Airplane travel etiquette

[Jennasis]

So I just returned from a weekend trip back to see the fam in NY. I HATE flying...scares me half to death. Luckily, on this trip I was able to focus on the hellatious travel etiquette of my fellow passengers to distract me from my crippling terror.

1. I understand that everyone is angry about being charged $25 for each checked bag...however, people are getting carried away with their carry-ons. Stuffed to bursting and almost as big as a checked bag. Of course they've also got their one "personal" item (laptop, purse, etc), and it's also a MASSIVE backpack stuffed to the gills or a "handbag" the size of Texas stuffed to the gills. The problem is that those who load on the plane first HOG all of the overhead space, so by the time I get on with my itsy little roll on bag (that actually fit into the measuring thingy) there is no room on the plane for my bag so I HAD to check it underneath and waste a half an hour at baggage claim at my destination.

All because the rest of the entitled folks had to drag on everything but the kitchen sink.

2. I witnessed BOTH the going and coming flights completely over booked (airlines are truly out of hand) and more than one person nearly get into a fist fight with the gate attendant over that fact. I saw one older couple arguing that the gate attendant had no idea the configuration of the aircraft and according to THEIR research, there were plenty of seats elsewhere on the plane to move into.

there wasn't.

3. When disembarking, KINDLY wait for the folks in the seats in front of you to get up and go before you barge out of the plane. The ladies in the seat beside me literally bowled over several people in a mad dash to get out after we got to the gate. then huffed about how slow the people ahead of them were.

However, THANK you to the nice man on my flight going to NY who moved his luggages (putting one of his two carry ons under the seat instead of hogging two overhead spaces) so I could keep my carry on ON the plane on the way there.

Thanks to the folks around me who assisted the lady next to me who projectile vomited about 500 feet from landing...all over the guy next to her. Poor thing was hysterical (airsick) and we all pitched in trying to help her clean up. Though when I handed her a handful of wetnaps to try to clean herself up, the guy next to her took them and used them to wipe down his GIANT carry on.

Be mindful of those around you...we're all in the same boat (plane?)

 

[LoraJ]

I hear ya!

For those who get on the plane first, use the overhead compartments by your seat. Not the ones in the front. I cannot begin to tell you how rude this is.
On one of my recent flights, a whole bunch of people who had connections to make were stuck at the front of the plane waiting for everyone to unload so that they could get to the back and get their bags. Jetblue is smart about this. They close the front bins until those passengers board.

Also, when getting off a plane recently, we were in the back and sitting waiting for the rows to unload. Of course everyone from behind was clogging up the aisle. When it started to clear the woman next to me got up to get her bag and the people behind were complaining "Why couldn't she do that earlier?" How could she if they were all hogging up the aisle?

 

[N&B'smom]

I agree, people are allowed to bring bags that are way too big onto the planes as their carry-on. It's incredible! We only bring 1 backpack for each of us and my laptop and purse fit inside. I have never used the overhead compartment in my life and I travel A LOT.

I'm glad the woman that threw up didn't set off a chain reaction...YIKES!! That poor thing, she must have felt horrible!!

 

[Kath2003]

In the UK we have 'cages' by security - if your bag can't fit in the 'cage' then you can't travel with it.

 

[LoraJ]

In the UK we have 'cages' by security - if your bag can't fit in the 'cage' then you can't travel with it.

We have them too, but they have been ignoring them lately.

 

[EMom]

DH, DD and I travel together and book 3 seats together, meaning the bin above our seats is clearly marked for our seats. If I get to our seats and someone has shoved their luggage into our bin space, I will not hesitate to unload it. I will then put our 3 carryons in the bin and if there is room left, the luggage that was there prior to ours can go back in. But I'll be danged if my carryon is getting checked because someone wanted their bin space and mine too. I have to carry a lot of medicine, nebulizers, etc., and it's all staying with me, along with a change of clothes in case any checked luggage is lost. Yes, a few seats don't have assigned bin space, but that's between them and the flight attendants.

