3 ms·

My fiancé is a big fan of holding out for the option to check a bag at the gate, provided that she's retrieving her luggage immediately after landing (e.g. no f

My fiancé is a big fan of holding out for the option to check a bag at the gate, provided that she's retrieving her luggage immediately after landing (e.g. no further layovers, which would exponentially increase the likelihood of it becoming lost). I was skeptical at first, but it's been nice boarding last and not having to find a place for the bag. You do have to wait for the luggage return on the other side, though.

sneak 4y ago
If you can surrender the luggage (ie its not required during flight, is not exceptionally valuable, or fragile) then why the hell are you carrying it around anyway? Check it in. I schlep things in the airport only because I travel with several laptops and camera lenses that would get broken, stolen, or both if checked in. There's no reason to be carrying stuff on if you are able to gate check at the end of it, unless you are sweating the (let's be honest, trivial) bag fee.
- bombcar 4y ago
  Gate checking is free. Many airlines charge for a checked bag which incentivizes bringing it to the gate.
- feoren 4y ago
  > unless you are sweating the (let's be honest, trivial) bag fee. $50 is not trivial to everyone.
  - markeibes 4y ago
    Also I don't think that's what "trivial" means
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
- closeparen 4y ago
  Checking bags adds significant time on both ends (bag drop lines are long, baggage claim is slow) as well as risk. If you don’t need more than what fits in a carry-on, why bother?
- prepend 4y ago
  Lost backs really suck. Not checking a bag really reduces this risk. If I’m going somewhere where I don’t care if my bag arrives, like back from vacation, then I’ll check. But if I need the contents of my bag then I never check it in and keep it with me.
- devoutsalsa 4y ago
  Two days ago I was forced to check my carry at the gate. I was flying on a Boeing 747, which is huge. Waiting for my bag added almost one hour to my trip. Waiting an hour after you’ve already been traveling for over 20 hours kind of sucks. A guy also waiting for his bag says he regrets paying for Global Entry, which lets you bypass lines at passport control, because he has to spend a long time waiting for his luggage like everyone else.
  - sneak 4y ago
    You're never forced. You can refuse to board without your bag. I have to do this regularly, I have yet to be called on the (semi) bluff. If we're being honest, there is rarely a flight I take that is worth more than the value of the lenses in my hand luggage, so it's not really that much of a bluff.

sneak 4y ago

If you can surrender the luggage (ie its not required during flight, is not exceptionally valuable, or fragile) then why the hell are you carrying it around anyway? Check it in. I schlep things in the airport only because I travel with several laptops and camera lenses that would get broken, stolen, or both if checked in. There's no reason to be carrying stuff on if you are able to gate check at the end of it, unless you are sweating the (let's be honest, trivial) bag fee.

bombcar 4y ago
Gate checking is free. Many airlines charge for a checked bag which incentivizes bringing it to the gate.
feoren 4y ago
> unless you are sweating the (let's be honest, trivial) bag fee. $50 is not trivial to everyone.
- markeibes 4y ago
  Also I don't think that's what "trivial" means
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
closeparen 4y ago
Checking bags adds significant time on both ends (bag drop lines are long, baggage claim is slow) as well as risk. If you don’t need more than what fits in a carry-on, why bother?
prepend 4y ago
Lost backs really suck. Not checking a bag really reduces this risk. If I’m going somewhere where I don’t care if my bag arrives, like back from vacation, then I’ll check. But if I need the contents of my bag then I never check it in and keep it with me.
devoutsalsa 4y ago
Two days ago I was forced to check my carry at the gate. I was flying on a Boeing 747, which is huge. Waiting for my bag added almost one hour to my trip. Waiting an hour after you’ve already been traveling for over 20 hours kind of sucks. A guy also waiting for his bag says he regrets paying for Global Entry, which lets you bypass lines at passport control, because he has to spend a long time waiting for his luggage like everyone else.
- sneak 4y ago
  You're never forced. You can refuse to board without your bag. I have to do this regularly, I have yet to be called on the (semi) bluff. If we're being honest, there is rarely a flight I take that is worth more than the value of the lenses in my hand luggage, so it's not really that much of a bluff.