Overhead bins for large items ONLY??
Apr 9, 2019, 8:44 am
#106
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: DL Gold, AA Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 253
@pindi, you really need to stop the self-flagellation. While the FA in question was rude and out of line, the other passenger ended up having to check his bag. You filed your complaint with United so they know the FA was unprofessional. Time to get on with your life.
WRT the ongoing discussion about overhead versus underseat storage, I think we all agree that the people who board loaded for bear and then proceed to use up all the overhead space without putting anything at their feet are out of line. Where I think we differ is in whether we have a "right" to a certain amount of overhead space versus whether we have a "duty" to use the underseat storage for what we can before loading things into the overhead. Proponents of the former position feel that as long as they are using less than "their share" of the overhead, they are entitled to have footroom and heck with everyone else. Proponents of the latter position feel that everyone should try to use the underseat storage as much as they can before taking up "community" space in the overhead.
People in the former position seem to feel like someone is getting one over on them if they don't make use of "their" space in the overhead bins while people in the latter position seem to feel like people who don't even try to use their underseat storage for personal items are being selfish. I'm in the middle. I recognize the former position but I try to abide by the latter. The OP physically could NOT put the laptop under the seat in front so it's perfectly understandable that it went in the overhead. The late passenger couldn't fit his rollaboard ... that's tough, but all of us should know by now that gate checking is always a potential risk of getting to the gate late. At the same time, the GAs and FAs are people too ... most of them are just trying to accommodate as many people as possible and run a conflict-free operation. Some small minority may be on a power trip but most of them really aren't. Is it too much to ask to treat each other as humans without all the drama?
WRT the ongoing discussion about overhead versus underseat storage, I think we all agree that the people who board loaded for bear and then proceed to use up all the overhead space without putting anything at their feet are out of line. Where I think we differ is in whether we have a "right" to a certain amount of overhead space versus whether we have a "duty" to use the underseat storage for what we can before loading things into the overhead. Proponents of the former position feel that as long as they are using less than "their share" of the overhead, they are entitled to have footroom and heck with everyone else. Proponents of the latter position feel that everyone should try to use the underseat storage as much as they can before taking up "community" space in the overhead.
People in the former position seem to feel like someone is getting one over on them if they don't make use of "their" space in the overhead bins while people in the latter position seem to feel like people who don't even try to use their underseat storage for personal items are being selfish. I'm in the middle. I recognize the former position but I try to abide by the latter. The OP physically could NOT put the laptop under the seat in front so it's perfectly understandable that it went in the overhead. The late passenger couldn't fit his rollaboard ... that's tough, but all of us should know by now that gate checking is always a potential risk of getting to the gate late. At the same time, the GAs and FAs are people too ... most of them are just trying to accommodate as many people as possible and run a conflict-free operation. Some small minority may be on a power trip but most of them really aren't. Is it too much to ask to treat each other as humans without all the drama?
Apr 9, 2019, 8:47 am
#107
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
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Posts: 1,966
@pindi Proponents of the former position feel that as long as they are using less than "their share" of the overhead, they are entitled to have foot-room and heck with everyone else.
Just my opinion. But I realize this is a philosophical difference that will not be resolved. Just wanted to clear up that I'm not indifferent to the woes of other air travelers, which is why I do my darnedest to travel with as little as possible.
Apr 9, 2019, 9:04 am
#108
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Chicagoland
Programs: Hyatt Gold, Marriott Silver Elite
Posts: 6
I was on a UA flight from ORD where a FA made several announcements to "hang on to your coats until all the luggage is in the overhead bins". I was sitting near the exit row. Some guy gets on, throws his leather jacket in the overhead bin behind me and continues down the aisle toward the back of the plane. The next time the FA who made the announcement came down the aisle, she took one look at the leather jacket and grabbed it, and started screaming at the man behind me, "WHAT DID I SAY? WHAT DID I SAY? IS THIS YOURS? IS THIS YOURS????" The man held up both hands like he was being robbed and said, "IT'S NOT MINE! IT'S NOT MINE!". Another guy tattled, "It's a guy sitting toward the back with a red backpack and a Blackhawks jersey!" The FA stormed down the aisle, found the guy and whipped the leather jacket at his head. Those FAs are serious about coats not taking up space in the overhead bins.
Apr 9, 2019, 9:23 am
#109
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: USA
Programs: UA (1K, 2MM), AA, Avis, National
Posts: 867
As a founding member of the "former" position, I'd say "the heck with everyone else" is a bit of a biased misrepresentation. My feeling quite specifically is... when the overhead bins are full and space must be made that the minimalist one bag traveler should not be the first one to be "punished" for their choice to travel light. I'd suggest that perhaps the FA should first look to remove offending oversized luggage... or offer free gate-checking to late boarding passengers rather than targeting the earlier arriving (and probably more loyal to the airline) passengers.
