Is the “Carry On Crackdown” real?

[zhoffritz]

I flew Alaska air last month. My outbound flight was full and they announced that if your rolling carryon has the expansion portion unzipped it would have to get checked. I tried to slink through but they spotted me. I got the tag and took my bag down the ramp to the access door and handed it off but had to pick it up at luggage claim.

For the return flight I didn't try to sneak through, I got the luggage tag right after they made their announcement. That flight wasn't full so perhaps I could have made it.

 

[rmorgan]

Alaska has become a bit dickish. They count anything attached to your body as a personal item or carryon, such as fanny pack or a neck wallet. They even glanced in my brown bag with food to verify it was food. A food bag doesn't count.

My partner carries our passports and boarding cards in a small neck wallet. Very early in the boarding process for a flight from DFW to Tokyo, the gate agent required her to put it in her purse, but didn’t say a word about her largish Think Tank roller. This was yesterday.

 

[Bubblesong]

I did not have trouble with carry on until flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui (edit) where they grabbed it at the gate. They did not charge me, just a brief worry time.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I did not have trouble with carry on until flight from Bangkok to Koh Simi(sp?) where they grabbed it at the gate. They did not charge me, just a brief worry time.

Do you mean Koh Samui?

 

[tridacna]

All of these questions regarding what your carryon limits are, are predicated on your status, price you paid and how cheap your airline is. There is no right answer.

 

[james_bond_007]

I had viewed a few articles and videos which claimed that Airline Employees identifying an "oversized bag" were earning a "bounty" for each successfully identified bag.

 

[james_bond_007]

For international flights, I think it is the Carrier not the country.
For example, I recently flew in/out of Italy and in/out of Mexico with my 22" CarryOn.
No issues either way.

I would appreciate anyone that can correct me, if I am wrong.
I'd rather apply the carry-on fee to a new bag if I have to spend money.

 

[scubadada]

For international flights, I think it is the Carrier not the country.
For example, I recently flew in/out of Italy and in/out of Mexico with my 22" CarryOn.
No issues either way.

I would appreciate anyone that can correct me, if I am wrong.
I'd rather apply the carry-on fee to a new bag if I have to spend money.

My wife and I lived in Switzerland for 2 years and did quite a bit of local flying. The carry-ons we had from the US were rejected on our 1st flight. We bought compliant carry-ons and spent the rest of our time trouble free. Easily worth it.

 

[Lorenzoid]

For international flights, I think it is the Carrier not the country.
For example, I recently flew in/out of Italy and in/out of Mexico with my 22" CarryOn.
No issues either way.

US-based carriers have long been relaxed about carry-on size and weight, regardless of whether the route is domestic or international.

As I think @scubadada implies, it's mostly foreign regional carriers (as opposed to major international carriers) that have been more strict about carry-on size (and sometimes weight) than US carriers.

 

[Centrals]

Read the small print.
Budget airlines in Asia can be quite straight on what is allowed on board.

Carry On Baggage - HK Express

www.hkexpress.com

"Ultra lite" and I never had any issue with it on my short diving trip to Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. Rental gear is far cheaper than the extra charged by the airline. No need to wait for the check bag on arrival! Great.