Carry-on Question

[bavaria]

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

You have twisted my words, whether intentionally or not. I never said that it was rude to help others, but in many cultures it is considered rude to place an expectation on others to do things. Putting people out by asking of them is not acceptable behaviour in many cultures around the world. Not everyone places themselves at the top of the priority list.

No need to insult us; I find it equally or more rude for someone to enter into a situation knowing that they are going to inconvenience others, and continuing to do so even when it is explained to them how they are inconveniencing others.

Let me repeat what our new best friend the reasonable, rational FA said just a few posts earlier. It supports what many of us have said over the years.

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.

 

[bavaria]

I want a divorce.













But only so that I can fight Duds over the right to marry alaska8. What does Mrs Duds think of this by the way? Is she ok with this?

 

[goofy4tink]

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)

Terrific....a new Transportation Board 'term'!!! You are so very correct, but it is pretty funny.

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.

That would be me....standing there, waiting patiently, for my row/area to be called, while all those other people (has to be 75% of the plane) has a need to board out of sequence. Drives me nuts.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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

Well, that's entirely reasonable - and appreciated beyond belief! But the opposing view here is based on the fact that every passenger (or a member of their own party) should be able to lift their own carry-on luggage into the overhead bin.

ExPirateShopGirl has another bag - and, ideally, the picture of it - that's wedge-shaped and designed to fit under the seatback in front of the passenger. THAT'S what I bring as my carry-on, because (a) it holds enough for 24 hours in case my checked luggage is misdirected and (b) it's light enough, even packed, for me to lift over my head.

 

[bavaria]

I am not EPSG nor do I play her in real life, but here is what I carry (except in a lovely shade of purple). It contains netbook, iPod, book, change of clothes, 100-1-1 bag, emergency chocolate rations, and a host of other necessities and still has room to spare. It's bigger on the inside than on the outside.

And it fits easily under the seat in front of me and is carriable one-handed.

Disclaimer for my favourite readers that I am European and hence it is ordinary for me to carry a European bag on my international flights.

 

[seashoreCM]

Meanwhile, do airlines impose a weight carrying requirement on FA's? The postal service and UPS and similar agencies do screen applicants for this, I think it is 50 lb.

In my earlier lifetime my folks ordered some Oriental rugs. One delivery man went to pick up one of the rugs by himself and found it "immensely heavy". Not wanting to look like a wimp to his colleagues he forced himself to get the rug on his shoulder and stand up and carry it. (I didn't see this myself.)

... I can't lift this, you need to do it ...

FA: "Where are you seated?"
Pax: "Over here" (pointing)
FA: (drags bag in that direction, upends it over and over a few times to get it under the seat in front.)

 

[NHdisneylover]

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

Oh is this turning into a parenting debate? I always seem to end up in those
I am bringing my children up to help people too That short lady who is too small to reach the overhad bins with ANY item no matter how light? DD will notice her and help before I have made it half way down the aisle. We do plenty of otehr helpful things all the timt too. HOWEVER, I am also teaching my children that they are not responsible for other people's bad decisions (so they may decide to be nice anyway and help lift a heavy bag, but the person put himself in the situation by packing a heavy bag whereas the short person cannot help being short) AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY that they they are responsible for theirselves and their decisions. Everyone needs help sometimes and my kids need to know when to (politely and curteously) ask for it--but they also must make every attempt to not get themselvs into such a situation in the first place (by packing carry ons they can manage for example).

I want a divorce.

But only so that I can fight Duds over the right to marry alaska8. What does Mrs Duds think of this by the way? Is she ok with this?

Sigh--I knew it was only a matter of time. . . I can hardly blame you--Alaska8 rocks

That would be me....standing there, waiting patiently, for my row/area to be called, while all those other people (has to be 75% of the plane) has a need to board out of sequence. Drives me nuts.

And those who do not try to board out of sequence all stand around right in front of the door so the others cannot get on. I never understood why (unless it is unassigned seating like SWA) people all feel the need to rush onto the plane It won't get you there any faster.


DH does pack a small rolling carry on for business trips. He prefers to utilize the overhead bin if at all possible because he is so tall he actaully needs the under seat space for his feet Other than that one, small (not sure on the measurement but it easily fits wheels out on every aircraft he has taken it on) rolled carry on we only take bags which go under the seat in front of us. By age 3 I expected my kdis to be able to carry their own carry on backpack, and stow it under the seats themselves. I am really mean that way

 

[goofy4tink]

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

And that's just fine. But....when people drag those heavy carryon bags on board with them, expecting someone to help them hoist them into the overhead bins, that's wrong. No one should 'expect' anyone else to give them a hand. What would happen if someone did that...carried a heavy bag with them, fully expecting some nice soul to help them hoist it up, but there was no one in that area that could help? What if the nearby 'able bodied' men were not as able bodied as they might appear?? Now what? That FA is going to have to hoist it and when you do that repetively, you have injuries happening.
So....bring what you can easily handle yourself. It is your responsibility to take care of your own bags. I have seen one petite woman, who was completely unable to get her large, heavy bag into the overhead. I actually overheard her saying that she hated checking bags, it took way too long at baggage claim, so she tried to get away with carryon only. Yeah, right. Her bag had to be very close to the 50 lb limit. The poor man who took pity on her, was red in the face by the time he got that bag into the bin.

I'm certainly not saying that we shouldn't offer to help others...of course we should. BUT..no one should assume or expect this help to be offered. I truly resent it when that happens.

