An interesting conversation on FlyerTalk piqued my interest. A traveler was scolded for placing his small bag into the overhead bin by a flight attendant who made him place it under his seat. The problem? That was his only carry-on item. Should you be allowed to place smaller items in airplane overhead bins if you do not have a larger item?
Small Bags In Airplane Overhead Bins – What If You Have No Other Bags?
While ultra-low-cost carriers in the U.S. have tried to reset consumer expectations when it comes to carry-on items, for most travelers the expectation is still one larger carry-on item plus one personal item. For most that means a rollerboard bag plus a purse or briefcase that is intended to be placed under the seat in front of you.
But what if you are traveling light and don’t want anything to constrain your feet room? Should you be able to place your small item in the overhead bin?
On FlyerTalk, a passenger was reprimanded by a United Airlines flight attendant for placing his smaller bag into the overhead bin:
“I know overhead space is at a premium. I never have an issue boarding as a 1K because I really only need my laptop with me. I decided to just bring the laptop bag on my flights last week. Put it in the overhead upright so tiny sliver of space. The FA comes along and asks who owns the laptop I state me and she said do you mind putting it under the seat in front of you. I replied I did indeed mind. (The floor has germs, people drop ice cubes, spill drinks, etc.) The FA says you “must” put it under the seat in front of me and passed it to me. I was fuming. Did not say anything. Next flight it was allowed. It’s little sliver of overhead space.”
I’ll never really understand why people are germaphobes, but I certainly feel his pain. Why shouldn’t he be able to put his small bag in the overhead bin if he doesn’t have a big one? Even in first class, it’s nice to have that space for your feet…
And his subsequent action is hardly surprising:
“For my flight today I have a carryon bag. You know what is in it? My laptop and lots of empty space. Yes, I do not want my laptop on the floor.”
Sad, isn’t it?
Maybe the issue could have been resolved if he had explained it was his only bag, but even if overhead bin space was full, he should not have had to give up his overhead bin space. While “first come, first served” is not without exceptions (no one should be able to put multiple bags in the overhead bin space), I shake my head at what happened to him.
CONCLUSION
While announcements about not placing your smaller bags or coats in the overhead bins are common, I think an exception applies if this is your only item. When that is the case, I believe passengers should be allowed to utilize the overhead bin space for that purpose.
What do you think? Was the man selfish for not wanting to put the small bag under his seat?
image: United Airlines
Hell yes I do.
What? I’m not entitled to the same overhead bin space just because I have a smaller bag?
I don’t think so.
I completely agree. Most flights i only bring one bag on board and I want my foot space clear. I’m going to use the overhead space
As a flight attendant I understand the need to save the overhead bins for larger items. It slows down boarding when there is not enough space and you have to gate check bags and announcement are made to that notion. My suggestion is wait until all the larger items have been put in overhead bin then if there is room put your smaller item.
The smaller bags are not the problem. It’s the idiots bringing large or multiple carry on baggage. I believe a lot of FAs have issues with power tripping.
Although I understand the need to save the overhead space for larger items, it’s not fair to those that travel light. There are customers that over pack and feel entitled to the overhead space. I guess the solution is to carry a large empty bag and place it in the overhead locker. The floor is much dirtier than the lockers. Maybe the solution is to better clean the space for customers to feel safer and more willing to use the space.
I’ve had this run in before and refused to take the bag and place it under the seat which is where I put my feet. Too bad if the crew don’t like it, they can take it up with their employers who have tightened the seat pitch on short haul so much to make it miserable.
I totally agree with you, there is hardly room for our feet and not everyone can bend over in that small space to retrieve it after the crappy service flight
On my situation too it was opposite .I have only one small bag that only, cellphone ,cards and camera and some important things on it..and the f.å. Did not want me to put it on my lap or under the seat ..she wants me to put it on the head bin and i was so , worried coz all The important things is on it.. I just ignored her ..and she was checking again ..she told me again to put it on the headbin without explaining me the reason why ..sometimes airplane policy are confusing .
“I shake my head at what happened to him.”
