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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it cannot be mandatory to be asked to check in hand luggage at the gate

177 replies

NameChanger401 · 15/08/2025 21:24

I was about to board a flight today and, as often happens, an announcement was made asking passengers to come forward to check in hand luggage as flight is full and not enough space. The announcement said ‘we reiterate this is a mandatory requirement, without priority boarding group must check in hand luggage if requested’.

i usually wouldn’t mind, but today I realised I (stupidly) didn’t have a separate bag to my small suitcase. It contained items I really wouldn’t want to check in - laptop, power bank (don’t think this is allowed), valuables and medication. I therefore basically ‘hid’ away from the gate and came forward at the last minute when I thought enough people had had their bag confiscated (there was plenty of overhead space on board thankfully). However, it got me thinking if I could politely refuse (but didn’t want confrontation which is never a good idea at a boarding gate).

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 15/08/2025 21:28

Obviously if you have things in your hand luggage that are not allowed in the hold it can’t be mandatory.

I think it’s clear what they mean though.

Original poster
NameChanger401 · 15/08/2025 21:30

But could they have made me remove things not allowed (e.g. power bank) and then took the luggage?

OP posts:
Alltheoldpaintings · 15/08/2025 21:31

Yes they absolutely can require this: if you have items in your hand luggage that you really cannot be without (eg medication due during the flight time) then you can explain this, they will either let you take your bag on or give you a smaller plastic bag to put your essentials in and just take that on. But they really can require you to check in your hand luggage even if you don’t want to, and refuse to board or refund you if you won’t do it,

Alltheoldpaintings · 15/08/2025 21:32

NameChanger401 · 15/08/2025 21:30

But could they have made me remove things not allowed (e.g. power bank) and then took the luggage?

Yes - we had this happen to us, they gave us a small plastic bag for the things that we had to have/couldn’t go in the hold, It was a very boring flight as they didn’t consider my book essential.

Original poster
NameChanger401 · 15/08/2025 21:34

Alltheoldpaintings · 15/08/2025 21:31

Yes they absolutely can require this: if you have items in your hand luggage that you really cannot be without (eg medication due during the flight time) then you can explain this, they will either let you take your bag on or give you a smaller plastic bag to put your essentials in and just take that on. But they really can require you to check in your hand luggage even if you don’t want to, and refuse to board or refund you if you won’t do it,

Ah okay so they would have spare bags at the gate that you could use for things you needed on board. I think that answers my question - thank you.

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 15/08/2025 21:36

My carry on is 50% prescription medication. No way that’s going in the hold.

Original poster
NameChanger401 · 15/08/2025 21:37

Alltheoldpaintings · 15/08/2025 21:32

Yes - we had this happen to us, they gave us a small plastic bag for the things that we had to have/couldn’t go in the hold, It was a very boring flight as they didn’t consider my book essential.

Show quote history

I would expect to be allowed a book! I’d also want to keep my laptop with me…! I won’t go without an underseat bag again.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 15/08/2025 21:42

I’ve once had my cabin bag taken off me. Correct size etc. No questions asked regarding what was in it - they put it on one side behind them so, as I walked past it, I just wheeled it away with me! I had far less luggage than some others who were allowed through with massive bulging rucksacks and “extras”. My bag just looked good enough quality for the hold so I was easy pickings.

What you posted has got me wondering too. I guess separate bag for laptop etc every time? Dh had a big issue in Argentina once with his carry on camera “suit case”. The dimensions were correct but they said it was too heavy. Hadn’t been on any preceding flight. Luckily he could take out a couple of lenses and I took them. There was no way his £££ camera gear was going in the hold.

TeaHagTeaBag · 15/08/2025 21:43

I was coming home from the US a few months ago and my first leg was an internal flight (45 minutes). A woman tried to argue that she didn't want her carry on put in hand luggage and I heard the gate agent tell her she wouldn't be allowed board if she didn't.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 15/08/2025 21:45

nocoolnamesleft · 15/08/2025 21:36

My carry on is 50% prescription medication. No way that’s going in the hold.

Edited

Why not? I went away for 10 weeks and my medication took up an entire checked bag. There was too much to fit in a cabin size back. I carried on 1 weeks worth in my carry on.

CommentHere · 15/08/2025 21:46

I worked in a place whereby laptops had to be in personal possession at all times. If for any reason an airline insisted the bag goes in the hold I had to get off the plane. It was better to not fly than be separated from the laptop.
The reason was to do with data security on the laptop. So I guess the company must have encountered this situation before and airlines must have the authority to insist bags go in the hold.

ilovesooty · 15/08/2025 21:49

NameChanger401 · 15/08/2025 21:30

But could they have made me remove things not allowed (e.g. power bank) and then took the luggage?

