Airlines can deny you boarding for various reasons: due to disruptive behavior, insufficient travel documents, overbooking, and even due to safety concerns related to your luggage. Travelling without any kind of baggage is not possible, whether it’s checked-in luggage or just a carry-on bag. If issues are found with your luggage, the airline may deny you boarding. Here are the most common causes and some tips on how to avoid being denied boarding because of your luggage.
Weight and size limits
If your bag is too heavy or too big, the airlines can deny you boarding. Everyone wants to be prepared and have everything they need for their journey. I, too, think of every possible scenario that could go wrong or right and try to pack as much as I possibly can. So it is easy to pack too much. To avoid this from happening, pack accordingly to the airline’s guidelines for weight and size limitations. All airlines have these regulations. Before packing, make sure to check with your airline for specific requirements. Don’t forget to leave some room in case you want to bring back souvenirs!
Do not worry, the airline will provide you with solutions if your bag happens to be too big or too heavy. It may not be the most friendly solution to your wallet, but the airlines can ask to pay an additional fee for the extra weight. Or the staff may request you to simply repack. If you refuse or are unable to comply with the airline’s staff requests, you may be denied boarding, so it is really best not to argue with the airline staff.
Be mindful of airline regulations for luggage, and you shouldn’t have any issues.
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Prohibited or incorrectly packed items
If certain items, let’s say sports equipment or musical instruments, are not securely packed, airlines may not allow you to board with this luggage. Incorrectly packed baggage can pose risks to the safety of aircraft, luggage handling staff, and other passengers. If it’s something smaller, for example, an incorrectly packed liquid in your carry-on bag, the airline will ask you to pack it correctly or remove it entirely. Liquids are usually allowed in your checked baggage, so if you are travelling with one, pack it there. Electronic devices should always go to your carry-on bag, many devices, such as power banks, chargers or laptops, contain lithium batteries, which are prohibited in checked luggage.
Keep in mind that even if you pack something that you don’t consider to be dangerous, some items might be flagged as unsafe during a security check and you will be asked to remove them. Some items can violate security rules even without you knowing. A general piece of advice I’d give is that if you are starting to have doubts whether something is safe to take on a plane, then maybe it’s best not to risk it and leave that item at home.
Most importantly, check the list of prohibited items with your airline and do not pack those items.
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Damaged luggage
If your bag appears to be damaged, with broken locks or zippers, it could also be deemed as unsafe, and the airlines will not allow you to board. A broken bag may not contain its packed items properly, so it can pose a risk to the safety of the aircraft, luggage handling staff, and fellow passengers. And of course, you wouldn’t want the contents of your bag to spill out mid-flight, so take a bag that’s in good condition.
Denied boarding due to late arrival
Keep in mind that it can be time-consuming to resolve the issues with your luggage: you have to remove something or repack. In some cases, you can even get called to return to the check-in desk to resolve the issue depending where you are at the airport, it can take some time to walk all the way back to the check-in desk. You may not have enough time to reach the gate for boarding, and if you are late to board, you will be denied.
Unfortunately, in these situations, there is no entitlement to compensation, however, if you are denied boarding due to overbooking, you may be eligible for some money! If you’re not sure, you can always seek help via Skycop.com. Just fill in a claim and let us handle the rest. We will inform you whether you’re going to be compensated for the violation of your rights as an air passenger, or if the luck will await you next time.
