Strategies for avoiding gate-checking of luggage

I don’t mind gate checking and will volunteer - especially if I can get a seat with better leg room. Your only options that I can see are 1) checked bag, 2) underseat bag, 3) No bag ( yikes!).

I will normally pay extra to board early, but do that mostly for the seats to be closer to the front. My husband has status so when we are together they have both of us board together.

• Business Class solves many problems. Just sayin'.
• Be hyper-aware of the boarding process, and watch how it goes for other flights boarding before yours, to get an idea of what it'll be like for you.
• Watch other passengers carefully, and be prepared to position yourself so you can be first (or among the first) in your boarding group. Do this early, don't let a mob of other low-status/late-boarders sneak up and outflank your position to block you from reaching the gate funnel.
• If they want you to gate-check your carry on, have a bunch of lithium ion batteries in your bag (which generally must be in carry-on only due to risk of fire). It helps if you actually have a bunch of these batteries in your bag (I typically do), though I have not had to resort to negotiating over that point; it might not be pleasant.
• Make sure you have a bullet-proof, easy-to-spot, visually distinctive name tag already on your carry-on bag. Snap a clear photo of the bag and the easy-to-spot name tag before you get to the gate.
• AirTags (or equivalent knock-off brand - I like my Pebblebees, they're better than Apple's Airtags).
• As our friends to the north say: Elbows UP!!!

Good luck.

Most of the time, I avoid gate checking with an early boarding status. However, that is not always possible, even with early boarding status, I have had to gate check. To avoid gate checks, I ensure that I weigh my luggage for the flight leg with the most restrictive weight standards, ensure that my fanny pack/sling bag is secured in one of the carry-on bags so it doesn’t appear as if I have three items, and let me husband go first as he typically has a lighter bag and for some reason, they view us as a single unit.

Even with that, I have had to check. For those instances, I have already prepared what I am going to check, make sure that none of my essentials are in the bag (passport, medications, etc.) that my bag is well labeled. If I have to gate check going to my destination, I also shove one change of shirts, socks, underwear in my carry-on bag (backpack) so if my luggage gets lost, I have a least one change of clothes before I have to go shopping.

Also, don’t forget to put identification inside the bag along with an AirTag. It will make it more likely to recover if lost.

You can take the efforts you are already taking, but in a situation like you found yourselves, there was nothing you could have done. Space and luck can just not be on your side, or for myriad reasons, the airline gets the final say. This is one of those few things that I can just let go.
If I am in a situation where a lost/delayed bag is catastrophic ( I rarely stay where I land), I will limit my luggage and do laundry more.
When I am headed home, particularly with a connecting flight, I check my bags all the way home, which is safer than getting caught in a gate-check situation.

Gate checking of one's bag sometimes happens despite how much one tries to avoid it. That being the case, we pack half of spouse's stuff in my bag and vice versa. If one bag gets checked and doesn't arrive, we at least have enough to get by. And we each keep meds, a change of undies, and other important stuff in a small bag that will fit under the seat. Just food for thought.

If you have to fly on an airline where you have no status, find out how they load the plane before you select your seat. Once while flying on Air Canada, I selected an aisle seat, and was dismayed to see that I would be boarding in the last group. They didn't make me gate check, but when I boarded, all the overhead bins looked full and I had to scramble to stow my carryon.

@David -

Business Class solves many problems. Just sayin'.

We are getting ever-closer to this step (we are in our 60s/70s) but ... we aren't quite there yet! The costs are just too staggering. We are currently doing 3 international trips a year, so upgrading to Biz class would mean either breaking the bank, or, cutting back on trips. Several friends won't travel if they can't get Biz class and I'm sure it will happen to us soon enough.

But - the problem I see with this as a 'strategy' is that many regional connecting flights (US and EU) are on planes with no First/Business sections, so if you find yourselves in our recent situation - BCN->ZRH->SFO - you are at the mercy of what's available on the BCN-ZRH leg. I GUESS that, if you pay for biz class, and are on a flight without a biz/first cabin, they at least give you early boarding privileges and would likely be more generous with carry-on?

