Couldn't you put your medicine in your personal item like a briefcase or backpack?

I always travel with a laptop bag and place it under the seat in front of me. As soon as we hit 10k' I slide it out from under the seat on the floor, kind of underneath where my knees are. Best of both worlds. I like it close (not in a bin) because I use it for storage like a woman uses a purse.

Amen!!! ^^^

Exactly, its convieneint and polight to the other passangers who have rolerboards.

My personal item is my laptop bag. The medicine is a liquid pre-packed into ampules--bulky. To leave it in it's original packaging with the prescription label (necessary--as I said, it's liquid) means a cube about 6" on a side that holds 12 days worth.

No need to wait until 10,000'. It only has to be stowed for taxi, takeoff and landing. Once you're off the ground you can recline your seat, pull out the carry on and lower your tray table.

[References to now-deleted post edited by moderator.] I agree [edited by Moderator] that no one should touch someone else's luggage without asking first.
It doesn't matter if it's a small purse, duty free shopping bag or coat.

Does this extend to the FAs as well? Should they ask when rearranging bags to fit properly?

If just rearranging bags to fit properly (ie wheels first instead of sideways), I guess that's OK.
But if FAs removing a bag to store someone elses, then absolutely.
Even FAs would have to ask me.

Personally, I haven't had a problem with storing luggage because my upgrade rate has been 100% and I haven't flown Y for a couple of years now.

It was with some interest that I watched the "no laptops/coats in overhead bins" rule be STRICTLY enforced on an AA flight a month or two ago. I forget exactly which flight it was... STL to ORD, I think. Due to weather, flights to ORD were heavily delayed/being cancelled so there were a lot of standby pax making the flight full to bursting. (usually they are full-ish, but not jam packed) GA actually did announce 'when you get on the plane, please do not put any laptop bags/coats into the overhead bins as we will not have enough space' and there were numerous announcements made on the plane as well...

Well, as the last zone began boarding, lo and behold, there became no more overhead bin space because of coats/laptop cases/random small articles put into overhead bins. Cue taking-no-crap gate agent cruising on to plane and manually removing all coats/purses/laptop bags and chastising their owners. Long story short, it took about 15 minutes, but everyone learned their lesson on that flight and nobody had to gate-check anything. It was an impressive display. I saw a number of pax hand him an AApplause note.

And the problem with this is???

Fly More & Get A Better Seat

The airlines could cure this problem and speed up the boarding process by eliminating overhead bins. Put it under your seat. Doesn't fit? Check it.

Interesting idea, but of course it wouldn't work for those in the first row. But what if your storage area was under your own seat? I realize that in an emergency situatioin, a rapid stop would send everythin flying out from under seats. I bet that could be solved somehow, but probably would cost a gazillion dollars to retrofit...

And what if I put the laptop bag up there because I am in row one?

I have always been interested in what the seat pitch was when this rule was first implemented. I imagine it was way back in the first days of jet travel, when the seats were at a 35-38" pitch. With that seat pitch it's not such an issue, but when they cram the seats in at 31", then it's a whole different story.

When you're 6'3" and the seat pitch is 31", there are not many options regarding that precious space - that room under the seat in front of me is where my FEET have to go. Restricting that space actually makes me have to put my feet behind my knees, which means sitting in a position where my heel does not quite hit the floor. This is REALLY uncomfortable after a short time, and results in a very cramped ankle and toes. It's just an un-natural position.

I guess it's a matter of perspective. I'm 6'2" with a 36" inseam and I never, ever have to put my feet under the seat in front of me. My carry on goes under that seat and I have no difficulties.

And here is the perfect example of why the terms "overhead bins" and "etiquette" will never fit together. Some people are just selfish and/or inconsiderate, and there's nothing that can be done to change that. Human nature is generally not very appealing. :(

^This should happen on every full flight.

This is one of my pet peeves. I understand about the people who are 6'5", but on my AA flight last week some teenage girl put all her crap up in the overhead. So did everyone else (except me, it seemed).

