Helping stow others' carry-ons in the overhead
 

Why do people do this? I'm not referring to little old ladies needing help to stow reasonably sized carry-ons in the overhead, I'm talking about "carry-ons" (really, wheeled suitcases) that are so heavy you need two adults to lift it.

Here's an example:

US Airways 757 flight from PHL to PIT last week

This was a full flight, and as usual, it takes far too long to board because everyone is trying to squeeze their wheeled suitcases into the overhead bins rather than checking them into the cargo hold.

Normally I take a window seat for three reasons: 1) look out the window; 2) not have to get up to let someone else out (I only need to use the restroom on long flights); and 3) to avoid being bonked in the head by falling luggage.

My 9 year old son was hit on the head by falling luggage last June and went to the ER in San Diego as a result. He's OK, but I'm still kinda p.o.'ed that I lost $1,500 and a day of vacation as a result.

Anyway, on this US flight I got a middle seat assignment. I thought to myself, "Well, it's better than an aisle seat."

When I boarded the plane, I saw a woman sitting in the middle seat and a baby in a car seat in the window seat. Apparently she had selected aisle and window seat assignments with no intention of actually sitting the aisle seat. If she had chosen window and middle, I could have chosen a genuine middle seat and let someone else sit in the aisle seat. What is the point of letting people choose seat assignments they have no intention of using? I would prefer Southwest's open seating over seat games! :mad:

After I sat down in my re-assigned aisle seat, I saw a young woman trying to get her wheeled suitcase in the overhead bin. Her suitcase was so heavy, she could barely lift it off the floor! What did she put in there, osmium bricks?

A man offered to help her stow it in the overhead bin, so both of them try to lift it up. They didn't get a good enough grip and almost dropped it on my head!!!

Rather than continuing to sit and risk getting hurt, I unbuckled my seat belt and stood up while saying "Let me get out of the way to avoid a head injury from your suitcase that is too ****ing heavy." I stood by and watched them finally heave the thing up and into the overhead bin.

Please, people, do not help others stow luggage that is dangerously heavy in the overheads! All you do is encourage more people to bring heavy luggage.

Heavy luggage takes a lot of time to stow, will cause injury should it fall on the person sitting in the aisle seat, and if the total weight in the overhead bin exceeds its design limits, it may break apart in a rough landing, injuring several people.

I know airlines have gotten really cheap lately, but guess what, they still have these relics of the past called "baggage handlers" who will be happy to stow your suitcase in the cargo hold.

I checked my suitcase, and as usual, it arrived at my destination the same time I did. It is of legal size to be brought aboard, but I choose not to inconvenience everyone else and risk head injuries by letting the baggage handlers do their job. I bring valuables on the plane and risk losing my dirty underwear in the cargo hold.

I wish the FAA would institute the 8 kilogram carry-on limit seen in much of the rest of the world. Our flights could board faster, which reduces turn times and delays, thus improving aircraft utilization, and people wouldn't be going to the ER nearly as often when it's time to deplane.

If it's too heavy for you to lift, it's not really a carry-on, is it?

My philosophy has always been "if you can't get it into the overhead yourself, then don't take it as a carryon". But then again, I've also managed to fit my 20" rollaboard under the seat in front of me on a guppy when I had to

I totally agree. I take nothing more than a small rucksack on with me to keep my immediate needs with me. The flight i took over the weekend, DTW to ATL the guy in front was at the bulkhead and so insisted in stowing his laptop and carry on, under my feet. I rested my feet on his laptop, he must have been happy with that arrangement since he put it there. :D

Here in Europe airlines have weight restrictions for carry-on luggage - some are more generous than others, but for most airlines it's between 6 and 10 kilos. The only exception to this is Easyjet which has recently abolished its previous 6 (?) kilo limit in favour of a rule which says " You can carry it on if you can lift it into the overhead bin unaided".

Weight restrictions do get enforced - check-in agents won't weight every single piece of hand luggage, but if it looks heavy, or if you're not checking anything, then you will be asked to put it on the scales, and if it's over the limit you get the option of checking it or transferring heavier items into your hold luggage.

