AA flight - first class - help me understand why people wont slightly move their bag
#17
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AA-EXP
Posts: 606
Maybe I am in the minority, but last Monday I got a battlefield upgrade about one minute before the door closed. As I was in a bulkhead originally, my bags were already overhead. I did not bother to try and pull them out and move them up front with me, I just went up and took my seat so we could take off on time. The only inconvenience is I had to wait a few minutes to be able to get my bags after we landed, but that is a small price to pay in my opinion.
#18
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,133
I had someone give me a dirty look and sigh heavily before acquiescing to me moving his bag (that should have been under the seat in front of him anyway) from the opposite side over my seat to the obviously clear space above his seat once. Different than moving it a few inches, but still I don't get some people as it was an ERJ where suitcases only fit on one side.
#19
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Eurozone
Programs: LH SEN, HH Gold
Posts: 3,002
That's sort of the purpose of FT. To talk about flying--before, during and after the fact. I find it to be an interesting topic so far.
#20
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Eurozone
Programs: LH SEN, HH Gold
Posts: 3,002
I say this as someone who sides with you 100% on the issue itself. People should generally be willing to allow movement unless there's an underlying fragility/placement issue with the contents--and sometimes there is. Example: If I've positioned my folded jacket and coat on top of my bag which is well-seated against bin sidewall, consuming all of the vertical space in the bin as well, there's really no reason anyone else should need to touch it, let alone re-position it.
I fear I wouldn't have let you get away with cursing at me AND moving my bag after I've answered the very question that you posed to me. Neither one of us would've probably flown on that flight.
Last edited by Grog; Nov 17, 2017 at 7:02 am
#21
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,208
To stay OT, and answer the question-"Grasshopper (OP)-First answer the question "How long is a piece of string. Then, you have your answer.".
Or less philosophical-DYKWIA
Back to our regularly scheduled programming.
#22
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: AA Gold, Enterprise PLT, Marriott Gold
Posts: 604
Call me crazy but if you're truly asking someone and not just informing them of your intended actions, you should allow them the right to say no and accept it, if they do. Otherwise, why ask? Being polite is not meant to be a graceful dishonesty, it's a way in which we honor and respect others. (I wish I remembered who said that to credit them...) Next time, if it's truly in the way and not optimally positioned, you just move it very gently without falsely asking people and then blatantly disregarding them after they've actually taken the time to answer you.
I say this as someone who sides with you 100% on the issue itself. People should generally be willing to allow movement unless there's an underlying fragility/placement issue with the contents--and sometimes there is. Example: If I've positioned my folded jacket and coat on top of my bag which is well-seated against bin sidewall, consuming all of the vertical space in the bin as well, there's really no reason anyone else should need to touch it, let alone re-position it.
I fear I wouldn't have let you get away with cursing at me AND moving my bag after I've answered the very question that you posed to me. Neither one of us would've probably flown on that flight.
I say this as someone who sides with you 100% on the issue itself. People should generally be willing to allow movement unless there's an underlying fragility/placement issue with the contents--and sometimes there is. Example: If I've positioned my folded jacket and coat on top of my bag which is well-seated against bin sidewall, consuming all of the vertical space in the bin as well, there's really no reason anyone else should need to touch it, let alone re-position it.
I fear I wouldn't have let you get away with cursing at me AND moving my bag after I've answered the very question that you posed to me. Neither one of us would've probably flown on that flight.
As for the swearing, yeah that's too far, no matter how selfish I felt someone was acting, it would take A LOT for me to start letting the language fly.
#23
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Here and there
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,548
You're also right that some pax seem to think that when they're in F, their overhead space allowance is unlimited. My personal experience with this is usually the first three guys who board an E175 and want to put their rollaboards and briefcases in the overhead, filling the space before the other 9 pax board.
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,191
Of course, I get your point about the jacket (and especially if the bag is already efficiently using the space, i.e., at the edge of the bin), but I can't think of ANY reasonable reason someone should decline to move OR allow their bag to be moved slightly.
