Protip: once you're in the air, just move the backpack to the space under your legs, right up against the front of your own seat.
I did do that after takeoff. Was still incredibly miserable.
The 737-900s are torture tubes.
Originally Posted by
StayingHomeIsBetter
First... no one should board with three items. But, that is a GA failing.
As to FC bins... I will confess to often placing both a rollaboard and a laptop case up top. But I maintain a situational awareness of the possible need to move the laptop bag, and the willingness to do so, if the space is needed to avoid being unfair to others.
And, guess what, in my experience there is seldom a problem. In fact, it is not unusual to see an FA use remaining open space in the FC bins for bags brought up from coach.
At 6'2" and with a problematic leg that benefits from stretching out, I am not going to arbitrarily adhere to a "one up and one down" orthodoxy if there is "up" space that would otherwise go unused.
Once boarding has finished I throw my person item in the bin if there's extra space. If I'm up in J on an international widebody I throw both items up there as soon as I board since I know so much of the space will still be unused (and many J seats say you can't place items in the footwell for takeoff and landing anyway).
And you're right about the people who manage to board with more than the allotted carryon limits - that is nothing more or less than a GA failing, and unfortunately, way too many are failing in this regard.