Air Canada to begin clamping down on carry-on bags

[Acey]

Couple months back an Air Canada flight turned back for Toronto because people were fighting over bin space. Dumped $30k in gas over Hudson Bay because people were fighting for overhead bins.

[lazypucker]

It's a cash grab for Air Canada as they will now make everyone pay the $25 even if the carry-on is a millimeter and a gram over...

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

It's a cash grab for Air Canada as they will now make everyone pay the $25 even if the carry-on is a millimeter and a gram over...

I'll reiterate from the first page.

Good!

[Kswiss]

As someone said about people who think rules don't apply to them. Really bugs me. I hate seeing people with almost full sized luggage looking confused as to why their bags wont fit in the overhead. Because its too damn big!!!

People are just so inconsiderate these days.

[cracher]

Wierd. I specifically fly AC because they don't have a checked bag charge (which adds up when you bring the family). Westjet hits you every time, but I'm mostly sure AC doesn't.

Either way. It is annoying to not have overhead storage space so I guess this is a good move.

[Ryan Coke]

That isn't correct.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by cracher

Wierd. I specifically fly AC because they don't have a checked bag charge

That's not correct. You're paying and apparently haven't noticed unless, from Calgary, you're flying to London or Frankfurt in which case the first bag is free but the second is $100, or to Tokyo on AC9 in which case the second bag is also free.

You're paying $26.50 a bag everywhere else except Mexico for which it's $25. Or you haven't flown since these new fees came in last year when both AC and WS popped fees at the same time.

[Dion]

If the airlines could speed up the transfer time from the plane to the baggage carousel you could eliminate a large portion of the carry on problems.

[Dion]

Air Canada tries (again) to enforce its carry-on rules

Will it work this time?

The impact of the airline industry’s move to charging for all checked luggage is being felt beyond airlines. In the U.S., the surge in carry-on luggage has been blamed for slowing down screening lines at airports. Some airplane manufacturers have even spent millions to increase the capacity of overhead bins.

What remains to be seen is whether Air Canada’s more heavy-handed approach will yield the desired result. The last time it instituted a carry-on crackdown at Pearson staff received an earful from angry fliers, many of whom had no idea their favourite carry-on exceeded the maximum size. Indeed, despite the claims of luggage manufacturers, there is no standard size for carry-0n items because the precise measurements vary from airline to airline.

If it all seems like a lot of extra work for airlines and their staff, that’s probably because it is. But unapologetic airline executives have done the math and determined that the billions now being raked in from checked bag fees in North America are worth the hassle and then some.

http://www.macleans.ca/economy/air-c...arry-on-rules/

[GomerPile]

This is pretty standard in Europe. I find if I leave the "KLM Approved" bag tag from previous flights on my backpack, I could likely haul bricks in it and no one would check it. The only thing that really gets me is the ladies with a decent size carry on and a "purse" larger then my backpack. I have asked ladies to hold their garbage bag sized purses on their laps after they have put their one normal sized roller bag in the overhead bin.

[taco.vidal]

Some people may think they are travelling in compliance and may be in for a shock when their bag doesn't fit the required measurements. Luggage company sells bags in all sorts of sizes with many of them being not in compliance with the overhead size limits nor the checked baggage size limits. (Another problem is that not all airlines have the same size limits.)
So you may think that you have been travelling lightly and looking down on the guy with a roller bag, overflowing back back and shopping bags shuffling on to the plain but you may now get caught because your carryon bag that you've been using for years is actually a half inch oversize and won't pass the test. Ive seen this happen every so often with an upset traveller swearing that they've travelled dozens of flights over the past decade with a bag to now be told that it needs to be checked (and then that traveller will need to consider whether to try his luck again next time or buy a new bag).

[FlamesAddiction]

I hate the fact that they don't even check sometimes until right before boarding. They should do it right at the check-in counter.

While I get really annoyed at people who jack all the overhead space with their luggage like they own the plane, I don't blame some passengers for getting mad when they were counting on having it with them and then are told at the last second it has to be checked.

[troutman]

Why do you need to take the kitchen sink to Saskatoon for the weekend?

People try to rush on board even before their zone is called.

[WilsonFourTwo]

This is great news, good on Air Canada for attempting to tackle the problem.

Hopefully the next thing on the to-do list is dealing with the brutal customer service and the (generally) unpleasant, borderline hostile, in-cabin staff?

That said, I'm hoping other airlines follow suit on the carry-on baggage.....although it would be great if they could (in time) come to an agreed upon size standard.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I don't blame some passengers for getting map when they were counting on having it with them and then are told at the last second it has to be checked.

This drives me nuts. I fly a couple times a month (typically regional) and have been bitten by this a few times.....and I see it happen on pretty much EVERY flight.

I travel carry-on only and select a seat near that front of the aircraft (at a fee, of course), all so that I can get off the plane quickly and get the heck out of whatever airport I'm in. There's little worse than having to check a bag....that's a good 20-30 minutes that I've got to wait around in the airport for, all so that someone can put their jacket, two sweaters, hat, and pullover into the overhead bin.

[cracher]

Originally Posted by Acey

That's not correct. You're paying and apparently haven't noticed unless, from Calgary, you're flying to London or Frankfurt in which case the first bag is free but the second is $100, or to Tokyo on AC9 in which case the second bag is also free.

You're paying $26.50 a bag everywhere else except Mexico for which it's $25. Or you haven't flown since these new fees came in last year when both AC and WS popped fees at the same time.

Sorry, you're right. AC does charge, I just looked into it. However, if you have enough points within aeroplan (weird system, there are 2 separate point systems), they waive the fee - which is why I've never noticed.

[Table 5]

Excellent news...this is my biggest pet peeve. Even flights on Westjet have started having this issue as soon as they started charging for bags.

I especially hate it when these people who bring their monster bags, force other, smaller and compliant, bags out of the bin. Ie when some cheapsake brings his monster bag on, and because the stewardess wants to keep things moving, takes out smaller bags to accommodate this guy and now you're the one paying for his cheapness.

[JBrick]

I bet all the people who bring massive carry-on's and are too cheap to check bags are all cyclists too.

[UKflames]

Halley frickin looya, this drives me nuts every time I fly and it is mostly long haul from the UK to Canada. Peoples carry on has just got bigger and bigger to the point where they are surpirsed when it won't fit in the overhead bin and then look to the flight crew to solve the problem, like they can miracle a larger bin out of no where. Otherwise they smash everyone else smaller bags to ensure that they can get theirs in.

"YOU'RE GOING ON A LONG FLIGHT OF 7-9 HOURS, WHY DO YOU NEED SUCH A BIG CARRY ON BAG, ARE YOU PLANNING ON USING ANYTHING FROM IT DURING THE FLIGHT AAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH"

Rant over but pleased to read this.

[normtwofinger]

Can I still bring a guitar on board?