Do the right thing!
 

You should do your duty and report it to the FAA as a violation of a Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR). They're available 24 hours a day at 1-866-TELL-FAA (1-866-835-5322) or in writing at Federal Aviation Administration | Consumer Hotline, AOA-20 | 800 Independence Avenue, SW | Washington, DC 20591.

Specifically, FAR § 121.589 (Carry-on baggage) states: You witnessed carry-on baggage too large to fit under a passenger seat and therefore in violation of 121.589(c).

This is no light violation. In case of an accident, given the forces involved, an inproperly restrained carry-on can (and has) killed passengers.

where did you look this up?

If it didn't concern the military person, it wouldn't concern me.
If it is not an exit row, and it isn't blocking me, then I would let probably let the person it would affect address the issue.

Yeah, and while you're at it, why not tell them about the flight attendants not being "at their duty stations" at all times during the taxi or that below 10.000ft the pilots were talking about something non-safety related. Cmon, we all know the FAA isnt going to care about a carry on not being properly stowed. And even if they did care, it would take them about 20 years to do something about it.

You can look at it as "reporting" someone, but if you say it nice enough (and add a touch o' Southern to your accent :) ) you will probably be percieved as helpful, not reporting. (And, who cares if the FA thinks you were reporting her? It is you that has to trip over the bags to egress, anyway! Not her...she'll be screaming at you at the door telling you to "get out!") And, if someone asked for help with a bag, I would not think they were telling me how to do my job.....really. My goal at that particular moment is to get everything put away, so I can close the door.

Naaaahhh....there'd be national concern about giving me a badge and handcuffs!! ;)

Should I report this - I was in the exit row window and the woman in the exit row aisle seat (a) spoke no English and (b) did not walk well (hence why her niece or daughter asked me to sit in the window even though the window seat wasn't hers to begin with - long story). In case of an emergency I would have been the first one out, no problem. The flight was running late so the FAs did not do the "you're sitting in an exit row do you understand your job" check. Knock on wood, nothing happened on the flight, but isn't this a clear violation of the FARs as well?

And what is that a violation of???

It's a violation of some FAR...I believe in 121

it's 121.391, i just looked it up for you

(d) During takeoff and landing, flight attendants required by this section shall be located as near as practicable to required floor level exists and shall be uniformly distributed throughout the airplane in order to provide the most effective egress of passengers in event of an emergency evacuation. During taxi, flight attendants required by this section must remain at their duty stations with safety belts and shoulder harnesses fastened except to perform duties related to the safety of the airplane and its occupants.

Not worried about FA helping me with a bag, just getting the person across the aisle who is selfish by violating safety standards.

Obviously they closed the door with the bag not under the seat and this was bag that was too big to fit under the seat so not someone trying to hide their briefcase.

Sorry to say it had been a long day with little sleep so the odds of my 'reporting' coming off as helpful would not be good.

Actually I don't think you report this unless you know it to be a repeat problem (i.e. you say something at take off and then the same thing happens at landing), given that most people are not perfect. Or if the FA had a bunch of attitude about it that might earn a note to AA.

IIRC, sitting in the exit row does not entitle you to be first out the door, you agree to assist other passengers in addition to opening the door.

I've always thought about this issue, should you survive and others that survive report that you just jumped out and it's determined it cost others their lives. I would imagine there would be a few law suits.

And those lawsuits would be frivolous. Sitting in an exit row does not come with legally binding responsibilities. Now, if an FA jumped out first, THAT would be another matter entirely.

IIRC, what you are supposed to do is to exit yourself and stand on the wing helping people, if a wing exit. If not, you are supposed to pop the slide, hop out and slide down, and then stand at the bottom helping others get out of the way of the next passenger behind them, who is already sliding down. I don't remember anything about standing in front of the door to help people. I hope never to use that emergency exit, but if we should have to, you just go ahead and hop on out. I promise I won't sue. :)

I flew from LGA to CMH on Friday morning in that hiddeous storm. The person next to me was an AA FA deadheading on USAir. Everything was stowed properly, fortunately, because there was some serious down drafts (not to mention my favorite, side-to-side). He asked someone to put away their laptop after the person ignored the FA's order to put away all portable electronic equipment. Thank goodness for FAs!

In the years of flying, FAs have been extremely useful in emergency situations. 1) Delta L1011 catching fire on takeoff from SFO - excellent but firm FA support, 2) Delta L1011 ATL-SFO, microburst related to thunderstorm over Louisiana - again, great at having things stowed and placating scared passengers. And miscellaneous other times (aileron failure (twice) Delta, America West, compressor failures (three times) AA, America West, Delta. Only one on an AA flight (compressor faiilure on takeover at LAX in a 777 headed to DFW) - got 3,000 miles for that along with a nice form letter!

So, I wish everyone listened to their FAs.

I would guess that one of the reasons they ask for a verbal response is to ensure you have heard and understoodd the above which could be considered a verbal contract and additionally limits the airlines liability if you can't open and lift the door.

It wouldn't be a contract. I suspect its a compliance issue only.