5 AIRPORT SECRETS They Don’t Want Us To Know
Summary
TLDRThis video reveals gate agent secrets that impact travelers, offering tips to navigate airline practices. It advises arriving just before boarding to avoid luggage checks and fees, cautions against sizing luggage too early, and reveals that some agents earn commissions for checked bags. It also uncovers the inaccuracy of delay announcements and the agents' hidden ability to assist with seating changes, while warning of their power to deny boarding for disruptive behavior.
Takeaways
- 🕵️ Gate agents observe passengers around the gate area well before the flight's departure time to ensure rules are followed and flights depart on time.
- 🧳 Gate agents look for oversized luggage or too many carry-on items to avoid boarding time delays and may tag them for checked luggage, incurring extra fees for passengers.
- 🕒 Arriving at the gate just as boarding begins can help avoid extra checks of carry-on luggage and associated fees, and increase the likelihood of finding space in the overhead bin.
- 🔍 Gate agents appreciate when passengers proactively use sizing bins for their carry-on luggage, but this can also lead to additional fees if the bag exceeds size limits.
- 🛫 Some gate agents receive a commission for each carry-on sent to baggage claim, incentivizing strict enforcement of size requirements.
- 🗣️ Gate agents may not be upfront about the actual length of flight delays, often extending expected departure times in increments to keep passengers close to the gate.
- 📲 Passengers can track real-time updates on their flight status using apps like Flight Aware to manage their time at the airport more effectively.
- 💺 Gate agents have the power to make simple changes like seat adjustments to enhance passenger satisfaction, but these requests should be made discreetly before boarding.
- ⚠️ Gate agents have the authority to deny boarding for various reasons, including if a passenger appears intoxicated or disruptive to the flight's safety or comfort.
- 🛂 Gate agents' announcements should be taken with caution, as they may not always be accurate or reliable, and passengers should verify information independently.
- 📱 iPhone users can text themselves their flight number to receive a clickable link showing plane status and estimated arrival time, a useful hack for staying informed.
Q & A
Why do gate agents pay attention to passengers before the flight's departure time?
-Gate agents monitor passengers to ensure everyone follows the rules, including luggage size and weight limits, to avoid delays that can impact the airline's on-time performance and the agent's job performance.
What can happen if a passenger's luggage is oversized or overweight?
-Oversized or overweight luggage may be tagged and checked into the baggage claim, potentially incurring a hefty fee for the passenger.
Why might arriving at the gate just as boarding begins help avoid extra checks and fees?
-Arriving right as boarding begins can reduce the likelihood of gate agents noticing and checking your carry-on for size or weight issues, thus avoiding potential fees and hassle.
What is the advantage of checking your luggage size before the boarding time begins?
-Checking your luggage size ahead of time allows you to confirm if it meets airline standards, helping you avoid unexpected fees or stress on your travel day.
Why might gate agents appreciate when passengers proactively use the sizing bins at the gate?
-When passengers use the sizing bins, it shifts the responsibility onto them, making any luggage size issues immediately apparent without room for dispute, which can lead to additional fees if the bag doesn't fit.
What was revealed about Frontier Airlines gate agents and their commission for checked carry-on luggage?
-Frontier Airlines gate agents receive a $10 commission for every carry-on they send to the baggage claim from the gate, which is meant to incentivize compliance with bag size requirements.
How do gate agents handle flight delays and announcements about new boarding times?
-Gate agents often extend expected departure times in small increments to keep passengers close to the gate and manage reactions, even if they know the information is not entirely accurate.
What can passengers do to track real-time updates on their flight status?
-Passengers can use the Flight Aware app or website by entering their flight number to see the current status and exact location of their incoming plane.
What kind of changes can gate agents make to enhance passenger satisfaction without costing the airline?
-Gate agents can make simple changes like switching a passenger's seat from an aisle to a window or moving them closer to the front of the economy section if seats are available.
Under what circumstances can gate agents deny boarding to passengers?
-Gate agents can refuse boarding if passengers appear intoxicated, or if they have reason to believe the passenger will disrupt the flight and affect the safety or comfort of others.
What is the best time to approach a gate agent for a seat change request?
-It's best to approach a gate agent for a seat change discreetly and well before the boarding process begins to avoid being time-consuming during their busy period.
Outlines
🕵️♂️ Gate Agent Secrets and Traveler Tips
This paragraph reveals the lesser-known strategies of gate agents that impact travelers. Gate agents monitor passengers for oversized luggage or extra carry-on items before departure to avoid delays. They approach early arrivers to check luggage dimensions and weight, potentially leading to checked bags and fees. Travelers are advised to arrive just as boarding begins to minimize attention and avoid extra fees. Additionally, gate agents appreciate proactive luggage sizing but this can lead to fees if the bag exceeds limits. To avoid unexpected fees, passengers can check their bag size at a different gate or before airport security. There's also a hint at gate agents receiving commissions for checked carry-ons, suggesting potential bias in enforcement.
