Delta asked me # of bags to check. Clicked 0. The next screen asked #of carry-ons and if I wanted to pre-check those for free. First time I’ve seen this

Posted on September 10, 2026 at 02:22:00 PM by plug (edited September 10, 2026 at 02:22:56 PM)

It’s clever, I guess. Try to extract money. If failed, give a free option for the subset of bags that cause the most problems. A better approach would be to allow ‘qualifying’ bags to be checked at the counter for free. Size should be the sole measure, but they’d want to get liquids into the criteria somehow.

The best solution is to drop bag fees entirely and raise prices accordingly. The world can’t become less shitty though, by law. So here we are.

Back to the board

Thread:

Delta asked me # of bags to check. Clicked 0. The next screen asked #of carry-ons and if I wanted to pre-check those for free. First time I’ve seen this - By plug September 10, 2026 at 02:22:00 PM
- Good post* - By brick September 10, 2026 at 03:53:11 PM
- On a recent United flight I booked, I had to authorize my credit card in case I was required to check my bag at the gate. - By el fuego September 10, 2026 at 02:29:38 PM
- Yea this is classic. Happens at every terminal now it seems. Check the bags for free that you didn't want to check what a perk!* - By Daytripper September 10, 2026 at 02:23:55 PM
  - including it in the app is saying the quiet part out loud. “We, all airlines, need you to check bags or it overloads the plane, but we, all airlines, want you to pay to do so.” * - By plug September 10, 2026 at 02:35:12 PM

The Victors

Delta asked me # of bags to check. Clicked 0. The next screen asked #of carry-ons and if I wanted to pre-check those for free. First time I’ve seen this