Carryon Are you kidding?

[decaff38]

I have not flown since 911 and was amazed at what people believe are carry on!!! I do think the airlines should be more strict about the carry on size. We checked t large bags with a plane change both ways and did not lose anything. You would think these people were carrying the crown jewels. It was absolutely rediculuous what people were bringing on as carryon. They were as big as our regular suitcases. They would stand there and push and pack them into the overheads. If they had popped open, it would have killed some one. People have a little trust and check those honking bags!!!!!

 

[safetymom]

It seems these people think their time is more valuable than others. I agree with you.

 

[Gary M]

What gets me are the people that have "carry-on" bags that are so heavy that they need help to get them in the overhead. I believe most airlines say only one carry-on, plus purse and/or computer, but some important people piggyback two or three bags and count it as one, but they seem to find me.

Sometimes I feel punch drunk after having gotten in my aisle seat and having carry-on stuff bounced off my head while people are struggling to get their stuff over or past me. I'm not hanging over into the aisle.

Flying isn't fun anymore, but more like what I remember taking "the hound" was like.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I long for the days to walk on a plane bagless!!!!

That's my goal for tomorrow--non-stop to baltimore..I'm throwing 1 or 2 diapers in my purse and calling it a day!

 

[Brian Noble]

Officially, there are restrictions. On most airlines, it is one bag, no more than 22" in any dimension, plus one briefcase/purse. (Technically, the bag restrictions are more complicated, but most rollaboards 22" and under will fit the rules.) That's exactly what I carry, so that no one ever raises a fuss with me.

However, I almost never see NWA raise a fuss even with people clearly over the limits, and I fly once or twice monthly. The rules aren't enforced because, usually, the offenders are business travellers paying business-class fares (read: 3-5x what a leisure traveler is paying.) So, the airline doesn't want to annoy it's most profitable customers. Of course, this means that someone isn't going to get to carry their bags on, and will have to check them, because the plane storage is full. This is almost never a business traveller, because most of them have elite status on the airlines they fly, and they get to board first, with plenty of room for bags. So, the most profitable customers never complain about the other profitable customers being pigs about it.

 

[CarolA]

I am a business traveler and I have to say that we are a horrid group! I personally am not a big carry on fan. (My laptop case is all I can deal with!)

I do however give some of my fellow travelers grief. (I have been known to look at them and ask if they ever heard of something called baggage check)

 

[beccasmom]

Two airlines - American and Delta come to mind - have templates at the gate. But I can't say I've ever seen them used. I remember getting on a TWA flight from MCO connecting through Atlanta once and someone brought a WDW balloon on the plane, storing it in the overhead bin. During descent, it exploded and caused quite a scare. I guess it seemed harmless to the attendant at the time...

 

[klmall]

Our first flying since 9/11 was last summer to Hawaii on Delta. Now we did change planes in LA on the way out and the carry-on luggage was horrendous but Delta did make those with large carry-ons put the bag into the metal frame "template". One bag was sent down to be check-in because it was too large.

On the return trip we had each checked bag weighed carefully (it was summer and I know air fuel is a weight issue with luggage in hot temperatures) and any bag over I think it was only 50 pounds had to be reduced in weight or we would have had to pay $25 I think. We ended up moving some gifts to a bag for carry-on to make the weight under 50 pounds. I expected the plane to be full but it wasn't at all! But guess what! All the overhead bins were full of carry-ons!

And I've lost count though of the number of times over the years that someone pulling a carry-on bag from an overhead bin has bumped or nicked me in the process!

 

[goofy4tink]

The 'budget' airlines, like Song and JetBlue, pride themselves on a quick turnaround. But, with the wait time for people to get their many bags stowed away, it must add 15 minutes time. I flew PanAm in 11/01. They allowed no carry-on at all. You could bring a large purse but that was it. It was incredible how fast we boarded and then took off!!! I'm not saying we should do away with carry-on but it has gotten a little out of control. I always obsess over whether or not my carry-on stuff is 'legal' and then get to the airport and see what other people board with!!!

 

[MEM]

This is a hot button topic for me!!

