Bag checks in airports - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

spdrun · #1 06-02-2013, 10:06 PM

I don't frequently check bags when I fly, but this time around I needed to check a 50 lb bag of tools -- paying $25 each way was a lot cheaper than paying $4-500 to buy them at the other end.

LaGuardia has a great system -- you get a tag from the airline desk, and you carry the bag to the TSA guy who tosses it into the big x-ray machine in front of you. If there's anything suspicious, they can check it in front of you and resolve the matter right there. No worries about theft, etc.

Denver OTOH, has you hand the bag in at the airline counter and it gets scanned somewhere else inside the airport. Of course, I ended up with a zip-tie on the bag, a jumbled mess inside, and a note from TSA. Fortunately, everything was still there. No surprise: it probably looked a bit suspicious on the x-ray, but why don't all airports have a system where they can examine the bag in front of the owner to avoid sticky TSA fingers?

As rough as NYC is around the edges, a lot of ways things are done here actually make more sense than in the rest of the world

Interesting trip, but glad to be home!

PARSHOOT1 · #2 06-02-2013, 10:49 PM

Murphy's Law would have it that your bag of "deadly" tools would be processed without a hitch, & you would be the random passenger chosen for a full pat down. Nothing like flying the "friendly" skies!

Skid Row Joe · #3 06-03-2013, 02:03 AM

I fly SWA exclusively. Bags fly free.

spdrun · #4 06-03-2013, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

I fly SWA exclusively. Bags fly free.

No thanks to cattle-call boarding. Give me a window seat or give me death -- I get really claustrophobic otherwise.

kmaysob · #5 06-03-2013, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

No thanks to cattle-call boarding. Give me a window seat or give me death -- I get really claustrophobic otherwise.

i have the same problem except i have to be on the aisle

spdrun · #6 06-03-2013, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmaysob

i have the same problem except i have to be on the aisle

Do you prefer a Window Seat versus Aisle Seat? What does your selection say about you? | TalkTravel.biz

So you're an over-35 male who votes a lot, while I'm an under-35 woman who doesn't vote, camps a lot, and dislikes snooty food? Ah-pahrently.

SwampYankee · #7 06-03-2013, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

No thanks to cattle-call boarding. Give me a window seat or give me death -- I get really claustrophobic otherwise.

SWA Business Select. Boarding position A1-15 (I book my flights 3-4 weeks ahead of time and have never been lower than A5) plus a free adult beverage. Exit row seats are fair game. I fly it whenever I can.

Otherwise I'm an aisle-seater, too. It's where my legs end up as soon as everyone is buckled in. I enjoy being taller than normal until it comes to flying. I need one more retirement before I can fly first class everywhere.

daw_two · #8 06-03-2013, 01:20 PM

Will drive --- Flying isn't fun for me anymore. I guess I will have to fly to get to Europe or back to China though. The boat takes too long.

Brian Carlton · #9 06-03-2013, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

SWA Business Select. Boarding position A1-15 (I book my flights 3-4 weeks ahead of time and have never been lower than A5) plus a free adult beverage. Exit row seats are fair game. I fly it whenever I can.

Try "early-bird check in". Considerably less costly because you can select the deep discounted fare due to the advance purchase. Also eliminates your need to checkin early on the return...........usually impossible unless you've got your laptop with you and you make a "date" with the computer 24 hours ahead of the flight.

Cost is $12.50 each way and you'll get a seat that is lower than A45. This is perfectly fine for getting a decent seat. The aircraft holds about 135.

Also, for some reason all the lemmings sit at the front of the cabin. The rear seats will always have extra seats available unless it's full.

strelnik · #10 06-04-2013, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PARSHOOT1

Murphy's Law would have it that your bag of "deadly" tools would be processed without a hitch, & you would be the random passenger chosen for a full pat down. Nothing like flying the "friendly" skies!

The random pat-down would be ok, depending on the lady who does it....

Stretch · #11 06-03-2013, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

... but why don't all airports have a system where they can examine the bag in front of the owner to avoid sticky TSA fingers?

...

I think checking the bag out of sight of the owner is a silly thing to do - you'll get some people claiming theft when there wasn't - and the inspectors can probably learn more from body language than they could from contents!

BAVBMW · #12 06-03-2013, 01:41 PM

Travel with a firearm. It's a whole different set of rules. Goes much smoother.

MV

HuskyMan · #13 06-03-2013, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAVBMW

Travel with a firearm. It's a whole different set of rules. Goes much smoother.

MV

Maybe not a such a good idea......this.

Traveling Man's Gun Arrest Appealed to Supreme Court | Fox News

cixelsyD · #14 06-05-2013, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAVBMW

Travel with a firearm. It's a whole different set of rules. Goes much smoother.

MV

100% agree! Front of the line when you declare. TSA folks admire, re-secure your gear and off you go.

TX76513 · #15 06-04-2013, 09:36 AM

SW is not entirely FEE free - early bird check in, move up in the cattle chute, bags charges on 3+ $75@ also

"There are no plans to charge for bags in 2013," Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said Thursday (Jan. 24) when asked about that during an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box" program."Never say never," Kelly added