Apr 9, 2019, 9:38 am
#111
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,998
Unfortunately, somehow the airlines, the government, and the flying public have allowed airlines to have their way, charging us more and more in fees, cramming us closer together, to the point where flying has become an inhuman experience. I feel like a prisoner flying these days. There's absolutely no enjoyment in the flying experience; it's generally all bad, no good. If you express irritation from the inhumane conditions, an FA's rudeness or made-up rules, or a fellow passenger's bad behavior, you run the very large chance of being arrested, since even raising your voice is a cause for being such. It's absurd.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 6, 2021 at 10:09 pm Reason: FT 12.2
Apr 9, 2019, 9:39 am
#112
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,655
I have a flight this afternoon, debating whether to take a large bag or my small one. Apparently I'm better off taking up more space with the large one. God forbid I travel light, that will get me in trouble...
Apr 9, 2019, 9:42 am
#113
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
Apr 9, 2019, 9:48 am
#114
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 65
There is a business opportunity here: expanding luggage. Luggage not big enough to be allowed into the overhead? Push a button and an external bladder inflates like a life raft to fill as much space as needed. If inflated after being placed in the overhead, it can be made to fit so tightly it can't be removed without first releasing the pressure.
Apr 9, 2019, 10:02 am
#115
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,930
As a founding member of the "former" position, I'd say "the heck with everyone else" is a bit of a biased misrepresentation. My feeling quite specifically is... when the overhead bins are full and space must be made that the minimalist one bag traveler should not be the first one to be "punished" for their choice to travel light. I'd suggest that perhaps the FA should first look to remove offending oversized luggage... or offer free gate-checking to late boarding passengers rather than targeting the earlier arriving (and probably more loyal to the airline) passengers.
Just my opinion. But I realize this is a philosophical difference that will not be resolved. Just wanted to clear up that I'm not indifferent to the woes of other air travelers, which is why I do my darnedest to travel with as little as possible.
Just my opinion. But I realize this is a philosophical difference that will not be resolved. Just wanted to clear up that I'm not indifferent to the woes of other air travelers, which is why I do my darnedest to travel with as little as possible.
The attitude of the FAs when they work to resolve these issues makes all the difference (either actual attitude or perceived attitude) in these situations. Clearly on this thread we are seeing what happens when the FAs don't handle things as nicely as they could.
Apr 9, 2019, 10:07 am
#116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
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As a founding member of the "former" position, I'd say "the heck with everyone else" is a bit of a biased misrepresentation. My feeling quite specifically is... when the overhead bins are full and space must be made that the minimalist one bag traveler should not be the first one to be "punished" for their choice to travel light. I'd suggest that perhaps the FA should first look to remove offending oversized luggage... or offer free gate-checking to late boarding passengers rather than targeting the earlier arriving (and probably more loyal to the airline) passengers.
Apr 9, 2019, 10:14 am
#117
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
*I don't use such a large setup myself, but it is admittedly quite common.
Apr 9, 2019, 1:37 pm
#118
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: North Carolina
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1
Let's be honest here, you didn't cave in, what happened was you made no response and got to keep your bag overhead. Had something else occurred then you could state you caved in. In the end, the FA got the last word and I think that's where the real issue is. Sure you could have escalated this without being wrong, at least in principle, but I don't believe the end result would have come out in your favor.
Apr 9, 2019, 2:04 pm
#119
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 350
In addition to making bags free, we also need to make the handling on the ground (care in loading/unloading, wait times) better so people would be more encouraged to check bags...
It's not uncommon to find a totally empty bin on a fairly full B737 flight in Japan, so to me it feels like a US problem (Maybe EU too? never flown there).
It's not uncommon to find a totally empty bin on a fairly full B737 flight in Japan, so to me it feels like a US problem (Maybe EU too? never flown there).
Apr 9, 2019, 2:39 pm
#120
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Posts: 66,850
We could rate airlines on their "toxic" or rude FAs. IMHV, UA is #1 on this list, having had plenty of experiences with air crew who could care less about a passenger's experience. WN is the exact opposite, with the friendliest aircrew working for a US-based airline.
On WN's 737-8, the underseat space in front of the aisle seats is restricted/limited. The WN FA insisted I move the bag or it would have to go someplace else. So with some pushing and shoving, it sort of when under the seat -- sticking out a bit, an amount that some FAs would have commented on.