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
A combination of three personality traits:
#1 - Current occupant is a jerk.
#2 - Upgraded passenger is a wimp
FA's are trained to deflate not inflate situations. Where there is a reasonable alternative, that's what a good FA does. Had there not been closet space, I suppose that the FA would have returned and asserted herself. OH space is neither reserved nor guaranteed.
I would have simply placed my bag in the OH. If that moves another bag, that's fine. Not like I am moving someone's bag 20 rows back. Same thing in reverse. I don't mark off the OH space to see whether my bag got moved.
#1 - Current occupant is a jerk.
#2 - Upgraded passenger is a wimp
FA's are trained to deflate not inflate situations. Where there is a reasonable alternative, that's what a good FA does. Had there not been closet space, I suppose that the FA would have returned and asserted herself. OH space is neither reserved nor guaranteed.
I would have simply placed my bag in the OH. If that moves another bag, that's fine. Not like I am moving someone's bag 20 rows back. Same thing in reverse. I don't mark off the OH space to see whether my bag got moved.
#27
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: ORD (formerly SAN)
Programs: Hilton Diamond; IHG Platinum; Bonvoy Gold; AA Platinum Pro and United Premier Silver (DH = AA EXP)
Posts: 1,927
This has happened to me before. I was upgraded on a 788 into 1D and there's no overhead bin space above the seat. There was plenty of room in 1A if the guy moved his bag. The FA asked and he refused. So I then had to put my laptop bag over in row 5 for take off and landing. Maybe it was a cultural thing, but the guy in 1A looked offended when the FA asked - like someone just insulted his mother, wife, and child.
#28
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Malibu, CA
Programs: AA CK / Marriott Worthless Ambassador
Posts: 1,158
FA
How about this version of events, its almost the complete opposite. Last week I was flying Los Angeles to Boston in paid first class, I boarded the plane a little late in group 3 maybe, and when I got there all of the overhead bins in first class were completely full, I thought with some wiggle room my bag could fit, but it took some serious wiggle room in moving around, so I turn to the flight attendant in first class And said can you help me rearrange things here so I can get it in, and she tersely replied you have to check your bag. I said theres plenty of room, if we work around this, and she said you have to check your bag. I said to her theres no way Im checking my bag, and one of the other passengers in first class stood up, a very nice woman, and offered to move her bag to help me get my bag in.
#29
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Not sure yet
Programs: Marriott - Lifetime Platinum Premier, AA - CK
Posts: 263
I guess it's on topic.... maybe not....
A few weeks back in J on HKG-DFW I walked on the plane and loaded up the bin directly above my seat. I then realized I needed to get something out of my suitcase before take off so once the boarding traffic slowed I stood up to get it down and get what I needed out of it. The guy sitting across the isle jumped up quickly and placed what a small bag (looked like a computer bag) where I had removed my suite case. I made the comment that my bag was going back in there to which he didn't respond. Once zipped back up, I turned to him and said "hope that ain't breakable" and put it back in its spot (except now it was on top of his bag). I probably wouldn't have done it if it were not for the fact that he pulled his bag out of the overhead directly above his seat and threw it in mine the minute I removed my suitcase. Oh well.
We should have a thread for Overhead Bin complaints. Maybe this is it!
A few weeks back in J on HKG-DFW I walked on the plane and loaded up the bin directly above my seat. I then realized I needed to get something out of my suitcase before take off so once the boarding traffic slowed I stood up to get it down and get what I needed out of it. The guy sitting across the isle jumped up quickly and placed what a small bag (looked like a computer bag) where I had removed my suite case. I made the comment that my bag was going back in there to which he didn't respond. Once zipped back up, I turned to him and said "hope that ain't breakable" and put it back in its spot (except now it was on top of his bag). I probably wouldn't have done it if it were not for the fact that he pulled his bag out of the overhead directly above his seat and threw it in mine the minute I removed my suitcase. Oh well.
We should have a thread for Overhead Bin complaints. Maybe this is it!