Overhead etiquette question
Jun 4, 2018, 11:46 am
#76
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,040
Just boarded an E170 United Express flight DCA-EWR. I was the third passenger to board (Group 1) after two folks who boarded when they called for disabilities. Those two folks were placing their bags up over row 7 and as one said to the other “I always put my bag up front so I can get off quicklly“, then they both walked to the back. Since no one else was boarding yet, I asked the FA and he said there is no policy about bags and he can not say anything to passengers about overhead space, so they can put them whererever they want, regardless of where they are seated. I only asked because in the past I have boarded and not had any room left in 1st on that aircraft for my bag. Is that really correct that there is no policy and the FA is not supposed to say anything ?
Jun 4, 2018, 12:48 pm
#77
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,782
I think I am more annoyed by the "can I put my backpack/bag/bowling ball/etc. on top of your bag" (when what I have is a backpack) NO you cant! First off I am in the bulkhead so it would be nice to get my bag out when we get above X feet without a bunch of crap falling on me but more importantly I would like my sensitive & delicate electronic items in my bag to still function when I land. More annoying is when its a backpack and the person has room under the seat in front of them.
Please note I said I was in the bulkhead so I DONT have the option to put my bag infront of me.
Please note I said I was in the bulkhead so I DONT have the option to put my bag infront of me.
The fact that the person may have room under the seat in front of them is moot to the discussion. In my case that is where my feet need to go durign the flight.
Jun 4, 2018, 12:53 pm
#78
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 948
If you don't like it that's fine, but its a valid question for somebody to ask and 99% of people are going to say yes to the request. Honestly they're just being polite by asking. If there's room in the bin most people wouldn't think twice about just tossing their stuff up there without asking about it.
Jun 4, 2018, 7:46 pm
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,333
No this is not "annoying". When I carry-on just my backpack, I still put it in the OH bin. That there is space "under the seat in front of me" where it could go is irrelevant. I choose to check my suitcase instead so I can put one item in the OH bin and still have the room under the seat in front of me to stretch out. This is still a win-win for you, me, and everyone else because my backpack takes up less room than my roll-a-board would, thus still leaving more room for your and everyone else's bag while I still get the benefit of having better comfort. If you'd prefer, I can instead put my backpack in a roll-a-board sized suitcase so that it takes up more room in the OH bin and CANNOT go under the seat in front of me, thus still being a "win" for me as I still get the comfort aspect, yet a "lose" for everyone else as there is now less room because my larger roll-a-board is now taking up more bin space than just my backpack would.
Jun 4, 2018, 9:39 pm
#80
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Bloomfield, MI, USA
Programs: DL Gold
Posts: 694
Heck with that! If you don’t know how to stow your bag properly to maximize bin space, I’m doing it for you, like it or not. Just like I’ll move your shopping cart for you if you’re blocking the isle or I’ll speak to your child if you allow them to rampage unchecked in an inappropriate setting.
I’ll even pull bags out and hand them to people after we land.
I’m a damn Luggage Ninja. It’s how I roll. ;-p
Jun 5, 2018, 7:10 am
#81
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: delta, hilton
Posts: 19
Agreed. I always check my suitcase, and put my backpack in the overhead bin. My backpack normally has $2k worth of electronics that I travel with for work, and no way do I want that near my feet. I have had more than one occastion been asked by the attendant to put it under the seat instead of in the bin, I always refuse. I also watch it during the boarding process to make sure no one tries to cram stuff in around it where it shouldn't be.
Jun 5, 2018, 7:25 am
#83
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
It's a zero-sum game for passengers. Just like many things.
In a typical narrow-body mainline aircraft there is not enough OH space to accomodate all "legal" carry-ons. That is even true in F and C+ where there is theoretically dedicated space.
Better FA's appreciate this and enforce the rules rather than pleasing customer A at the expense of late-boarding customer B. There are those who will accept a refusal to place a small bag under the seat and there are those who will offer the option of gate-checking if the bag is not moved.
The ultimate solution is to further limit carry-ons and enforce those rules. I'm all for the tough enforcement of "under seat" and thus allow the OH to deal with as many larger bags as possible.
In a typical narrow-body mainline aircraft there is not enough OH space to accomodate all "legal" carry-ons. That is even true in F and C+ where there is theoretically dedicated space.
Better FA's appreciate this and enforce the rules rather than pleasing customer A at the expense of late-boarding customer B. There are those who will accept a refusal to place a small bag under the seat and there are those who will offer the option of gate-checking if the bag is not moved.
The ultimate solution is to further limit carry-ons and enforce those rules. I'm all for the tough enforcement of "under seat" and thus allow the OH to deal with as many larger bags as possible.
Jun 5, 2018, 7:42 am
#84
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SFO/TPA
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 199
It's a zero-sum game for passengers. Just like many things.
In a typical narrow-body mainline aircraft there is not enough OH space to accomodate all "legal" carry-ons. That is even true in F and C+ where there is theoretically dedicated space.
Better FA's appreciate this and enforce the rules rather than pleasing customer A at the expense of late-boarding customer B. There are those who will accept a refusal to place a small bag under the seat and there are those who will offer the option of gate-checking if the bag is not moved.
The ultimate solution is to further limit carry-ons and enforce those rules. I'm all for the tough enforcement of "under seat" and thus allow the OH to deal with as many larger bags as possible.