What happened to him? He was politely asked to be considerate of someone else who didn’t have the option? And then felt like an idiot when he was called out for refusing?
Why should he have been even put in that position? Consideration? Yes, the FA was not considerate to him. The other passenger could have gate checked the bag at no charge.
Yes, backing out of the plane that they already boarded and holding up the process for everyone, all so that an inconsiderate a-wipe can put something in the bin that can easily be accommodated under the seat.
Well then, we see this matter differently. Going to get a gratuitous insult of Kyle in as well?
In all seriousness, I see your point but it boggles my mind that a large bag would not be questioned but a small bag is, creating the sort of situation where the passenger now brings an empty big bag that takes up even more room just because he doesn’t want anything at his feet. In my view, it’s perfectly reasonable to want your feet clear if you only bring one item onboard and to insist upon it if you claimed the overhead bin space first.
Then I think your argument pivots to pointing blame at the airline, which is fine. Let people pay (in some form, whether it’s cash or status or whatever) for a tag that allows their bags in the overhead bins – knowing that except on certain aircraft, not everything is going to fit up there.
As it stands, with most airlines, tou can bring two things on board. I think of the queue order as: the smaller one goes under the seat, and what’s left – if anything – goes in the bin. If you truly think that’s going to lead to people “bringing an empty big bag” just for some moral victory of getting to occupy bin space, then we are more doomed than I thought.
There is an interesting paradox to the situation, isn’t there?
On the one hand, why not keep overhead space free by expecting, whether by social convention or the whims of a bossy FA, for passengers to put small items under the seat in front so that folks who drag in huge bags can have their space?
But on the other hand, as you said, this policy has in what is termed “unintended effect” of punishing the light travelers who want to travel as free an unencumbered as possible and check in their bag or travel exceptionally light and want that feeling when they sit down. Those folks being punished for their fastidiousness ultimately spoils the very commons system that the above mannerisms sought to project in the first place.
Therefore, I’m leaning in favor of the passenger who wants to use his “bag allowance” to put a smaller bag in place.
I paid for my ticket just like you. Why do you get overhead bin and I do not? At 6’4” I need to have the floor space for my feet. My computer bag will always go overhead. I already check my suitcase.
I hope I never have the displeasure of flying next to you, you’re the kind of traveler I hate and avoid.
I’m sure the feeling is mutual.
The fas are doing it for a good reason and not being nasty..should they explain everything they do?? Or should you trust the professional flight attendants..if you dont understand ask?? And has anyone have any consideration what flight attendants have been going thru for the past nearly 2 years
The f a s are under pressure to shut the door quickly. If they shut one minute late the f a s boss will
call to ask why and assess points . The blame goes to the fa s all the time. So they hurry people along and tackle the bag issues. Bottom line we can’t force people to be polite and hurry into their seat. There’s always some slow poke holding up the boarding event by rearranging their stuff. If you have one bag absolutely put it up for your legroom . And the priority people should get to board 1 st. Backside is these grown men often run on an earlier flt at last minute and whine like a baby there’s no room ? Do they do that on the subway when they miss their train. ? Suck it up. Sit down shut up and let’s shut the door so the f a s can get paid. We leave late all the time b/ c of selfish people hogging the boarding aisle .
Are FAs necessary these days? They just a bunch of power tripping prima donna’s.
You are kidding, right? Flight attendants main responsibility is the safety of passengers. But of course you know that, don’t you?
“Yes, I do not want my laptop on the floor.”
Fortunately, your laptop is in a piece of luggage that’s exposed to all sorts of surfaces every day and is designed to be set down, so you don’t have to place your laptop on the floor instead of the
immaculately cleanoverhead bin.I agree the germ issue is ridiculous and the overhead bin is not necessarily any cleaner or dirtier than the floor. Still, that’s secondary to whether personal items must be placed at your feet when you don’t have a larger item.
@ Matthew — Nonsense. I will put anything and everything I bring on board in the overhead bin. When the airline provides sufficient room for bags under my 6’3″ legs + size 12 feet, I will be happy to place them under the seat in front of me. Until then, I will just ignore the FAs. Keep in mind, I dont fly in coach, so this is not some great imposition on the other passengers in my cabin.
