Gate checking carry on in Canada

[digits_]

I'm wondering if there are any rules that prevent airlines from gate checking carry on bags on the smaller regional carriers.

You've probably all seen the mess created by carry on bags that barely fit in an CRJ overhead bin. Bags that fit flawlessly in a A32x or B7x7 but bearly fit in anything smaller.

In the US it is common that the airline allows/recommends people to gate check their bag. It works really wel. The thing that comes closest in Canada, is the "we have a full flight, come to the counter and we will check your bag through to your final destination", which is not the same, as it still forces you to wait at the baggage belt.

Is there some Canadian rule that does not allow gate checking? Do handlers make it excessively expensive?

[lownslow]

If you mean handing off your carry-on at the gate to go somewhere other than the passenger cabin then picking it up at the arrival gate then Porter does it. I suspect most of our airports just aren’t designed to efficiently handle that sort of thing.

[digits_]

If you mean handing off your carry-on at the gate to go somewhere other than the passenger cabin then picking it up at the arrival gate then Porter does it. I suspect most of our airports just aren’t designed to efficiently handle that sort of thing.

Yes, that's exactly what I mean.

I've seen Jazz do it with a stroller once, but that seemed to be quite the exception. Glad to hear it is at least allowed here as well.

[goleafsgo]

Jazz does it on the dash-8. Put your bag on the cart before boarding and grab it once you get off

[C-GGGQ]

Usually in place at airports without jet bridges. They leave a cart by the door. Did it all the time in NB when I worked for jazz.

[Chaxterium]

I fly a CRJ. We do gate checks literally every single flight.

[digits_]

Interesting. Must have something to do with the airports I frequent then.

Thank you for all the info!

[C-GGGQ]

I'll agree I tend to not see it out of YYZ YWG YVR. I always assume cause their at the jet bridge and the ground crew doesn't want to carry them down one at a time.

[photofly]

I'll agree I tend to not see it out of YYZ YWG YVR. I always assume cause their at the jet bridge and the ground crew doesn't want to carry them down one at a time.

Isn't that what that slidey-ramp beside the stairs from the jet bridge is for?

[Chaxterium]

Isn't that what that slidey-ramp beside the stairs from the jet bridge is for?

That's exactly what it's for.

[mixturerich]

It’s a dumb system, people are bringing larger than ever carry on bags now that don’t even fit in the overheads and god help them if they need to put something at their feet, but no airline wants to be the bad guy and reduce the size limits.

[Canuck1988]

Can confirm Air Canada/Jazz has gate check like you are talking about offered on all Dash 8 classic flights and all CRJ 200 flights. Q400 flights operating from Montreal to Billy Bishop also offer this service.

As you stated, agents will usually be helpful in checking your bag to the destination (but it will arrive at the baggage carousel) on all other flights. Of course they will offer to gate check strollers/wheelchairs as needed.

Can’t agree more that the amount and size of carry on bags is getting hard to manage.

[rxl]

Just to be clear about this, there are 2 types of service provided.
"Skycheck" service as noted above is provided by Air Canada Express on 37 and 50 seat Dash8100/300's (the so called Classic) and 50 seat CRJ100/200's. This service is provided on Express Q400's but only on YTZ - YUL flights. With Skycheck you simply leave your bag on the Skycheck cart at the bottom of the airstair door when your flight is operating open ramp or just outside the aircraft door when your flight is operating from a jetway bridge. When arriving at your destination, you claim your bag in the same location as you dropped it off. Works pretty slick except it can make for some crowded jet bridges when deplaning while passengers wait for their bags to be delivered from the cargo hold. Skycheck service is provided no charge and a baggage tag is not required.
"Gate check" bags are checked and tagged at the bridgehead podium by airline staff and then carried to the aircraft door by the passenger. These bags must then be claimed off of the baggage carousel on arrival. Gate check service is provided on most Air Canada mainline flights and all Express CRJ900 and Q400 flights except for YTZ. There are also times (all too frequent) when a carry-on bag is brought to the aircraft that is simply too large to fit in an overhead bin, or all the space is already full. These bags are tagged and removed from the cabin for loading in the cargo hold.

