Originally Posted by
IFlyHarder
I guess it depends on the size of the objects in question.
Does your second item ever prevent another passenger from placing their jacket into the overhead without having to smash it in?
Given the crowds on planes, it might be easier to enforce a rule for all passengers rather than having the FAs examining every second article a passenger wishes to place in the bin to ensure equal treatment.
I would think that it's not a problem to place a second item overhead once all passengers are boarded and it's clear that there is room for the second item.
By the way, in your own post you suggest that someone else might put a bag on top of yours. Therefore, you are admitting that your second item may block someone from putting their one item in the bin. So you kind of blew your own argument.
I can and do object to someone cramming something in on top of my soft sided rollaboard. Last trip I had framed canvasses in my bag, at other times I have had fragile pottery, fragile glass items etc. Thus I will say something if someone tries to cram their bag, duty free etc on top of mine. Only I know what is in the bag, and what is fragile etc and I don't know if they have e.g. a leaking water bottle etc in their bag. My small handbag on top, placed there by me, with no liquids in doesn't break things, doesn't damage things. I personally would never put an item of mine on top of someone else's - I would think that rather rude tbh. If someone asked if they could lay e.g. a suit jacket over, then that's another matter because a) they asked and b) the jacket, laid carefully, would normally be fine - although I've seen 'jacket crammers' as well.
Out of interest, what about a Canadian flight in winter, when winter coats are as bulky as rollaboards? I normally pop my coat under the seat in front (given it is squishy and my feet can squish under it), and a second item overhead (as it wouldn't fit under the seat along with the full length winter coat. What is the correct thing in this instance?