Mr. Kiosk, You are wanted in the Managers Office

[hp-csr-phx]

No. The company doesn't find it cost effective to employ an agent to police carry-on bags at the checkpoint. That being said, in the past week, I have personally observed several 26 inch roller boards being checked for "free" in the jetway on at least 5 flights, which points to lost revenue, yet the company refuses to enforce their own policy by using a bag checker at the security checkpoint.

If you ever watch the Crew News on Wings, it seems that Doug, Scott and Robert are under the impression that we do have someone at security to check for oversize and excess bags. I guess all of the local managers didn't get the memo? 😱

 

[tadjr]

If you ever watch the Crew News on Wings, it seems that Doug, Scott and Robert are under the impression that we do have someone at security to check for oversize and excess bags. I guess all of the local managers didn't get the memo? 😱

I find this happening quite a bit in our system. One department tells you something because they are being told we are doing things one way, yet we arent. IE- IT dept tells us that the queue agent should be assisting customers with several issues on the kiosk when we DONT HAVE a queue agent or any extra agents to actually work in front of the counter when we are busy. We have 2-3 agents many times of the day for 12 kiosks and while we are busy checking bags, collecting cash payments, checking military bags, adjusting UA/LH/CO tickets, and correcting all the other things that kiosks dont do, we dont have an extra body to just stand there and assist at kiosk. Then when they get called on it, everyone acts surprised that it isnt working like they were told it is. Thats why Tempe needs to get out of Tempe (and away from the PHX airport) and actually see how things are working systemwide (without a preemptive call that bigwigs are coming to town shape up).

Anyone know what actually happened and how long they were actually out?


@CluebyFour- A boarding pass would accurately tell the agent what airline the customer was flying on.

 

[john john]

I find this happening quite a bit in our system. One department tells you something because they are being told we are doing things one way, yet we arent. IE- IT dept tells us that the queue agent should be assisting customers with several issues on the kiosk when we DONT HAVE a queue agent or any extra agents to actually work in front of the counter when we are busy. We have 2-3 agents many times of the day for 12 kiosks and while we are busy checking bags, collecting cash payments, checking military bags, adjusting UA/LH/CO tickets, and correcting all the other things that kiosks dont do, we dont have an extra body to just stand there and assist at kiosk. Then when they get called on it, everyone acts surprised that it isnt working like they were told it is. Thats why Tempe needs to get out of Tempe (and away from the PHX airport) and actually see how things are working systemwide (without a preemptive call that bigwigs are coming to town shape up).

Anyone know what actually happened and how long they were actually out?


@CluebyFour- A boarding pass would accurately tell the agent what airline the customer was flying on.

Good post

 

[PHL]

@CluebyFour- A boarding pass would accurately tell the agent what airline the customer was flying on.

Why is it the government's responsible for enforcing an airline's silly bag policies? The TSA is responsible for securing our checkpoints and nothing more. As Clue said - the gate agents - who represent the airline's financial interests - are more than capable of enforcing the bag policy. Why would you suggest adding headcount to do something that doesn't need headcount?

 

[john john]

The problem with this is that at a common checkpoint And as long as there are airlines with more permissive rules, you don't really have standing to intercept a pax or their bag.
Nope. The company can size and check/charge for bags at the gate. That they choose not to do so is not a government problem.

http://www.afanet.org/legislative/default....c=7527&id=3
Overly large and bulky carry-on bags have been a longstanding problem for several decades. With the recent introduction of checked baggage fees, this difficult problem has now become a l literal crisis bill H.R. 2870, the Securing Cabin Baggage Act, introduced by Representative Dan Lipinski. This bill would standardize and clarify the dimensions of carry-on baggage and personal items in the cabin of the aircraft and limit passengers to one carry-on item with a loaded size of 50 linear inches plus one personal item. This legislation is imperative to improving cabin safety and security.
Imposing an enforceable standard for carry-on sizes proposed in this bill will enhance airline safety and security. Carry-on baggage will be smaller and less bulky making it easier to enhance detection of prohibited items. TSA employee’s opportunities of focusing and finding the “needle in the haystackâ€￾ would be greatly increased by limiting large and bulky carry-on bag sizes.
Standardized and smaller bags would also increase airlines’ on-time performance by eliminating the time consuming task of checking bulkier bags due to their inability to be accommodated in overhead bins and in the storage location under the seats.
Bigger, bulkier bags threaten overall in-flight safety. These large and heavy bags crammed into the overhead bins creates a pressure on the bin latches, which increases the possibility that they may open during a rough landing or turbulence resulting in items falling out and injuring passengers and or flight attendants.

 

[john john]

Why is it the government's responsible for enforcing an airline's silly bag policies? The TSA is responsible for securing our checkpoints and nothing more. As Clue said - the gate agents - who represent the airline's financial interests - are more than capable of enforcing the bag policy. Why would you suggest adding headcount to do something that doesn't need headcount?

To have a law to deal with the nay-say’ers. Something with teeth

 

[phillyrules]

I love when this happens....we had everyone check in at the kiosk...which is what management wants anyway......thats all we hear at the counter ...make everyone at least tries the kiosk....we told them not to get rid of Sabre...we warned them and what did we hear...it works in Phoenix so..............

 

[jimntx]

What we all ought to do is...

