Designated Overhead Space
 

I had a thought recently about how their are BIN HOGS who take up half an overhead bin & rush to board first so they can do this. Leaving Little to NONE for the rest of us.

What do you think if airlines had compartments in the overheads assigned to each specific seat. Enough room for a rollerboard to go in wheel first. If you had more than this you would be forced to GATE CHECK something. I know I have travelled with my coat in my lap because there was no space in the overhead. And I am lucky if I even have room for a small backpack I carry on with my laptop. (I check my main suitcase already)

While I am sure some will not like this policy, I am sick of hearing people say that others are using THEIR bin space & also not being able to find any because some FF took up half of a bin with all their junk.

There's not enough space for that.

On the AA narrowbody 757's, in coach, there are 2 bins on each side for every 3 rows. If you can get 3 rollerboards wheels first, that's 12 spots for 18 seats. Not to mention that there's no bin space at all over the first row or two.

On the 2x3 MD80's, 3 rows have 15 seats, but the 2-side bins aren't deep enough for a wheels-first bag. So 4 bags on that side, 6 on the other, and you have 10 spots for 15 pax.

Yes, the FF's get to board first, but the majority of us are courteous enough not to hog the bins, and experienced enough to stow our bags to use the least space possible (wheels first, coat on top, etc). I think one solution would be better instruction about the wheels-first orientation for the less-frequent traveller. I once had an FA stand at the front of coach, and tell each person with a rollerboard, individually, how to stow the bag. That worked well. But usually all you get are the loudspeaker announcements that most pax just tune out anyway...

All it takes is a bit more effort to avoid people boarding with over-sized cases and a lot of the problems would go away.

I find it quite incredible just how many people are using bags that don't stand even a remote chance of fitting into the sizer yet still are allowed to board carrying them.

And then they jam up the aisle for 5 minutes while they try to wedge it into the overhead bin.....:td:

As many will tell you a key perk of Gold/Plat/Exec is to be able to board first and not worry about bin space. That said, what really gets me is the "don't touch my bag/jacket" people. You know the ones who still a small backpack in the space a wheels first bag could fit.

When you ask if you could move it to the other side so your bag will fit, they either freak and say "don't touch it" or roll their eyes and act like you are attempting to pull off there um... toe. And to even hint that they may be able to fit it under the seat....would get you the icy stare of hate.

It's certainly a valuable perk to me. I miss it when forced to fly other airlines. It sucks to be a FF nobody!

That said, the Gold/Plat/EXP fliers with first dibs on bin space also (often) know the aircraft and their luggage. Never, emphasis never, have I taken aboard a carryon that failed to fit.

Interesting first post from the OP.

Possible Answers
 

I knew that someone would point out how there is not enough Overhead BIN Space for everyone onboard. So my thoughts are, that with the discussions going on over selling advertising on Overheads, that they get some company to replace all overheads with roomier ones & such.

I dont currently have to pay for checking 2 bags, so I usually check my luggage. But I do however always carry a backpack with my laptop & do not want to be separated from it. And with AA talking about going ALA-CARTE pricing, selling bin space like locker rentals will be possibly next.

I would also endorse more RIGID enforcement of carryon rules & sizing issues. I am tired of hearing whining from Leisure travelers about how much stuff they feel like they are entitled to lug onboard & such.

Overall, I want to see something fair for me & everyone else I am forced to travel with. Dont like confortations & issues in my life.

I don't care about fairness. I want overhead space for my stuff. As an EXP, one of the principal perks is early boarding, which means early claim to overhead space. Other than being careful about how I store my stuff so as not to be inefficient with the space, I don't really care if the latecomers don't have adequate space.

Yes, I would give you the ice stare of hate if you recommend I put my bag under my seat inconveniencing me for your flying pleasure. I typically check my bags and put my roll aboard in the overhead bin. I am taking up one slot, which I feel I am entitled to. If I had a little bag pack, maybe, but I am tall and I need my legroom.

So no, I am not going to move my roll aboard under my seat so you can put your roll aboard there.

I wish that were really true. I think most of the folks here are considerate enough, but I have seen way too many cases of the opposite. And, in most cases, it really seems like the person is not being a jerk intentionally- the really seem to have no idea that it will fit wheels first, and just go sideways, or throw 2-3 reasonable large things up there (OK, the last one is more on purpose :)). I've seen the sense of entitlement taken beyind reasonable on too high a percentage of flights, unfortunately.

Cheers.

To the extent that the person with the smaller bag has no other luggage, I believe it would be out of place to ask him/her to put it under the seat in front of them and reduce his/her leg room. Why should a pax who boards before you eat leg room merely because you have a larger bag?

Enforce the one item up, one under the seat...
 

my biggest pet peeve is when people rush on and put their huge rollaboard up, followed by multiple smaller bags and jackets leaving no room for anyone else. One bag up there is fine, but if you're flying coach, that precious jacket that you've folded neatly in the space my bag could go WILL NOT stay that way. If you want your jacket hung nicely, fly first class. If you want your jacket up in the overheads, be prepared to have it squished in. Icy stare or not - unless that's the only item you have up there I will move it and squish it over to put my ONE bag up there. If you've put multiple bags up there and the bins are full before others can put one bag up, take the smaller one down and put it under the seat.

I have a 22" rollaboard that requires a bit of "bag english" to slide it in. Not much, but takes a moment to get the wheels over the lip. On a full flight, I put my briefcase at my feet. Not so full flight, briefcase overhead. That's the advantage of being a EXP/PLT in my book.

If I have a coat and plan to be in Y, then it goes on my lap. I'd rather have a hot lap than a wrinkled jacket.

Cheers,

-Andrew
wrapping up 19 days with two carry-ons

Ah the New Yorker who will intentionally make sure to squish the jacket just because it's there. Gotta love it ^ As a new Yorker myself, I do have to admit feeling like doing that. But I actually won't do it on purpose- maybe I've been in California too long.

(Of course, if it happens anyway, sue me :))

Cheers.

Fly in J or F or get status, and quit complaining. Privilege comes with privileges. Pick a bulkhead row and you won't have to pine over putting stuff under the seat as there is no seat.