Regarding AirTags - we recently bought 4, and they are wonderful for 'peace of mind', but - don't have any influence on whether or not your luggage actually goes missing or not - they just help you find it! And if you want the 'peace of mind' aspect, you really do need to get familiar with how they work. When I first started using them, I had some anxiety when, upon arrival, my bags were showing as still in SFO! You really have to wait for a good 20 minutes or so before paying any attention to what 'Find My' tells you (and make sure YOU have good internet access!). And further - if you have two checked bags, as we did, it's amazing how one will show as having arrived a good 15 minutes before the second one shows up, even though they are probably next to each other!

Is early boarding something you can generally buy on flights, as a stand-alone item? It's always been a privilege I've had by virtue of frequent flyer memberships or associated card membership. I'd gladly pay $40 or so to have a better shot at the overhead bins!

Does signing up for whatever airline's own frequent flyer program make a difference?

In our recent experience, we booked the flight through Lufthansa. Lufthansa is a member of 'star alliance', and the outbound flight was operated by United, where we have good status. But the return flight was operated by SwissAir, also a Star Alliance member, but obviously we got no privileges. What would it have taken to get better boarding rights with SwissAir in this situation?

I fly "business class" a LOT. Often (in fact, usually) on itineraries that have a short connecting flight at the beginning and/or end, and a long-haul, trans-oceanic flight in the middle. That's because I live in Seattle, which is a medium-sized market (we have some longhaul international flights directly to Europe and Asia, but not as many as larger cities), so options are more narrow than say, those available to El Aliens or New Yawkers. It's also because we tend to choose destinations that are not in the giant tourism magnet cities (eg London, Paris, Rome). Increasingly, my target destinations are in secondary, tertiary or downright obscure little places. I fly business class so I can get 5+ hours of solid, restful sleep on the long over-water flight. But we are often on a single-aisle/narrow-body plane on a first and/or last leg where we are not in business class. Often, it's only the "middle" leg that offers the lay-flat seat and other perks from "true" business class. So I know alllll about that first/last leg in an unglamorous seat.

FWIW, if it's booked on one ticket, you are still traveling on a business class ticket - even if the first/last leg is on something less blingy. And that, usually, gets you at least some extra perks - like early boarding, perhaps a nicer (but non-lay-flat) seat, maybe better service, usually a bit less scrutiny for carry-on limits. Basically, the gate agents, flight attendants, etc. all see at a glance that you are on a business class itinerary, even if the leg they're flying is not in an actual "business class" seat. It might be in "domestic first" (a recliner) or it might be a 4 hour leg in an actual coach seat ("mixed cabin itinerary"). Usually they smile and turn on the charm, at least a little bit, and try to make sure you see that they recognize you splashed out more for your ticket than the guy sitting in the middle seat of the Toilet Row. You don't get caviar, a massage and PJs, but I find they usually do what they can to make you at least a little happy or a little less miserable than the other passengers. It's not perfect, but it sure beats the alternative. YMMV.

Once you go down the path to business class it's hard to go back. I'm happy as a clam in a coach seat for an hour or two or three (or longer, in a pinch). But I've crossed my last ocean trying to sleep in a cramped coach seat. I'll be up front for that, or I'll be home.

Watch other passengers carefully, and be prepared to position yourself so you can be first (or among the first) in your boarding group. Do this early, don't let a mob of other low-status/late-boarders sneak up and outflank your position to block you from reaching the gate funnel.

...offering a prescription for more gate lice.

One perk of flying biz class is that you get two free checked bags [hint].

...offering a prescription for more gate lice.

To quote a certain California governor, I look at it more as "fighting fire with fire."  Only to be applied when necessary as a "response" to others firing the first shot. ;)

I almost always fly cheap and board in the last group. So far, never had trouble finding overhead space for my flight legal size carryon. Never in literally hundreds of flights. No, that's a lie, once it was gate checked on a tiny Serbian Air flight. Once in a while I'll see someone having trouble on the plane finding a space, but they always do. I've seen very little forced gat checking as well. Just hasn't been a problem for me.

The only thing I do is, if I am in Group 5, is that I line up early at the end of Group 4.