BTW, I do make certain our carryons are regulation size.

 

[maxiesmom]

DH, DD and I travel together and book 3 seats together, meaning the bin above our seats is clearly marked for our seats. If I get to our seats and someone has shoved their luggage into our bin space, I will not hesitate to unload it. I will then put our 3 carryons in the bin and if there is room left, the luggage that was there prior to ours can go back in. But I'll be danged if my carryon is getting checked because someone wanted their bin space and mine too. I have to carry a lot of medicine, nebulizers, etc., and it's all staying with me, along with a change of clothes in case any checked luggage is lost. Yes, a few seats don't have assigned bin space, but that's between them and the flight attendants.

BTW, I do make certain our carryons are regulation size.

Umm, that bin space is not specifically yours, and I would be really angry with anyone who dared touch my stuff. It may be above your seats, but that does not make it yours and yours alone. In your case if you have medical items that you have to have in arms reach you should be addressing the problem with a flight attendant. You never know, they may be the ones who put the bags their to begin with. I've seen them rearrange the carry ons many times.

I also have to argue that the man who moved one of his bags from the overhead space so that the OP could use that space was nice. It is clearly stated that if you have 2 carry-ons, one must go under the seat in front of you. He was being a bin hog to begin with.

 

[emma'smom]

Why get mad at the passengers? It seems like the airlines are the ones to blame for encouraging so much carry-on and then not managing it better. It's their nickle and dime attitude that is driving the problem.

 

[crashbb]

Umm, that bin space is not specifically yours, and I would be really angry with anyone who dared touch my stuff. It may be above your seats, but that does not make it yours and yours alone. In your case if you have medical items that you have to have in arms reach you should be addressing the problem with a flight attendant. You never know, they may be the ones who put the bags their to begin with. I've seen them rearrange the carry ons many times.

I also have to argue that the man who moved one of his bags from the overhead space so that the OP could use that space was nice. It is clearly stated that if you have 2 carry-ons, one must go under the seat in front of you. He was being a bin hog to begin with.

I agree. Sometimes you have to use the space that isn't directly above your seat because the space above your seat isn't usable (maybe it has the plane's first aid stuff in it or part of the entertainment system). The person who moved my stuff would find their stuff on the floor (two can play at that game). Had the you ASKED me (and I'd never be using space that was far from my seat), I'm sure it could have been worked out.

 

[aprilgail2]

DH, DD and I travel together and book 3 seats together, meaning the bin above our seats is clearly marked for our seats. If I get to our seats and someone has shoved their luggage into our bin space, I will not hesitate to unload it. I will then put our 3 carryons in the bin and if there is room left, the luggage that was there prior to ours can go back in. But I'll be danged if my carryon is getting checked because someone wanted their bin space and mine too. I have to carry a lot of medicine, nebulizers, etc., and it's all staying with me, along with a change of clothes in case any checked luggage is lost. Yes, a few seats don't have assigned bin space, but that's between them and the flight attendants.

BTW, I do make certain our carryons are regulation size.

You can NOT be serious?? The bin overhead your rows of seats is NOT for YOUR exclusive use and if you had dared to removed my bag from there and not put it back then you could bet that you would have had to deal with ME then removing your things and tossing them to the side and replacing MINE in there! WOW----what nerve you have!!!!!

 

[golfgal]

I hear ya!

For those who get on the plane first, use the overhead compartments by your seat. Not the ones in the front. I cannot begin to tell you how rude this is.
On one of my recent flights, a whole bunch of people who had connections to make were stuck at the front of the plane waiting for everyone to unload so that they could get to the back and get their bags. Jetblue is smart about this. They close the front bins until those passengers board.

Also, when getting off a plane recently, we were in the back and sitting waiting for the rows to unload. Of course everyone from behind was clogging up the aisle. When it started to clear the woman next to me got up to get her bag and the people behind were complaining "Why couldn't she do that earlier?" How could she if they were all hogging up the aisle?

