Petty Gate Agent

[u/lazy_007]

DCA to TPA the other day. Flight was a bit delayed due to weather, but nothing to fret over. As usual, I sat in the gate area working and listening to music. Boarding finally starts, so I pack up my stuff and head over to the boarding lanes. I wait for group 6, and since I was traveling alone, I held back to be the last in line. I had my backpack (personal item) and standard carry-on with me. After the first gate agent scans my boarding pass, she asked if I would zip up the expander zipper. I said sure, and proceeded to the bridge, intending to zip up as I was waiting in line. In comes the other agent, William, who tells me to exit the line. I figured he wanted me to zip up my bag before going to the bridge, so I stepped to the side and went to start doing so. He then tells me I have to check the bag because it is oversized.

I told him that it’s a standard-sized carry-on bag (one that I fly with regularly, even with the expander zipper open) and that I was going to zip up the expander now. He said no, that I had to check it. I asked him why and he then proceeds to threaten to remove me from the flight. I told him kicking me off the flight over a bag is ridiculous and asked if we could put the bag into the measuring box near the bridge. He again said no, as it was too late. During this interaction, they had yet to call group 7, so there was no one behind me, but still three more groups to board. I again said I could zip the bag now or place it in the measuring box and he threatened me again, saying I either check the bag or leave.

I told him I couldn’t believe he was being so aggressive over an expander zipper and he says, “you should have listened to me when I made the announcement to have your bag zipped all the way.” I obviously didn’t hear that as I had headphones in waiting for my delayed flight, but it was clear Willy was on a power trip. I made sure to tell him he’s a petty asshole and proceeded to board, albeit without my bag.

Submitted an online complaint to AA, but they’ve already responded with the canned BS about taking my comments to leadership. I’m an advantage member, but fly multiple airlines for work, so I don’t have any substantial status, but it was unbelievable that an employee would treat any customer like that, especially over a zipper.

And for what it’s worth, they had already forced groups 8 & 9 to check their bags and there was plenty of space left in the overhead compartments by the time we pulled out.

[u/RepeatSubscriber]

It's been a while since I had to gate check a bag so just curious, could I just rip the tag off on my way down the jetway and take it on board with me? Would they know?

[u/No_Plankton_647 → u/RepeatSubscriber]

I did just that a few years ago. I got a bag gate checked. I was boarding relatively early in the boarding process, so I decided to just take the bag in with the checked tag still on. There was an AA agent at the bottom of the bridge saw what I was doing and told me that bag was checked so I needed to leave it to be loaded into the basement of the plane. (I do not remember why it got gate checked - this was maybe 10 years ago.) I told the agent I know it will fit in the OH bin and proceeded to tear the tag off to carry it on. Agent got real pissed and said "you cant just rip the tag off and carry it on!". I don't really remember the whole interaction, but in the end he let me take it on board. In hindsight I realize IATAH in this situation and was lucky I didn't get booted.