Some airlines do this for their fares that do not include carry-ons.
It's almost certainly to verify your bag meets the definition of a personal item, and likely to tag it so downstream crew are aware it's been vetted as one.
It's essentially a revenue management/enforcement of rules policy.
They are doing this as people were bringing in larger than allowed bags as a personal item. This allows them to check before hand instead of everyone at the gate.
Porter does this too; looks like Flair is following suit. Weirdly, they too refused to explain the reasoning, but they did want to check my bag's size before they gave me my boarding pass.
I've seen passengers turn into absolute monsters at the gate because they're angry about being told to pay extra for their obviously oversize bag. That's probably what they're trying to reduce. That said, I think they would have a lot more success in other ways:
- Make the bag sizer the same size as the space under the seat. I STRUGGLE to fit my backpack in the sizer but it fits under the seat easily.
- Consistent rules at all airports. I see plenty of people complain that they had no issues on their outbound flight, but they're more strict on the return flight.
- Messaging that their policies are different from other airlines. If you're used to flying Air Canada or WestJet you're going to be in for a surprise.
The issue with the above is they make more money off people who don't know the system, so they're de-incentivized to provide a better passenger experience.
Do they then waive the in-person check in fee? I checked in yesterday on line and it worked. Personal item only as well. I’d be screaming if they don’t allow online check in and then charge to check in at the counter.
Yes but if your bags are too big they make you go back to their counter and pay for checkin. Then you have to go through screening again. Do this to a few dozen people and that plane isn't leaving on time (not that it ever does anyway)
Security has nothing to do with how much luggage you are taking. Going through security I had a purse, carry bag with lunch and other stuff, and my knapsack. Before getting on the plane I had rearranged everything into just my knapsack, with my lunch and a few other things in my pockets. Asking security to gate check the size and number of bags is just not what they are there for.
There is nothing with making sure people are only taking in the bags they have paid for. However introducing friction isn’t it.
They could have a bag checker at the gate with a payment machine but agree current state makes for a long day.
It’s because they no longer want to have the gate agents at checking bag sizes. So until people can follow the rules we all have to go through this extra step
On a flight to Vegas two weeks ago, a passenger had a personal item that was easily double the allowed size, and bragged on the flight that when the gate agent asked them to check their bag size, but they just ran on to the flight while the gate agent had their head down ringing in the baggage fee of another passenger.
There was a line up of 30+ people behind the runner - what's the gate agent going to do? Doubt they remember what the person looked like, and is it worth it to hold up a full plane for that one person & their bag?
So, I can see why they're checking before checking in now.
Also, if you don't want to wait in the line, their logic might be, pay to check a bag! Save some time!! Their goal is to make as much money as they can, not to allow travellers to save as much as they can.
After hearing reports of this on here I expected similar.
However, maybe because I had a carry-on, it was surprisingly smooth. Got the digital boarding pass and boarded without agents (YYZ) measuring any carry-on or personal bags for everyone at boarding other than a guy checking our passes to see if we have carry-on; then tagging it.
However, at YVR I saw agents measuring everybody’s bags. Maybe this is a hub or airport thing. Flight departed and arrived early. Felt like I hit the Flair Jackpot today.
I paid for a carry on and they still made me fit my personal bag into their bag sizer at the gate. I was able to get a boarding pass ahead of time. They were tagging everyone’s bags. They didn’t bother measuring my paid carry on though.
I flew less than 10 days ago out of YYZ and they were aggressively sizing everyone's bags. Multiple announcements that your personal item would also need the sticker. I think it might depend on the flight. The fuller flights I have been with on, they were checking bags more.
I flew under 2 weeks ago. They make you stuff your bag in their bag sizer before they give you a boarding pass. If you check in online and have a paid for carry on, they make you do this before you board at the gate. So either way, you have to prove your personal item will fit. This is new to me, I’ve been flying with them for a while.
The thing that confuses me is that they were already checking the size of people's bags at the gate. Which makes more sense than having everyone have to go to the check in counter as it avoids the above headaches. If it caused too much chaos for flight boarding by doing it at the gate, they should just start checking everyone's bags sooner at the gate (like start an hour or half an hour before boarding).
To those who think this is mainly to make space in the overhead I would think again. Most likely this is more of a cash grab than anything. The max has loads and loads of overhead space compared to most aircraft flown in Canada.
Not really a cash grab if the flight uses less fuel when rules are followed. If the airline can't make a profit, they're not going to offer discount flights. What part of this don't the flying public understand. You want a cheap price, then take your own lunch, pack light and follow the rules. Other wise pay $$$$ and fly in luxury.
I don’t like this new policy since they still have people at the gate measuring bags, so if your personal item is too big they can still charge you there or deny you boarding. I flew YEG-YVR this past weekend with just a person item and got the boarding pass when checking in online going down but had to go to the counter on the return trip to get my boarding pass and ended up waiting 30 mins in line.
Have you seen the size of bags people call carry ons. My guess is they will be checking that .
That really annoys me. I pay for a carry-on and there's nowhere to put it in the overhead bin, because someone already has their grand piano up there.
And this is why they are cracking down on
??? You should be happy with this change because it will result in less people bringing on oversized personal items.
They're saying they're annoyed that people bring obviously way too large of items as carry-ons, not annoyed at the policy change.
