AA boarding order changes

[Mal]

http://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/boarding.jsp?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=boarding

They have now added a boarding benefit for "people without overhead cabin baggage"

 

[VHOEJ]

If anyone from AA is reading this..........thank you!

It is about time that people who don't take everything on board get rewarded. I always just take a backpack, and will always put it under my seat.

Mind you, all US airlines/the TSA really need to reduce the carry on limits because there is not enough space for any of the limits. And stop charging for the first checked bag too.

 

[serfty]

...
Mind you, all US airlines/the TSA really need to reduce the carry on limits because there is not enough space for any of the limits. And stop charging for the first checked bag too.

There are indeed limits, but mainly, I guess, due to competition, they are rarely enforced.

FT is riddled with indignant posts from people who experienced the rare instance of having the limit enforced ... "It fits in the overhead bin, so what if it's too big for the 'sizer'".

 

[SeatBackForward]

Ok so people who believe their baggage can fit under the seat in front, walk onto a nice empty cabin with LOTS of room in the overhead bins...do they really believe this work? will they actually enforce it? "Sorry Mr Messengar Bag, you CAN-NOT put that in the overhead space"..."Momentarily" (cause thats a word Americans like to use onboard a lot)

 

[turtlemichael]

Ok so people who believe their baggage can fit under the seat in front, walk onto a nice empty cabin with LOTS of room in the overhead bins...do they really believe this work? will they actually enforce it? "Sorry Mr Messengar Bag, you CAN-NOT put that in the overhead space"..."Momentarily" (cause thats a word Americans like to use onboard a lot)

I suspect it will be enforced as much as the current limits are. And what is the advantage of getting on early if you can't use the o/h storage?

 

[SeatBackForward]

I suspect it will be enforced as much as the current limits are. And what is the advantage of getting on early if you can't use the o/h storage?

Well I don't like being stuck in the aisle waiting behind the person who can't get their five bags into the space directly above their own seat..so the concept has its merits. I just don't see it being practically applied.

 

[serfty]

AA did trial this for some months. I am surprised they went ahead.

I think it's a not so subtle way to "value add", as those who pay for "group 1" board earlier and can still use the overheads.

 

[NM]

AA did trial this for some months. I am surprised they went ahead.

I think it's a not so subtle way to "value add", as those who pay for "group 1" board earlier and can still use the overheads.

I think the "value-add" is to encourage people to pay to check their bags and have little to carry-on, hence adding value to AA's bottom line.

 

[simongr]

I am in two minds about this. I think it is easy to police at entry (not so much on board) - if anyone has anything bigger a laptop bag then back you go.

 

[kempvet]

It is rare to go on a domestic AA flight these days where the dimensions police are not on the ready to relocate large carry on into the checked baggage area. I know that AS let the non bin users board earlier than those carrying baggage which can only be placed in the bins. AA is one of the airlines where I have seen bin rage, even in F, as often the late comers in F find that Y have taken some of the remaining bin space in F.

 

[EvanC]

Speaking generically (not AA in particular), I travel with a backpack that fits my laptop and everything I typically need for three or four days away. And it fits under the seat easily, every time. If I do put it in the overheads, it fits very nicely into the curve at the back of the bin, so usually something else can go in front. If I have anything more, always checked.

It does mean that I usually don't have to worry too much about getting in early for the overhead space (unless I score an exit row; no bulkheads for the likes of me), but it drives me up the wall having to wait for people spending 5 minutes squeezing in their luggage of all shapes, sizes, and quantity - and then pushing around looking for where they put it at the end of the flight.

Honestly, if it needs wheels, it really shouldn't be being carried on.

 

[k_sheep]

They were doing this on a flight I had in the USA recently. Trouble is, I was in the exit row so couldn't take advantage of it, so I had to board way late when there was no overhead space... so they told us to put bags under the seat in front! Apparently it's not the rule everywhere.

 

[johndoe]

Try jetstar or air nz these days - it's a joke. Go the way of jetblue - first checked bag free...$35 per carry on bag. Gets the whole process moving much quicker.