United bag sizers at TPA unfair?

Back when I was in high school, I would listen to the MJ Morning Show every morning, which is a local radio morning show here in Tampa. While I don’t listen to it anymore, Eric pointed to a story that caught his attention. Basically, MJ was flying United out of Tampa last week, and placed his bag in the “sizer” at check-in. At the gate, the agent made him gate check the bag, saying it was too big. The kicker is that he was told to place his bag in the sizer at the gate, and he claims the sizer was smaller than the one at check-in.

He claims, once again, that he brought a measuring tape on the return portion of his trip, and that the sizer at the gate is nine inches deep, while the one at check-in is ten inches deep. You can read the story here and listen to him discuss it on air by clicking this link and going to hour three of the 7/12 show. The discussion of this starts about 36 minutes in.

I’ll certainly be keeping MJ honest by showing up at TPA Sunday morning equipped with a measuring tape. And of course I’ll report back.

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dogbert Guest

Would it not make more sense to have the smaller sizer out front where customers would be forced to check and pay verusus the larger one that allows them to go to the gate only to be stopped by the smaller sizer.

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sithlord Guest

If it fits in the overhead bin ,great. If not make them check it;real simple.

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Erik E Guest

"even though they were actually not following the rules that are defined" . . Isn't the use of a "Bag Sizer" by an airline at the check in counter the definition of "airline policy"??? Who travels around with a tape measure or ruler when they travel? "Excuse me Mr. Check-In Counter Person, but I just measured your bag sizer and according to your carry-on rule section B, paragraph 2, the defined allowable limit for carry-on luggage is clearly listed as 22"x14"x9" and your size checker here is clearly 22"x14"x10", so just to let you know, MY bag is clearly allowable as it's only 22"x14"x9"." Drivel indeed, you are clearly one of those DYKWIA types.

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gobluetwo Guest

I think he has a right to complain that United is basically misleading him into thinking his bag is of allowable size when it's really not (per the letter of the law, so to speak). This is a simple thing UA (and any other airline, for that matter) should be able to get right.

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LK Guest

So what's the big deal? Had he been charged for the gate check, MJ would have grounds to complain.

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