Agreed! (and I’m smaller than you are)
Should you, absolutely. Overhead bins are for whatever carry ons are allowed on the plane, including personal items and bags. Overhead bins are first come first serve. Flight attendants can make one gate check bags that are too big or there is not enough space for. If there is space, you should absolutely be able to put bags in the overhead bin. It would be understandable if the space was filled and a flight attendant asked one to place his or her bag under the seat to make space for one with a big carry on. Ask is the operative word. If someone arrived with the overhead bins full and can’t fit the carry on under the seat, that person has to have his or her bag/carry on gate checked. The flight attendant could ask but not deny a passenger their first come first serve rights. It’s reasonable to rearrange the bins and move the little bag a few rows down but that’s it.
The reason I take a hard tone regarding flight attendants is because how about if the passenger asserted his first come first serve rights and argued. The flight attendant may claim a passenger is being disruptive just for asserting his rights as a ticketed passenger. Whether the first come first serve is in the contract of carriage/website or not, it is commonly acknowledged that’s the standard. This passenger might be kicked off the flight or even arrested if a flight attendant abuses his or her role over flight safety. I understand how my tone is forceful on the issue. I am only forceful because of issues like this where flight attendants are known to abuse passengers if this one defended his rights/views/position as a passenger. This one didn’t probably over the above noted fear. There needs to be severe repercussions for flight attendants who escalate/instigate issues unnecessarily and who claim a passenger is disruptive for asserting his common law rights as a passenger.
Would you feel the same way if everyone boarded, all the bins were filled up and jostled to make everything just barely fit, and then a business class or diamond status passenger who spent some extra time in the lounge boarded last and had to gate check his/her bag because s/he found the business class bins full? In other words, they waived the right to board first and get ‘first come first served’ bin space? If so, then at you are at least consistent. But I feel that logic would break down among many of those arguing here.
It’s first come first serve in your booked cabin. That should be implied as much as the first come first serve. Cabins are divided by a divider.
Disregarding for the time being the high-status passenger who is sitting behind the curatin, cabin crew are often forced to move bags past the impenetrable cloth barrier one or two bin up ..and sometimes a single bin (gasp) even crosses cabins. Are you saying then that luggage of the last-boarding individual should be auctioned off to find if its true owner deserved the space, and everything reconfigured? Just so someone who got their earlier can avoid putting a personal-sized item under the seat?
If you are paying for a premium seat with a dedicated cabin, you are paying to board whenever you want before the gate is closed and access to overhead bins in your cabin before others in less premium cabins. The flight attendant should not be putting Econ bags in business or domestic first space before all the premium passengers board if there is any question of space. A flight attendant would say let’s see if we can fit it and give no promises that it won’t be gate checked.
Don’t forget about someone who boards after you who’s at a bulkhead seat with only a personal item. They get precedence too. What if a business class passenger put a briefcase, duty free bag, and coat up in the bin first…and you arrive just after with no space left?.. Tough ess?
Well Jackson, you certainly sound like a treat to serve in a small enclosed space. What are all these rights you think passengers have? First come first served? That sounds right out of Lord of the Flies. You don’t have any inherent rights to the overhead bins. We need to quickly get everything packed and close the bins so that we can close the boarding door….. SO WE CAN START GETTING PAID.
And if the FA asks you to do something, the aircraft is not the place to start arguing. We’re happy to rebook you on the next flight if you are unsatisfied with the service.
Most folks bring their bags on the plane because they don’t want to pay for checkin bags. I check my bags and only have my laptop bag and I deserve that space. I have refused to move it in the past.
If you want your bags to travel either pay to check them in or board as soon as you are allowed.
If there is no space then tough luck. Not my problem!
I have a love hate relationship with overhead bids (actually thinking about it gives me little anxiety). I lived in a northern city before, temperatures were often -20 to -40 celsius. I often traveled with a bulky winter coat and other winter gear plus a lap top. I always tried to use airports with coat checks when possible for my winter gear! Love them – saves so much overhead space when traveling to sun destinations! I’m not sure … what is best airplane etiquette but sometimes you just have to store items under the seat just cause … if I needed extra space … I always tried to book business for long haul flights.