My airport doesnt have any direct flights overseas. If I am booking flights which require at least one connection in the US, I try to make sure that the first flight is not on a regional (small) jet, with limited overhead space.

If airlines don't like gate lice, tell them to enforce their own carryon rules.

In general, I’ve found that rolling luggage is more likely to get gate-checked than a backpack.

Sometimes my Cotopaxi can still go inside with me because it doesn’t have wheels, and they’re looking downward for suitcases with wheels.

I have paid for a seat further towards the front for a smaller plane.

I get that the media loves their pejoratives, but we can do better than call our fellow travelers lice.

I don't necessarily have a specific strategy to avoid gate checking luggage, but -

• I fly United. Going back over the last five+ years when they added more Premium Plus cabins & updated economy cabins they added more capacity to overhead bins.
• I seek out United's CRJ-550 when I need a regional flights. Only 50 seats with even more luggage capacity.
• I don't pack my carry-on bags to their greatest capacity. They're not over stuffed & popping at the seams and my bag is soft sided without wheels.
• most effective though is being able to take advantage of pre-boarding.

We fly from a regional airport, and it's always on a small 2-2 plane to get to a larger hub. Since we have switched to backpacks for our luggage we've never been asked to gate check our bags. When we used rolling luggage, we would be told we had to gate check about 75% of the time. I understand that using a backpack isn't for everyone; not everyone can do it. But is has helped us avoid having to gate check.

I always have a small packing cube packed with a few items I would want to shift to my personal item if I get gate checked. If needed, I can quickly and easily pull that one packing cube out of my carry-on and put it in my personal item. If I am on way home at the end of a trip, I don't mind if I'm gate checked.

Once you go down the path to business class it's hard to go back. I'm happy as a clam in a coach seat for an hour or two or three (or longer, in a pinch). But I've crossed my last ocean trying to sleep in a cramped coach seat. I'll be up front for that, or I'll be home.

That's what my friends have said - no going back!

My current, reasonably effective strategy at the moment, is to pay for an economy plus upgrade, then choose the furthest back (least desirable) seat in that category, in the aisle. I've lost count of the number of times I've had an empty seat next to me, on a crowded plane! Economy Plus with an empty seat is a small step towards business class :)

I just booked a flight to Japan on United, and had enough miles to get an upgrade to Premium Economy. That came with two checked bags and (obviously) early boarding.

But the focus of this thread is what happens when you are on a small, regional 'connector' flight with limited overhead storage, as happened to us last week. We could probably have crammed our luggage into the overhead but weren't even given the chance to try; the gate staff were forcibly taking people's luggage before even getting on the plane. Seems like there aren't many good options other than trying to buy early boarding, so from now on, that will be my focus.

Actually, I did get on with my very large backpack, while my partner got snagged with her smaller hard-sided roller, as people have noted here.

We primarily fly from our small community airport to Atlanta or New York so we are on a smaller aircraft with limited overheard storage a LOT.

While we used to be carry on only, due to changing conditions (we are retired and blessed with getting older and all that entails) we typically check a bag and then have an under seater as our carry on. You may want to investigate a small underseater for flights where you do not have status and/or flights involving a small regional plane. You will then have a bag with your essentials to get you through a few days without (as much) of a worry about gate checking.

If you are on a small plane, even Business class customers may not have room in the very small overhead bins, or your carryon may not fit. Always make sure the items that you actually need-change of clothes, passport, meds, 311 bag-are in your personal item.

Chris, when getting that last seat, if by chance you are flying in a little ATR72 (a few European airlines are using them) know that the back of the plane is Row 1. They board from the back. And they are so narrow and the ceiling so low the closest comparison is flying in an MRI machine.

I never get gate-checked carrying my shoulder sack as the carry-on.

As a flyer only in Basic Economy with all its discomforts , I board always as part of Group 4 or 5. The main problem in flying this way is no overheard bin space by the time you get to your seat.

Luckily, that has only happened a few times. I don't and would not pay extra for anything additional re: luggage.

PE gets to board before the masses. I'm not a fan of first/business class, but am spoiled enough that I will pay for PE.

