I feel your pain. Although I am a flight attendant, I travel with my own business as well and have briefcase that I end up taking out of the overhead bin and putting under the seat in front of me. I must admit, here today on FT, that I have been guilty of putting it behind my legs and keeping it there from the time I sit down until I leave the plane.

When I want to be a good boy, I put it under the seat for take off and landing and then put it behind my legs for the flight.