Stuff your puffer coat on top of the bags after they are loaded in the bin. Easy.
As a UA 1K with free checked bags, I always check at least two if not three bags. On board, I have no problem putting my backpack overhead. The guy with the laptop is right to be angry.
It depends. As I recall, United changed their overhead bin storage rules a couple years ago. The last flight I ever purchased with them was for my sister and it was not BE. They didn’t allow her to use the overhead bin space, only under seat storage. They said it had to do with her ticket. She or rather I was charged for a checked bag despite it being a garment bag. The flight was from EWR to LAX. I found it odd and quite like EasyJet/RyanAir lol. Needless to say, I stopped flying UA even though they have SFO on lock.
Only when a UA FA tells me that I CAN’T put it under/behind the first class seat due to FAA rules when I have the bulkhead E+ seat (it’s happened twice). Or when when I’m on an older 737-800 with the bulkhead that goes almost all the way to the floor. All of the stuff I might need/want during the flight is in my laptop backpack. It’s pretty inconvenient getting to it in the overhead if I’m not in the aisle seat.
Similar to your story about storing passports on places around your seat, I keep as much as I can of my personal belongings with me. If I can fit my backpack under the seat, that is where it will go. I only use the overhead bins for carry on that won’t fit under the seat or when I am sitting on row 1 don’t have a seat im front of me to store. The less I have far from me, the better.
While I agree that the pax in this situation seems to have an irrational (assuming they are not immunocompromised or otherwise super vulnerable, in which case they might wish consider to cutting down on the use of public transport), it would seem to be pretty easy to put the FA in an awkward position by asking her whether she would give the same order if the item in question had been a coat, or maybe even a white linen jacket!
That should’ve read ‘an irrational (..) fear of germs’.
I place nothing—ever—in the overhead bin.
All this is the result of an uppity FA on the rag.
What an insulting comment. Were you perhaps having a testosterone surge when you wrote it?
I think it is completely reasonable and considerate to make more room in the bins by putting a smaller item under the seat in front of you.
My backpack always goes under the seat in front of me so that I can easily access it during the flight for books, laptop, water bottle etc. I’m 6’1″ (with size 13 feet, if that matters) and I’ve never had a problem having space for my bag and my legs. After takeoff, I pull my bag back towards me and stretch my feet out under the seat in front of me.
This guy sounds like an inconsiderate entitled jerk, being unwilling to make more room in the bins so that more people’s bags can fit.
I was on a Southwest flight where an FA announced that the flight was full so backpacks couldn’t go in the overhead bins whether it was your only carryon or not.
For United, I’m not sure why an FA would want to punish a 1k in favor of overpacking random people without status…..seems like a bad business practice.
1K means something? You think they care? Soon status will be all about how much shopping you do on your affiliated credit cards rather than actual flying. Welcome to the next generation of status. it’s all complete bs now.
We are given the option of bringing two carry-one onto the plane. That is different from being entitled to a section of overhead space. I agree I’d be salty about it, but nowhere in the process of booking a ticket have I ever been promised space in the overhead bins if I don’t use the space underneath the seat in front.
The reality is that for anyone with a small bag it’s really not a huge deal under the seat. My trick is a simple one, place it properly under the seat for take off and after move it under my hamstrings as an addition to the seat, like an extension. In fact, it’s very hidden and I rarely ever put it back for landing. I only ever put roller bags in the overhead given this.
I use the same “trick” – under the seat in front for take off, then “under the calf’s” for the rest of the flight, so much more room to spread out and wiggle your feet. I usually go for a window seat, so no issues with other needing to walk through.
But then you can’t act like an entitled ass who measures value of a flight by how many amenities he can occupy, everyone else be damned.
Status has its privileges including overhead bin space. My backpack is always my only carry-on. It’s going in the overhead. There have been a few occasions where i’ve voluntarily moved my backpack to under the seat to free enough space for someone’s carry-on. It is usually appreciated.