1. Charge no (or a minimal) fee if passenger curb or counter checks their bag.
2. Charge a LARGE fee ($50 or more) if bag is taken to gate and will not fit in sizer, overhead bin or completely under the seat in front. (Passengers on bulkhead rows with no underseat space given one last chance to check without fee.)
3. Once passenger stops screaming about "it fit in the overhead bin on my last flight," let them know that there is an additional $25 fee if they want it to arrive same day, same city.
3. $100 fee for women who jam an oversize purse into an oversize totebag so large it wouldn't fit under two seats and call it their "small personal item."
4. Summary execution for any gate agent who lets passenger past gate reader with more than 1 carryon and 1 small personal item. I had an AA gate agent try to tell me the other day that he didn't notice the F/C passenger with 4 bags--two of them were rollaboards he was towing in tandem--and yes, he was traveling alone. (Of course, the agent may very well be that clueless. Several months ago, he seated a Downs Syndrome adult in the exit row who was a meet-and-assist traveler. Agent's response: "Well, he was over 15.")

 

[VAflyGal]

What we all ought to do is...

1. Charge no (or a minimal) fee if passenger curb or counter checks their bag.
2. Charge a LARGE fee ($50 or more) if bag is taken to gate and will not fit in sizer, overhead bin or completely under the seat in front. (Passengers on bulkhead rows with no underseat space given one last chance to check without fee.)
3. Once passenger stops screaming about "it fit in the overhead bin on my last flight," let them know that there is an additional $25 fee if they want it to arrive same day, same city.
3. $100 fee for women who jam an oversize purse into an oversize totebag so large it wouldn't fit under two seats and call it their "small personal item."
4. Summary execution for any gate agent who lets passenger past gate reader with more than 1 carryon and 1 small personal item. I had an AA gate agent try to tell me the other day that he didn't notice the F/C passenger with 4 bags--two of them were rollaboards he was towing in tandem--and yes, he was traveling alone. (Of course, the agent may very well be that clueless. Several months ago, he seated a Downs Syndrome adult in the exit row who was a meet-and-assist traveler. Agent's response: "Well, he was over 15.")

*golf clap from the peanut gallery* I personally like the first number 3 the most. Well maybe number 2. Actually number 4 is quite funny. Did you say execute agents who let pax past gate reader with more than one carryon and one small personal item? 😱

 

[jimntx]

Sorry about the misnumbering. I was an English major. Math is not my strong suit. (For instance...I still think I can live on what a flight attendant makes.)

From Wikipedia: A summary execution is a variety of execution in which a person is killed on the spot without trial.

We will need an FFDO on every flight. If a passenger comes down the jetbridge with more than the allowed carryons, just send the FFDO back up the jetbridge to take care of the situation.

 

[ClueByFour]

@CluebyFour- A boarding pass would accurately tell the agent what airline the customer was flying on.

US agents don't check IDs. I am under no obligation at the checkpoint to show anyone but the TSA or their designated contractor my ID or boarding pass. If I got word that this was happening on a widespread basis, I'd personally go to the airport with a big sign informing folks that they are not under the obligation to show their ID and BP to anyone but the TSA or their designated contractor.

If US wants to get the revenue, I'm fine with that (insofar as it's US right to do so--I went from a 100k--dollars--to essentially zero passenger in 4 years due to CCY/Tempe). However, I'm not showing jack to anyone but the feds to clear the checkpoint. Revenue enforcement is US' problem. Not the government. At the gate. Or require a trip to an agent to get a BP.

To john john--the european airlines have solved this thing for years without the involvement of their government--the airline agents police local airline problems.

 

[tadjr]

US agents don't check IDs. I am under no obligation at the checkpoint to show anyone but the TSA or their designated contractor my ID or boarding pass.

Depends on the airport. Where I work you have to show the airlines contractor your boarding pass and id before you get on the shuttle to get to the TSA. This used to be agent staffed (by both US and the other airline depending on the time of day).
Now the airport and managers have agreed that the sizer boxes provided by the airport will be the measurement to decide if it gets to the screening point/airplane. The contractors are supposed to be sending people back to every airline if the bags dont fit, not just specific ones in specific terminals. It all depends on who is working that day as to how strictly it is enforced.

I personally dont think the government would do any better, but look at all the dissension and issues from our small sampling of people regarding this. Throw in dozens of airlines, hundreds of airports and you can see where it can get confusing. Add in the mix people not wanting their name taken by telling someone their bag is too big, customers throwing hissy fits because their bags ARE too big :blink: , and I can see where a uniform policy and procedure regarding carry on bags nationally would benefit everyone (airlines and customers). The government requires the airlines to have a carry on baggage policy and enforce it, yet the airlines can get penalized in the form of complaint letters when they DO enforce the rules they are required to. Having something as simple as a height requirement and the template on all security screening devices nationwide could be the answer since the airlines are afraid to make the customers mad by enforcing their own government required policy and the TSA people shouldnt have an issue about counting 1/2 on your bags when they are checking your id.

 

[Squonk]

B) Just to cover all of the bases, Hurricane has decided it would be appropriate that all customer service agents receive a boneus of one level on the discipline without punishment program. This is in addition to any levels you have recently been awarded.

QIK and the Kiosks are technologically perfect and therefore cannot shoulder any culpability, hence blame it on the help.

By the way, (Kudos) the Kiosks are still checking people in on delayed flights without a prayer of making their connections. Will that be three years in March? dayum...

we are definately..... :cold: in the southeast yet we are still...