💸 Airline Incentives and Gate Agent Powers
This paragraph delves into the financial incentives behind gate agents' actions, such as a commission from checked carry-on bags, which may influence their strict enforcement of size limits. It also discusses how gate agents provide delayed information about flight times to maintain on-time performance records and manage passenger expectations. The paragraph further explains that gate agents have the power to make seat changes and other accommodations but may deny boarding for various reasons, including intoxication or disruptive behavior. The video encourages viewers to check airline carry-on restrictions and suggests using flight tracking apps for real-time updates, emphasizing the importance of understanding gate agents' roles and powers in the travel process.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Gate Agent
💡Oversized Luggage
💡Carry-On Allowance
💡Sizing Bin
💡Baggage Claim
💡On-Time Performance Record
💡Boarding Time
💡Flight Delays
💡Commission
💡Flight Status Updates
💡Gate Agent Authority
Highlights
Gate agents observe passengers before flight departure to ensure rules are followed and avoid delays.
Passengers with oversized luggage may be approached by gate agents to check and tag items early.
Arriving at the gate just as boarding begins might help avoid extra checks and fees for carry-on luggage.
Gate agents appreciate when passengers proactively check their luggage size at the gate.
Checking luggage size at a different gate or using another airline's sizer can avoid drawing attention.
Frontier Airlines gate agents receive a commission for sending carry-ons to baggage claim.
Gate agents' announcements about delays are often not accurate and are used to manage passenger expectations.
Passengers can track real-time flight updates using the Flight Aware app or website.
Gate agents have the power to make simple changes like seat switches to enhance passenger satisfaction.
Gate agents can refuse boarding for various reasons, including intoxication or disruptive behavior.
Gate agents are under pressure to ensure flights leave on time and follow the rules.
Oversized luggage can lead to delayed departures and impact the airline's on-time performance.
Passengers are more likely to be noticed by agents if they spend too much time near the gate before boarding.
Gate agents look out for passengers exceeding carry-on allowances by sneaking extra bags onto the plane.
Gate agents may not be upfront about the actual length of flight delays to keep passengers close to the gate.
Gate agents can make adjustments like seat changes to help passengers with connecting flights.
Gate agents have the authority to deny boarding under certain circumstances for safety and comfort reasons.
Transcripts
today we are uncovering the little known
gate agent secrets that directly affect
you as a traveler and how these insights
can help you beat the Airlines at their
own game make sure you stick around for
number three as it is the sketchiest
airline practice that I have come across
in a long time and I have a feeling it's
going to tick you off
too one of the best kept secrets of gate
agents is that they are paying attention
to passengers around the gate area
long before the flight's departure time
gate agents work under a lot of pressure
to make sure that everyone follows the
rules and that flights leave when
they're supposed to any holdups like
arguments about the size of carry-on
bags at boarding time can lead to
delayed departures delays are not only
Annoying for passengers but they
negatively impact the airline's ontime
performance record and they don't look
so great for that agent's job
performance either gate agents will keep
an eye out for passengers with oversized
luggage or too many carry-on items so
they can get them tagged and checked in
in advance of boarding if you're near
the gate too early and your suitcase
looks a little bulky a gate agent might
approach you to place your items in a
sizing bin or on a luggage scale if even
just a tiny section of the wheel sticks
out of the sizing bin or your suitcase
is a fraction of a pound over the
airline's weight limit your suitcase
will likely be tagged and check the
baggage claim which can come with a
hefty fee a agents will also be on the
lookout for passengers that are
exceeding their carry-on allowance by
trying to sneak extra bags like a hipack
or a sling onto the plane so if you do
hang out in the gate area before the
boarding time begins you're more likely
to get noticed by the agents in
comparison to a passenger that shows up
right as boarding begins boarding time
is the time when the gate agents are the
busiest and they are focused on getting
everyone on the plane as quickly as
possible so by arriving at the gate just
as boarding begins you May avoid any
extra checks of your carry-on and the
fees associated with checking your
luggage not to mention the hassle of
check Luggage in the case of it
potentially being lost stolen or damaged
and if other bags were already checked
in prior to boarding beginning it's much
more likely that there is going to be
space in the overhead bin on the plane
for your carry-on the exact time that
boarding begins is likely on your
printed or mobile ticket and it usually
starts 30 to 45 minutes before the
flight's departure so while it's smart
to arrive at the airport with plenty of
time typically 2 hours before your
domestic flights departure and 3 hours
before an international flights
departure try not to spend too much time
hanging around the gate too soon you can
always sit at a gate nearby to keep
watch in case there are any changes to
your flight or important announcements
that you don't want to miss although as
you will learn in point number four gate
agent announcements should always be
taken with a grain of salt not reliable
information the second secret is that
gate agents don't openly share how much
they appreciate it when passengers
proactively Place their carry-on luggage
in the sizing bins at the gate when you
use the sizing bin it effectively shifts
the responsibility onto you and any
issues with your luggage size are
immediately apparent with no room for
dispute by choosing to size your luggage
in front of a gate agent you're
unknowingly participating in a process
