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Save/ShareThis past weekend, Delta began putting red tags on approved carry-on luggage for international flights. It's the first airline to try to tamp down on cheaters—(You know who you are!)—who ignore an airline's carry-on luggage limits.
Items that are found by flight attendants and that are not red-tagged will be removed for gate check. No fines are being put in place, though, for breaking the rules.
For its overseas flights, Delta allows each passenger to bring one bag whose length, width, and height adds up to less than 45 inches and whose maximum weight is 40 pounds. It also allows each passenger to carry an additional, smaller item, such as a purse or laptop bag.
Many travelers flout the rules, carrying aboard additional items that clog up overhead compartments. These rule-breakers cause problems for other travelers. When other, rule-abiding passengers board an airplane at the end of the line, they often find there is not enough room for their items in storage. Their carry-on bag must then be checked at the gate. If this has ever happened to you, and you have medicine or other important items in your "legal" carry-on bag, the experience of having your bag gate-checked can be infuriating.
And Delta told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that it has no plans to start the policy on domestic flights.
EARLIER Radio-tagging luggage at Heathrow Airport may prevent luggage from being lost.
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I have been on many flights where people at the back of the plane have taken up space in the overhead at the front therefore not allowing people sitting there to use the space for their bags. The airlines should put a stop to this also.
I'm glad Delta is putting a stop to people carrying on bags that should never be in the cabin.
Posted By Laurene Irwin on March 4, 2008, 12:23 PM
This happens on domestic flights all the time. I think they should red tag that luggage as well.
Posted By Caroline W on March 4, 2008, 9:37 PM
It's about time and I think they should do it on domestic flights, as well, & likewise clamp down on those who fill the front bins on their way to the back.
Posted By Willa Kubasta on March 6, 2008, 12:12 PM
As someone who has flown hundreds of times over the past 5 years, I'd like to say thanks for enforcing a rule the airlines already have. I can't tell you the number of times I've gotten on a plane with people who not only have more than the allowed amount, but who have HUGE items. I've never been able to understand why they aren't stopped at the gate.
Posted By tfw on March 6, 2008, 12:17 PM
Please enforce rules. In this ever-more crowded society, more and more rules have to be made and enforced. The nature of people is to take advantage of others until they are stopped.
Posted By Marianne on March 6, 2008, 1:13 PM
At last, somebody is willing to bite the bullet and bring an end to the self-centered cheats who bring on everything but the kitchen sink onto aircraft. While most of my flights are international, I have seen the same thing on domestic airlines.
Never once have I EVER seen gate representatives check to see if carry-on luggage fit into the small "bins" next to the podium. If they don't want to enforce the rule, why spend money on the bins?
Posted By Buster Evans on March 6, 2008, 1:32 PM
Great stuff by Delta but I think they have it wrong in 2 cases. 1) It should be DOMESTIC first. Most of the short hauls for business people, they have sometimes 3 pieces of carry on. 2) Will Delta also educate their gate agents to check before boarding as they have never done this before.
Posted By Patrick on March 6, 2008, 3:06 PM
I would think if passengers in the back of the plane are filling up the bins in the front of the plane, then those in the front are having to put their things in the back. This would seem to cause a lot of aisle traffic while people are trying to get to their bags prior to disembarking. Wouldn't this become a safety issue?
Posted By Viktoria on March 6, 2008, 5:08 PM
I hope all follow Delta's lead. If the carry on size limit was enforced, we would all have ample room for carry-ons and boarding would be much faster.
Posted By TERRY HARMON on March 6, 2008, 9:02 PM
This new rule is a good one and should be applied to domestic flights as well. Step 2,,,,,enforce the rule!!! I agree with all others,,,,,stop allowing passengers seated in back of plane,,,dropping their bags off in the front section!! Grrrrrrr!!
Posted By jack wilkins on March 7, 2008, 2:33 PM
ABSOLUTELY !!! YES ! ENFORCE THE RULES AT LAST.
I've had my one small "legal-size" carry on removed from the overhead bin by a flight attendant so some jerk who brought on two oversized bags could cram his bags up overhead & I, who had followed the rules, was rewarded with having my bag under the seat in front of me for the long trans-Atlantic flight. Great customer service... yeah.
