Airplane carry on space a nightmare now?

[Mysteria]

I haven't flown since most airlines started charging to check bags. It was a little bad then with people pushing the limit of what a carry-on was and taking up all the overhead space so they didn't have to wait for their bags. I remember once having a small backpack and they could barely find a place to store it. I didn't intend to be the last on the plane but I got lucky and was screened.

How bad is it now? Since they have added checked bag fees have they gotten stricter on what is a carry-on? I've seen a few times now (not just on the dis but yes on the dis too) people saying they are going to cram everything into the carry-ons and maybe check one bag per family if that.

 

[teacups]

Curious about this as well. We are planning our first family trip since the news fee's. I guess I fully planned to cram as much onto carryon and take one family bag too.

 

[dicar123]

My family and I flew in June. Near the check in area there was a "model" for how big a carry-on ought to be. As we were boarding, it was mentioned several times that they wanted carry-ons to be placed straight in so that two bags could sit side by side.

The airline did offer, at the gate, to anyone with a bag that would not fit properly to check the bag with no additional fee.

We never saw a problem, so I don't know if the airlines are letting people go, or if they're being heavy-handed.

 

[BelleWDW]

I find it makes the flights leave later-

there is lots of moving, turning bags-on the planes that seat 2 and 3-sometimes the bigger baga only fit above the set of 3 seats. Then there are the little old ladies(or kids) who can't lift their bags (and the stewardesses can not do this)-so other passangers have to help.

 

[Buckalew11]

I think it is a nightmare also. Most of the time the carry-ons now could not fit "under the seat in front of you". It really slows down the boarding process. If you had a connecting flight, it could screw you. I wish they'd go up on the seat price and let you check a bag for free instead. That way people would not be trying to carry on everything they need for a week's vacation in a carry-on bag.

It is a pet peeve of mine. Can you tell? lol

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I fly a lot. If you board a full flight and you have a roll a board (small suitcase that qualifies as a carry-on, with wheels), board as soon as you are allowed. Most planes run out of room for roll a boards before the last person boards.

I check my bags and pay the fee...

 

[Mysteria]

I fly a lot. If you board a full flight and you have a roll a board (small suitcase that qualifies as a carry-on, with wheels), board as soon as you are allowed. Most planes run out of room for roll a boards before the last person boards.

I check my bags and pay the fee...

Ya, I'll check my bags and pay the fee too! I hate struggling for overhead space with the "suitcases". If they are going to charge for checked bags then what is considered a carry-on needs to be smaller!

 

[brp]

I wish they'd go up on the seat price and let you check a bag for free instead. T

The problem with this is that elites on most airlines don't pay the fee even if they check bags. The net result is that our tickets would go up also to subsidize others. However, elites fly a lot, so the airline wants to tailor the rules to them. So, this is (fortunately) an unlikely change, IMO.

Cheers.

 

[crazee4mickey]

When we flew in February to Vegas we checked our bags (paid our fee in advance when tickets purchased) and had the "usual" carry-ons (camera bag, small over the shoulder carry-on). When we checked our bags we noticed that hardly anyone else was checking bags.

I was floored by how many people brought not only the smaller size roller suitcase but even the next size up just so they wouldn't have to pay the baggage fee--there was absolutely no room to put even our camera case up because everyone was "cheaping" out by not checking luggage and paying fees and cramming their luggage in the overhead!

The stewardesses said absolutely nothing

 

[NMAmy]

I think it is a nightmare also. Most of the time the carry-ons now could not fit "under the seat in front of you". It really slows down the boarding process. If you had a connecting flight, it could screw you. I wish they'd go up on the seat price and let you check a bag for free instead. That way people would not be trying to carry on everything they need for a week's vacation in a carry-on bag.

It is a pet peeve of mine. Can you tell? lol

It's a pet peeve of mine, too. I did see a few people pulled aside before boarding and having to gate check their full-sized suitcases. Yep, they were complaining LOUDLY.

