Overhead bins for large items ONLY??
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
Complaining to UA post-flight is fine. "Standing up" to the FA is likely to get you booted off the aircraft. And once that happens, your complaint will typically get zero traction, because the airline will back the crew.
Really, this does not strike me as a grave injustice worthy of the amount of mental energy you are apparently spending on it.
Really, this does not strike me as a grave injustice worthy of the amount of mental energy you are apparently spending on it.
The bully bullies because the bully thinks that you are too scared to do anything about it. If you actually are too scared to do anything about it, then the bully is right.
#32
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,885
#33
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 1,394
#34
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,885
#35
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,784
It’s not always an FA on a power trip sometimes it’s another passenger. Either way one has to stand your ground or get trampled. I always check two bags and sometime three as well as carry a small laptop bag (think medium purse) and a good sized backpack. My backpack is under foot and the laptop bag is always in the overheard. On numerous full flights I’ve had attempts to ‘relocate’ laptop. I have yet to be de-planed but it has been close. You may stand my laptop bag up, slide it from side to side and IF you desire to shift my any further than that it had better be to F with me alongside.
#36
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: BOS
Programs: JMB, AMC
Posts: 178
When I'm standing in the boarding lane, look around and realize I'm carrying ~60% LESS carry-on baggage than everyone else, I don't feel particularly morally obligated to accommodate their extra bags at the cost of my legroom. Call me selfish, but again... I'm already taking at LEAST 33% less overhead than nearly everyone else... and realistically closer to 60-70% less based on my typical loadout.
*For those carrying multiple bags, I agree 1 should be stored underseat where feasible.
*For those carrying multiple bags, I agree 1 should be stored underseat where feasible.
Postflight I complained to the airline (Jetblue) and they refunded the extra legroom seat charge. I wasn't expecting anything out of the complaint, so it was pleasantly surprising they did that.
#37
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: USA
Programs: UA (1K, 2MM), AA, Avis, National
Posts: 867
"The overhead bins are for large carry-ons only" does not make sense. Suppose I bring two personal-size items. Each of them fits under the seat, but they do not fit under the seat together. This is definitely in-policy, I can declare one of them to be a carry-on, as the carry-on rules restrict only the maximum bad size.
The policy should be that overhead bins are for carry-ons only, and pax decide which of the qualifying items is a carry-on. As a cutesy to others, I may decide to put my only carry-on item under the seat, but this is for me to decide.
The policy should be that overhead bins are for carry-ons only, and pax decide which of the qualifying items is a carry-on. As a cutesy to others, I may decide to put my only carry-on item under the seat, but this is for me to decide.
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
#39
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,484
It's easy to talk big on line. We get this foolish bravado every time one of these threads crops up.
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,422
When I'm standing in the boarding lane, look around and realize I'm carrying ~60% LESS carry-on baggage than everyone else, I don't feel particularly morally obligated to accommodate their extra bags at the cost of my legroom. Call me selfish, but again... I'm already taking at LEAST 33% less overhead than nearly everyone else... and realistically closer to 60-70% less based on my typical loadout.
If everyone else has boarded, and there's room in the overhead, and you want to put your bag up, I don't have an issue with it. But I absolutely cannot fathom how you could look someone in the eye as they walk past you, having surrounded their bag to check, when you could have made room for them in the overhead and chose not to do so.
I don't see any point in continuing this conversation. This is precisely why I tried to sidestep it this weekend. I don't think I'm going to convince you, and you're absolutely not going to convince me.
Nonsense. That seat was further away from you than it otherwise would have been.
#41
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: DL Gold, AA Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 253
It’s not always an FA on a power trip sometimes it’s another passenger. Either way one has to stand your ground or get trampled. I always check two bags and sometime three as well as carry a small laptop bag (think medium purse) and a good sized backpack. My backpack is under foot and the laptop bag is always in the overheard. On numerous full flights I’ve had attempts to ‘relocate’ laptop. I have yet to be de-planed but it has been close. You may stand my laptop bag up, slide it from side to side and IF you desire to shift my any further than that it had better be to F with me alongside.
I have had discussions (not confrontations) with FAs on many occasions when I put a backup (sans laptop) up in the bin. They have largely been reasonable when I tell them I only have the backpack so I can put it up and have the legroom. I guess I have been lucky. I applaud those who stand up to bully FAs about this.
#42
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Unfortunately for me, I have never been able to keep quiet under such circumstances. I always speak up. I guess this is the big reason why I am still seething as I did not speak up enough and escalate this issue to the purser/captain. I just never, ever let anyone bully me. I feel like I let myself down by letting it go.
At a hub, the following happens, as I've now seen it 3 times - hubs are, in my opinion, the biggest risk of speaking up. They aren't as forgiving as a Captain. A guy in a suit confers with the crew on what happened. I'm guessing it is his full time job (it has all been men). The conversations all went the same - if you are in the aisle seat, they will talk to you right there - middle or window - they will politely ask the seatmates to excuse themselves. After an introduction - the guy in the suit goes - "Are we going to have a problem today". One time the passenger said, No - I'm fine - conversation ended. The other two, they try very hard to tell their side of the story - and they all get cut off with another, "Are we going to have a problem today". They had no desire to hear the other side of the story. None. One fought hard until the suit person said, "If we are going to have a problem today, we are going to make alternative arrangements - so, last time I'm asking - are we going to have a problem today" Person backed down. I can imagine at a hub, what goes in a persons profile isn't flattering.
Non-Hub - you probably have a better chance depending on training of the Captain.
Either way - if they want you off, it isn't a filmed Dao situation dragging you off with cell phones blazing. They will deplane everyone and cancel if necessary.
#43
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: NJ, USA
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 671
Well then, so be it. If enough folks who have been made a victim do this, maybe there will be a change. If we all keep putting up with this, nothing will change. And that is what is upsetting to me - that I caved in like a coward.
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,859
It's just plain foolishness to pick a fight with an FA, just as it's foolishness to mouth off to TSA or CBP. Especially AFTER the issue has already been resolved in your favor.
It's easy to talk big on line. We get this foolish bravado every time one of these threads crops up.
It's easy to talk big on line. We get this foolish bravado every time one of these threads crops up.
That said, in the OP’s scenario, I hopefully would have remembered to pull out my phone and started the voice recorder the moment the FA walked away to find space elsewhere to move my bag away from my row. Just in case.