NonReving with bags

Sisson2011

Sisson2011

Well-Known Member
I have a question about nonreving and checking bags. What do they do with your bags if you don't make the flight? Do the bags still go and you catch up to them or do they pull them off. The reason I'm asking is because I'm going to have to be traveling with bags (I will have to check, no way around it). However, if I don't make the flight I would much rather them go anyway and I'll catch up with them. This way it opens up the possibility for me to jumpseat other airlines if its a bad day. It's Delta Airlines (and Connection of course). The worst case scenario is that I don't make the flight, they pull the bags off, so I'm relying on only a few Delta flights to get me to my destination because I'm stuck with the bags.

What are the normal procedures.


Thanks!
 
I never check bags but I am pretty sure your bags are not supposed to go without you. If you think you might be needing to switch airlines or have a connection I would not check bags.
 
I always ask to have my bags sent to my final stop even if I don't make the flight(s) that I listed for. When I arrive, I then take my bag claim ticket to the service counter and pick up my bags.
 
Alaska, I'm assuming that you never have any issues with that? Do you just tell the ticket agent that you would like your bags to go regardless even though you might not?

Enginejock, Your bags can go with you domestically because 100% of the bags are screened by the TSA and are safe. For example, if a pax had to be bumped for weight or for be unruly the ground crew would not have to go dig out their bags because they aren't going.
 
I never have a problem.
Exactly, I just ask the agent to please send my bags as soon as possible even if I don't make it. I've even been told it's possible to have your bags go the entire way even if you fly on another airline and I have done this as well.

You can also have your bags sent on specific flight numbers.

Recently, I decided that I might spend my time off in ANC even though my bags were on the way to DEN. The airline I was jumpseating on offered to have my bags sent back to ANC on a courtesy claim if I decided not to continue my nonrev trip. My Bags are the least of my problems when trying to jumpseat.
 
If you check a bag as a non-rev the bag may or may not travel without you. If you don't get on the flight and your bag does, it goes. The airline will not take the time to pull your bag. Conversely, there is always the chance that you may make the flight but your bag doesn't (rather rare though).

Checking a bag means you can't standby for an earlier flight. If you get to a hub city and there's a delayed earlier flight to your destination, having checked bags you may not stand by for that earlier flight.
 
they are supposed to put standby tags on your bag so that they are loaded last and it allows the ramp crew to call up to the gate to see if non rev go on. I never travel with checked bags, cause you will always get some idot that likes to stick your bag in a trash bag and wrap the living crap out of it. Plus if you decide to change your destination cause of flight loads, the ramp crew doesn't always have time to put reroute tags on your bags so expect your bags to show up at your new destination a day later. So carry-on is your best friend.
 
I wouldn't do it. At the airline I worked at they put standby tags on it but if you don't get on the flight at the last minute they would not take a delay to pull your bags even if it was right in the door. Most of the guys would just load them normally anyway.
 
I've checked bags several times as a non-rev and they will go without you. Just last week I checked bags while trying to non-rev/jumpseat and I didn't get on the flight. Even though they put stand-by tags on my bags, they were put on the plane anyway. Those stand-by tags almost mean nothing to the rampers. I ran over to another airline to jumpseated on them and arrived about the same time as my original flight. Went to baggage claim and there they were! Now that the TSA inspects all checked baggage now, they don't need to do positive bag match for domestic flights. I believe if you non-revved internationally with checked bags, they will take your bag off.
 
As a ramper and former gate agent, I can tell you, 99% of the time the bags go if you check them no matter what(except international flights). If you have a nice gate agent and a nice ramp lead(good luck at mainline), you can ask them to please have the bag held off and sent to reclaim if you don't get on. I would always do this for people and our ramp was pretty good about it if I asked, but that's not typical. Most agents don't look out for non-revs the way I did as a gate agent so I'd beware and only check bags if you HAVE to.
 
The best piece of advice is to not check bags if you can avoid it. Otherwise, agents are pretty good about working with you about having it sent or having it stay. The big problem is that they wont deliver the bags if they don't arrive, so if you're driving a few hours from the airport, then it might be difficult to get them.
 
The flip side is if you get there and your bags don't. As best I can tell, some will deliver them to you and some won't. However, I suspect the ones that do are more a matter of them not fully comprehending that you're traveling non-rev.
 
Sisson2011 said:
Alaska, Enginejock, Your bags can go with you domestically because 100% of the bags are screened by the TSA and are safe. For example, if a pax had to be bumped for weight or for be unruly the ground crew would not have to go dig out their bags because they aren't going.
Click to expand...

I've never agreed with this. For my carrier, and all others flying to/from the UK, bags had to be Accounted and Authorized for travel. If the bag was no longer accompanied by the pax it had to come off. Or be put back on, properly accounted for, as a rush bag. When I saw other US airlines not doing the same it made me wonder. FYI, all our bags were screened by TSA, and some even done by a private security company with their own x-ray machine in addition to TSA.
 
Heres a friendly suggestion:

Take the bag with you as a carry on. Hell, take 2 rollaboards with you. If you make the flight, ask the agent to gate check the bag. If you dont, you still have both bags with you. If security or an airline rep gives you a fuss at the security about having 2 rollaboards, just use your credentials (Airline ID) to clear up the fuss.

I did that if I really didnt want to check my bags. Otherwise, I checked them, and they always made the flight even if I didnt. For the most part, I was going to that destination anyways, so if I meant I could be worry free in the terminal, I did.
 
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