Carry-on Question

[goofy4tink]

I refuse to place such an obligation on others. If I cannot lift it, I do not bring it. And I usually travel one handed.

It may be kind of your husband to do so, but nobody should expect others to take on their burdens for them, especially when they result in others most likely having to gate check their bags.

Yes, Lewisc, once again it is very clear that I don't fit in here, and I am perfectly fine with that fact. My philosophies may not be the norm but I am content with that.



PS Duds, turn out the batsignal, it's bedtime!

Ah....don't worry too much. I don't think I fit in here either.

Lifting the bag is not an issue. I do not pack anything I cannot lift myself, even though DH is traveling with us and he can lift more than his share and often helps others with their bags. I am not sure why this keeps coming back to whether or not I can lift the bag. I am not packing anvils or bowling balls, so it is definitely managable.

It came up because someone else mentioned being able to find someone to help lift that bag into the overhead.

To everyone, not just the OP........

Here's the simple truth about carryon bags....In the vast majority of cases, gate attendants and flight attendants aren't going to watch you and your bag as you board the plane. If they see a hugely oversized bag, then sure, perhaps they will say something. But..I have seen way too many airline passengers getting on the plane with a huge pocketbook, a totebag, a large rollaboard bag and a huge Disney shopping bag full of stuff. And no one has batted an eye. Right thing to do? Heck no. But perhaps it was because the flight wasn't full so the FAs knew there would be room for the excess bags..don't know.
That carryon bag is supposed to fit in, wheels first, handle out, towards the opening...period. If you have to turn it sideways, it's too big. Will you be stopped? Maybe if the flight is full. Do you want to take that chance?
I know that on one flight I took, there was a gentleman who had a huge carryon bag. You could tell just by looking at it that it wasn't going to fit easily into the overhead bin. And, it didn't. He pushed and shoved...until he got it squeezed in, sideways, taking 2/3 of that bin. Too bad for the others who already had stuff in there. I'm sure it got squished behind his oversized bag.
So...when we landed, it took that one man, plus two others, to pull his bag out of that bin. It was so large it got stuck. Not to mention the people that got held up, waiting to get off the plane, while he tried to get his bag unstuck.
Please, have consideration for others. Try to take the smallest amount of stuff you can get away with as carryon. Way too many people are trying to keep the cost of flying down by not checking luggage. If this continues, we may see the airlines just jack up their fares by $15 or so per seat. Or perhaps they will start charging for carryon bags that need to go in the overhead bins. I have to tell you.....when I flew after 9/11, our flight didn't allow any carryon stuff at all. You could bring a purse and that was it. That plane took off about 15 mins after the first boarding was called. INcredibly quick turnaround.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Why, that no-good two-timing chocolate-toting fuzzy foreigner!

Meh - Bavaria just married someone in another thread. It's all good.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I can't be the only one who wonders if New Hampshire is one of those medical marijuana-friendly states...

Flight attendants need to start a fad. If asked to help with a bag, use just one hand halfheartedly to get a feel for it. If the bag seems too heavy, have the passenger temporarioly shove it behind a seat and then "go to get help" in the form of another FA.

Big guys with back problems need to start a fad. If asked to help ... (copy the words above up to ) ... form of another big guy (after first getting one's own baggage and family settled).

Wives of big guys with back problems need to start a fad. Help make the previous paragraph come about because men don't ask for directions on their own and this may include not asking for help either.

 

[bavaria]

Why, that no-good two-timing chocolate-toting fuzzy foreigner!

All good - I 'married' a female American traitor now living in the land of chocolate and smelly foreigners (that should really confuse the readers who always thought that I was male, learned that I was female, and may now think that I play for a different team, which I don't - not that there is anything wrong with that!)

 

[maxiesmom]

Believe me - you are fine. The FA were very helpful with rearranging the items in the overhead bins. They had no problems putting some bags wheels out and not in. Flying AirTran was one of the most pleasant experiences I've had flying recently. I was very apprehensive reading the posts here.

I found the Air Tran employees to be very helpful, but also very adamant that people follow the luggage guidelines. I flew them in July, and the repeatedly told people to put their luggage in wheels first, and if you knew it wouldn't fit that way then you should gate check it. All of my flights were full, so maybe that made a difference.

