A pair of passengers in India engaged in a shouting match over who had rights to the a certain overhead bin on a flight. I believe that access to overhead storage in your cabin of service if purely on a first-come, first-served basis.
Is The Space Above Your Seat Yours? Passengers In India Argue Over Overhead Bin Space
Two passengers, a male and female, are captured on video yelling at each other over overhead bin space. The incident occurred on an Indigo flight and was posted to Reddit. Flight attendants intervene, but that does not stop the arguing. From what I can gather, the woman placed her bag in an open overhead bin and continued to move back toward her seat. A man who was seated in the seat above taht overhead bin arrived just behind her and objected to her using “his” space to store her bag.
My opinion, which I shared in detail in a 2020 post on this matter is fairly straightforward: it is never appropriate to move someone else’s bag. Overhead bin space is claimed on a first-come, first-served basis and the idea that you have a specific claim to any bin space is absurd (although you should only use overhead bin space in your assigned cabin of service).
If a bag has been placed above your seat, deal with it…find other space. Do not, under any circumstance, touch what doesn’t belong to you.
I do know that sometimes passengers can be obnoxious. Sometimes, the overhead bin above their row will be wide open and they will still place their bag over yours. That’s poor manners, but again, the overhead bin space is shared – you have no claim to the space above your head.
So if I’m watching this video, it seems to me this man is probably out of line.
CONCLUSION
In an era of checked bag fess, finding overhead bin space can become a contentious game. Generally, such space is utilized on a first-come, first-served basis and I have very little patience for someone who thinks they are entitled to the overhead space above them.
image: Alaska Airlines
So many problems would not happen on planes if airlines did away with exorbitant checked bag fees.
I think it’s going to help more with people in coach than FC. Problem is people don’t want to wait for their checked bags. As a DM on Delta, I get three free checked bags. FC gets two free checked also, but more in FC have two carry-on bags ..and most think that both are allowed overhead.
Nope, first come first serve. I am however entitled to the backpack/small item space you put up there.
Typical boomer. Full of entitlement to things they aren’t actually entitled to.
Typical millenial snowflake, I would toss your bag in your lap from the overhead and laugh at you.
The fact that my carry-on is a backpack and not a wheelie bag does not entitle you to move it.
Fair. But some people do put their carry-on roller AND their backpack AND their duty free goods AND their jacket, and at that point, I would ask the FA’s to sort this out. I didn’t make myself clear but I would agree with your stance.
Jan, you get one overhead, one below seats. If you put both overhead, you’re the type of flyer us road warriors despise. You feel the sense of entitlement. Gate agents and FAs need to speak up more.
No I don’t put all my stuff overhead, see my reply to Sean. I actually agree with you.
No, you’re not entitled to the space above your seat, but it’s bad etiquette to use space away from your seat for the sake of convenience. Putting your bag up at the front when you’re sitting in the back so you don’t have to haul your bag is just rude and selfish.
It also inserts chaos into the system. If you throw off the system of everyone being near their own bags, you’re going to have passengers looking for random space on boarding, and then trying to find their bags on deplaning (I guarantee many people will forget where their bags are). How happy would you be with that mess?
So no, you’re not entitled to the space, but people shouldn’t just shrug their shoulders about it, either.
I am always one of the first to board planes due to my Diamond status with Delta and I am always on first class or Delta Comfort also due to my status. I quietly observe people coming in and playing stupid while they place their bags on bins in first class and Comfort. Many, many times and they then just walk down the plane to sit on the back. I also see people that bring way more than they are allowed into a plane. Carry on, backpack, pillow, jackets, shopping bags, hats, plush toys, etc… and they think they can store all that stuff no matter what. Last, a lot of people just take their time to go through their personal belongings when they get to their seat. Why not have everything you need already with you so you place your carry on in the bin, take your seat and stay there? But no, they store their bags with all the time in the world and then take their seat to 30 seconds later stand up and go find something inside the bag they just stored. While doing that they are holding everyone else that is trying to board the plane. It is unbelievable how people behave on planes like they probably behave on their own cars. People simply don’t have respect to others.
Just curious; do you realize you could easily have made the exact same points WITHOUT name-dropping your elite status (twice)?
I actually prefer to place my bag across the aisle from my seat, not directly overhead…that way I can keep an eye on it more easily when someone goes into the storage for some reason…just to better catch them if they are rifling or searching my bag or moving it around.
