Hand baggage-only fares have turned people into monsters
#16
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: london
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 266
I can do twice that length of time easily especially in the summer when clothes are light however the thing that has me checking luggage more often than I'd like to is the liquid ban and that is out of the airline's control.
#17
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,210
#18
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 101
I was turned into a monster by the early implementation of yellow tag on long haul where despite travelling light with a small floppy rucksack, it was removed from the overhead and stuffed under the seat in front so that a number of identikit middle managers on a jolly out East could find room for their roller suitcases cum mobile homes. Despite early boarding. It created a perverse incentive to bring a big bag if you want legroom. From that day to this I have never suffered a yellow tag to remain attached to my bag, somehow they always fell off, and I've learned never to answer the question "is this your bag sir?" with anything more than a non-committal grunt or mumbled Sanskrit phrase.
Having said that, I've not generally seen a problem with stowing my bag in the locker - if you're half way through the boarding there is normally somewhere to put the bag. The scrum at the gate is more about the psychology of control than practicality. It worries you only if you allow it to worry you.
Having said that, I've not generally seen a problem with stowing my bag in the locker - if you're half way through the boarding there is normally somewhere to put the bag. The scrum at the gate is more about the psychology of control than practicality. It worries you only if you allow it to worry you.
#19
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 220
This is a frustration of ground staff when at the end of boarding, being informed of the need to place bags in the hold by the crew when there are numerous yellow tagged bags in the overhead lockers.
#20
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 134
I’m probably being naive here, but don’t the overhead lockers have seat numbers on them so 1 bag per seat should fit? I know some are missing at the front but it’s only a couple. I’m not expecting this to be policed (imagine the chaos) but if everyone stuck to that would the problem go away?
#21
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Join Date: Feb 2000
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I’m probably being naive here, but don’t the overhead lockers have seat numbers on them so 1 bag per seat should fit? I know some are missing at the front but it’s only a couple. I’m not expecting this to be policed (imagine the chaos) but if everyone stuck to that would the problem go away?
#22
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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I’m probably being naive here, but don’t the overhead lockers have seat numbers on them so 1 bag per seat should fit? I know some are missing at the front but it’s only a couple. I’m not expecting this to be policed (imagine the chaos) but if everyone stuck to that would the problem go away?
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Not only doesn't this work based on number of bags, but it also doesn't work because bags do not all take up the exact same cubic dimensions. Thus, even when the overheads are theoretically full as to larger bags, there may be places to slide in smaller bags. But, if a typical overhead traverses 2 rows of WT/ET, that bin would need to accommodate 6 bags if every passenger brought on a bag.
#25
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: DL Silver, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Global Entry (Former AA Plt/Gold)
Posts: 4,417
In my opinion, the answer to easier boarding is to give everyone one roller bag - either in the hold (any allowable size) OR overhead (standard size). Of course the tracking logistics of that are complicated, and the airlines would rather gate-check the bags when the bins run out, than give up those hold fees.
#26
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,095
If we assume that 90% of seats have an overhead bin above them they can use and the seat pitch is 30" (76cm), then that's about 23cm x bin height x bin depth per customer. Meanwhile a maximum size carryon bag is 35cm wide, so in the best case about 2/3 of passengers can bring a maximum size bag on board. In practice there is unusable space, the bin length is not the same as the bag width and so on, so about half the passengers are likely to be able to bring on a maximum size bag.
Clearly if most passengers are not going to pay or feel they do not want to check in a bag yet still want to bring a maximum-size carryon for their trip, this is not going to work out how all of them would like it to work out. Look at any of the leisure routes where people typically take a longer trip.
Meanwhile, in Club Europe there is almost enough space for everyone bring on board a maximum size item, so as long as the bins over Club seats are kept for Club passenger baggage, they won't have a problem and boarding last will be fine for them. I'm afraid I do note that quite a few of the board-last-no-problems advocates either always travel in Club or travel with very little in a bag or both. For those where neither applies, boarding last means being separated from your bag that you aren't entirely intending on being separated from.
(Personally I check in a bag and bring a half-maximum-size backpack on board with all the things I need to stay alive, to work at my destination, that aren't insured in the hold, or that I want en-route and check the things that won't pass security screening and the rest into a bag that goes into the hold. Even then, I try not to board among the very last, or there may well be little room for my 20-cm-wide bag).
Clearly if most passengers are not going to pay or feel they do not want to check in a bag yet still want to bring a maximum-size carryon for their trip, this is not going to work out how all of them would like it to work out. Look at any of the leisure routes where people typically take a longer trip.
Meanwhile, in Club Europe there is almost enough space for everyone bring on board a maximum size item, so as long as the bins over Club seats are kept for Club passenger baggage, they won't have a problem and boarding last will be fine for them. I'm afraid I do note that quite a few of the board-last-no-problems advocates either always travel in Club or travel with very little in a bag or both. For those where neither applies, boarding last means being separated from your bag that you aren't entirely intending on being separated from.
(Personally I check in a bag and bring a half-maximum-size backpack on board with all the things I need to stay alive, to work at my destination, that aren't insured in the hold, or that I want en-route and check the things that won't pass security screening and the rest into a bag that goes into the hold. Even then, I try not to board among the very last, or there may well be little room for my 20-cm-wide bag).
Last edited by flatlander; Nov 20, 2017 at 11:17 am Reason: add personal opinion, what is FT without anecdata?
#27
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Bristol
Programs: BA GGL, UA Plat, DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,380
I think it's been mentioned before, but tagging bags such that only those with say a green tag on are allowed in the overhead bins - all others to be under the seat in front or gate-checked - might have been a more practical approach...
Much harder to magic up a new green label than magic away a provided yellow one
Much harder to magic up a new green label than magic away a provided yellow one
#28
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
#29
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, *A Gold, Hertz President's Circle, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 529
I hadn't thought of that, but yes, my tactic only works because others can't / won't do anything other that get to a gate stupidly early, then get bored, then start queuing up, get bored again, start focusing on micro problems due to boredom, let the blood pressure rise.....
Id love to rock up at the last minute, but get anxious about finding overhead space.
#30
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Wolverhampton
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Gold, Radisson Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,600
I think hand baggage only has morphed into something which makes some people monsters.
It has two purposes:
1) To be off quick, or
2) To save money.
Now if you've decided to save money with a HBO fare, then you shouldn't be getting wound up getting your case onboard in order to be off quick. Accept the hold luggage free of charge. That is kind of what the new rules should hopefully help.
Of course the fighting which starts at the end of boarding is another thing...
It has two purposes:
1) To be off quick, or
2) To save money.
Now if you've decided to save money with a HBO fare, then you shouldn't be getting wound up getting your case onboard in order to be off quick. Accept the hold luggage free of charge. That is kind of what the new rules should hopefully help.
Of course the fighting which starts at the end of boarding is another thing...