On regional planes, some airlines will gate check luggage and have it delivered to the jet bridge on arrival. Others will make you go to baggage claim. (I remember on some Delta regionals you had the option of leaving your carry on bag at the top of the jet bridge and it would be returned to you there upon deplaning. I usually had to wait about five minutes for this but it was a lot easier than fighting to find space on board.)

It really depends on the airline and the type of plane.

I fly ATR's a great deal. They do board from the back. However, on the ones I've flown, Row 1 is at the front of the plane. They cannot handle a full size carry on and will usually want to check your bag. Sometimes you can leave them at the door of the plane and it will be returned there. Again, it depends on the airline.

My observations support Jean's statement about her Cotopaxi. I have never seen a backpack or duffel or other un-wheeled bag gate-checked, even if they are obviously oversized. We will be packing small duffel bags, 20 in. max, for future trips.
Additionally, if there is a direct flight (almost never in our market) we will purchase it.

I am curious if those who purchase business class take the extra bag they are allowed.

Not saying it hasn't/won't/can't happen but so far I have not seen carryon-size backpack-style bags (NOT talking about huge hiking backpacks!) gate-checked on any major airline (i.e. excluding the inter-European budget airlines like Ryanair). I think maybe soft-sided 2-wheeled rollers might be a distant second-place in terms of immunity from gate-checking if not stuffed to the gills. My RS carryon backpack has never been given a second glance, but if it were I'm confident it could survive flying in the belly of the beast. I always have my meds, carmera gear, toiletries and a spare change of clothes in my Civita daypack which I don't think would ever be required to be checked.

I'm looking for a answer and I'm not sure this is the right place but you're talking about carry on and gate checking so hopefully someone can answer me. My sister and I (both in our 60's) are headed to the Christmas markets in Europe I bought a suitcase on Amazon (gasp) and it doesn't roll well, so we both purchased the Rick Steves spinner suitcase. We are traveling Delta from Wichita to Atlanta and on to Munich. We want to carry on only - In reviewing the size, including the wheels it's 21.75 x 14 x 10. Will they make us gate check it or do I need to buy another new suitcase in the next 3 weeks?!

Most of the involuntary gate-checking I've witnessed has been because the overhead bins have been filled up, not because of size or configuration. It doesnt matter if the size is within rules if there's no space. So its mostly about boarding as soon as possible, hence the gate-lice phenomenon.

If I'm checking my main bag, I try to keep my carryon small enough to fit under the seat of necessary. That means soft-sided and not jam-packed to the maximum dimensions.

kmw117, the only accurate answer is if they dont stop you and measure the bag, you will get to carry it on. If they do stop you .... well you get it. Who knows.... What will be will be.

Someone said they only check when the plane is full. Yes, probably then too. But the last few flights I have been on have announced a full flight and requested volunteers to gate chcek. Few if any did, the planes turned out to be 75% full and there was always room (I fly basic so am among the last to board and have never had a problem). But you might get nailed the minute you walk into the gate area. No way to predict such things.

@kwm117 -

In reviewing the size, including the wheels it's 21.75 x 14 x 10.

That's borderline OK (so it was presumably designed to fit within most airlines' restrictions) so you may be OK, but - the red flag for me is 'Wichita to Atlanta'. Is that going to be a big or a small plane? I note also you are traveling close to Christmas - a VERY busy flight time. Do you have any 'status' with Delta, that will let you board early? Can you purchase early boarding? There are TWO main factors that affect the forced gate-checking - the size of the luggage (you seem to be OK on that front) and ... how much storage is actually available. If the flight is full, and the crew see that overhead bins are getting full, they will send a message to the gate staff telling them to gate check just about everything (especially anything with wheels). Also, given that this is an international connection, if they DO gate-check you at Wichita, you won't be able to pick up the luggage at the gate in Atlanta, since you won't be re-passing through security in Atlanta.

So ... what do you know about the Wichita to Atlanta leg, and do you have 'status' with Delta? Can you buy early boarding?

