Airline Rules Go Round and Round
A few weeks ago, my son and I took a trip to Orlando. Watching the little kids anticipating the airplane ride and Mickey Mouse always makes me smile, and since my own kids are cool teenagers now, it’s even better. I don’t have to worry about dragging strollers and car seats around, or the screaming toddler with applesauce coming out of his nose.
A unique aspect about the flight to Orlando is the throng of people who bum rush the gate a full hour before boarding. Standing with their 90 pounds of gear and their kids, they crowd each other and position their strollers slyly to prevent anyone from “budging” Whether it’s anticipation or panic that causes this, I’m not sure, but on other flights people usually just hang out in their seats until they are called to board. I know that I’d rather have the leg room of the gate for an extra ten minutes than be in my seat in economy class.
But now there’s a problem.
Checked bag fees have become the norm. People have begun to accept the fact that they either have to pay $50 to fly a suitcase back and forth, or travel with just a carry on. Here’s where the problem comes in. Way more people are going the carry on route. Who wants to pay an extra $50? Not me. So on this particular flight, the result was that they loaded the people with the carry on luggage until all of the overhead compartment space was full. After that, everyone had to check their rolling carry on bags. Suddenly, the stuff you aren’t supposed to part with like medication, jewelry, and extra clothes for the baby, were being swooped away at the gate.
Gate agents went through the line attaching the little checked bag tags. They announced that passengers should retrieve items they needed in flight before checking the bag. So there we were, lined up 22 deep while passengers dug through their bags. What a cluster it was, and it pissed me off. Of course, everyone had to move at the speed of lightning at this point because on time performance is more important that ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD. And this entire problem is directly related to the ridiculous checked bag fees.
Now Back to the Beginning
What does this have to do with the Disney or Bust people crowding the gate at the beginning of the story? Like I said before, I don’t want to hang out in line for hours. I’d rather wait comfortably in my chair at the gate until I am called to board my flight. I think that’s the way most people feel. I think that’s what the gate agents would prefer as well (Having been one years ago, I can almost guarantee it!). But as people become aware of this gate checking policy, the pushing and vying for space at the gate may become the norm for all flights instead of just the ones to the happiest place on earth.
If you still choose to wait it out, you risk getting your carry on checked at the gate. To some people, that’s not a big deal. I should mention that you don’t have to pay the checked bag fee at the gate, but it still bugs me. Here people are, following the guidelines, and at the last minute, they get about 20 seconds to dig through their bags in front of everyone to grab the extra diapers or medication they may need if there is a delay. It’s just infuriating.
There has to be a better way, but in the meantime, please plan accordingly.
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I don’t understand why they just don’t up the fees by $50?
On my last flight, I traveled with only a carry on. It was a small backpack. It had all my stuff in it. I would have been screwed if I had to check it and then have it “lost”.