Gynob001

I see FA bags stored in overhead bins in almost every flight. When there is adequate space, there is no problem.
My questions:
1. I see FAs and crew carrying bigger and bigger bags and more than 2. I am assuming that they are connecting to another flight at the destination, so they wouldn't have time to check-in/retrieve their luggage. (even if they are connecting-why wouldn't they checkin their luggage?) Am I right? If not, their luggage should have the same treatment as a paid passengers'.
2. Why wouldn't airlines officially reserve a couple of bins for FAs?
3. Passengers bring bigger and bigger carryons these days ! Do the airlines take a serious look at capacity/number of passengers/available space etc in the interior design?
4. How often do the FAs return to their home base? If the FAs carry non-work/schedule/necessities (example, fragile items as posted here), shouldn't they be checking in these items?

wrp96

Sometimes they do. In fact one of my Facebook memories today was from an Envoy flight where a passenger kept trying to remove a flight attendants bag from a bin labeled for flight attendants only (at the very back of the plane) in order to put her own bag there and got into an argument about it with the flight attendant.

Gig103

I hate the bulkhead but the luggage space is definitely exacerbated by crew gear and bags. There is no excuse for the way you were talked to though and I would definitely complain. I'd mention the date and flight information and a description of the FA if you did not get a name.

I'd complain without asking for compensation, but I'm the type of person who believes in providing feedback for corrective action alone.

lobo411

I'd ask for miles as compensation for the inconvenience AA caused, and as a gesture to show that AA's "apology" was more sincere than it seemed.

It wasn't sincere, of course, but the goal is to make them bleed.

chris8796

To me it seems this is mostly about the FA's perceived attitude, since OP said she "snapped" at her twice (albeit with relatively normal information, this bin is full, sit down we are landing, etc). I suspect the FA's description of the interaction would be different, with the truth somewhere in between. I am not sure having to put your carry on in a bin not directly above your seat is reason to be compensated. I am confident we have all seen many examples of the both sides of these interactions.

It seems all of these relatively minor nuisances are magnified by the stress of traveling. If these things bother you that much, you should consider flying private jet, like that televangelist. Otherwise, the best advice I heard was vote with your wallet, even then any long haul in Y is going to be disappointing. Good luck

MiamiAirport Formerly NY George

Crowded flights, tight turns, a general coarsening of society and overworked airline employees has made the flying experience like a visit to Wal Mart. The exception is the premium cabin, that's a visit to Target. The best offense is a good defense. Pack light. Don't take a bulkhead seat if you need multiple items out inflight. Don't expect the employees to be over friendly (they might be just don't count on it). If your flight gets cancelled know options. Forget about any airline being "family friendly." It's sad to see what flying used to be and how all involved used to act compared to today. The OP will get nothing out of AA-maybe a few thousand miles, that's it.

bitterproffit

Well, there you have it.

its tough enough with captive markets and oligopolies, but, in this case, the choice is yours to keep enduring this behavior.

salut0

standbyalldtime

FA bags need to go somewhere, in any bin it will inconvenience the passengers sitting in that row.

FAs will always want to store their bags close to their stationed jumpseat, i.e. FAs sitting in the rear galley will put bags in the last few rows, in larger planes with exit doors and jumpseats mid cabin by the bulkhead they will store them there. With how many flights they work the chance of somebody accidentally or intentionally rummaging through their stuff in the bins is magnified so they naturally want to reduce their risk. That won't change unless airlines install closets or lockable overhead bins for FA bag storage only. Considering that would certainly come at the expense of passenger space in one way or another, I doubt it's something they or passengers ultimately want.

On a small plane like the 319 with only two rows of F if the FA bags take up half of the overhead space then the frustration is understandable. On a wide body international flight, stowing your bag a row or two behind you is hardly a significant inconvenience, much less one to be compensated for. Sure beats boarding in Group 8 and needing to stow your bag halfway across the cabin.

Rudeness is never a good look on any employee, but judging how it seems you're blowing this way out of proportion, I question what your attitude in your communications to the FA was like. As mentioned above, the FA certainly has a different interpretation of how the interaction went, and the truth probably lies in between. I doubt any efforts to secure compensation will be useful, and even more unlikely that your complaint will result in any sanction against the FA especially without proof of the claimed interactions like a video.

salut0

carlosdca

I'm not sure what the basis for the compensation y'all are suggesting is.

As per the MCE info on AA.com (see snip above), MCE offers "easier access to overhead bins". Guaranteed overhead right above your seat is not a feature of MCE.
No basis of compensation there.

Rude FA? Hard to prove, your story is one sided. And is a rude FA a basis for compensation? Perhaps 5,000 miles as good will gesture.

I think a complaint message to CS (a very short one) about the FA's rude behavior with the name of the FA should always be send out though.
Yes, I know a canned response will be sent out by AA and nothing will be done, but least it will become one data point, a measurable statistic and AA won't be able to say "we are performing wonderfully and customer satisfaction is at the top since there have been relatively very few complaints sent to CS in the last year".

Pi7473000

Voldoo

A 3.5 year old child requires diapers? I'm asking in seriousness as I'm not a parent, but that seems a little old to me. And how many of them do you actual need for a single flight? I'm not sure why a 3.5 year old child would require any more hand-luggage than any other passenger.

Hard to pick a side when the choice is either a unionized FA for a US carrier or a passenger traveling with children that young, however I have experienced this issue with overhead space in the past and I sympathize with you in this case.

Uncle Nonny

While no one has dibs on specific bins, many AA planes now have bins marked specifically for MCE passengers (bulkheads are MCE seating). That isn't the point here, though. The point is that FAs do claim entire bins as their own and they are often at the expense of the most valued customer (F/J,MCE). They are the first on and last off there. There's no reason their stuff can't be in the back. Or the middle. Filling the bins over the bulkhead is lazy,spiteful, or ignorant. Take your pick.

mikesyr18

At the bottom of the plane... Problem solved.