 

[bavaria]

Perhaps the posters asking about these large bags don't travel very often. Unless AirTran has installed non-industry standard bins, a 25 or 27 inch bag cannot fit wheels first (many 22 inch ones do not) Therefore it must fit sideways, and even that is tight. Sideways it takes the space of TWO 22 inch bags, thereby taking the space away from another passenger.

One must also find a bin which is 2/3 empty, requiring that one board early. Assuming that one is taking away the space from another, and boarding early, perhaps ahead of ones zone, well, I must agree with Lewisc.

I know that bicker will be along shortly with the correct internet term, but this is a DIS phenomenom that I call 'evil poopyheadedness'. Anyone who does not support my viewpoint is by defaul an evil poopyhead.

I actually enjoyed reasoned debate but rarely find it here. I am however humble enough to take advice from those who do have more experience than I, and I certainly trust three posters on this thread who have a lot of AirTran experience.

I live out of a suitcase; currently a 24-25 inch suitcase for 3 months. Not full it weighs more than 50lbs. If you don't need the space of a 27 inch suitcase, why take it on board and take away space from someone else? If you do need the space of a 27 inch suitcase, I can virtually guarantee that it will be more than 50lbs full.

A few years ago I predicted that US carriers would charge for checked luggage. I also predicted that in a few years US carriers would start to enforce carry on rules, and eventually reduce them. They have already started the enforcement, and don't be surprised if in a few years they limit them to 8kg/16.6lbs like in the rest of the world, because threads like this one simply reinforce how long it takes to turn an aircraft in America due to the unreasonable carry ons.

(And yes, I realise that AT is vague as to limits, but just because one can do something doesn't mean that one should do something. There is a morality argument because doing so does negatively impact other passengers)

 

[bavaria]

I just wonder how many people don't listen to the good advice given here? Then when it happens the way they were warned about on the DIS do they think hmmm they were right?

Worse are the ones who do manage to get away with things, and then come back triumphant and trying to rub our collective noses in it (which leads me to wonder how often they are actually telling the truth, and how often they just want to prove others wrong)

There is a wealth of good information here, but it dropped off considerably this year and will continue to drop off as posters become tired of answering questions in a factual fashion and being mocked or called names for doing so.

More often than not I think 'why bother' and let people find out for themselves what the situation truly is. Every so often Duds flashes his light, or I have a spark of kindness or soft-heartedness, but most often I cannot be bothered anymore to answer a question and to be beaten up and torn apart by people who don't like the answer.

If you didn't want the answer, why ask the question?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Flight attendants need to start a fad.

Big guys with back problems need to start a fad.

Wives of big guys with back problems need to start a fad.

A fad, by definition, is short-lived. Perhaps the quoted poster means "...start a trend." or "...get in the habit of..."

 

[kaytieeldr]

I can't be the only one who wonders if New Hampshire is one of those medical marijuana-friendly states...

Nope. New Hampshire is the "live free or die" state. They don't need marijuana

 

[kaytieeldr]

Try not to feel too attacked. This is just a board where people tell it like it is. Whose tag says "there is no pixie dust on the transportation board?"

Uh, that'd be me I didn't coin it, but it sure as heck makes sense to quote it!

 

[seashoreCM]

Worse are the ones who do manage to get away with things, and then come back triumphant and trying to rub our collective noses in it (which leads me to wonder how often they are actually telling the truth, and how often they just want to prove others wrong)?

Worst are the ones who will force the issue until they do get away with things ...

For example, I board and see all the bin space full including larger items placed lengthwise and I turn one handle facing out so I can put mine in also handle facing out. (you finish the story)

 

[NHdisneylover]

Traitorous, smelly, chocolate eating wife of Bavaria chiming in here--though she may want a divorce as it is common knowledge over on the CB and family boards that I am a terrifically bad parent Besides, I don't play for that team either--but I cheer for it.

