Busted by United’s baggage police at SFO (Chris McGinnis)
U.S. airlines don’t always follow the lead of their foreign counterparts, but if they decide to adopt a newly announced policy from Air Canada, it could spell trouble for passengers who rely on overstuffed carry-ons to avoid checked baggage fees.
The Canadian carrier said on its website this week that it plans to start using what amounts to carry-on bag police, putting employees at airport check-in areas and security checkpoints to eyeball passengers’ bags and make sure they don’t exceed the proper size dimensions.
Carry-ons on Air Canada will need an “approved” tag to make it on board. (Image: Air Canada)
And they’ll tag appropriate bags with a red “approved” tag. “This will make it easier and safer to stow your personal items on board, may help reduce wait times at security, and will help avoid flight delays caused by larger bags being checked at the gate,” Air Canada said. If not, the bag will have to be checked.
If you make it to the security checkpoint with an oversized carry-on and get caught there, “We’ll give you a special card that will get you quickly back to a check-in agent, and then on to your departure gate,” the airline noted.
The new policy will start on May 25 at Toronto Pearson and gradually be rolled out to other airports during June.
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