I think it’s OK to move a bag within the same space or right next to it, to better arrange it for optimal storage (turn it sideways or move it next door in a smaller space that the bag I have can fit….
I like that idea but it will open a situation for questions when someone arrives to their seats and nobody is there but the bins are occupied.
Yes, I do exactly the same. It’s the only time I’ll move another person’s bag: when it’s taking up more space than it should. But only within the same overhead compartment.
I think you try to put it near your seat and then if necessary go hunting elsewhere. Taking the space over someone else’s seat is rude and just invites chaos upon getting off the plane.
Obviously if you get on late and it’s all full where you are trying to sit, shove it anywhere but it makes zero sense to just be lazy and put it up willy nilly. It isn’t that someone OWNS the space over their seat, it’s that it makes sense, is polite, and is logical to try to locate your bag as close to your seat as possible. This is one of those “and if we all do what we feel like, this is how society fails” moments. Of course you CAN put your bag anywhere but SHOULD you? No.
I agree with Santastico about the overhead space in First Class/Business Class especially on domestic narrow body flights. It’s just bad manners to put your large bag in the overhead space in First Class and then go down about 20 rows. It’s one thing if all the seats in First are occupied and there’s space left over…but if the seats are unoccupied, first try your own ticketed cabin. Then there’s the dilemma of retrieving something from the bag when you are seated in another ticketed cabin.
Taking overhead space many rows in front of your seat tends to force others to put their bags behind their seat, potentially many rows as well. When this happens those people have to either move backwards to collect their things or wait until the rest of the passengers deplane. At best you are impacting a single passenger in this case, at worst you are affecting a large portion of the plane. It’s a selfish move and should be strictly frowned upon.
I’ve never seen a situation where someone seated in the back would put their bags on bins reserved for F. I mean majority of the time, guys in F board first so they would usually have those bins filled out by the time the poors board.
Also F FA’s are usually around this time having an eagle eye on what’s going on. Hm. Maybe I need to fly more AA to Miami to see if this actually happens.
I have seen many many times. I know first class passengers that board last and stay as much as they can at the lounges. Why? Because they know where they are seated and know bin space “won’t” be an issue. There were so many times I am in first class and have an empty seat next to me right until before the boarding door is closing and then someone shows up.
This has been my strategy in both first and economy for the past few years — as long as I don’t need overhead space. Also I don’t do this on WN, seeing unassigned seating. But otherwise boarding is a hot mess and it’s nice to board last and not to have to endure it.
A suggested payback – which I have used a few times. Watching a Y Seater put an O-Head bag in F, I observe how far back the scoundrel is grabbing the seat, then wait until a few more pax board and then I get up and blend in as one of them – then grab the offenders bag and walk it back as many rows as he (females do not to this so far) will not see. Then I redeploy the offending bag, backwards to inhibit identification. Since I am in F, I deplane immediately and not be subject to suspicion. It would be fun to watch the inevitable S-Show at least once…..
Wow you’re a real psycho if this is not made up
I saw a guy pull the trick of putting his bag right in the front with me (front of economy, admittedly) and saunter on to the rear but didn’t do anything (was in shock) but later, it did occur to me I wanted to do this by going over to the other side of the plane and planting his bag in the center portion making it particularly difficult for him to find.
Next jerk that tries it, I’m pulling this, no apologies.
As others point out: Crowding the front bins to make it easier for you to get your bag and leave is super rude and asking to be punked. Like HB, I could have pulled this off and left long before he discovered to his dismay his bag isn’t there and would need to wait for all the other passengers to disembark before being able to search the plane in a panic.
Since HB claims to have done this, and I have toyed with the idea ever since, I’m sure this must happen occasionally. The guy is rolling the dice…
I LOVE this. Awesome idea.
Lately, I have seen labels stating: “These overhead units are reserved for 1st class passengers”
Does anyone pay attention, I doubt it.
Moral of the story: I don’t care how important you think you are, get on board ASAP or you’ll out of Luck!!!
You see those labels in FC or the RARE time when a seat configuration is changed and the front row of coach is former FC and the labels are still there. People who pay FC faire should be entitled to overhead space in the FC cabin.
Your position is idiotic. So you think someone in Row 20 should just throw their bags over row 5-6. Great. Now please explain to me what the boarding and deboarding process looks like when people from the front have to head all the way back to get their bags and then move back up against traffic to their seats. and worse – deplaning. That’s just injuries waiting to happen. Absolutely ridiculous position. Use the space within 1-2 rows of your seat.