I’ve run into this issue many times as I will check my roller bag and just carry on my smallish backpack with my laptop, etc. If the flight is unusually full of bags with little overhead space to be had I will try to put my bag under my seat to help out others but normally I put it in the overhead. One of the issues with this is that the floor space is very dirty and I have big size 15 feet and long legs so it does make it uncomfortable if I’m in economy. The problem with the situation you mention is that the passenger is in no position to argue with the FA as it will get you kicked off the plane. I can hear those words now “are we going to have a problem here?”. There is no rule that only larger bags can be stored in the overhead and if you are on a bulkhead row you have to put them there anyway.
Most domestic airlines market their higher tiers of cabin class with “dedicated overhead storage space,” implying that you are paying extra for that dedicated space. Likewise, when you pay for “economy class” as opposed to “economy basic” you are paying for the ability to bring onboard BOTH a full size carry-on and a small personal item. But as basic economy, including on United, you are expressly forbidden to bring a full size carry-on and are ONLY permitted to bring a small personal item, which MUST go under the seat in front of you. By buying the Basic Economy ticket, you are not entitled to the use of overhead bin space. That space is reserved for customers who paid more for a higher class ticket.
I dont see a problem with someone whose paid for a ticket in any class higher than basic economy, who is only traveling with one bag to use their “dedicated overhead storage space” for their small bag or god forbid, their jacket. They paid more for that extra perk. They should be allowed to use that PAID FOR perk however they choose to so long as it doesn’t imprede on the next person’s paid for dedicated space. Like someone who places TWO full sized carry-ons in the overhead bins when they’re only entitled to one. Or, just as egregiously, someone whose bought a basic economy ticket, placing their bag(s) in the overhead bin, when they aren’t entitled to do so.
To look at it another way, you paid for your seat, including the foot space under the seat in front of you. Your seat mate isn’t entitled to the foot space in front of you just beacuse you aren’t using it for storing an extra bag. They can’t extend their legs into your space because they’ve chosen to use their foot space for storing their bag.
We’re all entitled to the same space as defined by the respective cabin your ticket is in. You are NOT entitled to more than that simply because you paid less or bring more items with you than what is allowed by your fare class.
All this over a laptop bag.
Comply with the FAs request and keep it under the seat until take off, then slide it back behind your calves until landing. If it’s too big to fit comfortably behind your calves, I’m doubting if it’s what most of us would define as a laptop bag.
I swear, the sense of entitlement and false indignation these days is ridiculous. With everything going on in the world, just be happy to be able to board a plane and go somewhere. If it’s such a big deal, reach out to customer service after you flight and get a few hundred miles thrown your way for the awful inconvenience.
Yes, crazy how “perceptions” of entitlement can vary. What’s yours is mine, and what’s yours is… not yours, because… I can just socially shame you into complying.
I would certainly put it first in the overhead but would put in under my seat if needed.
No, I don’t put small items in the overhead, but I don’t think doing so warrants an FA going on a power trip, either. That being said, it is a real p*sser when you’re boarding with your assigned group in the last half of general boarding, and have to either go 10 rows back or gate check a larger bag because of all the briefcases, laptop bags, coats, etc. using up bin space.
All that being said, the guy is being a jackwagon. For one, if he’s that much of a germaphobe, I hate to break it to him what’s on the surfaces of those overhead bins. For another, as a couple of others have noted, there is an easy solution. Just put it under the seat for take-off, then conceal it behind your legs once able. Even if you keep it there during landing, the chances of an FA being able to spot it, especially if you’re in a window seat, is pretty much nil.
I just want to offer a perspective from the other side that may not have been considered. While I’m not a flight attendant, I know a few and so have a better understanding of what was a blind spot from me as a passenger.