[digits_]

Just to be clear about this, there are 2 types of service provided.
"Skycheck" service

...


These bags are tagged and removed from the cabin for loading in the cargo hold.

Using your terminology, I was talking about the "skycheck" service.

The bags that are too large to fit in the overhead, do they end up at the door when exiting the plane, or at the baggage carousel?

[Canuck1988]

Just to be clear about this, there are 2 types of service provided.
"Skycheck" service

...


These bags are tagged and removed from the cabin for loading in the cargo hold.

Using your terminology, I was talking about the "skycheck" service.

The bags that are too large to fit in the overhead, do they end up at the door when exiting the plane, or at the baggage carousel?

Sky check service will be on the cart outside the aircraft, or on the bridge (depending on what plane you are on).

Gate check will be on the baggage carousel.

“The bags that are too large to fit in the overhead” - again it depends on the aircraft if these are considered sky check or gate check. Myself and someone else had a pretty good description in the previous comments on which aircraft at AC/Jazz offer sky check.

[digits_]

“The bags that are too large to fit in the overhead” - again it depends on the aircraft if these are considered sky check or gate check. Myself and someone else had a pretty good description in the previous comments on which aircraft at AC/Jazz offer sky check.

What about on a Jazz CRJ900?

My original question has been answered, so thank you for that. I noticed a long fight with the overhead bins with multiple pax trying to squeeze in their bags on the CRJ900. It can't have been efficient to let everyone try and fight. And those poor FAs basically ended up re arranging the whole airplane to try and make everything fit. Would have been much quicker to have a cart there to put the bags on in my opinion.

[rxl]

In response to digits_ ... To be honest I'm not sure.

[mixturerich]

“The bags that are too large to fit in the overhead” - again it depends on the aircraft if these are considered sky check or gate check. Myself and someone else had a pretty good description in the previous comments on which aircraft at AC/Jazz offer sky check.

My original question has been answered, so thank you for that. I noticed a long fight with the overhead bins with multiple pax trying to squeeze in their bags on the CRJ900. It can't have been efficient to let everyone try and fight. And those poor FAs basically ended up re arranging the whole airplane to try and make everything fit. Would have been much quicker to have a cart there to put the bags on in my opinion.

It’s an inefficient system especially when a whole bunch don’t fit. In a perfect world everybody just gets on and sits down. However people want to make sure they have the things with them for a more comfortable flight.

[digits_]

Not really, from what I can tell most people don't use anything from their carry on. They just don't want to wait at the baggage belt or pay the checked in baggage fee. If it takes 2 people to squeeze a bag in the overhead compartment, I'm pretty sure nobody will touch that bag until the flight is over.

[rookiepilot]

Not really, from what I can tell most people don't use anything from their carry on. They just don't want to wait at the baggage belt or pay the checked in baggage fee. If it takes 2 people to squeeze a bag in the overhead compartment, I'm pretty sure nobody will touch that bag until the flight is over.

That's not it when I fly. I have flown internationally a fair bit. I check a main bag, onboard I bring a modest backpack with iPad, my work notes, medicines, and all documents, + a good change of clothes. No way I check the valuables, the change of clothes is essential if my bag doesn't show. And it happens.

[Canuck1988]

“The bags that are too large to fit in the overhead” - again it depends on the aircraft if these are considered sky check or gate check. Myself and someone else had a pretty good description in the previous comments on which aircraft at AC/Jazz offer sky check.

What about on a Jazz CRJ900?

My original question has been answered, so thank you for that. I noticed a long fight with the overhead bins with multiple pax trying to squeeze in their bags on the CRJ900. It can't have been efficient to let everyone try and fight. And those poor FAs basically ended up re arranging the whole airplane to try and make everything fit. Would have been much quicker to have a cart there to put the bags on in my opinion.