If all airlines did this it would solve a lot of issues-if they load from the back to the front, only have the bins open by the seats being loaded.

You can NOT be serious?? The bin overhead your rows of seats is NOT for YOUR exclusive use and if you had dared to removed my bag from there and not put it back then you could bet that you would have had to deal with ME then removing your things and tossing them to the side and replacing MINE in there! WOW----what nerve you have!!!!!

I have to agree with the other poster that the bins above your seat ARE intended for those sitting in those seats to use. It creates more efficiency loading and unloading if everyone did that. It really bothers me to see someone shove a bag in the bin above row 3 and sit way back in row 28--keep your bags near you. I don't understand why you would want to put your bag in a bin nowhere near where you are sitting???

 

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

Why get mad at the passengers? It seems like the airlines are the ones to blame for encouraging so much carry-on and then not managing it better. It's their nickle and dime attitude that is driving the problem.

I agree with you. Blame the root problem (i.e. the airline policy) instead of the results.

 

[DebbieB]

Why get mad at the passengers? It seems like the airlines are the ones to blame for encouraging so much carry-on and then not managing it better. It's their nickle and dime attitude that is driving the problem.

I agree. I don't understand why the airlines allow bags over the limit, they are losing the money they should be collecting for checking them.

 

[crashbb]

I have to agree with the other poster that the bins above your seat ARE intended for those sitting in those seats to use. It creates more efficiency loading and unloading if everyone did that. It really bothers me to see someone shove a bag in the bin above row 3 and sit way back in row 28--keep your bags near you. I don't understand why you would want to put your bag in a bin nowhere near where you are sitting???

Because, as I said, sometimes the bins above you are in use by airline items. Or, on some planes, there are only bins over the seats by the windows, not the middle section (on planes with two aisles). So, those people don't deserve bin space? We aren't talking about people putting things 25 rows away, we are talking about people putting things 1-2 rows away or on the other side of an aisle.

The PP doesn't take anytime to check where the people are sitting, she has no idea if they are 25 rows away or 1.

While it is more efficient to use the bins closest to you, that is not always possible and the PP has no right to move anyone's belongings. If she feels strongly about it, she needs to talk to the flight crew.

 

[golfgal]

Because, as I said, sometimes the bins above you are in use by airline items. Or, on some planes, there are only bins over the seats by the windows, not the middle section (on planes with two aisles). So, those people don't deserve bin space? We aren't talking about people putting things 25 rows away, we are talking about people putting things 1-2 rows away or on the other side of an aisle.

The PP doesn't take anytime to check where the people are sitting, she has no idea if they are 25 rows away or 1.

While it is more efficient to use the bins closest to you, that is not always possible and the PP has no right to move anyone's belongings. If she feels strongly about it, she needs to talk to the flight crew.

Every plane I have been on has had accommodations for the bins that have airline equipment in them-generally they are in the 1st class sections and they have closets to accommodate those bags. In my flying experience there is almost always space in bins in the BACK of the plane because the people back there put their stuff in the front of the plane. If you get on in the middle of the boarding and see all the front bins full, something is wrong there. If everyone boarded in order and put their stuff in the bins by their seats, no one would have issues putting their stuff away.

 

[sandramaac]

This is why whenever possible I either upgrade by any means possilbe---miles, upgrade fee's, or looking for best biz class fare---we have traveled extensively all over the world, and have seens all sorts of awful behavior on planes----biz class or better is the only way to go if you can

 

[maxiesmom]

Every plane I have been on has had accommodations for the bins that have airline equipment in them-generally they are in the 1st class sections and they have closets to accommodate those bags. In my flying experience there is almost always space in bins in the BACK of the plane because the people back there put their stuff in the front of the plane. If you get on in the middle of the boarding and see all the front bins full, something is wrong there. If everyone boarded in order and put their stuff in the bins by their seats, no one would have issues putting their stuff away.

