US to Cancun Overhead Bin Availability?
 

I have taken many flights from the US to Cancun and back throughout the years and always fly with either delta, jetblue or american. With delta and american, I almost always book the basic economy which is the cheapest flight. With jetblue, it is jetblue blue which isn't the cheapest since jetblue basic is but I can't book that because I have a carry on and jetblue basic doesn't allow that. So I have a checked bag, carry on and a personal item with me. Now throughout my trips flying from the US to Cancun and vice versa, not once have I ever had no overhead bin available. There were 2 times I believe where I didn't have overhead bin space available next to my seat but had to go down several seats to put my large messenger in the overhead bin space. That to me isn't that big of a deal.


With jetblue blue, there always seems to be overhead bin space. And since you aren't boarding last and most people are jetblue blue customers... that would mean pretty much everyone will get overhead bin space from the US to Cancun and vice versa right or not? The thing is since they have some jetblue basic customers which aren't allowed a carry on, isn't this going to free up more overhead bin space compared to delta and american? I have heard from others that if you are basic economy with delta or american, there is a good chance there isn't overhead bin space since you board the last group. American you board last group at group 9. Delta you board last group at group 7. However, lot of people say if you are flying american, if you are groups 7-9 you are almost always going to have to gate check your bag. Is there truth to this or not based on your experience? The thing is you if you pay extra to be main cabin, that is still group 8 on american though? Now with delta if you pay more for main cabin, you only go from group 7 to 6 right?


What I want to know is to any Americans who has fly to Cancun from the US and vice versa, did you ever had a situation where there was no overhead bin space and you had to gate check your bag? If so, what carrier was it with and where did you fly from or to from the US? Do certain US cities you are flying from or back to with your trip to Cancun or back home mean more likely of overhead bin space or not? I have never once had to ever gate check my bag since there was always overhead bin available even when boarding on the last group on delta and american. Some people say that is extremely rare but maybe those people are talking about domestic flights as oppose to international? Also since Cancun is a tourist destination for Americans, would there typically be more overhead bin space or less?


The other thing is when flying from the US to Cancun, I typically fly during the weekdays and earlier during the week. So does that have something to do with it as I'm flying on non busy days from the US to Cancun? Then again, I had many flights where they are certainly full and even they announce it's full. Yet there is still overhead bin space? Now when flying back to the US, I typically fly back later in the week on the weekdays and there was always overhead bin space as well. Also many times they said the flight was full as well. But if you fly back on busy days, then will be more chance of no overhead bin space?


So based on this, does this mean rarely there is no overhead bin space availability for people who fly from the US to Cancun and vice versa then whether you are the last group to board on delta or american? I think this almost never happens on jetblue? But the most likely is american? I'm curious if people who fly to Cancun from cities like Miami or other places ever had no overhead bin space when going to Cancun or vice versa and had to gate check their bag?

I think you are asking: From which hubs and with which airlines and on what days of the week is there likely to be more overhead bin space, even if I board in a late boarding group?

Weekends are nuts to and from CUN, especially as we move into the high season. I'm beginning to wonder, though, how low the low season is anymore. Tourist figures to Cancun and the Riviera Maya have more than rebounded from their pre-pandemic levels. Tourism is booming all year, except during the height of hurricane season in the fall. Flights are full.

Here's what it comes down to me: If you have to gate check your bag, you do it. You can't predict in advance what will happen if you board in a late group. You make sure anything you need during the flight and cannot afford to lose (money, credit cards, wallet, medications) stays with you. You pick up your bag at baggage claim on arrival. CUN airport has greatly streamlined immigration procedures on arrival with the e-gates and the elimination of the tourist card requirement for many visitors. That's the good part. Baggage claim is the same old bottleneck it always was, though. :(

Yes that is what I'm asking. But I want experiences from people who has flown to Cancun and back to the US for previous years, not just recently. Also was it high season or low season or when. I have flown to Cancun from the US and back many times and I never experienced even one time where there was no overhead bin space and I that I would have to gate check my carry on with delta, jetblue or american. So I want to know has anyone here experienced this when going to Cancun from whichever US city they are flying from or vice versa.


I would want the experiences of people who bought a basic economy ticket and thus are boarding the last group with delta or american and if this is common or not. Like say someone who has flown from Florida to Cancun and vice versa for their daily yearly trip there and if they ever had to gate check their carry on because they boarded last group and thus no overhead bin space left. Again, I heard this is very common when with american and if you are in groups 7-9 but I flew with american several times and am last group everytime and still there was overhead bin space. So maybe it has more to do with it being domestic flights and people not wanting to pay for checked bags so many have a carry on? But with cancun, since it's a tourist destination... do people typically have a carry on or less.


The thing is I have been on flights where it was announced the flight is full. Yet there was still overhead bin space. So I would like to know who here didn't had overhead bin space when going from the US to Cancun or vice versa? If so, was it basic economy and you were the last group? Has anyone had this happen when paying for a main cabin ticket with delta and american? The issue here is you only going from group 9 to 8 in american and 7 to 6 with delta. Now are there people who didn't have overhead bin space with jetblue when buying jetblue blue which is the lowest ticket one can purchase with jetblue where you are allowed a carry on? I got to assume this rarely if ever happens? Yea and what days they fly as well. The thing is I rarely flown on the weekends so that is another big factor? However, I had weekday flights that were packed though but there still was overhead bin space. So unless it's the weekend and almost everyone has a carry on, only then no overhead bin space available? I mean on each side of the 3 seats of the plane, it is typically 2 carry on bags that fit right? So if on average only 2 out of the 3 people have a carry on, then everyone on a flight will have overhead bin space? Is the math here correct?

What if you’re flying with multiple electronics and are concerned that they won’t fit under the seat in front of you? Do you check computers?

(1) No matter what people's experiences have been, until your particular flight is boarding and your group is called, and you board will you actually know what will happen, even if 99% of the people responding have had nothing but ample space; and
(2) Hasn't this already been hashed and rehashed in at least a couple of other airline-specific threads?

The simple fact is that if you have "compliant bags" and you want to insure the fit, you must insure that you are in an earlier boarding group. And that can cost more money. Anecdotal experiences don't help anyone when one must insure space at your time of boarding. If I needed to insure that I had space and I'd have to not take the flight if my hand luggage needed a gate check, I'd not risk this. End of discussion.

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A variation of this question has also been asked and answered in the Delta, JetBlue and the American forums - two separate threads were started and later merged in the AA forum - as well as TravelBuzz. In all of these forums, the discussion has been going round in circles.

It is against the FlyerTalk Rules to post a topic or question more than once or in multiple fora.

This thread is closed.

TWA884
Moderator