Last minute question about checked luggage and connecting flight

OK one it’s a suggestion you don’t have to follow it. They’re just trying to get people to check their luggage so that there’s less chaos at the gate. Delta does this to me constantly. I just ignore it if you get to the gate and there’s not room they can check your luggage, but you don’t have to check it because the airline sent you a notice saying wouldn’t it be nice if you made our life easier by checking.

They will check it through to your destination, if they do check it,

If there's a snow storm going on, they're probably anticipating most people having heavy coats and jackets that they will want to stow in the overhead. So they are asking people to consider checking their carry on bags at no charge in an attempt to alleviate a log jam at the gate where a lot of people will be required to gate check their bag.

It is possible that tomorrow’s flight will be full due to the weather today and people changing their flight from today to tomorrow. They probably just want to encourage people to check their bags so that they can depart on time. I would assume that they are asking people to check at the airline counter. You can drop your bag off at check in even if you checked in online. If you do this, TAP will check your bag through to your final destination.

If you gate check your bag, confirm that it will be sent to your final destination.

Make absolutely sure to keep with you all medications, eyeglasses, cell phone, other electronics, chargers, cords, and plugs that fit European outlets. Also your passport, Global Entry card, drivers license, charge cards, money, tickets, reservations, and your RS guidebook!! I would also keep my toiletries and a change of underwear. Assume you will never see your suitcase again but since you kept everything critical with you it won’t ruin your trip.

Buffalo, that is a frustration for me. I’m always working on improving my packing so that I have all that I need, but not too much. I specifically only wanted my wheeled carry on and a tiny personal item because it’s so much easier to get through the airports without even a smaller backpack and I don’t have a wheeled personal item bag.

So far, it seems the suggestions don’t match up, so I’m really not sure what to do. I didn’t want to deal with a backpack this trip, but I wonder if I moved it all to a backpack if they might let it through even if it’s a heavier than personal item size since it would still fit under the seat. I wouldn’t mind losing my bag for a bit on the way back, but I really packed to only take what I need this trip, so there’s very little I could do without if it gets misplaced.

I have had airlines suggest I check. I haven’t and I wasn’t forced to gate check. A lot of people will check so there is likely to be lots of space.

I would proceed as planned.

So far, it seems the suggestions don’t match up

KRS, I thought the suggestions were basically the same. I wasn’t suggesting that you check at the counter, only telling you that you could check at the counter.

The bottom line …
If you want to carry on, take your bag with you to the gate. However, be prepared to gate check by having your essentials ready to pull out of your bag. Your odds of gate checking are higher if you are in the last boarding group and they run out of space in the overhead. If the airline is able to encourage enough people to voluntarily check their bags then they won’t have to force anyone to gate check.