FA Rant
Oct 27, 2016 | 8:05 pm
#16
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,907
The FA probably should have been more careful, but I think the broader issue is that delicate items don't belong in the overhead bin due to the significant risk of damage. FAs don't say "be careful when opening overhead bins as items may have shifted during flight" for no reason.
Oct 27, 2016 | 8:10 pm
#17
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 177
Again, read more carefully. Im not glad about any damage. And the FA's subjective knowledge is not determinative of my sympathy level for someone with 2 items in the overhead bin.
Oct 27, 2016 | 10:03 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
I don't fully agree. I often check my small rollaboard specifically so I can put my backpack in the bin and have more room to stretch my legs. My backpack generally has a laptop and other electronics in it.
It is durable enough that it can be shifted around and bump into things during takeoff and landing with no issues. But I've seen FAs and other pax literally ram bags into bins over and over trying to make them fit, with a degree of force much greater than the shifting and bumping you can expect from flight.
I'm particularly sensitive to this as well as I also had a backpack on vacation once with a couple pretty sturdy (or so I thought) wooden souvenirs in it, wrapped in a fleece, no less. I also had a small tote bag with more breakable stuff (glass and ceramics) at my feet, so I put the backpack in the OH. At the end of boarding, an FA come up from the back with a full-size rollaboard, which he promptly shoved into the bin and did the ramming technique wedging my stuff to the side. I got up and literally had to pry my bag back out - the souvenirs made of 1" thick wood had been cracked/split in half.
So yes, it's fair for FAs to assume stuff in the bins is somewhat durable, but it's also fair for pax to assume their stuff won't be subject to extreme levels of abuse while up there.
It is durable enough that it can be shifted around and bump into things during takeoff and landing with no issues. But I've seen FAs and other pax literally ram bags into bins over and over trying to make them fit, with a degree of force much greater than the shifting and bumping you can expect from flight.
I'm particularly sensitive to this as well as I also had a backpack on vacation once with a couple pretty sturdy (or so I thought) wooden souvenirs in it, wrapped in a fleece, no less. I also had a small tote bag with more breakable stuff (glass and ceramics) at my feet, so I put the backpack in the OH. At the end of boarding, an FA come up from the back with a full-size rollaboard, which he promptly shoved into the bin and did the ramming technique wedging my stuff to the side. I got up and literally had to pry my bag back out - the souvenirs made of 1" thick wood had been cracked/split in half.
So yes, it's fair for FAs to assume stuff in the bins is somewhat durable, but it's also fair for pax to assume their stuff won't be subject to extreme levels of abuse while up there.
Oct 27, 2016 | 10:32 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
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Posts: 10,804
Let me re-word: what is the connection between number of bags in the OH and your sympathy for damaged belongings?
My point is that the number of items in the OH has no direct impact on the fact that they were damaged. It would be different if someone placed fine crystal in a plastic grocery bag up there (as an extreme example), since that indicates there was more they could have done within their control to protect their belongings.
I'm 100% with you on strongly disliking people who hog OH space, I just don't think it's relevant to OP's story.
Oct 27, 2016 | 10:33 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
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Oct 28, 2016 | 5:03 am
#21
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-SLV, QF-GLD, DL-PM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,353
FA should not smash anything, but it is good practice to put anything fragile under your seat instead of the overhead bin... lesson learned maybe for you and others.
Last edited by CPMaverick; Oct 28, 2016 at 5:19 pm
Oct 28, 2016 | 8:14 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,394
Wait...you mean I shouldn't put my faberge egg collection in the overhead? I put them in a canvas tote bag...they should be fine.
But seriously, I can see how it cuts both ways. You should have a reasonable expectation of your stuff not being smashed in the overhead, but on the other hand FA's have a job to do and not a lot of time to do it in. I think we've all seen FA's trying to cram bags into the overhead many many times, so this should certainly not come as a surprise that this could happen.
But seriously, I can see how it cuts both ways. You should have a reasonable expectation of your stuff not being smashed in the overhead, but on the other hand FA's have a job to do and not a lot of time to do it in. I think we've all seen FA's trying to cram bags into the overhead many many times, so this should certainly not come as a surprise that this could happen.
Oct 28, 2016 | 8:26 am
#23
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,628
Oct 28, 2016 | 8:31 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: AA Plat Pro, DL GM, Marriott LTP
Posts: 563
This. Or wait until all bags are stowed and then place valuable items in the overhead. The responsibility falls on both the passenger and the FA in this case.
Oct 28, 2016 | 8:45 am
#25
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA Silver (Soft landing), AS Titantium
Posts: 2,641
I would amend to say THINK not expect. I would also think people to be thoughtful in loading them too.
Considering real life and not concept, you should put fragile items under your seat and then in a bin later, if space is available. I have seen too many people with their jaws dropped and ready to cry.
Considering real life and not concept, you should put fragile items under your seat and then in a bin later, if space is available. I have seen too many people with their jaws dropped and ready to cry.
Oct 28, 2016 | 3:05 pm
#26
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: N/A (kid =! no travel :( )
Posts: 236
I normally check my luggage but keep my backpack which can easily be rather full with work laptop and personal laptop + other junk. As such, I put it in the overhead bin and it does annoy me when people think they can just move it or jam other stuff on it and I specifically tell them not to. Where else do you see people thinking they have the right to mess with someone else's belongings? It isn't just the FAs (they do have more right, but they also have more responsibility and more liability in my opinion). Luckily never had anything broken. I would hold the FA/airline responsible for anything they broke.
Oct 28, 2016 | 3:14 pm
#27
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,011
On a flight where I had my bag and a shopping bag from the terminal. Everyone boards but they always have the "last minute bag" they can't figure out where to put. They proceed to go to the overhead above mine and I stood up to move my shopping bag but too late as the FA jams the bag in effectively destroying everything in the shopping bag.
With that said I see this happen all the time (and got to experience it first hand with my items)
Is it at all unreasonable for the FA to ask if anything is fragile already in the overhead before shoving items in? Odds are the people who already are seat around that overhead bin are within hearing distance, and if they asked and no one answered then heck it's on that passenger.
Really in all honesty is it that hard for fellow passengers to do the same?
Thoughts?
With that said I see this happen all the time (and got to experience it first hand with my items)
Is it at all unreasonable for the FA to ask if anything is fragile already in the overhead before shoving items in? Odds are the people who already are seat around that overhead bin are within hearing distance, and if they asked and no one answered then heck it's on that passenger.
Really in all honesty is it that hard for fellow passengers to do the same?
Thoughts?
OP clearly states "I see this happen all the time". Well then, it's on YOU to protect YOUR items! Unless of course you insured for a higher value.....?
Oct 28, 2016 | 3:58 pm
#30
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
Programs: DL DM MM, BIS 2.5MM, EK Gold, SQ Gold, Marriott Gold, HH Gold, OW Emerald, HY Globalist
Posts: 5,515
I see we have the bag police now; dictating what constitutes a "bag" and what doesn't. My salad comes in a bag...