Overhead bin abuse
Apr 26, 2009 | 6:44 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Posts: 3,219
I might have had sympathy for the late boarding passenger in this case if it were a standard size roller-board and a briefcase or purse (ie, personal item). Not a "large backpack and an even larger suitcase".
That will never be me because I never carry anything huge onto the plane.
Apr 26, 2009 | 7:10 pm
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
Sorry if my post came across as harsh, it wasn't meant that way. If an FA requires something, yeah, we'll have to comply. I would remain civil (as always on an airplane), but would have been somewhat persistant in asking if my bag could remain up top since it's the only one.
Now thats way different from what you originally inferred.
BTW I too would do or say what ever I could in a civil non-threatening way in order to get the bag in a bin and not under the seat in front of me. Usually if ist not the last person aborad or the only bin that has room, there maybe some wiggle room.
If they announced the door has already been closed then I wouldnt push it to hard as I wouldnt want to be the reason the flight is held up, and would understand teh FAs are trying to get us out ASAP
Apr 26, 2009 | 7:13 pm
#18
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 405
Just reading your responses I'm wondering would you feel the same if you were that last minute passenger? Would you be ok with me checking yours bags?
We try to encourage small bags to be place under the seats so we can place larger bags in the OHB, that way we can get as many bags as possible in the cabin.
We try to encourage small bags to be place under the seats so we can place larger bags in the OHB, that way we can get as many bags as possible in the cabin.
An advantage of carrying a backpack is that it can fit under a seat if necessary - it doesn't have to be gate-checked if there's simply no overhead room. But that doesn't mean that I want to lose my legroom when someone else shows up with luggage that can easily be gate-checked. I've got arthritis in my ankles and feet, and that little bit of extra space is a lifesaver.
The checked bag fees encourage people to drag everything on-board that they can. I don't see anything bad with gate-checking, since people probably don't need most of the items in that rollaboard between now and arrival. That said, I'm not particularly interested in getting a fistfight with an angry passenger over this.
Apr 26, 2009 | 7:33 pm
#19
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 661
Carry on bags increase the amount of time it takes to board and deplane. I wonder what sort of money could be saved by seriously limiting the carry on bags so that planes could spend less time on the ground. Every few minutes counts afterall in these complex plane shedules. Or does the cost of groundstaff outwiegh any savings in less ground time for certain aircraft or the fuel to compensate for the "weight" placarded for the overhead bins if the bins are empty. Does this make any sense?
Apr 26, 2009 | 7:48 pm
#20
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 79
[QUOTE=Tummy;11648520]Oh boo hoo. Serves them right for trying to bring aboard bags that were larger than allowed. From the description, it sounds like they were larger than the "spirit" of one carry on and one personal item.
I might have had sympathy for the late boarding passenger in this case if it were a standard size roller-board and a briefcase or purse (ie, personal item). Not a "large backpack and an even larger suitcase".
That will never be me because I never carry anything huge onto the plane.]Quote
I was not there so I don't know how big the bags actually were.
If they were oversize as the poster said then they needed to be checked.
However most fas would not bother to try to place oversize luggage in a OHB which makes me think they probably were not as large as the Op claimed.
I might have had sympathy for the late boarding passenger in this case if it were a standard size roller-board and a briefcase or purse (ie, personal item). Not a "large backpack and an even larger suitcase".
That will never be me because I never carry anything huge onto the plane.]Quote
I was not there so I don't know how big the bags actually were.
If they were oversize as the poster said then they needed to be checked.
However most fas would not bother to try to place oversize luggage in a OHB which makes me think they probably were not as large as the Op claimed.
Last edited by Chicken or Beef; Apr 26, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Apr 26, 2009 | 8:25 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: CO Gold
Posts: 3
[QUOTE=Chicken or Beef;11648807]
The backpack definitely could not fit under the seat. It seemed more like a hiking backpack than a school bag. The suitcase could not fit in the overhead bin without the wheels sticking out, that is why the fa turned another suitcase the long way and removed my laptop bag. I guess I was somewhat surprised that the fa told me and not asked me to place my bag under the seat in front of me. It seemed like I violated some rule. Of course I do not want to cause any trouble but I believe I was giving up something to someone that clearly abused the carry on rules.
In the future I can put the bag in the space under the seat in front and after the plane takes off, I can move it so I have the space for my feet. I did try to get the exit row but there were only middle seats left.
Oh boo hoo. Serves them right for trying to bring aboard bags that were larger than allowed. From the description, it sounds like they were larger than the "spirit" of one carry on and one personal item.
I might have had sympathy for the late boarding passenger in this case if it were a standard size roller-board and a briefcase or purse (ie, personal item). Not a "large backpack and an even larger suitcase".
That will never be me because I never carry anything huge onto the plane.]Quote
I was not there so I don't know how big the bags actually were.
If they were oversize as the poster said then they needed to be checked.
However most fas would not bother to try to place oversize luggage in a OHB which makes me think they probably were not as large as the Op claimed.