Even worse is the way people don't stow things efficiently. At least if you're putting your makeup bag or computer bag up there, stow it vertically and sideways. People always seem to stick in everything lengthwise, way at the back, as though they're afraid it's going to fly out. I have seen flight attendants sometimes go through and re-arrange poorly organized overheads. I've seen passengers lay a purse flat, and then line up a sweater next to it so that they take up most of a bin. I guess they want me to squash my stuff in on top of it?

i also put my laptop bag/purse behind my feet as soon as we are in the air. my legs need all the room they can get.

and i bring a rollaboard, since the time united lost my luggage for good.

If the huge duffels and roller cases I see coming onboard every flight were checked as they should be, there would be plenty of room in the overheads. Airlines should be enforcing their own rules. Period.

I personally disagree here, as I am 6'4" with long legs and 13 inch long feet and I have never had problems in transcons or even in TATL's in cramped Y. Yes, it is not extremely comfortable, but you can always push your personal item to the side of the under seat storage so that you can have room for your feet. I realize that this isn't possible with most carry-ons, but I've never had problems with a medium-large backpack. I'd say now that I'm lucky because I have E+ and Exit Rows, so I don't have this problem any more, but I think that many people make a much bigger deal out of leg length than is valid.

That all being said, I personally take great exception to people who put their personal items overhead (unless they are in a bulkhead or an exit row with no storage) since it clogs up the overhead bins and delays the boarding process. Its simply a selfish thing to do. :td:

Agreed with leg room being such a big deal - when I used to fly Y TATL I never found leg room a problem at all really. I am 6'2" and I really have no problems sleeping on Y aslong as I am not surrounded by children/babies screaming the entire flight.

Agreed. I'm 6' 0" and 36" waist and my knees start hurting after about 5 hours cramped in a 31" UAL economy seat, forcing me to arrange myself and belongings in a very unsafe configuration (i.e. putting my legs under the seat in front of me and then putting my bag in the area where my feet should be, with my bag blocking my speedy and expedient exit should it become necessary.) Even at 34" pitch, I start having problems after 12+ hours.

IMO it's even worse on flights to Asia because for some reason Asian flyers love to bring things like pots and pans and other things that are better off checked on board.

Couldn't agree more. And then there's the trash dump most of 'us' turn the F cabin into, yet 'we' complain about the conditions of said cabins :rolleyes:

I, of course, am an exception to all of this as I am a model passenger :D

I always put my backpack or briefcase under the seat in front of me to spare overhead room for the people who need it. I did the trick that was mentioned earlier by pulling it out later and putting my legs under the seat in front of me.

I heard a new announcement on a DL flight last week where they said that all aisles must be clear at all times. They then said that this includes the space between seats; that this is also an aisle and your bag must remain under your seat throughout the flight or you are blocking an aisle. Fortunately, they never noticed.

I would never put my stuff under the seat in front of me, if I want to stick my bag and coat in the bin, get over it. I am not having someone spill their drink on their lap, wet themselves, puke, or somehow let any fluids come close to dripping or pouring on my bag or coat.

Have you ever tracked into an airport or a/c bathroom where the floor is soaked, and people put their feet in the space you all expect people to put their coats?! No thanks!

If I get on the plane last, and there is no room for my rolling bag because some teenage girl put her roller, purse, laptop bag, 3 shopping bags in the overhead bin - oh well for me! I will have the FA check my roller and FIND room to stuff my laptop bag.

I would never expect someone else to care about my needs, what kind of crap is that.

So, to sumarize this thread we have two groups:

Group 1: It is their right to store a rollerbag and their right to remove any non-rollerbag items from the overheads because they are entitled to bin space.

Group 2: It is their right to store whatever they want in the overheads and their right to refuse to put things under the seat in front of them because they are entitled to the bin space.


When did we all become so "entitled"? Use the golden rule and I think we'd all get along famously! I've personally never encountered anyone rude enough to remove my coat from the overhead without asking or my laptop bag (though usually I like that under the seat). I'm happy to let them take my coat out and put it back after they put their rollerboard in. We all are stuck on a crappy airplane in spaces that aren't even legal to keep war prisoners, so why not try and make it as enjoyable as possible.

If you moved mine I would just pull your rollaboard out and leave in the aisle. Making yourself the luggage police won't get you far with many passengers. If there were nothing but roller bags in the bins there would be no room left for others coats and briefcases. Just because I choose to only carry on a briefcase doesn't mean that you should get free and clear foot wells while I suffer with a bag beneath me.

