notakeenflyer

There's a clue in the question. I've added a hint

Geordie405

I think BA is generally better than AA at making more efficient use out of the overhead bins. It's very rare that I don't board AA as Group 2 and hence have no issues, but on the odd occasion I do board last (and Sunday was one of the those days) you're often told "There's no room left. We need to check your bag" and yet when you get on board you either find lots of room or else with a bit of shuffling / turning bags you can fit another carry on (or two, in our case) in the overhead bins.

Then there's the flip side where AA can be overly keen at the gate. When flying LAS - LAX a week past Sunday my g/f was harangued by the GA because she had not only a suitcase but also a small backpack and a very small handbag. I had one bag. The handbag would have fitted inside her backpack, or else I could have taken one of her bags. Instead she got an earful from the GA. The same GA then came on board at the end of the boarding process and starting yelling at passengers who couldn't get their bags into the bins, telling them they needed to be checked. There were a number of seated passengers who narrowly missed being clobbered by carry-ons as she was throwing them around the cabin. Had she been a bit more diligent about policing the larger bags, especially with the later groups, there wouldn't have been an issue with everyone then scrambling to avoid a delayed push-back.

jamesreid978

ukgooner

There is also a massive lack of empathy from some who have a sense of entitlement. Really, on very busy flights, the overhead bin should be for larger bags. But you still see people taking up the space with their coat and a small bag just because they think its their right. If there was a greater sense of collective goodwill (and there are many reasons why people chose not to check a bag), then I suspect there would be less pain.

MSPeconomist

flatlander

There have been, repeatedly, suggestions in this parish to tag carry on bags as "permitted overhead", rather than the current situation of tagging small bags as "not permitted overhead". The current tagging of "not permitted overhead" is both vulnerable to malfeasance by removal of the tag and often nonsensical when bulkhead and exit row customers' small bags are still given such a tag.

In addition, random loose items (in particular coats) should not be permitted in overhead bins until all "permitted overhead" baggage has been stowed (except at exit and bulkhead rows).

This obviously requires crew policing, but the whole situation requires crew policing already and checking for anything not tagged "permitted overhead" is easier than trying to sort the bin contents more exactly and reunite the coat, etc, with the owner so the last larger bag can fit into the bin.

The number of "permitted overhead" tags can also be limited, to one per passenger and by total count - thereby implementing what Easyjet and Ryanair already do, of preventing more large bags being taken into the cabin than will fit into the bins.

When all larger bags have been placed overhead, then coats, small bags, etc, can be added if space remains.

I still think passengers who break safety critical parts of the aircraft should be considered for offloading if they were reckless.

MSPeconomist

1010101

I do wonder how much weight the overhead lockers can take. They're rated for anything from ~20kg all the way up to 50kg+ in some aircraft but when you see people stuffing their worldly belongings in there i wonder how much above that they can really withstand.

cammyloon

But that creates perverse incentives where people are encouraged to take larger bags as carry on, so they'll be allowed to stow them in the overhead bins. I tend to travel with a daypack as carry on. I could potentially fit it under the seat in front, but then I'd be losing much needed legroom. Why should my comfort take a hit to leave space for large roller cases, thus ironically allowing their owners more legroom than I have?

Row9

fluffymitten

Had so much space on CX in J. I kept my carry on down to a handbag (large but it folded up small) and a rucksack and barely filled a quarter of the space available. Despite this, I felt bad when I picked up some gin in SYD and so took on three bags!

PUCCI GALORE

I'm surprised that someone hasn't yet posted "Overhead Locker Door missing on my BCN-LHR"!!!

Richmond_Surrey

Have you seen the space under the seat with multimedia box on A380? No chance to put there anything that's size of the laptop. I always put my camera bag under the seat on short haul.

I wasn't aware of it, otherwise I would be camping by the gate instead of enjoying lounge visit. Didn't have time to do research, it was "emergency" ticket to get back home.

HMPS

Most legacy airlines are GUILTY of allowing pax to bring in over sized carry ons and multiple cases. They all have PUBLISHED rules but wink at them. They should take a lessons from the LCCs who have a sizer at the gate, does not fit, ? You pay ! (a moneymaker at that).. Yes there will be an uproar especially from the DYKWIAs but over time all will learn.

bd95