In my experience, the folks flying in economy are just as inconsiderate with carry-ons as the business class flyers are reported to be. Not only are the size of some of the bags way over the limit, but their owners are very careless of other people's baggage when stuffing them into the overheads. I watched one guy pull stuff OUT and shove stuff around, including my husband's laptop and then slam his huge bag on top of the laptop. The laptop HAD been protected the way my husband packed the overhead but this guy just messed up the whole arrangement. I loudly asked that person to be please careful with other people's baggage and of course, I got a "who do you think you are talking to b*itch" kind of look. I did not back down, however. Unfortunately, I have come across others just like him.

There is no reason why the airlines cannot check the size of the carryons at the gate, especially since they insist we get to the airport two hours early, only to wait around for 1 1/2 hours. Thanks for allowing me to vent!!

 

[safetymom]

As someone who travels a lot I don't think it is the elite or business flyers that cause the problems with carry ons. At least the business traveler finds his bin, stows his stuff and sits down. The rookies try to rearrange everything, stand in the aisle, put it in bins ahead of where they are sitting and they try to make it down the aisle and out the door before everyone else.

If you can't lift it, don't bring it.

 

[G00fyDad]

Two airlines - American and Delta come to mind - have templates at the gate. But I can't say I've ever seen them used. I remember getting on a TWA flight from MCO connecting through Atlanta once and someone brought a WDW balloon on the plane, storing it in the overhead bin. During descent, it exploded and caused quite a scare. I guess it seemed harmless to the attendant at the time...

I would have wet myself laughing if I were there! My wife is still post 9/11 scared. Her eyes would have rolled back in her head and she would have literally passed out!

 

[jfap]

Ya know what I think the airlines should do is upon landing tell everyone to stay in their seats and then tell them that anyone that does NOT have carryon luggage can disembark from the plane first. There have been times that I have not had luggage but I had to wait while everyone clogged the aisles climbing to get theirs down out of the overhead.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

There was an episode of Airline the other week dealing with a lady with an oversized carryon. She pitched a FIT when an agent asked her about checking it. It just BARELY fit into the overhead compartment -- she had to really press on it.

 

[G00fyDad]

some people just think they deserve more for nothing. I was picking my daughter up the other day and this woman comes up to the school with a Great Dane on a leash. The asst principle told her she could not bring the dog in and the woman threw a fit! She said that she saw another woman go in with her dog. The asst principle then stated "That was a Minnie Terrier and that woman carried it." The woman yelled that she should be able to if the other woman was. The asst principle looked at her and said "Fine, carry it in! And don't put it down." This is because the dogs nails would rip apart the gym floor where we pick the kids up.


I loved it!

 

[CarolA]

My personal favorite carryon story happened years ago in Dallas. A woman had been on the plane when it landed. Apparently she had "Wedged" a piece of antique Mexican Pottery in the overhead. Well when you take it out there is really no wiggle room for her to get the angle right. So it wouldn't come out. As we were boarding maintenance was working on it. She was literally screaming that if they damaged it she would sue. She wanted the entire overhead bin taken apart. That is NOT a small undertaking, the oxygen masks and stuff are up there. AA said no. Finally a security guard DRUG her off the plane and the maintance guys broke the thing into little pieces and swept it out.

 

[G00fyDad]

I love that!!!

 

[safetymom]

I would have enjoyed that.

 

[seashoreCM]

The better the airline staff enforce the carryon size rules, the fewer the confrontations between passengers.

Ya know what I think the airlines should do is upon landing tell everyone to stay in their seats and then tell them that anyone that does NOT have carryon luggage can disembark from the plane first.

Would work if overhead bins had locks (which could also prevent objects falling on unsuspecting people's heads in flight due to turbulence or careless passengers).

... had "Wedged" a piece of antique Mexican Pottery in the overhead. Well when you take it out there is really no wiggle room for her to get the angle right. So it wouldn't come out. ... wanted the entire overhead bin taken apart. That is NOT a small undertaking, the oxygen masks and stuff are up there. AA said no. Finally .. maintance guys broke the thing into little pieces and swept it out.

The pottery might have fitted gently at first but, someone else may have put a heavy suitcase in, the bin itself bulged slightly, the pottery slid in a bit more.

When the heavy suitcase was removed, the bin regained its orignal shape, squeezing the pottery tightly.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[canwegosoon]

CarolA...Love that story Karma...I gave up carryons for my 1 large shoulder bag (which I keep on the floor) when I had kids!!! DH also a business travler still tries to cram everything into a small 20" bag....he just hates waiting for the bag...but I like to know...who does he have the hot date with when he gets off the plane ???