Needed Continental Tag For CARRY-ON Bag?!

[DandyDon]

TSA stopped me at Houston's Intercontinental/Bush airport Aug 10 and told me I had to go to the Continental Desk to obtain a tag before they'd screen my backpack or roll-on. Anyone else seen this happening? Did I miss a memo?

I've called Cont Air a few times since; no one seems to know anything about it. I can see the logic as it's easier to deal with carry-on abuse at the ticket counter, but some notice needs to be given.

 

[caymaniac]

I've been to that same airport and did not have your experience, maybe it's something new or else you look dangerous :>)

 

[Doc]

TACA occasionally has this rule in force. Largely it was not for the SCUBA diver- not even for the doofus with an acceptable carry-on bag plus a "camera case" (Pelican Skull Smacker).

It was an effort to keep the Central Americans from hauling brake drums (I kid you not) aboard the cabin to avoid check-in weight surcharge costs.

Everybody that was a diver got an immediate "cabin baggage" tag, everyone else had to try and fit their carry-on into the sizing exemplar~ that metal barred rectangle thingie by the ticketing counter.

Now that we're all in the same boat....

Other applications have undoubtedly occurred... likely in an effort to enforce the limit to carry on BEFORE the customer gets through security and then goes on to present their extra baggage to the hapless gate attendants. The airlines probably wanted to stop the problem as close to the original bag check-in counter as they could.