Anyone have their carry on not fit in over head bin on the plane?

[maryj11]

We are flying airtran and we have 3 carry on bags. I have read on here that they overhead bins get so full there is not enough room. Anyone have this trouble with their carry on bags ? Should we check our bags instead ?

 

[disneyfan19712006]

We are flying airtran and we have 3 carry on bags. I have read on here that they overhead bins get so full there is not enough room. Anyone have this trouble with their carry on bags ? Should we check our bags instead ?

I would carry on. Depending on when you board there may be lots of room or a little. Worst case senario last year my daughter was the last one on after gate checking her stroller and they ended up putting her carry on in a closet. I would not pay for checked if you can get it in a carry on.

 

[john1928]

I would say that there are at least some bags that don't fit on at least 30% of flights I've been on in the last year (excluding the regional jet flights where that would be 100%).

Some folks bring it on themselves with oversized bags. However, with the checked bag fees and more folks using larger carry-ons sometimes all the bins are simply full. If they do run out of bin space they'll gate-check it for you at no charge.

You may want a separate "personal item" bag to keep with you for any medications, expensive electronics, etc. that you don't want the luggage monkeys to break/loose/steal if your carry-on does need to be gate checked..

 

[safetymom]

Personally we like checking our bags. No need to lug them through the airport and hope there is room in the overhead.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you have medicine, valuables, electronics, keys, etc. in your carry on and they want you to check it at the gate, stop right there and take the items out and hand carry them onto the plane.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

 

[goofy4tink]

If I am flying solo, and am headed to a place that has laundry facilities within easy reach, I do carryon. But, generally speaking, I also check bags.
Last March, I flew Airtran down to Florida. The only issue I had, with carryon only, was that it was a smaller plane, 3 seats on one side, 2 on the other. This meant that the overhead bins, above the rows of 2 seats, was much smaller than what you would expect. So, a lot of carryon bags didn't fit in them and had to be put in sideways, which took up a lot more space. But, it was probably offset by the fact that there were fewer people looking for space.

Be sure your bag is going to fit..check out measurements. You don't want to be the person who's bag is just a bit too large so that the FAs have you check it. If your bag doesn't scream 'a bit too big to fit' you should be okay.

 

[WeLuvTink!]

To avoid the ridiculous baggage fees we always take a small carry-on sized suitcase per person. If on a small regional jet they may require you to gate check your suitcase. I'm fine with that as I have my electronics and other things I need for the plane in my smaller bag that fits under the seat. If they gate check your suitcase, it will be waiting for you when you step off the plane. Benefit there is you don't have to wrestle it in/out of the overhead and down the narrow aisle, nor do you have to pay for a checked bag.

 

[DebbieB]

If your bag is within regulation carry-on size, they will not charge you to gate check a bag when the bins are full.

 

[deedeetoo]

I have had to gate check a standard carryon type bag. I frequently fly back and forth to Wash DC. There are lots of business travelers and no one checks luggage. If you are one of the last ones on the plane, the overhead bins could very well be completely full. When I've gate checked in this situation, I was not charged. I did pull out my some items that I really didn't want to put in checked luggage because of the value.

 

[justplaingoofy]

In my opinion since alot of airlines board from the back of the plane towards the front I think if you sit towards the back 2/3 of the plane overhead space isn't an issue.

We fly JetBlue and can have a checked bag, but we still prefer carry on. (we have very nice luggage and have had too many peices damaged)..

 

[tooh8ful]

I would say that there are at least some bags that don't fit on at least 30% of flights I've been on in the last year (excluding the regional jet flights where that would be 100%).

Some folks bring it on themselves with oversized bags. However, with the checked bag fees and more folks using larger carry-ons sometimes all the bins are simply full. If they do run out of bin space they'll gate-check it for you at no charge.

You may want a separate "personal item" bag to keep with you for any medications, expensive electronics, etc. that you don't want the luggage monkeys to break/loose/steal if your carry-on does need to be gate checked..

Luggage Monkeys made me laugh out loud.

 

[DebbieB]

In my opinion since alot of airlines board from the back of the plane towards the front I think if you sit towards the back 2/3 of the plane overhead space isn't an issue.

We fly JetBlue and can have a checked bag, but we still prefer carry on. (we have very nice luggage and have had too many peices damaged)..

If you are sitting in the back, be considerate and put your carryon near your seat. I've seen people who have seats in the back dump their carryon into the first empty bin they see in the front rather than carry it to the back. Then the people in front have no room.

 

[justplaingoofy]

If you are sitting in the back, be considerate and put your carryon near your seat. I've seen people who have seats in the back dump their carryon into the first empty bin they see in the front rather than carry it to the back. Then the people in front have no room.

Just clarifying...I did not say that I put my stuff in the front of the plane. I just said that you will have a better chance of finding room for your carry on if you are sitting mid-back of the plane due to boarding. Not only would I not put my stuff in the front of the plane due to respect you also run a chance of someone taking your carry on. (since it is not within view/reach).

so if you know that you will be carrying on a bag, you might have a better chance booking rows 10-25 to ensure there is enough space for your bag.

 

[DebbieB]

Just clarifying...I did not say that I put my stuff in the front of the plane. I just said that you will have a better chance of finding room for your carry on if you are sitting mid-back of the plane due to boarding. Not only would I not put my stuff in the front of the plane due to respect you also run a chance of someone taking your carry on. (since it is not within view/reach).

so if you know that you will be carrying on a bag, you might have a better chance booking rows 10-25 to ensure there is enough space for your bag.

Sorry, I didn't mean to insinuate that you meant that. I just thought I would mention it because I see it happen so often.

 

[maryj11]

Well I just checked in we are in row 28. It says zone 4, I dont know what zone 4 means ?

 

[snowy76]

Well I just checked in we are in row 28. It says zone 4, I dont know what zone 4 means ?

They load by zone instead of calling row numbers.

 

[SamSam]

Personally we like checking our bags. No need to lug them through the airport and hope there is room in the overhead.

Same here. We have our carryon's which have camera's, laptops, etc., but the rest gets checked so we dont' have to lug it everywhere.