Checking in is the new walk-on

[wanderer_au]

I have done a fair bit of SYD-MEL travel for work recently, and when flying with QF, I have started to check in my overnight bag again. The hunt for a slot in the overhead lockers is becoming ridiculous and seems to chew up time and make others frustrated. Moreover, my bag is invariably on the carousel by the time I get there from the gate (and I'm not a slow walker).

For me, the race to find an overhead locker (and then the risk of having to wait for others to disembark because your bag has been stowed a long way from your seat, due to available space) makes walking-on with luggage a false economy, at least on this journey. I am happier making my bag someone else's problem, en route.

Have others found the same?

 

[Warks]

Recently did five flights within USA-Canada and every flight was full. Before boarding they called for people to check luggage in at the gate for free as there wouldn't be space for it all on board - no surprise considering the size and volume of their carry-on luggage. We checked ours in each time as we already had a big bag checked but it was amazing how many times they had to call for more people. I thought people carried luggage on like they do because of the stupid cost ($25 and up per bag) but it's all about 'convenience' it seems. Yet Delta had our bags out before we even got to the carousel each time. The other airlines weren't far behind.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It does sometimes make sense for status pax but the airlines should be a bit more proactive about carrying out random assessment of how well the baggage handlers work priority luggage. I'm assuming the priority luggage deals would be written into baggage handling contracts but it's not always followed. Just recently, my case was the first of the priority labelled cases to come out, but there was at least a dozen or so pieces of unmarked luggage before that. Surely an equally workable solution is to stop people trying to bring everything on (including the kitchen sink), as hand luggage.

 

[Altair]

I have gone check in for most of my travels as well, unless it non-peak flight where overhead space is almost assured.
For domestic services the wait at the carousel is alomst neglible, well MEL used to take an inordinate amount of thime, and does save much hassle and angst about getting to the gate early and then having your bags close by.

 

[Melburnian1]

Which do airlines like QF and VA (for domestic routes) prefer?

Checking in bags gives the baggage handlers more work, irrespective as to whether the bag is loaded in a small container or one by one into the hold. Unloading takes time and manpower, and often there may be parcels and other freight to be handled as well that can be (for aircraft such as B737s) labour intensive.

Bringing it with you (if everyone else does, and some do not observe the 7 kilogram limit or have bulky bags) may (if the aircraft is late or boarding starts closer than anticipated to the scheduled departure time) create further delay and irritates other passengers and flight attendants when the last passengers on cannot find empty space in the locker above their seat (assuming that the bag will not fit under the seat in front.)

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I thought people carried luggage on like they do because of the stupid cost ($25 and up per bag) but it's all about 'convenience' it seems.

Yet Delta had our bags out before we even got to the carousel each time. The other airlines weren't far behind.

The difference with US carriers gate checking (also referred to as valet or a la carte) means that on arrival they take the bag out of the hold & bring it up to the aerobridge via a mini conveyor belt and you grab it as you disembark the plane still the same end result as if you'd had the item in the cabin with you.

In Australia gate checked items I've observed are placed on the baggage carousel with all the other checked baggage so how long you wait for your luggage will vary.

 

[dk4]

The difference with US carriers gate checking (also referred to as valet or a la carte) means that on arrival they take the bag out of the hold & bring it up to the aerobridge via a mini conveyor belt and you grab it as you disembark the plane still the same end result as if you'd had the item in the cabin with you.

What you describe as "gate check" is for regional aircraft in the USA, i.e. those aircraft with smaller sized overhead bins. It is exactly the same as what QantasLink does in Australia on turboprop services.

For Main Line (Main Cabin*) in the USA, "gate check" means that the bag goes in the hold and is delivered to the baggage carousel on arrival. This process is the same as what you have observed on Qantas domestic mainline services. (*The only exception is First Class passengers on USA mainline services, when some carriers will deliver these bags to the aerobridge ("jetway" in USpeak) when you disembark ("deplane" in USpeak).)

 

[Warks]

Yes on a little Alaska plane from SEA to YVR they took the "gate checked" luggage and stored it at the back then pax could retrieve it from a cart outside the plane on the way into the terminal - just like flying to Moree! But on the other flights the luggage did just end up on the carousel.

 

[Shan Man]

For 2 years I always checked my bag in on flights SYD-MEL-SYD flying every fortnight. On average I would wait say 5-10mins at the carousel for my bag to come out but Im a fast walker and was always in the front of economy on 767s and A330's.

I would still check in luggage just to avoid not having any space on the flight, especially given its mostly 737's on the triangle route *shudders*.

Longest wait I had for luggage was in BNE. 35mins near christmas.

Others I know however would be at the gate 10mins before boarding starts to make sure they got space. Its all up to how much you value time really!

 

[toowongman]

I have done a fair bit of SYD-MEL travel for work recently...
Have others found the same?

Ditto, can't be bothered the hassle now ... just check it in and let the airline do the lifting. Also makes things easier during the rush to hit the head after the flight.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I rarely check my carry on. I like to avoid luggage carousels as much as possible and I think I take much better care of my belongings.
Happy for airlines to police carry on more rigorously as it's often used and abused.

 

[juddles]

Having been stung not once, not twice, but THREE times this year where my checked bag did not arrive with me (and each case where I was continuing on to further countries) I have become very nervous about not having enough in my carryon to survive a couple of days. This is not such an issue travelling SYD-MEL, but in defense of "some" people with large carryons, perhaps they were stung too.

P.S. I wish that each seat had an allocated carry-on spot. End of story.

 

[boomy]

Never had any issues with finding place for my luggage onboard QF Dom. Some pax don't place their luggage in the overhead bin properly and sometimes a bit of patience and re-arrangement is required.

I make sure to avoid Dom check-in as much as possible. First it's a waste of time and second, QF lost my luggage in the past, more then once.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

What you describe as "gate check" is for regional aircraft in the USA, i.e. those aircraft with smaller sized overhead bins. It is exactly the same as what QantasLink does in Australia on turboprop services.

For Main Line (Main Cabin*) in the USA, "gate check" means that the bag goes in the hold and is delivered to the baggage carousel on arrival. This process is the same as what you have observed on Qantas domestic mainline services. (*The only exception is First Class passengers on USA mainline services, when some carriers will deliver these bags to the aerobridge ("jetway" in USpeak) when you disembark ("deplane" in USpeak).)

The only time I've had a bag taken at the gate was a DL CRJ flight SEA/SLC when the items were available for collection in the aerobridge when we deplaned and I've also seen it happen on an AA ATR42 flight SJU/SDQ when everyone retrieved their bags off the barrow on their way into the terminal which like you say is the same MO as for premium hand luggage on QLink Dash8 flights within Australia.

I've travelled in AA F quite a few times and always noticed bags in the aerobridge when disembarking but could well be bags only for pax in F.