Bin Space ediquette
 

I'm 5'10" so even if I am in coach I can put my laptop bag under the seat in front of me and eek out a small sliver of space to stretch out a leg. I never have a problem in F.

So unless you are tall, it is a matter of courtesy to utilize the space under the seat in front of you to minimize the battle for overhead bin space, to enable as many passengers as possible to store their luggage and to allow the plane to leave on time by getting everyone aboard quickly. Why is that so difficult to comprehend?

I 100% agree that until I see a specific name etched on the inside of a bin, I have the right to stow my bag any bin near my seat. If someone b*tches, they either have to board faster than me or tell the guy who stole *my* space to move *his* stuff.

Personally, I don't think courtesy extends to my having to put my relatively small bag under seat so someone has space for their monster rollaboard. If I've brought two, yeah. But I'm just as entitled to space as they are.

Agreed! While I usually want my bag in the seat back in front of me so that I can access it easily during the flight, I don't see the logic that someone who rolls the giant case on the plane is somehow more worthy of OH space than someone who may have paid to check a bag or at least made the time and worry commitment to check the back so that he/she could have foot space.

What F cabins are you guys sitting in? Most of the ones I've been on have little to no room under the seats.

The DC-9 in FC is the only one that is difficult to get laptop bags for both passengers under... Honestly, if you can't fit it under the seat of a Mad Dog easily, you may want to reconsider what you tote.

...and seriously, if you stick it under your seat, you can move it under your legs after take off. I say this a someone who's head hits the ceiling on almost every plane type...

Finally. Someone who agrees with me. If I go to the trouble to check my bag, those DYKWIA's can check their gigantic rollaboards too. I don't want to hear any whining about how much (or how little) space my laptop bag is taking in a bin.

Most of my comments come from most of my experience in Y. I've been two years out of F (on AirTran) and only recently became FO on Delta. So, for my UG's, I've been picking bulkhead seating... so, there's no seat in front of me anyway. :)

But you're right... there isn't much room under the seats no matter where you sit. Picture my laptop bag. It's more of a backpack than a briefcase... and it's stuffed to the gills with laptop, laptop charger, cell phone chargers, necessary paperwork, a book to read, maybe a magazine or two, oh and that rollup flexible keyboard I need while on job-sites.

Well I feel bad for the Silvers who when upgraded (albeit rarely) must sit under the FC seat. When you add a LT bag it gets really claustrophobic for them ;)

For US Domestic flights there are some very simple rules and some very simple courtesies regarding carryons. Courtesies are just that - courtesies.

The rules are -

Two carryons, one is of the personal size nature and both need to fit in the sizer. They need to fit completely under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin. Personal items - purse (absent kitchen sink), briefcase, laptop bag or similarly sized item. If it has wheels it is probably not personal sized. If you can't lift it, it probably isn't a carryon. Operative word is CARRY.

Simple courtesies -

If you brought two carryons on board, place one under the seat in front of you. If you brought only one, you do what you want with it. If you are in the bulkhead you have no choice.

Try and put the larger carryon in the overhead bin near where you are sitting. If you are in coach, that would be coach. If you are in the last few rows of FC, then put it in the last few rows of FC. If you are an FA, don't put it in the FC bins.

Overhead space is shared space - there are no assigned overhead bins - other than the FC/Coach convention it is first come first served.

If someone has their bag in the space above your head - ask before you rearrange it. By no means remove it.

If someone asks "who's is this" and you don't answer if it's yours means it is getting off the plane. No FA can keep an unclaimed piece of luggage in a bin - coach fliers who use FC bins, please take note.

Inspite of "easy view/easy out", the tradition is to store bags above your head, not across the aisle. If there is space above your seat, use it. Don't use space above someone elses seat unless the space above yours is occupied. It is especially rude to store your bag over 2A when sitting in 4A if the space above 4A/B is vacant and there is no one sitting in 2A or 2B.

As for the storage under the seat in front of you? It is the seat in front of YOU, not the seat in front of me. Slipping your purse under 1A is using up 2A's foot space. Reclining is a different matter.

Coats - these go in the bin at the end, not the beginning of boarding.

Rollaboards - if they don't fit wheels or handle first putting them lengthwise is rude.

If you see a rollaboard lengthwise putting it wheels first WITHOUT checking to see the bin closes is rude, too.

If you are the last to board and there's no bin space - sucks to be you.

I'm sure I missed a few but other than the 2 carryon rule with its caveats, and the need to keep aisles clear, everything else is a courtesy, not an obligation.

Just to add: Row one has no under seat storage so for those 4 or 6 people they will put BOTH bags in the overhead. Not considered bad etiquette in those cases.

Could be. We have a couple hundred crew members who live all over the country so you could be sharing a flight with one of us on almost any route.

I'll be connecting through FRA and ORD on my way home Tue/Wed.