5 AIRPORT SECRETS They Don’t Want Us To Know

Uncover SHOCKING airport secrets that airlines keep under wraps! From sneaky tactics to avoid getting your carry-on checked to shocking truths about gate agents' hidden commissions, these tips will save you time, money, and frustration. Stick around for the most controversial and shocking airline secret about the carry-on crackdown—it’s going to change how you pack forever!

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Welcome to Portable Professional, where I, Megan, use my experience from over 300 flights to offer you simple, practical and game-changing travel tips and hacks. Our mission is to help you reduce stress and make the most of every trip.

🐶 Chapters
00:00 Airport Secrets Revealed
00:24 Secret 1: They watch you here
00:56 How to avoid having carry-on checked in
01:39 When to go to boarding gate
02:28 How early should you go to airport?
02:57 Secret 2: They LOVE when you do this
03:41 NEVER use a luggage sizing bin
04:23 Secret 3: Agents are PAID to do THIS!
05:09 Airline confession (Yikes!)
05:58 Secret 3: They lie to you
06:57 Airport hack
07:40 Secret 5: You can get this FREE
08:29 Passengers are being DENIED

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[superdivemaster]

What seriously annoys me is when i take extra care to make sure my bag is under the limit, but then they let people with these huge bags go through ... there is no way those huge bags could
fit in the measure guide at the front of the gate !!!

[terry_willis]

Air travel today (for the masses) is like taking a NY subway home during rush hour. It's an ordeal.

[roythomas]

I'm rooting for the airlines when it comes to carry on bags. Every one trying to push the limit, or sneak something through causes issues with boarding time and takes overhead space that is no allotted to them.

[oldguydoesstuff]

Let's recap.
Tip 1 - show up late to make it easier to sneak in your oversized or extra carry-on bag.
Tip 2 - don't measure your carry-on bag and maybe you can sneak an oversized one on
Tip 3 - gate agents might get a small bonus for catching you with an oversized carry-on
Tip 4 - use Flight aware to help you show up at the last minute
Tip 5 - If you ignore tips 1, 2, and 4, and are cooperative, you might get a better seat.

I think I'll take a pass.

Here's my tip. If you want to make flying easier, show up early, learn and follow the baggage rules, and don't be a jerk.

[PhantomObserver]

Honestly the best way to avoid trouble with some of these is to make sure you do have a proper sized carryon. It goes back to something mentioned in an earlier video: check the carryon requirements of all the airlines your trip involves, and use the carryon that meets the strictest of those requirements. And keep a strict limit on any souvenir or consumable purchases you make at your destination so that your carryon doesn't swell past what's allowable.

[bgcyclist]

We experienced a 2-day delay in Newark. We were on standby 3 times and still no flight. We approached a gate agent who was dealing with some very unruly people. She focused on us just to get those people off her back. We told her we had 3 airport options and would travel separately. She not only got us 2 tickets the next day on the same plane but got us seats together! She even printed them right there. This saved us from standing inline for the 4th time at customer service for 2 hours. We did spend another night in the airport but did get out on time the next day. Gate agents can be a great help.

[wmschooley]

Read the baggage rules before hand. Follow the rules. Pack accordingly. DON'T try to game the rules and then complain you've got to pay a penelty.

[sf]

I honestly like the commission. I follow the rules and if others don't they should be put in compliance. Otherwise, they may take up space that other passengers could use.

[hiviolet]

I think it’s great that gate agents are getting bonuses for checking oversized bags. Passengers can be very inconsiderate with the overhead bins. I personally never use the overhead because of this reason and that I’m short. My carry on fits under the seat.

[annhenriques]

Actually, my brother and I get to the airport 2-1/2 to 3 hours before our flights, and are seated by our gate 45 minutes before as well. He has anxiety issues, so arriving early help. I also schedule things so we have a 2 - 3 hour layover between flights. Getting to the gate early is essential if you actually want a seat.

Since we use only 1 small carry-on for medications, snacks and an extra change of clothing, we have no worries about being asked to gate check a bag.

Frankly, airlines should make everyone gate check oversized carry-ones.

