Dear Anita,
Do you
know what is the new airport security procedure for checking in
luggage for passengers flying on standby status?
I understand that checked-in luggage must be matched to a ticketed
passenger. If people are traveling on standby, then they will only
know at the last minute whether they can board. What do they do
with their luggage for check-in—bring it along with them to the
gate? If not, what should they do?
Thank you.
Alicia M.
Los Angeles, CA |
Dear Alicia,
You're right. Each piece of checked baggage must now be matched with the
correct passenger onboard the plane. My best advice for people traveling
standby is to try to limit their items to one carry-on bag. However, I
understand that this is not always possible.
I contacted the Air Transport Association (ATA) regarding this issue. They
stated there are no set rules among carriers for standby passengers'
checked luggage. If you need to check a bag, it's best to contact the
airline you will be traveling standby on for specific policies. Most
airlines can accommodate standby passengers, but how they do that varies
by airline.
For instance, I have flown standby on a number of occasions and have
successfully checked luggage. On one particular airline, when I checked my
standby bag, the airline used a brightly colored tag to identify my bag as
standby for the baggage handlers. The tag had all the necessary
information, including my name and flight number. When the bag reached the
aircraft, it was held off to the side until I was cleared for boarding.
When I was cleared, the gate agent radioed down to a baggage supervisor
telling him that the bag was cleared and could be loaded onto the
aircraft. If the bag had not been cleared, it would either have been put
on standby for the next flight or be shipped back to baggage claim.
I hope I've been helpful. Happy travels!
Anita Dunham-Potter
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