I would also check with Delta's website to see what they show. This, is Swiss Air's info page, just by way of example - https://www.mybaggage.com/shipping/airlines/swiss-international-airlines-baggage-allowance/ . Swiss are showing 55x40x23 cm, which is pretty close to your dimensions. EDIT - Delta's restrictions are: 22” x 14” x 9” (56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm). https://www.delta.com/us/en/baggage/carry-on-baggage#

EDIT TO ADD - the best way to almost guarantee you get your luggage on the plane is to carry a backpack - you could buy a 'carry-on size' backpack, and they almost never get gate-checked (as plenty of others have said). But - the downside to that approach is, you only have one back :) . I like to carry a backpack as a second item, but if my 'main luggage' were a backpack, then your second piece has to be something else.

The link in the above post to Swiss Air's baggage is to a private travel company and not Swissair.

Sigh, come on - https://www.swiss.com/us/en/prepare/baggage?

The link in the above post to Swiss Air's baggage is to a private travel company and not Swissair.

Good catch; my notes were inaccurate (I was using notes I prepared last year for an old trip). The site I linked to actually has a link for most major airlines - https://www.mybaggage.com/shipping/airlines/ - and presents the information in a consistent fashion. But being 3rd party, there's always a chance they are out-of-date, or inaccurate. For SwissAir and Delta, they matched the airline's information.

Also, I would add that sometimes, the cabin crew and/or the gate crew are under pressure to load the plane as quickly as possible (possibly to meet 'on-time' performance statistics) and will falsely claim that the plane is full, and start gate-checking. That's why people have commented that, after hearing that the plane is full and being gate-checked, they get on the plane and find a half-full plane with plenty of overhead space. The problem is, whether it's true or not, once the gate crew decide to start gate-checking, you can't argue with them (unless you want to be denied boarding!).

Ultimately, I blame the airlines for aggressively charging for checked luggage. In the 'good old days', you bought a plane ticket and it included at least one checked bag, so at least a proportion of the passengers would simply check their luggage. But then the airlines realized they could squeeze more money out of passengers by charging for checked luggage, and the passengers responded by doing everything they could to carry everything onto the plane. I find it laughable just how much some people carry onto the plane, going way beyond any stated limits. Personally, I've ALWAYS checked my luggage as I just can't stand the pressure and anxiety of trying to shoe-horn everything into the cabin. I've also been lucky enough never to have my luggage lost (the incident I'm reporting in this post is my first ever experience, in over 40 years of flying).

Ultimately, I blame the airlines for aggressively charging for checked luggage.

Aggressively? Who? How? I'm sheltered, I only fly United, and one pays for checked bags on domestic flights and flights in North America and Caribbean. Then there's all sorts of exemptions to get out of paying the bag fee - cards, status. Otherwise flying international to South America, Europe, Africa, & Asia checked bags are included in the fare. Within the past 5 years United has removed bag sizers from departure gates and enlarged overhead bins. The CRJ-550 has an amazing abundance of bag space.

Ultimately...blame...airlines...But then the airlines realized they could squeeze more money out of passengers by charging for checked luggage, and the passengers responded by doing everything they could to carry everything onto the plane.

Sure. And don't passengers share some of the blame? Doesn’t matter what the public says, the paying customers say the lowest prices possible is paramount. Then if I am to believe what is said on these forums most everyone travels with carry-on only, and prefers ala carte pricing - why should I pay for checked bags if not checking bags? Finally too many are fixated on the initial "priced from" figure and cannot seem to add two numbers together for the final price.

Seems to be two partners dancing together.

VAP, no, in the good old days when the world was more perfect bags, sometimes two, were FREE. No one paid for them. Of course not, we all paid for them if we used them or not. The cost was built into the ticket. Its all perspective. I don’t even see it as the airline charging for the bag, I see it as the airline giving me a discount for not checking a bag. Maybe that’s the new way the airlines should adopt. Base Fare is all in; premium economy even. Then offer discounts for basic economy, no seat assignment, no early boarding, no checked luggage, etc .... until the ticket costs what a Basic Ticket costs today.

I do blame the airlines for running the cost of travel so low that "everyone" can afford it these days. The cost of a flight is about half what it was in 1975. Outrageous. I fondly remember when we "dressed to fly". Yup the good old days of business suits on the plane and free checked bags are gone.

