A Dread of Bulkhead Overhead on TED
Sep 16, 2004 | 5:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2002
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A Dread of Bulkhead Overhead on TED
Our first flight on TED a few days ago (LAX-LAS) was fine, except for a lack of overhead space for Row 1 in particular. There's no storage for the crew up front, so the first 2 1/2 overheads were taken up by the crew's baggage and some electronic black boxes (not sure what they are - IFE?).
As 1Ks we were the first ones to board... well, other than two deadheading pilots who had pre-boarded and took up the rest of the first couple of overheads. They at least looked abashed and muttered something about helping us retrieve our carryons from Row 3 at the end of the flight. I suppose the domino effect carries right to the back. The return flight a few days later was almost as crowded, overhead-wise.
FWIW if and when we fly TED in future I think we'll aim for Row 3 to avoid having to swim upstream to retrieve our carryons.
My apologies if this has already been discussed but I couldn't find it in a search, and I think it's worth a mention.
As 1Ks we were the first ones to board... well, other than two deadheading pilots who had pre-boarded and took up the rest of the first couple of overheads. They at least looked abashed and muttered something about helping us retrieve our carryons from Row 3 at the end of the flight. I suppose the domino effect carries right to the back. The return flight a few days later was almost as crowded, overhead-wise.
FWIW if and when we fly TED in future I think we'll aim for Row 3 to avoid having to swim upstream to retrieve our carryons.
My apologies if this has already been discussed but I couldn't find it in a search, and I think it's worth a mention.
Last edited by Fredd; Sep 16, 2004 at 5:45 pm Reason: typo
Sep 16, 2004 | 6:12 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA USA
Posts: 3,735
Originally Posted by Fredd
Our first flight on TED a few days ago (LAX-LAS) was fine, except for a lack of overhead space for Row 1 in particular. There's no storage for the crew up front, so the first 2 1/2 overheads were taken up by the crew's baggage and some electronic black boxes (not sure what they are - IFE?).
As 1Ks we were the first ones to board... well, other than two deadheading pilots who had pre-boarded and took up the rest of the first couple of overheads. They at least looked abashed and muttered something about helping us retrieve our carryons from Row 3 at the end of the flight. I suppose the domino effect carries right to the back. The return flight a few days later was almost as crowded, overhead-wise.
FWIW if and when we fly TED in future I think we'll aim for Row 3 to avoid having to swim upstream to retrieve our carryons.
My apologies if this has already been discussed but I couldn't find it in a search, and I think it's worth a mention.
As 1Ks we were the first ones to board... well, other than two deadheading pilots who had pre-boarded and took up the rest of the first couple of overheads. They at least looked abashed and muttered something about helping us retrieve our carryons from Row 3 at the end of the flight. I suppose the domino effect carries right to the back. The return flight a few days later was almost as crowded, overhead-wise.
FWIW if and when we fly TED in future I think we'll aim for Row 3 to avoid having to swim upstream to retrieve our carryons.
My apologies if this has already been discussed but I couldn't find it in a search, and I think it's worth a mention.
Sep 16, 2004 | 6:18 pm
#3
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Berkeley, CA
Programs: UA Gold, peon everywhere else
Posts: 989
This is mentioned on http://www.seatguru.com, and is the reason why I've so far booked nothing farther forward of row 5 (as a 2P I can't get the exit row...)
Dan
Dan
Sep 16, 2004 | 6:42 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: weekdays:ATL; weekends:Elsewhere
Posts: 1,094
Yes, those black boxes in the overheads are for IFE.
My personal preference is 11 A or F, both are exit row windows with a ton of legroom. 10 A/F have the same amount of legroom as row 11, but they do not recline. If you aren't a 1K/1P, and can't get into the exit row, than I would select anything between rows 3-9.
My personal preference is 11 A or F, both are exit row windows with a ton of legroom. 10 A/F have the same amount of legroom as row 11, but they do not recline. If you aren't a 1K/1P, and can't get into the exit row, than I would select anything between rows 3-9.
Sep 16, 2004 | 6:54 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 4,153
Originally Posted by Fredd
Our first flight on TED a few days ago (LAX-LAS) was fine, except for a lack of overhead space for Row 1 in particular. There's no storage for the crew up front, so the first 2 1/2 overheads were taken up by the crew's baggage and some electronic black boxes (not sure what they are - IFE?).
As 1Ks we were the first ones to board... well, other than two deadheading pilots who had pre-boarded and took up the rest of the first couple of overheads. They at least looked abashed and muttered something about helping us retrieve our carryons from Row 3 at the end of the flight. I suppose the domino effect carries right to the back. The return flight a few days later was almost as crowded, overhead-wise.
FWIW if and when we fly TED in future I think we'll aim for Row 3 to avoid having to swim upstream to retrieve our carryons.
My apologies if this has already been discussed but I couldn't find it in a search, and I think it's worth a mention.
As 1Ks we were the first ones to board... well, other than two deadheading pilots who had pre-boarded and took up the rest of the first couple of overheads. They at least looked abashed and muttered something about helping us retrieve our carryons from Row 3 at the end of the flight. I suppose the domino effect carries right to the back. The return flight a few days later was almost as crowded, overhead-wise.