One more stupid little story.....I was flying JB a few years ago. I had gotten to my seat, was nicely seated, waiting to take off. A woman, very frazzled, came on the plane...she was lugging about 4 carryon bags, a car seat, as well as assorted other bags (tote bags, backpacks)..she looked like a pack mule. BUT....she had three kids with her. Only one of them was too young to be responsible for his/her own bag. But no...mom had to drag those bags, while the kids ran up the aisle..gleefully banging into everyone who was trying to get settled in. Well....now mom wants an overhead bin, that will accomodate all her stuff. And that just wasn't possible now...she was the last one on the plane, so there was little overhead space in one area left. She had to get her kids settled, then go off in search of various open spaces in the overheads. She moaned and groaned about there not being any space by her seats....that she was entitled to those spaces. And she said it very loudly so that all around her could hear. Now...should those who had already boarded gotten up and removed their bags in order to accomodate her? No, I don't think so. She dallied at the gate, she had to live with the lack of available space. And yes, I watched her at the gate..it wasn't that she had arrived late. She just waited until the very last possible moment.

 

[bavaria]

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.

Look, I understand that you are a (failed) refugee from the 'DIS Parent of the Year Awards' board, just like some of us are refugees from the Resorts boards, the DVC boards, and other boards where most matters are subjective.

But if you are going to post with the poopyheads here, you need to understand that while Transportation may be factual, dry, and *gasp*, even dare I say boring at times, this website has a very unique talent of finding even the most mundane topic and turning it into a gripping drama.

There are epic threads running 20 pages or more on absolutely thrilling subjects such as measurements, times, schedules, routes, and other fascinating topics. One day soon I fully expect to see the Hallmark channel turn the subject of the metric system into a mini-series, based on the drama surrounding it here on the Transportation Board.

Until then, we boring posters will just continue to post the facts in a reasonable, rational fashion, knowing that in a matter of minutes or posts a thread as mundane as this can take a sharp detour into the land of the bizarre.

 

[Lewisc]

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.

At least one poster suggested FA were interpreting fitting into the overhead bin as meaning wheels first. There is also a requirement that heavy items be placed under the seat. Bags that only fit in the bin lengthwise won't generally fit under your seat and are certainly heavy.

The issue isn't just having top pay to gate check a bag, you might get the fee waived. The issue is not having enough time to remove items that don't belong in a checked bag (medicine, cameras etc.)

 

[goofy4tink]

Look, I understand that you are a (failed) refugee from the 'DIS Parent of the Year Awards' board, just like some of us are refugees from the Resorts boards, the DVC boards, and other boards where most matters are subjective.

But if you are going to post with the poopyheads here, you need to understand that while Transportation may be factual, dry, and *gasp*, even dare I say boring at times, this website has a very unique talent of finding even the most mundane topic and turning it into a gripping drama.

There are epic threads running 20 pages or more on absolutely thrilling subjects such as measurements, times, schedules, routes, and other fascinating topics. One day soon I fully expect to see the Hallmark channel turn the subject of the metric system into a mini-series, based on the drama surrounding it here on the Transportation Board.

Until then, we boring posters will just continue to post the facts in a reasonable, rational fashion, knowing that in a matter of minutes or posts a thread as mundane as this can take a sharp detour into the land of the bizarre.

Oh my!!!! And that's all I'm gonna say...just 'oh my'!!!

 

[bavaria]

OOPs did I forget to add that our esteemed moderator is one of the most rational, reasonable posters of the entire bunch? Without her the car would be speeding down the highway, with the kids screaming 'MOOOOM he touched me!' over and over and over again.

Fortunately Mom displays wisdom and fairness and keeps all the kids in line.

 

[crashbb]

Oh my!!!! And that's all I'm gonna say...just 'oh my'!!!

Go so sleep for a week hours and wake to this!

Divorce, marijuana, "switching" teams, parenting debates, it's better than a soap opera.

 

[bavaria]

Go so sleep for a week hours and wake to this!

Is that a metric or a Canadian form of measurement? Or are you just showing off to those of us who tend to be insomniacs?

 

[crashbb]

Is that a metric or a Canadian form of measurement? Or are you just showing off to those of us who tend to be insomniacs?

Perhaps a sign that I need more sleep??

week=few (well, some of the letters are the same)

 

[email_shell]

Wow I apologize. Didn't want to hit a nerve or even cause a divorce. NWA has a pretty restrictive 22x14x7 policy (43 inch) policy. I wish it were AirTran which is a generous 55 inch and I wouldnt have any issue at all. Thanks for the information, I am out of the debate.

 

[bavaria]

22 inches is absolutely NOT restrictive; it is the US industry standard, and larger than the limits in the rest of the world where the limit is 8kg/16.6lbs.

 

[dudspizza]

Wow I apologize. Didn't want to hit a nerve or even cause a divorce. NWA has a pretty restrictive 22x14x7 policy (43 inch) policy. I wish it were AirTran which is a generous 55 inch and I wouldnt have any issue at all. Thanks for the information, I am out of the debate.

No nerves hit with the regular posters on this board...... if you hang around her a while you will realize we post lots of good information, but can also take conversations on tangents, many times joking with each other in a manner that someone who isn't around much might not understand.......

Stick around, it is a pretty fun place to be... in fact, this is the only DIS board I go to......

Duds

 

[email_shell]

I was comparing to AirTran, which is the airline everyone seems to be discussing on the thread. People taking larger carry-ons than what AirTran allows, well I am not getting into it.

 

[bavaria]

I like this woman, and not just because she and I use the same bags on flights. I hope she stays and continues to post...

Well WAIT a minute! she joined here two years ago and has made 11 posts in all that time, the majority on this thread.

Where has she been hiding??? The reasonable, rational poopyheads have needed her on our side, and she only comes out now, two years late, to post?

Hmmm.... I may need to reconsider that divorce request.