Originally Posted by Fredd
Our first flight on TED a few days ago (LAX-LAS) was fine, except for a lack of overhead space for Row 1 in particular. There's no storage for the crew up front, so the first 2 1/2 overheads were taken up by the crew's baggage and some electronic black boxes (not sure what they are - IFE?).
As 1Ks we were the first ones to board... well, other than two deadheading pilots who had pre-boarded and took up the rest of the first couple of overheads. They at least looked abashed and muttered something about helping us retrieve our carryons from Row 3 at the end of the flight. I suppose the domino effect carries right to the back. The return flight a few days later was almost as crowded, overhead-wise.
FWIW if and when we fly TED in future I think we'll aim for Row 3 to avoid having to swim upstream to retrieve our carryons.
My apologies if this has already been discussed but I couldn't find it in a search, and I think it's worth a mention.
Crewmembers taking up the 1st set of bins on a TED flight is inexcusable. I fly TED every week and find that it varies. I find that the FAs vary on how they deal with the first set of bins. Some FAs go to the trouble of keeping the 1st set of bins closed and when a passenger opens them, asking where they are sitting. I really think that is a good deal. I, of course, tend to sit in the first couple rows as I'm only traveling with a laptop bag these days. I love the people who show up for row two with their massive rolling briefcase and then plead with the FA to find space. If they have a bag that will fit under the seat and they ask the FA about where to put it, I usually chime in and tell them "how about under the seat in front of you?"
While I'm on the subject of TED, what's with the boarding process in DEN these days? They call Seating 1, 2, and 3 pretty much all at the same time. The jetway fills with people as the passengers in the first two rows look for overhead space and immediately, everybody starts grumbling. Aren't they supposed to wait before they call the next seating area? To make matters worse, as the last people finally get on the plane and see all of the front seats taken, they invarably turn to a companion and grumble sarcastically "boarding the front first makes soooo much sense. Are these people idiots?" I think that UA really needs to fix the overhead situation.
OK, I'm off the soapbox now. I feel much better.