Why don't North American carriers introduce weight restrictions?

I flat refuse. and tell the person, "If you can't lift it, check it." ;)

Who will be the fool if it slips out of my hand and lands on someones head?
Who will pay for my back being injured?

My other favorite is a handicapped person that does not check luggage. OK, we have them in a wheelchair but now they have three rollons to tow behind them like a train. They will check a wheel chair and take two rollons on board for a three hour flight! :confused:

Having seen the wheeled wonders come down from the overhead bins in heavy turbulence when the compartment doors opened, I do have to wonder how airlines from the Land of Frivolous Litigation can allow such a practice, which airlines from other countries have identified as unacceptable due to the dangers involved.

It seemed that the same passengers who put on a pathetic show of lifting their bags, expecting assistance from others, were also unable to muster the strength to close the baggage compartment latches fully. Funny, they always seem to have strength in their elbows to push ahead of the rest of us on deplaning. But not enough strength in their mouth muscles to say "Excuse me" when running over others' feet with said wheels.

I help people all the time to put their stuff in overhead bins, and I don't see why not - especially if it is a pretty young lady, but I'd help anyone. There are a lot of people who have problems getting their stuff in there because they are not very tall, and I'm 6'6, so why should I not help them...

I don't help anyone either with their carry on luggage.

They brought it on, let them figure out how to stow it.

The amount of carry on luggage is out of control.

Face it- the airline employees don't want to deal with such things. They allow people on board who are so big they take up 2 seats and let the passenegr in the next seat deal with it. (See other threads here.) They frequently stand by and let passengers deal on their own when a family isn't seated together or someone is occupying the exit row or bulkhead seat you carefully reserved. Why should they police carry-ons when the passengers are willing to hoist each others' brick-filled bags into the overheads? (In fairness to the FAs on this one, I've heard they can't collect Workers' Comp if they strain their backs doing this because it's "not in their job description"- but why do the gate agents let it on board?)

As a 51-year old lady, I don't assist people who can't stuff their own bags into the bins- but I always make sure that I can handle my own without assistance.

Well... airline employees DO police carry-ons in Europe, and it generally works! As I mentioned earlier, there are weight restrictions which are enforced, and I've also seen gate staff confiscate bags on occasions if someone brought a large carry-on from a transatlantic flight, or somehow managed to sneak it past check-in. So - it can be done, it just needs a re-think on the part of the North American airline industry.

I'm willing to do a lot to facilitate on on-time departure and quick disembarkation. I frequently help people lift their hand luggage and retrieve it after landing. It's courteous and helps keep things moving.

As far as checking my own bag--I guess I'd see that on a case-by-base basis. I often limit my hand luggage anyway. It's easier on my shoulders and arms!

The European carriers are vicious about hand luggage. I don't know if we really need their level of strictness, but I certainly see the point.

It's also a lack of consideration for others. Hogging a whole bin with a huge piece of luggage restricts space for other passengers.

A lot of you are way too harsh on those of us who will not check a bag that may be too heavy for us to comfortably lift. I am the classic little old lady (5' tall, white haired, etc) that JS mentioned, and I travel with my camera equipment in a small roll on that I refuse to check now that we cannot lock our bags and theft is rampant. While the bag is small, it does not stow easily under a coach seat. It is heavy enough that I do need help lifting it up into the overhead bin and I have yet to be on a flight where someone didn't step forward to assist me. I have found that young ladies are especially helpful - while young men are not.

I hope I am never on a flight where I might need help from those of you who flatly refuse to help anyone. And yes, I always reserve the aisle seat - preferably right under my bag so if it falls out, it hits me and no one else.

Did you ever think about sending your equipment FedEx to your destination so young women don't pull their backs out hulling your baggage? If you can't lift it, that might be a sign that it is tooooooo heavy.

You're of course correct. There is going to be exceptions to everything though, I'd suggest this is one of those situations. I'd be happy to help :)