CRJ200/100, yes there is a sky check service.

CRJ900, no there is no sky check service.

Quite often if the RJ900 is close to being full, the boarding agents will usually make the “this is a full flight, and we are look g for volunteers to check their baggage to their final destination” (gate check service). Or they should (and in my opinion sometimes do a slightly less then stellar job - but they’re lives can be busy) be enforcing carry on bag size, and forcing passengers with large carry ones to gate check.

I think the thinking of no sky check on the RJ900 (and Q) is that they are getting up there in passenger numbers, and a sky check service becomes a hassle when you have ~78 people waiting for bags on the bridge on arrival.

[A Regulator]

All nice but if the airlines followed their carry on baggage policy at check in and actually checked to see if it fits in the devices at the gate, there would not be an issue except for angry customers who are told they need to pay for their baggage. Heck why not stuff your bag and carry it on, at the gate an announcement is made and they will offer free check baggage. Nothing worse for those that get on with a computer bag etc and sit down only to be hit in the head or shoulders with those big bags or back packs that the person wearing it HAS to attempt to turn and talk to the person behind them. Oh and the best part in my opinion is when the last few passengers try and attempt to find a spot in the overhead bins and look pathetic. The flight attendant try's to help and then finds your computer bag and jacket and then asks you to put yours under your seat, I have said No and the look is priceless! I continue to say if the airline followed their carry on baggage policy they wouldn't have this problem.

If the airlines stopped charging for baggage i think the problem would go away.

Sorry for the rant but it os getting worse in my opinion.

[Splash]

All nice but if the airlines followed their carry on baggage policy at check in and actually checked to see if it fits in the devices at the gate, there would not be an issue except for angry customers who are told they need to pay for their baggage. Heck why not stuff your bag and carry it on, at the gate an announcement is made and they will offer free check baggage. Nothing worse for those that get on with a computer bag etc and sit down only to be hit in the head or shoulders with those big bags or back packs that the person wearing it HAS to attempt to turn and talk to the person behind them. Oh and the best part in my opinion is when the last few passengers try and attempt to find a spot in the overhead bins and look pathetic. The flight attendant try's to help and then finds your computer bag and jacket and then asks you to put yours under your seat, I have said No and the look is priceless! I continue to say if the airline followed their carry on baggage policy they wouldn't have this problem.

If the airlines stopped charging for baggage i think the problem would go away.

Sorry for the rant but it os getting worse in my opinion.

Biggest challenge with excessive carry-on baggage are the passengers that check-in online. They are sometimes never seen in the check-in area as they go directly to the gate with an electronic boarding card on their phone or one they've printed. I would say as a generalization that the main culprits with excessive baggage are trying to take as much as they can without having to pay baggage fees. Air travel has become a commodity where the lowest price is king, no more glamorous than taking the bus. With competitive airfares the norm, it's no wonder that Greyhound was driven out of most markets in Canada. I once did a price comparison between two points and it was cheaper to fly, 12 hours on the bus or 1 1/2 to fly.

Specifically on the topic of volunteering/offering to gate check your bag at the gate. If you have a onward connecting flight/s, make absolutely sure it tagged correctly, otherwise you'll regret trying to be a team-player.

[daedalusx]

One of the main problem at least at Jazz was the gate agents mesure of performance was the time it took to board the flight and if they couldn’t board the flight in xx minutes then they would get shit on by their managers so it’s just easier to look the other way and let the pax board the baby RJ with their hockey bag full of crap because then it becomes the FA’s problem and they get hit with the delay.

[cdnpilot77]

I'll agree I tend to not see it out of YYZ YWG YVR. I always assume cause their at the jet bridge and the ground crew doesn't want to carry them down one at a time.

Isn't that what that slidey-ramp beside the stairs from the jet bridge is for?

Have you seen how carefully the ramp agents “slidey” those bags down that thing....might as well just toss down from the top of the jet bridge ourselves