+1!
I totally agree. Regardless of how early you are in line, without status, you are one of a few hundred boarding this plane and not everyone can “get in line early if you need overhead space.” Nearly everyone needs overhead space. Be realistic.
In a flight from LGA to ATL yesterday, I sat in CP watching most passengers board. Two people casually placed bags in space over first, but the seats were all filled in that section and there was space, so I think that is okay (though I would still ask the passengers below, in case they had anything down they intended to put up there). But I also watched a particular “Karen” casually put her bag in the space in front of my seat where there was still an empty seat on what was to be a full flight. She was not a CP passenger, as the rest of the section was full. The flight attendant happened to notice and asked her to please remove it. She was full of attitude but he was awesome. As is usually true of DL attendants, he was very cool under fire and said that until the section was full, he needed to leave that SINGLE remaining slot open for that px. She huffily relented but I wanted to congratulate the FA on how he handled the sitch. It was lovely.
When you are among the last to board and, as is usually the case these days, space is running low, they almost always are announcing “please place your bags anywhere you see space.” THEN it’s okay to put you bag ahead of your seat. And only then. Otherwise, my personal rule is “if I can see the overhead for my seat from where I am and it’s closed or looks full, and there is space in one of the bins between me and my seat, I’ll take it. But not until then and certainly not 20 rows ahead of my seat.
It’s a corollary to the golden rule and one we all should have learned as children: “What if everyone did what you are doing?” If the answer is “chaos would reign” then DON”T DO IT.
You are right the author is ridiculous
I agree with David’s position, i. e., that passengers ought to use the overhead space within a row or two of where their seats are located. Otherwise, the process of off boarding becomes an even more chaotic experience for the majority of those onboard.
I generally respect other people’s luggage, but if there’s some sort of clothing item up in the bin, like a sweater or trench coat that’s taking up a bag space, I either one hand swipe that item into a crumpled mess and put my bag in it’s place, or if room permits, I just stack my bag on top of it.
If you want your coat in the bin, and I sometimes do, just wait until others have their bags in and then find a spot to work the coat into an unused space.
Trying to block my case with your garment, isn’t going to play.
I have made exceptions for wedding dresses or other similar unique circumstances.
One time I regretted my action of crumpling up someone’s jacket, when the owner quickly popped up, and he was a very muscular fellow about 6 foot 7 and he didn’t look pleased, but there was no confrontation.
This. If a jacket is laid out in the overhead, I will just ball it up on the side and put my case in, though depending on the setup, I’ve also just put my bag on top of it. I can’t imagine how anyone thought that wasn’t going to happen when all the overheads are full. Incidentally, I sometimes ball a coat up and put it up there, too (on top of my bag is best), but fully expect it to get scrunched up.
Most problems with carry ons and bin space would disappear if airlines would enforce their carry on limits. I flew AC to ORD the other day and folks were walking on with bags that were clearly much too large. Flying in North America sucks.
I flew as a Capt. and commuted for a major airline for 37 years. Technically, a passenger is buying a seat only. The overhead bins ultimately fall under Captain’s authority. That said, ask any Captain and they will tell you the overhead bins belong to the A-line or the #1 Flight Attendant…PERIOD and no argument! They manage the cabin and it’s resources to the benefit of all. If a F/A observes a coach passenger taking up the very limited overhead space in F/C, they are well within their scope of duties to move or ask that the bag be moved. It takes a village and we should all get along, but if you mess with the Lead F/A you are heading to a confrontation you will not enjoy. In short, you DO NOT own the bin above your seat and social norms expect you to drag your bag to the back if that is where your seat is.
Someone who throws the artic expedition 3x coat (the size of a comforter) in the bin without folding & stuffing should expect revenge if I have to touch it. That is simply rude. And uncompressed it takes up an incredible amount of room
I’m just shocked they have planes in India. Seems like a 3rd world sh#thole where it was a great accomplishment to get phone lines to try and steal credit card numbers from Americans.
After phone lines, the next priority has gotta be finding them all a place to shit, don’t you think?
Seems like they are doing just fine using their rivers as a toilet. Honestly wouldn’t expect much more out of them for at least another century or 2.