I might have had sympathy for the late boarding passenger in this case if it were a standard size roller-board and a briefcase or purse (ie, personal item). Not a "large backpack and an even larger suitcase".
That will never be me because I never carry anything huge onto the plane.]Quote
I was not there so I don't know how big the bags actually were.
If they were oversize as the poster said then they needed to be checked.
However most fas would not bother to try to place oversize luggage in a OHB which makes me think they probably were not as large as the Op claimed.
In the future I can put the bag in the space under the seat in front and after the plane takes off, I can move it so I have the space for my feet. I did try to get the exit row but there were only middle seats left.
Apr 26, 2009 | 11:48 pm
#22
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I think that the flight attendant was out of line. Elites board first for a reason: we get the storage space. If someone is late, too bad; let them check their bags.
Apr 26, 2009 | 11:51 pm
#23
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Yeesh...do you guys really think this would happen if the passenger's response is civil?
Seriously...we're all working together here. We don't want to gate check anyone's things if there's a workable solution on board. All you have to do is politely say it'd be best if we can find space for it since I have such long legs. I'm willing to bet that 95% of the time, there is space to be found for a small laptop bag if everyone is willing to work together and be accommodating. A little civility and professionalism (from ALL parties) goes a long way.
Seriously...we're all working together here. We don't want to gate check anyone's things if there's a workable solution on board. All you have to do is politely say it'd be best if we can find space for it since I have such long legs. I'm willing to bet that 95% of the time, there is space to be found for a small laptop bag if everyone is willing to work together and be accommodating. A little civility and professionalism (from ALL parties) goes a long way.
Apr 27, 2009 | 2:22 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 277
Hi everyone, I have been enjoying all the posts on this forum for a long time. I fly LAX-EWR-LAX 10+ times a year. I have enjoyed being a CO elite because it allows me to board the plane before most passengers. I am 6'6 and need all the space in economy. Recently I had a situation in which I would like to have some input. On my last EWR-LAX trip, I placed my laptop bag in the overhead bin. As I watched the passengers board the plane, there was a particular single passenger that had a very large backpack and an even larger suitcase. I was really surprised that they let him board with all that luggage. Anyways he was having trouble finding a place for all his stuff. A flight attendant tried to find space around his seat area which was 3 rows in front of me. As she made it backwards, she open the overhead bin above my row, rotated a suitcase, and took out my laptop bag. She asked whose bag this belong. I raised my hand and she said you need to place this bag under your seat. Now my knees are already touching the the tray table so the space under the seat is very valuable to me. Would it have been OK to decline? I did not want to make a scene but it is a long flight.
Apr 27, 2009 | 3:58 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: nyc
Programs: CO Plat & MP 1K
Posts: 870
Before I would of nicely asked you to do that, I would of checked one of this guys bags. I ask the agents to watch the bags and I watch them like a hawk when I work lead. We have a red coat in ORD that I wish I could carry with me to board all my flights. She won't let you past her if you have two bags or more and she charges you or whatever you tried to skip paying at check-in. AWWW! I love her!
Apr 27, 2009 | 6:55 am
#26
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
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Apr 27, 2009 | 7:18 am
#27
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NE
Posts: 195
[QUOTE=COEWRFA;11650033] In all reality though, small bags are to be stowed under your seat and the larger bags go in the bin.
Well, it would be nice if that happened, but it is not a requirement. Many times PAX will notice me looking for space for a larger bag and will offer to put their smaller bag under their seat (which is much appreciated), but I never go around telling people they have to. Sometimes that's all they brought on board, and that's the reason they travel light (like the OP), to keep the legroom.
Well, it would be nice if that happened, but it is not a requirement. Many times PAX will notice me looking for space for a larger bag and will offer to put their smaller bag under their seat (which is much appreciated), but I never go around telling people they have to. Sometimes that's all they brought on board, and that's the reason they travel light (like the OP), to keep the legroom.
Apr 27, 2009 | 7:48 am
#29
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
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There was a long discussion of this in this thread over at the WN board recently. The problems I see on all airlines are:
1) No enforcement of the one bag and one personal item limit (i.e., people with three or four bags); and
2) No enforcement of baggage size limits, I've been seeing more and more of those large wheeled garment bags which barely fit in the overhead and basically take up as much room as two roll-aboards that are the proper size and will fit in with wheels in/out.
1) No enforcement of the one bag and one personal item limit (i.e., people with three or four bags); and
2) No enforcement of baggage size limits, I've been seeing more and more of those large wheeled garment bags which barely fit in the overhead and basically take up as much room as two roll-aboards that are the proper size and will fit in with wheels in/out.
Apr 27, 2009 | 7:49 am
#30
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Dilligaf
Posts: 474
They're back. I don't know why though. I have yet to see one agent use them. Furthermore, I have yet to see one agent enforce the carry-on restrictions. When the bag sizers were first rolled out, there was a memo stating that agents would be using them, and that an agent would be posted at the security checkpoints to redirect pax with too many or oversized carry-ons. I would like to know whose idea this was, and how much money they wasted on those sizers.