Flight passengers slam airlines for pushing early bag checks even with empty bins on board

Some airline passengers are saying they’re strongly encouraged to check their carry-on bags — only to find empty overhead bins when they board.(iStock)

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“Gate agents are trying to not delay flights by preemptively checking bags so all the passengers don’t board with carry-on bags, and then there’s no more overhead space,” Abbamonte noted.

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A spokesperson for

The airline said it uses tools to predict when overhead bins will fill up — and that gate-checking is a last resort.

Delta said it is working to reduce gate-checking by offering earlier options for passengers to check bags at no cost.

To help prevent flight delays when overhead space runs out, some travel experts say gate agents are asking people to preemptively check their bags. (iStock)

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A spokesperson forReddit post that gained traction, a traveler said he or she was forced to check a carry-on while early boarding groups were still being called — only to find “half” of the overhead bins empty after boarding.

Many travelers said their biggest concern is the risk of lost luggage. 

Others said the situation is becoming increasingly common, with some pointing to how airlines are prioritizing on-time departures.

“I’ve seen this before … way too concerned with being ‘on time,’” one user wrote.

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important or fragile itemspacked in their carry-ons.

Some travelers are perfectly fine with checking their bags at the gate.“I will personally volunteer my bag when I’m alone,” one user commented. (iStock)

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“I had diapers,medication and essentialsin there.… They still insisted,” another commenter said.

Still, not everyone is opposed to gate-checking bags.

On TikTok, some users said they’re willing tohand over their luggage, especially when the service is free.

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“I will personally volunteer my bag when I’m alone,” one user wrote. 

“I would check my bag 100% of the time if it were free,” another person said. 

“I would check my bag 100% of the time if it were free,” one person writing online said. (iStock)

Others, however, said experiences in the past have made them hesitant to do so going forward.

“I was like this until they ended up putting the luggage on a different plane,” one user said. 

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Many travelers said their biggest concern is the risk of lost luggage, which makes them reluctant to give up their carry-on unless absolutely necessary.