Posted By donron on March 7, 2008, 4:15 PM
As a Delta gate agent I can assure you that I do attempt to enforce the carry-on bag rule. As a result I am treated with rude behavior, threatened by anyone who considers himself a "VIP" with a complaint letter, and, sadly, refusal to comply. Sadder still, Delta wants me to enforce the rules--as long as no one complains.
Slow boarding and slow desembarking are directly related to the amount of carryon bags. And that includes baggage belonging to crewmembers.
The only sure fire way to limit carryon baggage is to have all carryon baggage tagged before it's allowed to pass through security and into the concourse.
Posted By Sue Barnhart on March 7, 2008, 7:30 PM
Good that more people are enforcing the rules. The low cost European carriers often check carry-ons at check-in but not at the gate. As someone who has always traveled with everything in my under-seat space and NOTHING in the overhead bins I can only say IF IT HAS WHEELS CHECK IT! That would solve most of the overhead bin congestion - if you can't carry it yourself, you're taking too much. And considering the popularity of the comments here, Budget Travel may want to consider keeping to this when it advocates carry-on only traveling.
Posted By jakfrost on March 8, 2008, 11:37 AM
Excellent plan, but will Delta actually enforce it?? Why not extend this requirement to domestic as well. It's just as much of a problem as international.
Posted By Nita on March 8, 2008, 10:31 PM
well... when Delta starts having on time departures i'll abide by the rules... until then they can deal with it... =)
Posted By Augustus on March 10, 2008, 8:33 AM
I'm happy to read this, but I will believe it when I see it.
Posted By Anthony Marasco on March 10, 2008, 7:47 PM
Really inconsiderate (read jerks) people....those who think they are so clever and put their carry-ons way up front on their way to the back. Stop 'em and ask to see their seat number ...if it's in the back...make 'em take their bags back to overhead bins over their respective seats.....and, if and when the attendants do that... pigs will fly.
Posted By JAMES MARSHALL on March 24, 2008, 2:32 PM
I fly frequently between Northern/Southern California. I carry only one bag on board; a canvas shopping-type bag for magazines, snacks and my purse. It fries me when I see people bring luggage that is obviously too large onto the plane. Either that or they bring 2-3 pieces. Not only does this take forever for them to store all their stuff, it takes forever for them to retrieve it when we land!
My solution? Let everyone who has no carry-on (except one item small enough to fit under the seat) board first and sit in the front of the plane. Those with larger or more than one piece can follow. That way the more considerate travelers can get off the plane without standing behind the people struggling to get their bags out of the bins.
Just a thought but it might just work!
Posted By kelly on March 24, 2008, 8:53 PM
How about those who are over weight and put up the arm rests and use part of your seat. Shouldn't they pay for 2 seats since one seat is not enough room?
Posted By Mary K on March 26, 2008, 10:02 AM
Enforcing the carry on rules also SAVES gas and therefore saves the passengers a rate increase .
Also, people do not need half the stuff they pack .
Posted By Pat on March 26, 2008, 1:23 PM
This is good news. It is infuriating to have no room for my one allowed item due to ignorance of others. It would be great if the airline staff would STOP the cheaters before entry and enforce their rules 100% consistent and not just part of the time. Hit'm where it hurts the most...in their wallet! With fines. If people act like children, they need to be treated like children and "consequences" have to be applied!
Posted By Sabine M. on April 17, 2008, 11:34 AM
From a person who has traveled many times. It used to infuriate me when people would fill the overhead bins with their suitcoats, and three other small items leaving no room for my one carry on sized bag. People should stow small items under the seat and leave the overhead bins for the little carry on suitcases that are actually designed to be carried on. When I have a small item, I try to be courteous and put it under the seat. Some people are not courteous enough to do it.
Posted By Brittany P on June 28, 2008, 12:11 AM
Now that airlines are charging extra for checked bags, I'm afraid the carry on overhead bin situation will just get crazier!
Posted By Jean T on July 17, 2008, 3:26 PM
this is nice an all, but wtf is up with delta only allowed 1 free bag
Posted By tk91 on August 5, 2008, 3:15 AM