In a typical narrow-body mainline aircraft there is not enough OH space to accomodate all "legal" carry-ons. That is even true in F and C+ where there is theoretically dedicated space.
Better FA's appreciate this and enforce the rules rather than pleasing customer A at the expense of late-boarding customer B. There are those who will accept a refusal to place a small bag under the seat and there are those who will offer the option of gate-checking if the bag is not moved.
The ultimate solution is to further limit carry-ons and enforce those rules. I'm all for the tough enforcement of "under seat" and thus allow the OH to deal with as many larger bags as possible.
Jun 5, 2018, 8:58 am
#85
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: flyover country
Posts: 2,434
Sorry for the novice question, but what is the minimum size rollaboard that will not fit under the seat?
I thought I read in another thread just recently that someone spilled a drink and it got into the bag under the seat. (Of course, it was reported from the point of view of the owner of the bag, not the person spilling a drink.) If I'm remembering correctly, that would be something wrong with electronics (and many other things) being under the seat.
I thought I read in another thread just recently that someone spilled a drink and it got into the bag under the seat. (Of course, it was reported from the point of view of the owner of the bag, not the person spilling a drink.) If I'm remembering correctly, that would be something wrong with electronics (and many other things) being under the seat.
Jun 5, 2018, 9:45 am
#86
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 948
The last time I checked my rollaboard so I could put my smaller bag in the OH instead of where my feet want to go, the FA insisted I put the smaller bag under the seat in front of me. I won’t make that mistake again. My rollaboard always gets rolled aboard now and it takes up twice as much room in the bin as my smaller bag. Brilliant.
Jun 5, 2018, 11:18 am
#88
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,221
I don't think there's really an answer to this "conundrum" of overhead vs. underseat that will satisfy everyone.
If all pax were entitled to put one bag in the overhead, there wouldn't be enough space for everyone.
So if you only bring on a backpack and insist on putting it in the overhead, frankly, that makes you selfish. Not wrong, just selfish. (Unless you're in bulkhead and have no choice).
Of course anyone bringing on two bags could also be seen as being selfish (*especially* if they are both put in the overhead -- again exempting bulkheads).
The overheads are shared space. The more of it you use, the more selfish you are.
Getting a full/nearly full plane out will require some/many passengers to put smaller bags under the seat in front. Fortunately, many passengers don't have an issue doing this voluntarily, and it's actually more convenient. But get a plane full of FTers and it seems there won't be enough room overhead. 
Not sure I really buy the "$2k worth of electronics" argument. Any business laptop worth its salt is worth that much alone. They should also be backed up and insured. And how often does a glass of water spill without someone realizing it before the damage is actually done?
If all pax were entitled to put one bag in the overhead, there wouldn't be enough space for everyone.
So if you only bring on a backpack and insist on putting it in the overhead, frankly, that makes you selfish. Not wrong, just selfish. (Unless you're in bulkhead and have no choice).
Of course anyone bringing on two bags could also be seen as being selfish (*especially* if they are both put in the overhead -- again exempting bulkheads).
The overheads are shared space. The more of it you use, the more selfish you are.
Getting a full/nearly full plane out will require some/many passengers to put smaller bags under the seat in front. Fortunately, many passengers don't have an issue doing this voluntarily, and it's actually more convenient. But get a plane full of FTers and it seems there won't be enough room overhead. Not sure I really buy the "$2k worth of electronics" argument. Any business laptop worth its salt is worth that much alone. They should also be backed up and insured. And how often does a glass of water spill without someone realizing it before the damage is actually done?
Jun 5, 2018, 11:46 am
#89
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum, etc etc etc
Posts: 2,341
It's a zero-sum game for passengers. Just like many things.
In a typical narrow-body mainline aircraft there is not enough OH space to accomodate all "legal" carry-ons. That is even true in F and C+ where there is theoretically dedicated space.
Better FA's appreciate this and enforce the rules rather than pleasing customer A at the expense of late-boarding customer B. There are those who will accept a refusal to place a small bag under the seat and there are those who will offer the option of gate-checking if the bag is not moved.
The ultimate solution is to further limit carry-ons and enforce those rules. I'm all for the tough enforcement of "under seat" and thus allow the OH to deal with as many larger bags as possible.
In a typical narrow-body mainline aircraft there is not enough OH space to accomodate all "legal" carry-ons. That is even true in F and C+ where there is theoretically dedicated space.
Better FA's appreciate this and enforce the rules rather than pleasing customer A at the expense of late-boarding customer B. There are those who will accept a refusal to place a small bag under the seat and there are those who will offer the option of gate-checking if the bag is not moved.
The ultimate solution is to further limit carry-ons and enforce those rules. I'm all for the tough enforcement of "under seat" and thus allow the OH to deal with as many larger bags as possible.
She had closed them so bulkhead had a place to put our bags. Then when all bulkheads (me being last) were on board she helped others by letting them put their bags in. No overhead space wasted and was a smart way to make me happy. Gave her a JWD for it!
Jun 5, 2018, 11:47 am
#90
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
My bag is always under my seat, and I've never had any problem with liquids. Obviously it's possible that something will happen but it would take an obscene amount to go through a bag plus padding etc and damage a laptop.
As for legroom, sure, everyone likes more legroom ceteris paribus, but in that case the value of the bag contents isn't really material
As for legroom, sure, everyone likes more legroom ceteris paribus, but in that case the value of the bag contents isn't really material