New Hampshire IS the Live Free or Die state--but it really ought to be the Live Free AND Die state. Only state in the union with no seat belt law (which, really does not bother me--if you want to be an idiot and risk your life who am I to stop you?). It never ceased to amaze me how many people WERE idiotic enough to feel they had to prove how "free" they were by refusing to wear seatbelts. I had more than one argument with people whereby I explained that while state law may not require you to wear that belt, you are not going anywhere in MY car without it
So far as I know NH has yet to legalize Marajuana, but it has leaglized marraige for players on all teams It also has my all time favourite airport

 

[NHdisneylover]

Uh, that'd be me I didn't coin it, but it sure as heck makes sense to quote it!

You go girl Makes me smile every time I read it. I have never understood how anyone can consider it helpful to give or receive incorrect information just because it is what we want to hear I have the strange desire to know actual facts and worst case scenarios so I can plan accordingly and not end up with a nasty surprise at the airport (or wherever) when it is too late to do anything about it.

 

[alaska8]

My favorite post, ever!!!!

I always feel really bad for the passengers who have followed the rules and waited patiently to board when their row is called (unlike the other 99 percent of the plane!) only to find no overhead space and look to the flight attendant for assistance. They are the type of passenger that a flight attendant will go out of their way to find space for by moving bags around or utilizing someof those secret nooks and cranies we can find to stow bags. Now the passenger with the huge overstuffed (filled with bricks) bag that drops it at or on my feet, looks at me with disgust and says "I cant lift this you need to do it or find somewhere to put it". Yes of course I can find somewhere for it I say with a smile, Ill be happy to assist you...youll find your bag at baggage claim.

 

[alaska8]

oops getting used to this....above post was in reply to post number 48..sorry

 

[alaska8]

Yes Im a woman and your welcome. Im also the mother of a young child so I understand all about traveling with little ones!
The airline I work for deals with lots of different types of travellers..we have a huge tourist industry and then local traffic (our route system is quite unique in the fact that we are the transport to get to the hospital, the commute to work and the way we get groceries to remote parts, we also fly to some nice warm destinations for the vacation traveller). Two completely different types of passenger.
Oh and my quick tip for the bag thats just a little bit bigger than it should be..try putting it in wheels up and out..sometimes they fit that way

 

[buzz5985]

I refuse to place such an obligation on others. If I cannot lift it, I do not bring it. And I usually travel one handed.

It may be kind of your husband to do so, but nobody should expect others to take on their burdens for them, especially when they result in others most likely having to gate check their bags.

Yes, Lewisc, once again it is very clear that I don't fit in here, and I am perfectly fine with that fact. My philosophies may not be the norm but I am content with that.



PS Duds, turn out the batsignal, it's bedtime!

We will continue to help people, it's the way we were brought up. It's the way we are raising our child. It's really sad that people think it's a burden to help people.

Janis

 

[alaska8]

Flight attendants need to start a fad. If asked to help with a bag, use just one hand halfheartedly to get a feel for it. If the bag seems too heavy, have the passenger temporarioly shove it behind a seat and then "go to get help" in the form of another FA.

You know I learnt the hard way (little old ladies have the heaviest bags!!!)...shoulder injury...I always ask....is it heavy?, then I do the little tug test, then if its not tooooooo heavy I say..ok we can do this together (providing the passenger isnt going to have a heart attack...way too much paperwork..just joking).Then you lift in stages using the seat and seat back.

 

[buzz5985]

I found the Air Tran employees to be very helpful, but also very adamant that people follow the luggage guidelines. I flew them in July, and the repeatedly told people to put their luggage in wheels first, and if you knew it wouldn't fit that way then you should gate check it. All of my flights were full, so maybe that made a difference.

My flights were also full - with many stand-bys being left behind.

 

[buzz5985]

from Air Trans Website

Carry On
For carry-on baggage, all customers traveling on AirTran Airways will be restricted to one carry-on item and one personal item. Personal items include handbags, umbrellas, walking sticks, coats, cameras, reading matter, infant food, briefcases, and laptop computers.

Assistive Devices. Canes, walkers, crutches, and other assistive devices capable of being collapsed small enough to fit in overhead bins or underneath a seat are welcome inside the cabin and will not count toward your carry-on limit.


Dimensions. No carry-on item may exceed overall dimensions of 55 inches (length + width + height). All carry-on items must fit under the seat or in the overhead bin. Any heavy item must be placed underneath the customer's seat. Any item with inflexible surfaces must be placed underneath the customer's seat or flat on the floor of an overhead bin.