That's the logic I use as well. I seem to gravitate toward bulkhead lately because of that reason and the fact that I hate having people lean their seat backs on my lap.

If you're going to carry on a briefcase that makes inefficient use of the overhead and can't be stowed upright you should expect that others will utilize the open space that you've created above it. You've been a 1K for years - you know how this stuff works.

I have to squeeze, push, pull, and tug my carry on in and out of the overhead bins routinely. This is even after stowing it properly. Other pax pack things against it and so it goes. Again, you should expect this to happen - routinely.

He might have seen it as refusing to comply with your demand that overhead space be wasted so that you could have completely unfettered access to your briefcase. Not a reasonable demand in my book.

This wasn't mentioned in the OP and it doesn't really have anything to do with your particular briefcase access issue.

You're welcome...

I've got one that fits vertically every time and easily holds my laptop, planner, and a change of clothes. Love it...

I am on the 757s often as I fly quite a bit between SFO and BOS. When my upgrades don't come through, I always choose Seat 9A. It gives me a window view, leg room and I don't have to climb over two people if I want to use the lav. The FAs usually are willing to let me store my briefcase behind 6D-F. As soon as the seat belt sign goes off, I bolt out of my seat and grab my bag.

I agree with the sentiments expressed in the other comments -- basically, I think you made a mountain out of a mole hill, especially if only a briefcase was involved.

There was one time when I had a larger carry on item (gym bag) that I put in the bin above me; someone in Row 10 had the nerve to take it out and move it to a bin closer to Rows 12/13 to make room for 2 of his bags. Had the flight not been full, I may have let it go, but at arrival I was not going to fight my way back or ask someone to pass it to me from 3 rows back. So, I calmly got up, retrieved my bag, and switched it with one of his bags. He was on his cell phone gabbing away about his golf game, so I did not interrupt him. When we landed, he had a panicked look on his face -- he was on another phone call so I did not interrupt him - that would have been rude.

^^^

Personally, I would've done what you did, which was to ask. Then when he didn't comply, I'd pull my case out mid-flight to get my crap, which would result in his bag falling and probably (hopefully) nudging someone (enough martial arts or training, or fair amount of dexterity should help you guide falling objects), at which point I would yell loudly, "OH SORRY, THAT *SSHOLE OVER THERE WOULDN'T MOVE HIS BAG WHEN I ASKED HIM TO."

Yeah, I would. You took the high road.

It's all shared space, and common courtesy. Key word being courtesy.

I flew back from Denver this week and was seated in row 8. When we got on the plane all of the compartment was taken over our row. I don't fly very often but doesn't it make sense that you would put your bags in the compartment above the row you are sitting in. Seems inconsiderate for people to take up the space that is not in their row. I always thought that you were supposed to put your luggage in the bin of the row you are sitting in. Like I said I don't fly often. My bad ended up in row 19 and I was told by the attendent that I may have to check my bag if we couldn't get it to fit because of the stuff from other passengers. It ended up fitting but I was determined I was not checking a bag...the passengers that took up the space above my row would be checking theirs.

+1

Many pax do a terrible job of utilizing the bin space. Just the other day I was flying on an airline where I don't have any status so I was one of the last to board. Of course by then the bins were closed by my row. Opened a few and found one I thought I could work with. Person directly below this bin stated, "it's full". I simply moved the three suitcases so that they were next to one another rather than with 3-4" of space between them all and what do you know, my bag fit no problems. The bins are shared space and I fully expect my bag to get shifted one way or the other so that other bags can get in the bin.

These overhead bin threads seem to crop up with remarkable regularity. And what always strikes me is that they involve people in planes in USA. The threads never seem to arise from flights in Europe or Asia or Africa or Australia or Canada or Mexico - despite the fact we all fly on the same planes with the same number of seats and the same configuration of overhead bins.

On the flights I do most often, people try to put their luggage in the bins above their seats. If there is other stuff in the bin, then you put your stuff next to, over, under, behind or in front of the other stuff. And if people have already done that, then you look for another nearby bin. And failing that, you give the bag to an FA and they find room for it elsewhere in the aircraft. Never heard a complaint about it. Also, people tend not to jump up and down accessing their bags during the flight. Mostly they have the good sense to take out the things they want during the flight before they stow their bags.

Basically, it works. And if it works elsewhere, why doesn't it work in USA?

By the way, I'm uncomfortable with the other chap in the OP being referred to as a bully. I could only see one bully in the story.

90% of the time, I'm the nicest guy. But if a jerk needs to be put in place, I will step up (and sink down to that level :P). I'm also the guy that will step in and pull off the jerk beating a woman at the bus stop until the cops come. So which courteous person would you have around you?

Please explain to me why as a fellow 1K you would be sitting in "steerage" on a 757 Transcon that has 24 seats in F Class??? Do you actually enjoy flying in cramped seats sitting beside Gate Lice for 5+ hours?


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