1st class overhead bins
 

We are flying 1st class Detroit-LA-Honolulu on 757s. I am guessing that boarding will most likely be through L2. My question is this... is there adequate overhead storage in 1st class for all 1st class passengers? Do I have to worry about fighting for overhead bin space? If the plane does board from L2 then most passengers will have to turn right while only 1st class and some comfort+ would have the opportunity to turn left. I don't want to have to gate check our carry ons.

Delta will always find room for bags of all first class passengers on board. On 757s you should have plenty of extra room.

Should be a non-issue. The boarding door should not matter either as the F bins are reserved for F passengers and FA's will likely enforce that at least until all F pax are accommodated.

To be clear, this presumes that your carry-ons are compliant.

As an FYI have had to gate check my bag twice (once on an MD-90 - closet was packed - and once actually on a 757) in the past 18 months despie being on a paid F ticket.
Short connections and boarded towards the end for both.

But yes they will do all they can to find space when in F.

If I'm connecting, I would just check the bag in the first place. DL is quick with delivery and you don't have to stress at all about baggage space, or lug your carryon around three airports.
(I guess if you're connecting from HNL to another island on a separate airline & ticket, checking the bag means you also would have to re-clear security, so I suppose that could change the equation).

My anecdotal experience is the passengers in F (as a whole) are more likely to violate carry on baggage policy than any other group. Moreover, they are (anecdotally) less-likely to put their personal item under the seat in front of them.

But, before an F pax is required to check a "legal" carry on, I've seen FA's pull the smaller carry-ons from the OH to make space.

My anecdotal evidence is very similar. However, I've also found that F passengers are more likely to store their bags overhead in a manner maximizing the bin space. I never see a bag placed horizontally unless it is a smaller bin.

I'm the OP. Checking the bag defeats the purpose. It will contain my meds, and other valuable items such as cameras and electronics that should never be checked.. Checking it is not an option. We do have a shorter connection time in LAX. Only 1 hr and 38 minutes. But unless something happens it should be adequate. Just may not be the first to board in our class in the second leg..

Unfortunately, they cannot guarantee anything. If they have to gate-check, they will make an announcement to remove medication, valuables, lith-io batteries, etc. But just because it's "not an option" doesn't mean that they won't do it if they run out of space.

If you want a backup plan for peace of mind, bear in mind that the space under the seat in front of you (presuming no bulkhead) is 100% yours. Bring a packable single use bag (<$10 on Amazon) and, if it becomes a problem, toss your meds and the valuables in that bag, carry it on and gate check the larger item.

Do bear in mind that this really is simply a peace of mind exercise.

Defeats the purpose of what?

I don't see any reason why those items have to go in a checked bag. You can still check everything else and just carry on those essentials, presumably in a smaller bag for which it will be easier to find space in the overheads. Or are you packing 2 bathing suits, 8 camera lenses and a DVD player? :)

Not a short connection.

I agree. I never put my personal item up until boarding is complete (unless I’m in row 1) and I put my personal item up about 80% of the time I am in F

Guilty as charged! I always put my laptop bag up to have free space for my feet:cool:
Though in my defense... it goes in standing-up against the side wall, so only takes about 4 inches of space and so far in many years of travel, never had to take it down to make space for someone else.