I always check my luggage so I wait until the end of the boarding process and don't have to wait around while everyone tries to situate their luggage. I have found an upside to this, though--my luggage is arriving much quicker than in past years.

 

[DisneyFed]

I fly a lot and holy cow I think it has gotten really bad--and a lot of it depends on the carrier too...

Southwest doesn't charge to check (or didn't last time I flew them a couple months ago), and it didn't seem as bad...

US Air?? Good Lord, it was bad.....

I especially love it when someone can't fit everything above them, so they try to put a laptop, purse, etc. UNDER their seat and in my foot space...then get all indignant when they're told (usually by Flight Attendant) that it has to be in THEIR foot space..

I try to fly as "light" as possible...

On the small regional jets, nothing fits above you anyway, so everyone ends up gate checking--

 

[Maryr1]

I am a diabetic and fly pretty often. In my carry on I keep all my supplies (I wear a pump so it is my infusion sets,insulin,extra food etc.) My carryon is well within the size allowed. It is the only bag I had-no purse, no computer etc. Twice in the past few months I have been made to gate check it as they said there were "too many carry ons" boarded ahead of me. I was VERY clear with the gate people that these were my medical supplies. That meant I had to unpack and carry on my wallet,food,insulin, glucometer,etc. Thank heavens I had a large ziplock! This was not a rolling type case, it was a softsided Vera Bradley that would of easily slid under the seat ahead of me. The flight attendants on both flights asked my why I was carrying a large ziplock of supplies and I explained. Both told me that the gate people were wrong but what could I do? I sure did not want to hold up boarding wheile they called a supervisor! I fly out of the same airport all the time and last year watched them UNLOAD all the gate checked items onto the tarmac and leave without them because of weight/fuel issues. People were just dumbfounded and shocked as we pulled away and all the strollers etc. were just left there!!!!! Good luck.............

 

[Uuaww]

it could be worse, you guys could be flying little bi-planes like I do haha.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Just flew two days ago on an evening flight from DC. Flight attendants had to gate check some luggage. If you are boarding last, you are likely to find no room. We had no problem because of being allowed to board first due to Elite status. That being said, we still checked two bags that were within carry on guidelines in order to be team players.

 

[monarchsfan16]

The Southwest flights I've been on since other airlines started charging have had bin space left over when the flight took off

 

[wendy46001]

This is a pet peeve of mine as well...if you dont need it in the next two hours it should be checked....I fly a lot and it drives me crazy how long it really takes all these folks to get on and off the plane....

what bothers me even more is people who insist on not checking yet cant lift their luggage up into the bin....UGH

 

[pat fan]

We just flew end of July and I was kind of irritated with this very thing. We flew United (NEVER again!) and of course they have the whole thing on luggage how it has to be 25 linear inches for carry-on, they're very strict blah blah blah. So here I am with my measuring tape to make sure our carry-ons are the proper size (I only wanted to check one bag) and freaking out about it, and lo and behold, when we get on the plane, people are putting HUGE bags in the carry-on spots! I mean BIG bags! And no one says anything! Oh well, live and learn. I'll fly SW next time and just check everything

 

[BunsenH]

How about those considerate folks in row 25 that stow their bags above row 8 and then go to their seat.?

 

[Lintasare]

This is why I pay to check my bags and if my carry on doesn't fit under the seat then I don't take it.

 

[pyrxtc]

I am one of those whose whole family flies but only checks one bag and brings everything else one. The only bag we check has toiletries in it, if I could bring it on I would. I don't like having to deal with checked luggage. Everything I need fits in my carry on, so why check it. I bring my roll on and my kids bring backpacks and it all fits nicely. Their bags in front of them and my bag above. I am flying SW next month and don't plan on checking bags on the way down but will have to check my souvie bag on the way home since a bat won't fit under the seat. I don't see the big deal in bringing everything you need on wiht you if it fits nicely but I agree about the big bags.