[randomperson-iijo]

I have zero problem with airlines enforcing size limits. I never exceed the limit, and I get upset with oversized cases hogging up the available bin space. The fact that your video, regarding size limits, is a "beat the system" by hiding and being dishonest, does you no credit. No, I don't have any problem with gate agents getting a bonus for identifying oversize luggage. One of my pet peeves is passengers "personal" item being too large to fit under the seat (which they have to know) and they stow it in an overhead bin, again using up space for other passengers who want to stow their actual suitcase. Thank you to the commenters who already stated that the best way to avoid problems with carry on luggage is to know the rules and ensure your baggage complies with the rules. All the rule scammers do is make it take even longer to board the plane. P.S. if you cannot personally lift your luggage into the overhead bin, check your bag.

[richardzelinka]

No problem with the bonus so long as the oversized bag policy is applied to all travelers in and even-handed manner. Frankly, it annoys me to see passengers come onto planes with humongous duffels or rollaboards that clearly exceed the size limits and that have to be placed lengthwise in the overhead bin, denying another passenger bin space. I never check luggage, even for a month away, because I travel light, and I shouldn't be forced to check my regulation-sized carryon because the airline allows bin hogs to flout the rules.

[bubbamalone]

I completely agree with Frontier incentives to their workers to ensure rules are followed. I pay to check a bag and carry on a small backpack that the overhead bins are filled with oversized luggage and then I'm asked to put my backpack at my feet while the person with the over sized bag has great legroom free of a bag.

[BigBrother-opwq]

I avoid these issues by always checking my luggage. I do bring a laptop bag but that's it. The amount of crap some people try to bring onboard is insane.

[beverleygibson]

In Europe we are so used to strict rules for carry on. I am amazed at how much other countries allow so much carry on. It slows everything down!!

[lewis]

I used to be a flight attendant, so I can tell you that on average about 1/3 of passages usually have oversized carry-on bags, if the flight attendants and gate agents stick to the exact letter of the dimension of the carry-on bags that 1/3 of pax would have to check their bags, and of course that would be a bit of a PR problem. It's not only the oversized carry-on bags, but the shape and durability of the bags(from hard-shells bags that don't give much to squeeze into the overhead bins and can't go under the some pax using garbage bags/fancy laundry bags. On top of that there's those pax that don't want to be told what to do. Yes, they're times that the airlines seem to crack down more, but trust me they don't do it as much as they would like. keep in mind that the 2/3 of pax with "normal" carry-on bags can be held up and displaced by that 1/3 that have the "not-normal" oversized bags and those pax see and many times don't appreciate the small minority within that 1/3 that think the rules don't apply to them. Even if you manage to get an oversized or difficult carry-on pass the gate agent, you're still going to be taking away space and time from someone with a normal carry-on bag. I don't know anything about the $10 for the Frontier gate agents, but I am surprised they're getting a bonus for something that is ALREADY a part of their job. Remember the faster the place boards, the faster we're out of there.😇

[JayCaesar]

Always, always, always treat airline personnel (any service industry personnel, really) with courtesy, respect, and patience. You never know how long a day they've already had, or how many entitled people they've already dealt with. A patient attitude and please/thank you go a long way with the person who can decide whether or not you get that seat on the plane/next available table/last tickets at the cancelation line.

[marcielston]

Flight Aware is a MUST for travelers who want to know the real situation.

[kimberlysmiley]

It ticks me off when people CHEAT, leaving people who follow the rules (me) without room for my bags, and uncomfortable seating.
Follow the rules and everyone feel better.

[dragonflame]

I am for this carry on crack down! I've traveled 2 times this year and a good amount of carry on bags I saw were HUGE! they barely fit on the over head and I even saw someone nearly drop there carry on bag on another passengers head taken it out of the over head bin it was so heavy! I know carry on only the new travel hack and it does make things much faster and easier as a passenger but there are limits set on carry on bags for a reason, If airlines are not going to enforce them then what's the point? being 1 or 2 inches over the size limit is ok but it being a dam near full size bag in the overhead bin is ridiculous!