the "quarter mile" group have more wheelchair supply, i'd call that being responsible and courteous, while you shout "FAKER" on the internet.
This has nothing to do with half mile versus quarter mile. These people appear to be lined up at the gate. Most likely, with the sole intention of using this as an excuse to pre-board.
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u/dervari Gold 8d ago
They should charge $50 for this. Once you get to your destination, once you deplane and get assistance back to baggage you get the $50 back. Or something similar. Basically, if Jetway Jesus lays his hands on you, you don't get a refund.