I just flew last week, and at least on the Delta plane I was on, this was not the case. We were in the back of a large plane (row 44 out of 50 something) and there were definately things not luggage in some of the overhead bins. And I saw the FAs rearranging bags from bin to bin to make everything fit.

Also the seats at the very front of our section had a wall in front of them, with no place to put their personal items, which should go under the seat in front of you. So the FAs shoved those in wherever they would fit, and then handed them out to their owners after we were airborn.

You are not buying the luggage space that coinsides with your seat number. You should get a space, but not necessarily that specific space. Moving anyone else's luggage is just plain rude.

 

[Jennasis]

I often wondered why they don't build planes with bins overhead marked specifically for each seat (like assigned)?

As for blame...I blame BOTH the airlines for creating the mess and the selfish heathens for acting like animals in response to the airline policy.

For example...while waiting for our plane to load this afternoon in NY to head home, the girl sitting across from me was getting reall y angry about all the things I mentioned and I was empathizing. So when the gate attendant announced that this flight was (surprise) booked solid and that those in "zone 4" would likely have no bin space since they loaded last, they were requesting folks in zone 4 to voluntarily bring their carry ons to the gate to be checked before boarding.

This is US Airways. What made my assigned seat (14C) "zone 4"?? There was a lady in 26 who was also zone 4...no where near me! How do I get an "upgrade" to zone 2??

Anyhooo...while the rest of the selfish lot sat around staring at the gate attendant going "I'M not checking MY carry on..." I walked up and handed over my bag. For starters I KNEW there'd be no space (there wasn't) and trying to check the bag once I was on the plane along with the 15 other passengers whose bags wouldn't fit, would waste precious time getting to our destination.

A little common courtesy.

 

[DawnCt1]

Why get mad at the passengers? It seems like the airlines are the ones to blame for encouraging so much carry-on and then not managing it better. It's their nickle and dime attitude that is driving the problem.

I agree with you! The airlines need to price the tickets accordingly and allow at least one checked bag. Remember when it was two? I will buy my soda, my sandwich, etc, but when you nickel and dime passengers for 'essentials' that they need to bring with them, this is what happens. It can't be easy for the F.A.s. It certainly is a pain for fellow passengers, and makes flying more difficult. This is from someone who LOVES to fly. The sound of jet engines rocks me to sleep. Why make it miserable.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

DH, DD and I travel together and book 3 seats together, meaning the bin above our seats is clearly marked for our seats. If I get to our seats and someone has shoved their luggage into our bin space, I will not hesitate to unload it. I will then put our 3 carryons in the bin and if there is room left, the luggage that was there prior to ours can go back in. But I'll be danged if my carryon is getting checked because someone wanted their bin space and mine too. I have to carry a lot of medicine, nebulizers, etc., and it's all staying with me, along with a change of clothes in case any checked luggage is lost. Yes, a few seats don't have assigned bin space, but that's between them and the flight attendants.

BTW, I do make certain our carryons are regulation size.

You must be a casual traveler, not aware of what is "yours" when you book your ticket.

The overhead bin is NOT your reserved space. You are not entitled to it nor are you allowed to unload other people's bags. As others have said, the flight attendant very well could have put the bags there.

If you attempted to unload my bags, you would promptly be speaking to the flight attendant about your misguided entitlement views.

And I guarantee you, my bags would be back up in the bin and yours would be checked.

The only space that is reserved specifically for you is the space in front of your seat. If you have critical medicines, then this is the bag your meds need to be in, safely tucked under the seat in front of you.

Additionally, you are incorrect about the seats not having bins overhead being a problem between the flight attendants and those passengers. The passengers who do not have overhead bins are entitled to use any of the bins, just as any passenger is.

Although, I do agree that it rude to put your bags in the bins in the front of the plane if you are sitting in the back. However, although rude, it is allowed.
And I too have regulation sized carry-on.