I feel that 99% of the issues with over head storage are the result of airlines charging for luggage, and also for airlines not enforcing their own carry-on bag rules. One of the reasons I only fly business class these days is I don’t want to worry about baggage fees and overhead bin space (as well as extra fees for a seat I can fit into). Watching what people drag on board a plane and then to have the airline not say a word is truly shocking. It’s unnecessary chaos manufactured by the airlines.
Yeah, I’m auger confused with your logic. So for example, I paid for a Premium Economy seat on Iberia last month, my cabin was maybe half full, business was packed, and Economy was PACKED. I was seated on an empty the exit row (besides me, where there is already a forst aid kit and fore extinguisher taking up half the overhead bin.) Upon boarding, I noticed that the rest of the bin for my seat are was chalk full of others luggage. No one next to me, no one across from me, no one behind me. Then I see a whole family from the front row of Economy staring at me like “Don’t touch our stuff”. I immediately went and got the purse and asked them how my area (because YES, I paid for it). Was taken up when no one was sitting around me. I have to have 1 of my bags near me at times for security, and I’m 6 foot 8. So I need both an exit row, and the bin on top of my seat. Needless to say, ALL of their strollers and diaper bags got kicked back to their cabin; where guess what: ALL the bins were now taken, because they were greedy and tried to take Premium Economies space. BYE! DON’T CARE.
I’m not talking about different cabins of service; I’m talking about bins within the same cabin.
I love the Indian accents!! Good job passengers!!
if I am in the front and my bag is in the back you will have to wait until I retrieve it while my family waits for me in the aisle. The plane deboards by front to back. So you are really hindering everyone getting off by not using a space near your seat.
Yes I have seen holdups because someone from isle 24 used space above row 10. So everyone waits longer with your philosophy.
If it is “your” row or gate checking the bag, I’m taking your row.
Please add me to your internet site thanks
Got into an argument a few months ago, but it was about space in front. I was seated in the demi-bulkhead row at the front of the round end (Row 7 for those of you familiar with 737s and A320s). I had the aisle seat. Now on some of these planes, the place in front of the aisle seat is where FAs store emergency kits and such, so when I’m seated in that location, I keep the space in front free for FA use. So I put my backpack in the space in front of the middle seat.
After all the proles had got on, the Group 5 (UA, so if you fly UA, you know what I mean) millennial who was occupying 7B finally boarded. She then demanded that I remove my backpack, claiming that the space in front of her seat was “hers:”. Somehow, I avoided the poor optics of a 57-year-old man putting his fist in the face of a 25-or-so-year-old woman. I resisted, so poor little snowflake called the FA to whine further. I explained to the FA what I did vis-a-vis not putting my bag in front of me. The FA thanked me for being considerate for them, but then asked that I move my bag in a clear effort to shut this b*tch up so we could take off. I really should have pulled status at this point. I should have said, “I’m 1K, she’s Group 5. That space is mine.” Except that we never would have taken off and, frankly, I wanted to get home.
I gave in. It still gives a bad taste in my mouth. However, I’m in F on my flight home in a couple of hours and if I see a Y taking one of the Designated For First Class space, I will complain.
Is it mine? No not even remotely and every single person on that plane knows it.
Should it be mine? I for one would love a policy where bin space is assigned to specific seats. People who would prefer to board last rather than sit on a cramped airplane seat for an extra 20 minutes shouldn’t have to do without bin space just because a few people decided to hide three extra backpacks under their coats.
That would also discourage people from bringing on 3x the amount of carryon stuff they currently haul onto the plane.
Yes I usually don’t touch other people’s bags. But if some idiot puts their bag in sideways or takes up an entire space with their jacket, hat or purse, I will rearrange it to fit another bag.
Simple common courtesy.
A big problem I see is with regional jets. Gate agents need to gate check every roller bag on those, and FAs need to stop people that try to still bring them on. I only take a backpack on the plane, I check two bags every time I fly (clothes and work equipment), so my backpack goes overhead, no exceptions. I see too many people, especially F flyers, that think they can brng a roller AND briefcase on…and put both overhead.
Southwest allows two free checked bags per ticketed passenger, yet I seen SW customers stuffing roll-ons as large as a steamer trunk in overhead bins. These end up sideways sucking up space.
Take the advice given to Roger Thornhill and pay the “extra two dollars” for early boarding.
Solution to this myriad of problems is simple. NO MORE CARRY-ONs. NO MORE OVERHEAD BINS to fight over.