Flight attendants are faced with many challenges when it comes to managing the caring dynamics of getting passages settled in and assisted for a safe flight. There are two perspectives here that should be considered, As trivial as it may appeared that sliver of space could be the thing that could cause a larger bag not to fit in the over head space. This in it self could cause the bag to be checked in below the plane, it is plausible to say that it takes time to communicate that with below the wing staff to get that item checkin after the fact. because there is a limited turn around time for boarding and take off This “small thing “ could cause the airline tens of thousands of dollars because of the delay for which could have been resolved it you would place your laptop under your seat. While the idea of placing your bag below the seat before you was unattractive let me say to you that the luggage that you placed your laptop with were on that same nasty or even nastier places than the space under the seat…
I’m sure that the flight attendants goal was not to annoy you or to deprive you of your liberty on purpose but because she was likely face with a larger set of priorities due to the caring dynamics and number of people of which needed to be adhered to in the scheme of things this may have been the best scenario at the time.
Often when we don’t have all the facts or better understand of the dynamics that come into play it’s easy to feel wronged, picked on or mistreated. Sadly we often aren’t privy to these sort of things and so we lead with our own understanding which often is one sided.
I hope this helps.
Firstly, I don’t think 50% of the bags in the overhead bin would fit in the template. If I pay to check a bag and carry on a knapsack, I’m putting my only carryon in the overhead bin. If it’s a short trip and I have a roller bag, it will go up top and my knapsack at my feet. No one wants to pay for a bag so the bins are full. I often hear an announcement at the gate that if you are in boarding zone 4 or 5 you must gate check your bag. This also eliminates people in later boarding zones blocking the way for people in earlier boarding zones.
Often do this when travelling with the family. Usually we check most stuff so between 4 only have one roll aboard and then coats and a laptop backpack. Between the 4 of us we take up about 2 rollaboard space. Go away and get a credit card or status for the free checked bags.
Tough this reminds me of some of the times I used to travel with a lot of expensive camera gear plus other rechargeable stuff and then being asked to gate check a bag with 11 Li batteries and 15k of camera and lenses. Always an interesting conversation.
He could have also kept that “sliver” of a laptop case on him until boarding was complete and slid it in between the larger cases in the overhead bin.
It is such a waste of space to have that item displace an entire roller bag…then he would have been partly to blame if the entire plane is delayed 15min as we put gate checked bags into the airplane.
It’s not about what we are entitled to every trip. Sometimes having common courtesy and giving up a little bit, makes everything else go much more smoothly, instead of getting all pouty and whining about it on social media.
it seems rather selfish to take up space that can be used for larger items. also, that passenger would have thrown a tantrum if something else was placed on top of it. so even if your bag was placed under the seat in front of you, it’s very easy to take out after take off leaving plenty of room for your feet
As a regular airline traveller, I see this problem arising when some folks are being allowed to to take onboard more than two bags. I think the attendants at the gate should regulate this by ensuring one carry on and one personal bag per traveller. This way, such a situation would most likely not happen I think the guy is right to be upset as he is entitled as every other passenger to place his laptop overhead as he wishes.
1. Anyone is basic economy is allowed only a small carry on bag that should be placed under feet. Granted as 1k this was not the case.
2. The FA only asked because she/he was trying to make room for other pax bags. Could be because pax doesn’t want to check for a,b,c,z reasons. Could be the plane is already over weight and they can’t put anymore bags in cargo (yes the weight is same, but they calculate bags at different weights in cabin vs cargo).
3. The FA doesn’t know if the pax being asked put up a roller and small bag.
I get that baggage weight is differentiated between cabin and cargo. What I don’t understand is why baggage weight limits have declined over the years. Same planes( in many cases) but apparently the laws of physics are changing. Or is it that commercial cargo generates a higher margin and passengers and their bags just matter less?
It’s a combination of factors. The airlines want to charge more, having a lower allowed weight decreases worker’s compensation costs (ramp injuries are very real) and lower weights of bags does ultimate make up for some of the increasing weights in passengers.
I am a 1k. I usually check a few bags. I have a laptop in a fairly large bag. I preboard. I put my laptop in the overhead as I need the additional room for my feet/ legs. The FAs usually announce that “your primary storage space is under the seat in front of you and to leave the overhead space for roller bags/ boards”. However, if asked, I always state that I am a 1k, early boarding gives me early access to overhead space. Under the seat in front is for my legs. I suppose if pushed I would have to reluctantly comply and complain later.