If you hadn't paid for guaranteed cabin luggage I imagine they could. Why would you think they couldn't?

TheNightingalesStarling · 15/08/2025 21:49

CommentHere · 15/08/2025 21:46

I worked in a place whereby laptops had to be in personal possession at all times. If for any reason an airline insisted the bag goes in the hold I had to get off the plane. It was better to not fly than be separated from the laptop.
The reason was to do with data security on the laptop. So I guess the company must have encountered this situation before and airlines must have the authority to insist bags go in the hold.

You can take the laptop(s) out the bag.

DH sometimes travels with three laptops, so he would basically be holding a like of computers

FakeMews · 15/08/2025 21:49

nocoolnamesleft · 15/08/2025 21:36

My carry on is 50% prescription medication. No way that’s going in the hold.

Edited

Same here. Including medication that needs to be kept above 5C.
I would never travel without checking in luggage anyway, I carry the minimum as hand luggage.
I presume this is more likely on a budget flight or city destination.

TheNightingalesStarling · 15/08/2025 21:51

Some shorter routes have smaller baggage compartments so anything bigger than a rucksack has to go in the hold.

northernredrose · 15/08/2025 21:51

Oh dear. They tried to get me to put my hand luggage in the hold about 10 years ago when I was travelling alone to start my Erasmus year. No idea what they expected me to do with my essentials like my passport and boarding pass. They made me feel quite unreasonable for refusing this. A couple who were travelling together allowed them to check in one of theirs. Obviously, they had the other one’s bag to put essential stuff in. Sounds like I wouldn’t get away with that again.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 15/08/2025 21:53

Why not? I went away for 10 weeks and my medication took up an entire checked bag. There was too much to fit in a cabin size back. I carried on 1 weeks worth in my carry on.

Some medication is temperature sensitive and can't go in the hold.

MotherWol · 15/08/2025 21:54

Top tip: slip a small cotton reusable tote bag into an easily accessible pocket on your cabin suitcase (I.e on the exterior or interior lid pocket), so if you have to gate check a bag you can quickly transfer any in cabin essentials into it.

BarnOwlFlying · 15/08/2025 21:54

We flew to Europe in the spring and so many people had those hard, mini-suitcases as hand luggage. It was really annoying. There was nowhere for us to put our hand luggage in the overhead lockers as a mini suitcase takes up at least 2 people’s space in the overhead lockers head lockers.
Our section of the plane was the last to board and everyone from the front/middle had already gone right down to the back to find an overhead space for their mini suitcases: it caused havoc with people trying to get off but needing to get to the back to get their stuff.
I don’t think you should be allowed the mini suitcases as hand luggage.

Original poster
NameChanger401 · 15/08/2025 22:01

ilovesooty · 15/08/2025 21:49

If you hadn't paid for guaranteed cabin luggage I imagine they could. Why would you think they couldn't?

Show quote history

Not sure you can pay for guaranteed hand luggage - it’s just part of the ticket. Do you mean upgrade to business?

OP posts:
GravyBoatWars · 15/08/2025 22:02

They can't force you to let them put a bag in the hold, but they can offer you a choice between doing so and not getting on that flight.

I can't remember the last time I didn't have an underseat bag though, TBH. I don't put laptops/tablets or wallets in crowded overhead bins on standard commercial flights where you can't guarantee someone else won't pull it out with theirs and drop it 2m to the ground, smash it as they shove their bag in, or just grab and de-board before you can figure out who has it. And when the bins are crowded it can be a faff to access items mid-flight. If for some reason I found myself in that position I would try to defer (very politely since getting shirty with gate or flight crew is a horrid idea) and if that didn't work just ask the crew for a plastic bag to use to hold things.

jigglypuff7722 · 15/08/2025 22:06

I had this on the way back from my wedding, I had all my wedding jewelry in my hand luggage. Obviously really sentimental. When I said this they let me take the bag on. They just wanted as many people as possible to put in the hold

Scarylett · 15/08/2025 22:07

What about your handbag? Do you have to give that up too?

ilovesooty · 15/08/2025 22:07

NameChanger401 · 15/08/2025 22:01

Not sure you can pay for guaranteed hand luggage - it’s just part of the ticket. Do you mean upgrade to business?

Show quote history

No. It's possible to pay to guarantee that your cabin luggage won't be put in the hold. There are a limited number of guaranteed pieces available to purchase in advance.

showyourquality · 15/08/2025 22:08

NameChanger401 · 15/08/2025 21:30

But could they have made me remove things not allowed (e.g. power bank) and then took the luggage?

This has happened on flights I’ve been on.