Carry-on with a small commuter plane

[disneysnowflake]

I'm concerned about a carry-on with a small commuter plane.
We are using US Air. We have a small commuter plane to a larger city then to Orlando.

We were told that our current carryons are acceptable.

However, coworkers just got back and had big trouble with their carry-ons on the commuter.

The coworkers were forced to check a backpack and a small rolling carryon.

The flight on both heading to and return flight refused to allow any carry-on unless it could fit under the seat in front of you.

The coworked asked about the overhead compartment. The rude flight attendant says that is for flight crew only. They then huffed and took his son's backpack and another carry-on and forced them to check it (even though the coworker's son's gameboy and other pricier things were in the backpack).

Since I'm taking a commuter I'm concerned about how to handle this carry-on situation. The coworker said there is very, very little room to put anything under the seat in front of you. His wife could barely put her purse there.

What should I do?

 

[DVC-Don]

On the commuter planes I've been on, there is no overhead compartment at all.

 

[disneysnowflake]

So, what did you use for a carry-on?
I'm concerned about luggage delays with using ME.
I had planned to take a small rolling carry-on with a day's worth of clothing for each of us.
My husband has a messenger bag he wanted to use to bring our mediciation, etc. in.
My 11 yo was planning to use his rolling backpack as a carryon to bring his gameboy, his mp3 player, etc.

Do you think they will allow this? I'm just concerned about being forced to check these things and having them missing or taken.

 

[Servants of Evan]

On all the commuter planes I've flown, I've only once been able to actually carry-on anything beyond my laptop/briefcase. Typically, you'll walk out to the aircraft where next to the aircraft stairs will be a cart. You put your "carry on" on the cart and board the plane. A few minutes later they will put the bags in the tail-end. Upon the conclusion of your flight, you'll exit the plane and there waiting will be a similar cart where you'll find your just off-loaded "carry on." I've yet to have one smashed (did I just say that out loud?), and typically it works very well.

The one and only time I was successful was when I was on business carrying a $100G video camera which the attendant wanted me to check, and I refused citing their policy of not covering any damage to electronics. The flight attendant huffed, and then jammed it into a very small compartment near the door. In retrospect, I'm not sure which would have been worse!

Servants of Evan

 

[DebbieB]

I flew on a Saab on USAirways Express in July (PIT/ABE). It's a 34 seat prop. My experience was the same as above, they had a cart next to the steps (you have to actually go out on the tarmac to enter, no jetway) where carry-ons are collected and you pick them up when exiting. The overhead was very small, a briefcase or laptop might fit but that would be it. I flew on a RJ last year, the overhead was bigger but once they were full, you had to gate check at the end of the jetway.

 

[safetymom]

Personally on the very small planes I think it is much easier to just put your luggage on the cart and then get on the plan. I have a small bag with my reading material. Trying to lug a suitcase up those narrow steep steps is no fun.

The overhead bins on a lot of the smaller planes is very small.

The luggage you check on the cart is waiting for you when you get off the plane to wait inside the building. It really is quite fast.

 

[BonnieA]

I find it very convenient to put my carry-on on the cart provided. Saves me from having to shove it overhead (if there was room). Helps to keep the aisle clear since most people must give up their giant carry-ons. Just remember to have a small bag with you for reading materials, games or snacks. Though my rides on commuters have usually been to large cities and take less than an hour.

 

[disneysnowflake]

Thanks.
You know, I had no idea about the cart to put things on.
I always thought that cart was for checked luggage.

Thanks for helping me. That makes me feel much better about using the commuter.

I can't wait until Sept. 30.

 

[mhf]

After you hand in your boarding pass, there is typically an agent standing there with a handful of tags. Get a tag, tie it to the bag's handle, and either put it on the cart or set it by the plane, however they direct you.
The first time I had to do this, I was flying with my boss and I just did everything he did: Learned something new that day. I simply carried on my purse and book and left my wheelie bag by the plane.
DO NOT go behind the wing to get your bag, even if it is sitting on the cart. Wait until the cart comes in front of the wing.
I like flying commuter planes because of the plane-side check.

aw: MHF aw:

 

[scrapperjill]

We've flown smaller commuter planes in the past..and like other poster have said...there is no (or VERY little room) for any thing to be carried on....so the carry-on items like back packs and smaller suitcases are placed on a cart outside of the airplane...then after everyone is loaded...the "carry-ons" are loaded. Then when you arrive at your next stop...the "carry-ons" are unloaded and waiting on the cart as you get off the plane.

We had a number of carry-ons that we had to place on the cart...plus a good number of checked luggage. Everything went very very smooth....our carry ons were on the cart waiting...and our checked luggage made through the plane changes just fine.

One idea would be to call your airline and ask them how it's handled with their smaller planes

 

[ducklite]

The only thing that we carry on to those small planes is the laptop bag, pocketbook, and my camera bag (which is worth much more than the laptop and does NOT get checked. Period.)

Anne

 

[marc1477]

I really wouln't worry about it too much. You can always gate check your carry-on's. When you board the plane place it near the door then after they load the checked luggage they will load the gate checked stuff. When you get off the plane your stuff will be there waiting for you. If you need something while in flight place it in a backpack and put it in the overhead or under the seat. I do this quite often and never had a problem.