Remove overhead bins from all aircraft and this problem disappears. ^

I think they could reduce the problem by including the first checked bag in the airfare. I think they would only have to increase the fare by $5 per ticket because not everybody is checking a bag. I know I don't check a bag if I don't have too. I think the airlines should be required to allow for one checked bag until the TSA stops its war on liquids. I'm ok with airlines charging for a second checked bag.

How about charging double or triple whatever the check bag fee is for anyone who brings onboard oversized bags? I wouldn't do this for RJs where the overheads are lacking, but surely would for "regular" sized planes. Could do the same for people who bring on more than their allotment. Even more important than having this policy would be enforcing it.

We were delayed last week because they DID put alot of carry-ons in the measuring crate. What they didn't do is move these people aside - everyone had to wait while they tagged their bags, etc. and then let them board.

Exactly. Just enforce the existing rules and this wouldn't be a problem. I wouldn't mind if they went back to some kind of template that your carry-on must fit through to get through the screening process. Your bag doesn't fit? Go back to the ticketing desk and check it. Or, as said above, use the size-wise box. Your bag doesn't fit? It gets checked.

The carry-on bags that folks cram into the overheads (heaven forbid they have to put something under the seat in front of them) amazes me.

How about following the UK low-cost airline approach and allowing one, and one only, IATA size (56x45x25cm) carry-on into which everything (in most cases, Ryanair aside, also allowing one duty free shopping bag) must fit? And enforce it, with a punitive fee to gate-check it if you have more than one or it doesn't fit the gauge.

On a full flight on an A320 series, this tends to result in all the luggage just about fitting in the bins.

For those with Boeings, the Ryanair size of 55x40x20 fits better (the bins are smaller).

Neil

So many complicated or punitive approaches to this issue...

Here's my thing - I don't check bags when I business travel for one reason - Fear of a super-sized delay at baggage claim. One too many times I have waited 30-45 minutes for my luggage (on personal trips) for me to ever consider building in that much wasted time into a business trip.

1. Make checked bags free
2. Make the return of checked bags speedy

Do those two things and your problem goes away.

Along with a lot of business travelers. Where would you store your computer, jewelry, medicine, etc., in short anything you care to see again? You absolutely cannot check anything valuable.

It'll never happen now -- the airlines have become addicted to the revenue stream. Most airline profit now comes from incremental fees.

You have partially hit it. Considering most elites are exempt from checked bag fees and still choose to carry on tells you there are other forces at work. How is it desirable to have to lug multiple bags through security and have to keep an eye on in the terminal? Possibly because it's still more desirable than having to wait 45 minutes or an hour at the luggage carousel.

Also everyone assumes that the airlines really would like you to check your bags. A perfect flight for them is that everyone brings just enough small bags to fit in the overheads, and no more. Cuts down on baggage handlers at airports. From a pure economic perspective the airlines would love for you to bring on a full suitcase, have you sit down, and plop it on your lap.;)

Like you, I'll check when leisure traveling, only bringing the smallest bag possible to handle a laptop and any other valuables.

If airlines put every bag through the sizer and enforced the one bag plus a personal item, there would be no issue. If they did not check oversized bags for free at the gate, there would not be a problem.

Airlines collect just over $250 million, PER MONTH, in baggage fees. They lose somewhere between 3 and 4 bags for every thousand passengers.

I'm thinking the fees far outweigh any payments they have to pay for those ver bags they can't find.

If I carry on, I can land, have the parking lot bus pick me up, be in the car and half way home by the time my bags will arrive on the belt. I don't pay for bags, so it's not about money, but whenever I can, I will carry on so I don't have to stand around for 45 minutes watching an empty belt to round and round (or more)

I've made this point before so I apologize for repeating myself - THE CARGO COMPARTMENT IS "ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT WITH YOU" No airline guarantees that you can carry anything in the passenger cabin with you. If you are carrying something so valuable that you can't leave it out of your sight, then buy it a seat and you can strap it in next to you.

Due to the nature of my work I travel with a some very expensive (at least for me) tools. So I have to check luggage. Yes I qualify as an elite flyer (according to UA) and I don't have to pay for it. I do feel bad that the airlines are now charging for luggage, but they do, you know that up front so kvetching about it ain't going to fix anything.

In the over 11 years I've been traveling for work I've had exactly zero bags lost or stolen. I've had two or three bags delayed and then only one of them took more than a few hours to be delivered to my home or where I was staying.

My point is if they say you have to gate check a bag, then just do it. I'm sure I've had more time wasted by people playing DYKWIA or getting in some convoluted argument over why your bag has to be placed in the overhead. The way most of them are crammed in the overheads there in no way your going to be able to get access to them while in flight anyway. Not to mention delaying all the other passengers when it takes three teamsters and a crowbar to get it out of the compartment when the plane lands.

Carry on only what would fit in the space under the seat in front of you and then everyone's junk will fit in the overhead and we can all stretch our feet out relax (until the airlines realize that now they can squeeze in a couple more rows.)

That's my rant for the day ;)

In the more than 35 years I have been driving a car, I've had exactly zero serious accidents. But I still wear my safety belt and stop at red lights.

Checked baggage is completely insecure and prone to pilferage by TSA and the airline's handlers, each of whom blame the other in the event of loss. You would have to be very trusting and/or unwise indeed to blithely check anything valuable in baggage. It's like accelerating through a string of red lights. You might not get hit, but it's still dumb practice.

^^^ xackly

I also wear my safety belt on the plane and I haven't been in a crash once. There's a logical fallacy in your argument, I just haven't figured out which one.

While in my particular circumstance I am forced to check certain valuable items, I do not believe that I stated you should. I do however think that your chances of having your valuables stolen will be far greater from the hotel room at your destination than while in transit. While airlines will reimburse you for lost or stolen luggage (up to a very limited amount), most hotel, at least in the US, state they are responsible for nothing left in the room.

That said my point is that anything that valuable can be carried in a small personal carry on that does not weigh 50 lbs and can only fit in an overhead with hydraulic assistance. No one needs two weeks worth of clothing stored in the overhead. And I seriously doubt there is much of a market for stolen underwear and old t shirts.

Of course everyone's experiences and expectations will be different, But having 50 out of 75 people expecting to carry a 22 inch rollerboard on a RJ just ain't gonna happen. And all the threads about what bags are guaranteed to fit in which overhead or how those "elites" are the problem, etc, etc., still don't get to the truth of the matter - No airline guarantees that you can carry anything in the passenger compartment, only that whatever you are allowed to carry will be on board the aircraft.

I carry a backpack (check point friendly) that holds my laptop and accessories, a camera, and some other personal items. It fits in the smallest overhead (I'm talking Saab 340 small) and the rest gets checked. What irks me is when I'm expected to use the space under the seat in front of me because some one thinks his/her rollarboard should have preference over my backpack because it is bigger.

Your signature speaks to your experience so I respect your opinion and the reasons for them. I just think in this situation that telling every newbie and kettle that they should absolutely never ever check a bag is, how did my grandad say...pissing in the soup.

I carry a 21" rollaboard, and have always gate checked it due to the ERJ. However, it fits just fine on its side for tens of hours, with the top facing out, on a 773. The problem is that the ERJ's too small. In it would be a full change of clothes and multiple day's worth of socks/underwear, 1 or 2 snack bars, and other things. A change of clothes is nice after a shower to break up a really long trip, and would be absolutely essential in case of irrops - stuck on plane/airport, lost luggage, etc.

Not everyone is just going the few hundred miles, and frankly it's kinda annoying to have half the plane standing on the jetbridge to get their gate checked clothing when they would otherwise have checked it.