FWIW if and when we fly TED in future I think we'll aim for Row 3 to avoid having to swim upstream to retrieve our carryons.
My apologies if this has already been discussed but I couldn't find it in a search, and I think it's worth a mention.
Crewmembers taking up the 1st set of bins on a TED flight is inexcusable. I fly TED every week and find that it varies. I find that the FAs vary on how they deal with the first set of bins. Some FAs go to the trouble of keeping the 1st set of bins closed and when a passenger opens them, asking where they are sitting. I really think that is a good deal. I, of course, tend to sit in the first couple rows as I'm only traveling with a laptop bag these days. I love the people who show up for row two with their massive rolling briefcase and then plead with the FA to find space. If they have a bag that will fit under the seat and they ask the FA about where to put it, I usually chime in and tell them "how about under the seat in front of you?"
While I'm on the subject of TED, what's with the boarding process in DEN these days? They call Seating 1, 2, and 3 pretty much all at the same time. The jetway fills with people as the passengers in the first two rows look for overhead space and immediately, everybody starts grumbling. Aren't they supposed to wait before they call the next seating area? To make matters worse, as the last people finally get on the plane and see all of the front seats taken, they invarably turn to a companion and grumble sarcastically "boarding the front first makes soooo much sense. Are these people idiots?" I think that UA really needs to fix the overhead situation.
OK, I'm off the soapbox now. I feel much better.
Sep 16, 2004 | 10:51 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2003
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Originally Posted by tods27
Crewmembers taking up the 1st set of bins on a TED flight is inexcusable. I fly TED every week and find that it varies. I find that the FAs vary on how they deal with the first set of bins. Some FAs go to the trouble of keeping the 1st set of bins closed and when a passenger opens them, asking where they are sitting. I really think that is a good deal. I, of course, tend to sit in the first couple rows as I'm only traveling with a laptop bag these days. I love the people who show up for row two with their massive rolling briefcase and then plead with the FA to find space. If they have a bag that will fit under the seat and they ask the FA about where to put it, I usually chime in and tell them "how about under the seat in front of you?"
While I'm on the subject of TED, what's with the boarding process in DEN these days? They call Seating 1, 2, and 3 pretty much all at the same time. The jetway fills with people as the passengers in the first two rows look for overhead space and immediately, everybody starts grumbling. Aren't they supposed to wait before they call the next seating area? To make matters worse, as the last people finally get on the plane and see all of the front seats taken, they invarably turn to a companion and grumble sarcastically "boarding the front first makes soooo much sense. Are these people idiots?" I think that UA really needs to fix the overhead situation.
OK, I'm off the soapbox now. I feel much better.
While I'm on the subject of TED, what's with the boarding process in DEN these days? They call Seating 1, 2, and 3 pretty much all at the same time. The jetway fills with people as the passengers in the first two rows look for overhead space and immediately, everybody starts grumbling. Aren't they supposed to wait before they call the next seating area? To make matters worse, as the last people finally get on the plane and see all of the front seats taken, they invarably turn to a companion and grumble sarcastically "boarding the front first makes soooo much sense. Are these people idiots?" I think that UA really needs to fix the overhead situation.
OK, I'm off the soapbox now. I feel much better.
Thanks for the feedback Tods27...let me see what I can do about this boarding situation. Might be because of faster turns, but it messes things up when you try to board too fast.
JC
Sep 17, 2004 | 8:41 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Rockville,MD,USA
Posts: 65
On each of my last three TED flights, this 1K has been "upgraded" at check in to Row 1 even though I try to secure rows 3 and back in order to have overhead bin space. I think you have to monitor your seat assignment daily until TED figures out that, for some, this is not doing us any favors.
Sep 17, 2004 | 9:02 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K,SPG Plat,
Posts: 1,091
On my only TED flight so far, the crew had taped napkins to the bins over row 1 with a handwritten note saying "ROW 1 USE ONLY" and had not placed their gear in the bins. This was, I'm sure, a crew initiative, but I was happy to see it, and it did make boarding a lot faster.
Sep 17, 2004 | 10:29 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
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Originally Posted by JC5280
Thanks for the feedback Tods27...let me see what I can do about this boarding situation. Might be because of faster turns, but it messes things up when you try to board too fast.
JC
JC
Sep 17, 2004 | 10:49 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: weekdays:ATL; weekends:Elsewhere
Posts: 1,094
Originally Posted by UALfromMSN
On my only TED flight so far, the crew had taped napkins to the bins over row 1 with a handwritten note saying "ROW 1 USE ONLY" and had not placed their gear in the bins. This was, I'm sure, a crew initiative, but I was happy to see it, and it did make boarding a lot faster.
I had that happen on 2 of my Ted flights too. While a little tacky looking, I am sure that the row 1 passengers appreciated the effort.
Sep 17, 2004 | 11:55 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: ORD
Programs: Star Alliance
Posts: 1,211
Originally Posted by The Lurker
I had that happen on 2 of my Ted flights too. While a little tacky looking, I am sure that the row 1 passengers appreciated the effort.