My vote is every man, woman and child should fend for themselves. If you board late or the bins are full, tough luck.

This thread is hilarious.

Tell you all what, if the airlines start requiring people to put smaller items under the possibly nasty space in front of you, I would either get a cheap extra roller to put my laptop bag and coat into, or a bigger rolling laptop bag and check my luggage.

Problem solved.

Don't I exist?

I've advocated tags at check-in. One tag unless you're in a seat with no underseat stowage at which point you get two. If bin space runs out the untagged items come out. I want a fair system.

I like putting my laptop bag in front of me for easy/quick access.
I almost always put my roller board on top. The only time I didn't do this was on a UA 777 flight IAD DEN where I let another fellow pax put her stuff on top.

The good news is, we don't need bag police on the ground when it comes to confrontation. We already have REAL police on the ground to settle confrontations.:D

Hence most airlines policies that the bins are for roller bags and your under seat storage is your primary storage for personal items. Most of the people you talk about don't get free and clear foot wells while you are suffering, they have their personal items in their foot well, and their roller bag in the bin. It sounds like this take is that you think people should have to gate check, and get no foot well space, while you get all the foot well space at their expense. Why do people not understand the term "Sharing."

I usually only carry a brief case, and I put it in mu under seat primary storage. That is the airlines policy. It also allows for passengers who do have roller bags to put them in the overhead bins rather than gate checking. It’s just common courtesy to your fellow PAX. Where do people get this entitlement attitude that they should get whatever they want at the expense of others? I think that’s why the global economy is in ruins.

NWA's? I have never heard this expressed as their policy, and if it where, I would take my own advice as shown above.

UA? I avoid ORD at all costs, so I guess I wouldn't know?

FAA, Policy is 1 roller bag and 1 personal item. So 2 roller bags wouldn't work.

UAs policy is under seat is for personal items and overhead is for roller bags. The FAs do go around during boarding and stop people from putting personal items in the OH bins, or take them down and ask who’s it is and make them put it under the seat. They don't always catch everyone.

NWA does not announce a specific policy, but I have seen them take small bags down and make people put them under their seats.

Better watch out. Charging for Overhead Bin Use may be the 2009 Extra Charge the airlines come up with to make more $$$$

I see them also starting to putting advertising on them in the back near the lavs also. All for the love of the almighty $$$

Yeah, I see the 1+1 signs, I hear the announce it, but I still see people coming on with 3 or 4 bags.

I wasn't saying I would bring on two rollers, I would disguise my smaller items as a roller and check my luggage roller.

Ahhh, now I understand, thats a good idea!

Its hit or miss as to when they enforce the 1+1. I have seen FAs boot passengers trying to board with 2+X or even 2 Full Size. But that not very frequently.

Qustion: Are the issues the same for long-haul travel? I have a 20 hour trip coming up this weekend and I plan to carry on 2 small bags, one for items such I'll use frequently such as books that I'll keep uder my seat, and another with a change of clothes etc. that I'll hopefully put in the overhead to avoid too much clutter at my feet. In this situation. I can't imagine this would be such a breach of ettiquette. Am I wrong?

Hi Coffeemom,

You are absolutely correct. Personal items under the seat, other bag in the overhead bin. Just make sure you board early so that you get overhead space.

The problem, that at least I have, is when people just bring small personal items like a small bag or a coat, and insist on putting them in the overhead bin and not using the underseat storage thus forcing others to have to gate check, when the under seat storage should be utilized first in order to accommodate everyone.

I'm in row 1 on my next three bookings (all Dash-8s and CRJs). Luckily I'm travelling back and forth to the same location so I can leave everything in my hotel suite minus my laptop and the clothes I'm wearing, plus a few personal items. I bring with me one laptop bag with my laptop, books, etc, and my coat. Both go into the overhead storage bin, coat on top of bag, because there's no other place to put them.

My usual "with rollaboard" technique is rollaboard in bin, coat on top of it, laptop bag under seat with personal items. Pretty basic, really.

I can't imagine ever putting my nice wool coat under the seat in front of me, it'd get filthy, especially in winter when you're trudging through snow to board your plane (yep, some airplanes are still boarded the old fashioned way, particularly AC Jazz flights).