To @VAP and @MR Ê 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 🇭🇺 -

There have always been people who pack lightly and fit everything into carryon luggage, partly to avoid the risk of bags getting lost. And there have always been people (like myself) who will check luggage onto the plane because they can't survive on a longer trip with just a carryon bag, even with the risk of that baggage going astray.

But there are a lot of people who used to check bags, and who now try to sneak everything onto the plane despite all the limits and warnings. I have a belief that if everyone actually followed the rules (one carryon and one personal item; Carryon item stored properly in the overhead, wheels to the back, not sideways) then there would be room for everyone's carryon - but so many people abuse the limits because they are trying to avoid the checked baggage fees. The gate crews could do a better job enforcing the limits but they typically don't, and invariably, people boarding last don't have any space for their carryon.

It's not like the planes have any less 'checked luggage' space today than they did 20 years ago; it doesn't cost the airline any more to transport your luggage 'in the hold' than it does to carry it in the aircraft cabin (other than a minor extra cost for baggage handling, though the staff and handling infrastructure has to exist whether or not an individual passenger uses it). So by now charging to check a bag which used to be free, they are unnecessarily encouraging people to avoid the checked bag route and to stuff that same luggage inside the cabin, leading to over-crowding of bins and often delays in takeoff due to the need for last-minute luggage checking.

International, wide-body planes are typically well-endowed with overhead spaces, so this discussion is somewhat moot for them; but with smaller, regional 'connector' flights, the problem is very real and the airlines would be better served to encourage people to check their bags rather than hand-carry them. They end up doing this half the time anyway, when they see a full flight and start offering to gate-check for free. The problem with this approach is, now they are having to divert bags from the gate to the hold, at the last minute, and less reliably than if they just had you check it in through the normal channels in the first place.

For people like me, who always check luggage, it's a pain when all the overhead bins are crammed to the limits and even a small carryon item can't be placed in the bins. I usually travel with a small backpack that 'can' fit under the seat in front of me, but I'd much rather place it in the overhead, giving my feet some room. This has become almost impossible given the pressure to cabin-carry everything.

Chris, if you read my posts, you would know I am a stickler for following the rules. Those with oversize carry on are a scourge. I supported paying gate agents a reward for every non-compliant bag they could catch.

I pack for my trip not out of some travel ideology. I will not sacrifice my standards, enjoyment or activities because of self-imposed packing limitations. Sometimes that means a check bag, often not.

But I really dont like paying for what I don’t need. In the end that just limits the quantity of travel.

Air Travel is a commodity. The highest value of a commodity is the balance of quantity and cost that produces the greatest profit. Assuming that the airlines are handling their business well, the current system meats that balance. It is interesting that quantity has gone up while price has gone down. Simply means more people can afford to travel and that’s a wonderful thing. Oh, and being somewhat less affluent than the average RS forum member I sort of like the system for personal reasons.

I've done a short trip , 19 days using only a carry-on. There are certainly advantages to that way of traveling.

For long trips say 6 to 10 weeks I need both the carry-on and the medium size spinner.

I don't like paying the fee for checked luggage either but am glad to see those ( I've seen " them " too at boarding) thinking they can slip by undetected on a trans-Atlantic flight with their carry-on that occupies the entire overhead bin eliminating any room for anyone else) being told that the piece of unwieldy carry-on has to be checked in. ...yes, the very thing "they " had hoped to avoid.

One thing missing from this discussion though is that along with the other fees there is a 7.5% transportation tax on the airfare paid to the feds, but baggage is specifically excluded form the tax in the regulations as long as, “the charge is separable from the payment for the transportation of a person and is shown in the exact amount.”

So what is the tax on a $200 round trip fare with free baggage vs a $100 fare with $50 baggage for each leg? Or even $200 airfare with $50 baggage each leg.

VAP brilliant. That may explain a lot, or at least a little. Here in my current country of residence the same shell game is used with service charges.