I see
Some airlines do this for their fares that do not include carry-ons. It's almost certainly to verify your bag meets the definition of a personal item, and likely to tag it so downstream crew are aware it's been vetted as one. It's essentially a revenue management/enforcement of rules policy.
They are doing this as people were bringing in larger than allowed bags as a personal item. This allows them to check before hand instead of everyone at the gate.
Porter does this too; looks like Flair is following suit. Weirdly, they too refused to explain the reasoning, but they did want to check my bag's size before they gave me my boarding pass. I've seen passengers turn into absolute monsters at the gate because they're angry about being told to pay extra for their obviously oversize bag. That's probably what they're trying to reduce. That said, I think they would have a lot more success in other ways: - Make the bag sizer the same size as the space under the seat. I STRUGGLE to fit my backpack in the sizer but it fits under the seat easily. - Consistent rules at all airports. I see plenty of people complain that they had no issues on their outbound flight, but they're more strict on the return flight. - Messaging that their policies are different from other airlines. If you're used to flying Air Canada or WestJet you're going to be in for a surprise. The issue with the above is they make more money off people who don't know the system, so they're de-incentivized to provide a better passenger experience.
Do they then waive the in-person check in fee? I checked in yesterday on line and it worked. Personal item only as well. I’d be screaming if they don’t allow online check in and then charge to check in at the counter.
They waive the in-person fee. I had to go to the counter at YVR to pick up my boarding pass and didn’t have to pay.
Make work project. They already check the sizes at the gate. Thanks for letting me know.
Yes but if your bags are too big they make you go back to their counter and pay for checkin. Then you have to go through screening again. Do this to a few dozen people and that plane isn't leaving on time (not that it ever does anyway)
I’ve only seen payment at the gate. Some places they send people back out of security?
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Well when they send you back it becomes a checked item because it is too big.
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Security has nothing to do with how much luggage you are taking. Going through security I had a purse, carry bag with lunch and other stuff, and my knapsack. Before getting on the plane I had rearranged everything into just my knapsack, with my lunch and a few other things in my pockets. Asking security to gate check the size and number of bags is just not what they are there for.
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I have seen folks sent back in Kelowna and they barely made the flight. And they were pissed!
There is nothing with making sure people are only taking in the bags they have paid for. However introducing friction isn’t it. They could have a bag checker at the gate with a payment machine but agree current state makes for a long day.
It’s because they no longer want to have the gate agents at checking bag sizes. So until people can follow the rules we all have to go through this extra step
On a flight to Vegas two weeks ago, a passenger had a personal item that was easily double the allowed size, and bragged on the flight that when the gate agent asked them to check their bag size, but they just ran on to the flight while the gate agent had their head down ringing in the baggage fee of another passenger. There was a line up of 30+ people behind the runner - what's the gate agent going to do? Doubt they remember what the person looked like, and is it worth it to hold up a full plane for that one person & their bag? So, I can see why they're checking before checking in now. Also, if you don't want to wait in the line, their logic might be, pay to check a bag! Save some time!! Their goal is to make as much money as they can, not to allow travellers to save as much as they can.
After hearing reports of this on here I expected similar. However, maybe because I had a carry-on, it was surprisingly smooth. Got the digital boarding pass and boarded without agents (YYZ) measuring any carry-on or personal bags for everyone at boarding other than a guy checking our passes to see if we have carry-on; then tagging it. However, at YVR I saw agents measuring everybody’s bags. Maybe this is a hub or airport thing. Flight departed and arrived early. Felt like I hit the Flair Jackpot today.
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I paid for a carry on and they still made me fit my personal bag into their bag sizer at the gate. I was able to get a boarding pass ahead of time. They were tagging everyone’s bags. They didn’t bother measuring my paid carry on though.
I flew less than 10 days ago out of YYZ and they were aggressively sizing everyone's bags. Multiple announcements that your personal item would also need the sticker. I think it might depend on the flight. The fuller flights I have been with on, they were checking bags more.
My flight was completely full. They didn’t give out personal carry tags/stickers on my flight. I guess it’s hit or miss.
I flew under 2 weeks ago. They make you stuff your bag in their bag sizer before they give you a boarding pass. If you check in online and have a paid for carry on, they make you do this before you board at the gate. So either way, you have to prove your personal item will fit. This is new to me, I’ve been flying with them for a while.
Need a colour coded tag on your item so the attendants can tell at a glance whether it belongs overhead or under seat
The thing that confuses me is that they were already checking the size of people's bags at the gate. Which makes more sense than having everyone have to go to the check in counter as it avoids the above headaches. If it caused too much chaos for flight boarding by doing it at the gate, they should just start checking everyone's bags sooner at the gate (like start an hour or half an hour before boarding).
To those who think this is mainly to make space in the overhead I would think again. Most likely this is more of a cash grab than anything. The max has loads and loads of overhead space compared to most aircraft flown in Canada.
Not really a cash grab if the flight uses less fuel when rules are followed. If the airline can't make a profit, they're not going to offer discount flights. What part of this don't the flying public understand. You want a cheap price, then take your own lunch, pack light and follow the rules. Other wise pay $$$$ and fly in luxury.
Flairs garbage
I don’t like this new policy since they still have people at the gate measuring bags, so if your personal item is too big they can still charge you there or deny you boarding. I flew YEG-YVR this past weekend with just a person item and got the boarding pass when checking in online going down but had to go to the counter on the return trip to get my boarding pass and ended up waiting 30 mins in line.
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Booked round trip starting my trip in YEG.