Headsets, Drinks, Overhead Bins, Cash Cows
 

What would happen if ... to raise revenue among other things ... airlines gave reservations for and charged for overhead bin space? After all, airlines do (or did) charge for drinks and headsets.

Due to space irregularities, only some of the bin space would be reservable. For example the airline might start with just the bin spaces just behind each bin divider. If that panned out, it would be increased to the bin spaces just behind and just in front of each bin divider. The rest of the space would be free for all as is the case today.

Your baggage would ahve to be size legal, and that would make it possible to at least partially predict how much space it would take up.

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The airlines love overhead bin space because it offloads the cost of handling bags onto the passenger.

Self service cuts the airline's cost. They would love it if you carried on all your bags!

Instead of your suggestion, which is very thoughtful, I could see airlines charging for each checked bag rather than just over weight bags.

Well AllanJ, I agree people should pay for overhead space, especially when 90% of travellers out there (AND I EXCLUDE MYSELF BECAUSE I NEVER TAKE BUT MY BRIEFCASE) take all their worldly possessions into the overhead bin of a Fokker 100.

The airline is paying a cost to handloe baggage and certainly charging us. Most out there who take their oversized pull-alongs into the cabins do so because they are too important to wait a little at baggage claim.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN CLOBBERED BY ROLLING LUGGAGE?

I do not enjoy it, especially from NEVER TRAVELLED FOLK sittingn in cattle class on international flights where they feel it is in theor best interest to jab you with an overfilled knapsack while minding your own affairs in Business Class.

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Bad idea. The boarding process takes long enough as it is. Having agents in the aisle tracking overhead bin inventory is the last thing you need during boarding.

I always figured the cost of a ticket included two checked bags. When I do not check any, I just waste the money. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

The airlines take liability for precious little in checked baggage, other than normal clothes, and getting recompensed for even that is frustrating and time-consuming.

Depending on the location, I've had checked luggage take as long as 55 minutes to appear. Even someone on holiday is too important to wait that long.

>>> The boarding process takes long enough as it is. Having agents in the aisle tracking overhead bin inventory...

But what if the overhead bin inventory was handled at the gate podium and, if technology was up tod ate, the front check in counters?

How can you keep track of overhead bin inventory from the gate?

I think the biggest problem is with oversized carry-on baggage. If everyone would take the time to be thoughtful of their fellow passengers and only use regulation sized carry-on and to take the time to put it in the overhead bin in a way that was not wasteful of space, the world would be a happier place.

BTW, having passengers carry on excess baggage is one of the reasons to be an elite frequent flyer - the early boarding is critical to ensuring having overhead space.

Great thread! The invenventory issue could be easily solved by getting a coded card, sticker, whatever printed out with boarding pass that must be placed with item in overhead. As FA's pass thru to close bins, anything without said ID gets gate checked to baggage hold or left behind for next flight if time is too short. I get sooo tired of being pummeled by carry-ons that have no business outside the cargo hold! Not to mention having your neatly placed silk coat and brief case destroyed by a psycho-posessed demon from hell pax as they stuff,crush and wad 200 pounds of oversize carryon into same bin. Oh, then there's the sport of trying to actually access said case in flight, if you can even find it anymore!

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Ken

you guys are nuts! Carry on's is how I live my life. To be charged for it is ridiculous.

Want to further destroy the airline industry? Implement this idea.

Never.