I fly 6-8 times a year. I think they should do away with the whole thing of overhead bin space
For starters it holds up loading and unloading the plane. I’ve seen “cheap” passengers stuff a carry on and a backpack then put both in the overhead yet I respect space and pay to check a bag in. Like everything else in this world certain people just keep taking advantage of the system without any care for other people. If you can afford to fly then check those bags in!!!!
That would open up a whole different can of worms. Aircraft are designed for a significant number of bags in the overhead, with weight and balance being significant. It would also make overall travel times much longer.
It’s because it’s a laptop. Lithium batteries are dangerous during flight and need to be monitored so nothing happens mid flight. Everyone always assumes it’s something it’s not. No discrimination, not a premium space, just an FA trying to keep everyone safe
That’s pretty thin. Laptop batteries connected to a laptop are as safe as can be, especially in a protective bag.
I get the “I only have one bag” argument, though it’s kinda lame to do so at the expense of someone with a roller. The real key, however, is that the guy seemed to be using a space that was otherwise unusable by a roller. In that case, I really don’t have a problem with it.
Come to Pakistan , our people (sorry to say) use the overhead bins for keeping whatever item the can fit in there, and if someone stops them, they are like, the F do you think I the ticket price for, I own this seat and bin till I get to my destination. So learn a thing or two and don’t let none to scold you next time
I am a flight attendant. I am usually actively in the aisle monitoring and assisting. If I notice a passenger with one small bag place it in the overhead bin, I allow it. I try to encourage those with two bags to place one up and one down. Again, this is flight by flight depending on loads. If I notice two bags being placed overhead, I will tell them that I may have to ask you to place under sear if I need this space. Sometimes after that statement, they voluntarily place it under their seat.
If airlines REALLY were committed to making boarding more efficient, they would have 1 checked bag free and charge for carryon. My point is that the ridiculousness of what people do with carryon to avoid a baggage charge and or avoid waiting at the luggage carrousel is making flying a major stressor.
The airlines have done nothing as to the design of planes in the fleets to accommodate the one carryon/one bag policy. And they do li type to enforce the size regulations.
Rather than looking solely at “how can we make the greatest profit”maybe someone in the airline industry should be looking at the root causes of why boarding is slow (and big hint it is NOT the FAs fault) come up with policies that actually address boarding and on-time departures.
But they continue to try to normalize the inconveniences – how far they can push the consumer before the consumer refuses to fly. 25 years ago the idea that you would pay to check a bag would have been ludicrous, and the idea of paying to sit next to your minor child would have outraged everyone, and cramming another 5 to 10 rows in the same sized cabin would be considered impossible. But they have eroded customer expectations SO much that in 10 years we might well be all swaddled into cacoons and stacked like cordwood in the cargo hold and we would all do so without blinking an eye.
Those who criticize people who travel with rollers as carry-ons as being “too cheap” to check bags are overlooking one important factor – fear of lost or damaged luggage. We have had bags lost twice — on trips to Spain and to Egypt. In Spain we had to change our ground plans and hang around Madrid two days until our bags got there. In Egypt they never arrived.
And don’t forget the recent Air France/Delta flight where a passenger returned with dog food instead of gifts in her luggage.
I believe he is in the right, as far as the location of the bag is concerned. Although, instead of complaining about the state of the floor, he should’ve used that opportunity to explain that it was his only bag.
I used to fly about 150k miles a year. The policies for each airline, each flight are so different. So confusing. I would do anything, everythjng to coordinate. I dont mind where they want me to put my bags or suitcase. The problem is the attitude of some airlines, some FAs are terrible. Bitchy, impolite, makes you feel like you are eating a fly. Some staff are incopentent and needs proper training.
I don’t feel the traveler was selfish. But with all the various germs and viruses on surfaces, it would be proactive to travel with a silicone sleeve. It’s inexpensive and can be sanitized.