that could lead to additional fees if
your bag doesn't fit there's no arguing
or denying it's clear that you've ceeded
the limits this setup can frustrate
passengers who feel like they've been
trapped into paying extra fees to have
their luggage then checked especially
when they were just trying to be
cautious by placing their suitcase in
the sizing bin to avoid drawing
attention from gate agents at your gate
try checking your bag size at a
different gate or even in the bag Sizer
from another airline as most have
similar size limits for carry-on luggage
this allows you to check your bag's fit
without immediately drawing attention
from the agents at your own gate if you
are especially worried about the strict
enforcement on carry-on suitcase size
consider visiting the airport before
your flight day luggage sizing bins are
usually accessible in the departure area
before you check in and before you go
through airport security testing your
suitcase ahead of time lets you confirm
if it meets the airline standards and it
helps you avoid any unexpected fees or
stress on your travel day and speaking
of the recent enforcement on carry-on
size limits this next gate agent secret
is is a doozy the recent strict
enforcement of the size of carry-on
suitcases at the gate often called the
carry-on Crackdown has led to many
passengers feeling targeted by gate
agents especially when a slightly
oversized suitcase ends up leading to an
expensive check-in fee and it turns out
that some of those suspicions about
being targeted by the gate agents are
Justified a Frontier Airline
spokesperson admitted that their gate
agents receive a commission for every
carry-on that they sent a baggage claim
from the gate and having your carryon
sent a baggage claim at the gate is a
service that can cost you up to
$100 big yikes the spokesperson stated
that the $10 per transaction commission
is designed to incentivize our team
members to ensure compliance with the
bag size requirements to ensure all
customers are treated fairly including
the majority who comply with the rules
the spokesperson added that in the past
our carry-on bag size requirement was
not consistently applied which was
unfair to the majority of customers who
do pay for their carry-on bags in
advance and comply with this requirement
let us know down in the comments how you
feel about Frontier Airlines gate agents
getting an extra $10 bonus payout every
time they check an oversized carry-on
bag it does make me wonder if other
airlines are doing the same thing and if
so maybe we should all be traveling with
an extra 20 just in case gate agents
also don't want you to know that their
announcement ments about delays and new
boarding times are guesses at best and
outright lies at worst gate agents often
aren't upfront about the actual length
of flight delays choosing instead to
extend the expected departure time in
small increments such as 15 to 30
minutes this tactic keeps passengers
close to the gate and ready to board as
soon as the plane arrives which in turn
helps Airlines maintain their on-time
performance records and manages
passenger reactions by reducing the
likelihood of requests for compensations
or alternative flights so even if the
incoming aircraft is still a couple
hours away gate agents might only
announce a short delay to prevent
passengers from getting angry or from
straying too far from the gate area the
gate agent may not know the actual
length of the delay and they may just be
relaying the information that they were
given however they do know that the
information they are telling you is not
accurate and they don't want you to know
it the good news is that you can track
real time updates on your flight status
yourself use the Free Flight Aware app
or their website by entering in your
flight number which is usually a couple
of letters followed by numbers and can
be found on your boarding pass and this
is going to allow you to see the current
status and the exact location of your
incoming plane iPhone users also have
access to a fun hack where you can text
yourself the flight number which then
magically transforms into a clickable
link showing you the plane status and
the estimated arrival time at at your
gate knowing the true delay time lets
you better manage your time at the
airport allowing you to eat relax or
take care of other needs without the
stress of potentially missing your
flight gate agents also don't want
passengers to know that they often have
a lot more power than you realize they
can make simple changes like switching
your seat from an aisle to a window or
moving you closer to the front of the
economy section to help you deplane
quicker for a connecting flight assuming
there are seats available these
adjustments usually don't cost the
airline anything and they can greatly
enhance passenger satisfaction gate
agent systems generally allow them to
make these changes but they definitely
don't want too many passengers making
requests since it can be timec consuming
and they are already busy enough if you
are hoping for a simple change like a
seat change within the same Fair class
see if you can do it yourself on the app
and if you are going to ask a gate agent
it's best to be discreet and then ask
them well before the boarding process
begins and while gate agents can be
helpful in accommodating requests they
also possess the authority to deny
boarding under certain circumstances
gate agents can refuse to let passengers
onto the plane for a ton of different
reasons such as if they appear
intoxicated or if they have reason to
believe that you will disrupt the flight
and affect the other passengers safety
or Comfort keep that in mind the next
time you try to argue your carry-on
being checked in as any physical or
verbal harassment is not going to be
tolerated and you may even be be denied
boarding from the flight I'll also put a
link in the description and on the
screen now with a video going through
everything that you need to know about
Airline carry-on luggage restrictions
and the recent carry-on Crackdown before
your next flight don't forget to hit
that subscribe button to join us back
for more travel tips and hacks each week
and I'll see you in that next video soon
bye
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