I have a belief that if everyone actually followed the rules (one carryon and one personal item; Carryon item stored properly in the overhead, wheels to the back, not sideways) then there would be room for everyone's carryon - but so many people abuse the limits because they are trying to avoid the checked baggage fees.

I don’t believe that is true. Look at the size of most bins on planes in the economy section. On most airlines, the bins aren’t large enough to store more than 3 standard carry-on bags and yet they span about about 1.5 rows of 3 seats. Some of the newer planes have larger bins, but most are simply not large enough to store a standard rollaboard for every passenger on a full flight.

Until all planes are equpped with newer bins that allow suitcases to be stored on their side (see this article https://www.afar.com/magazine/airlines-are-finally-adding-enough-bin-space-for-all-carry-ons), people will continue to have to gate check.

I was on a United flight a couple of years ago where they announced at the beginning of the flight that it was full so they would need to gate check at least 22 bags; this was a 757 which United uses on some of the shorter transatlantic routes. My flight from Tokyo this week (a 777) was completely full and they were gate checking bags.

The best way to avoid gate checking is actually just to check your bag and bring a smaller bag on the flight. I check my 22 inch bag and bring a backpack and purse on board. No one has ever asked me to gate check my backpack.

I used to do 3 international trips a year. That workout to no less than 12 flights. Now its mostly flights within Europe. I flew so many different airlines that I never got enough points for anything. I always flew economy and when
the airlines adopted "basic economy" I more often than not flown basic. So I was always in the last boarding group, sometimes the next to last group. I did that for close to 20 years. Except when the flight was one of those puddle jumper planes I never once got gate checked or could not find a convenient place in the overhead for my bag. I rarely saw anyone forcibly gate checked and never saw anyone who could not find room. But it got stupid tight sometimes.

I don’t believe that is true. Look at the size of most bins on planes in the economy section. On most airlines, the bins aren’t large enough to store more than 3 standard carry-on bags and yet they span about about 1.5 rows of 3 seats. Some of the newer planes have larger bins, but most are simply not large enough to store a standard rollaboard for every passenger on a full flight.

Your analysis is correct in that not everyone could bring on a 'regulation' carry-on, but my observation is, not everyone tries to bring on a regulation carry-on (that includes me), so if everyone (who wants to) would simply restrict themselves to regulation sizes (and no 'extras', and not place their bags in sideways) then all those who wanted to should find space. But there's certainly not enough space for every single passenger to bring on the max allowed.

My flight from Tokyo this week (a 777) was completely full and they were gate checking bags.

Yikes, that's a surprise! I've never seen a problem on a long-haul. I'm off to Tokyo next year so I'll soon see for myself.

The best way to avoid gate checking is actually just to check your bag and bring a smaller bag on the flight. I check my 22 inch bag and bring a backpack and purse on board. No one has ever asked me to gate check my backpack.

I agree; other than a short San Francisco-Phoenix flight, I've ALWAYS checked luggage (and never had a lost-bag problem). I always carry a backpack and, I can generally squeeze it into an overhead.

I've recently discovered that some 'low-cost' airlines don't allow certain fares to use the overheads. How they enforce this, I have no idea ("who's bag is this? Does your fare cover it? Show me your ticket"!). I try to avoid the super-low cost carriers like RyanAir in Europe, but I did once fly with a budget airline from Portugal to UK. I ended up paying lots of extras to ensure my luggage was covered, as it was part of a much longer trip and I needed plenty of luggage.

Why is everyone obsessing over this. Just pay and check your bag, have a personal item on board and RELAX its a VACATION. We now fly Premium Select or Comfort + and get a checked bag anyway. However when on regional flights or small planes within Europe we just pay the $35/bag and check each bag. Makes travel simpler and more enjoyable. No struggling with an overhead bin.

Why is everyone obsessing over this. Just pay and check your bag, have a personal item on board and RELAX its a VACATION.

In my partner's case, she already had a checked bag, and all she was carrying on was a very small roller - nowhere near the limit of carry-on sizes (I had a much larger backpack on my back, and was left alone). This small roller got gate-checked at the last minute and got lost (found 2 days later).

Backpacks are the way to go, but she's got back issues and needs to use a roller, unfortunately.