Overhead Bin Hogs (inspired by airport seating hogs)

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Ok.... here's my pet peeve. For the love of Mike, if you have a full sized piece of luggage CHECK IT!!! It's incredibly rude and inconsiderate of your fellow passengers to taking up more than your fair share of the overhead bin! If you can't fit your carry on wheels-in-handle-out IT'S TOO BIG! I won't even mention how it doesn't fit rolling down the aisle. Please, 18" MAX if you fly MD-80s and smaller jets and turbo props, and 20" on wide bodies! If you can't possibly fit your haute couture wardrobe into a piece of luggage so itsy bitsy... again... CHECK IT!

This message has been brought to you by the letters P and Q.

 

[bavaria]

And that means one personal item and one carryon - ie one purse and a small suitcase or laptop bag, etc.

The big bag of souvenirs purchased in the airport counts as one of those carryons, FYI.

About the only thing that I like about Air Canada is that they weigh/measure AND TAG carryons as 'suitable for cabin' if there is any doubt at all. And don't try and sneak more than one piece past Lufthansa in Germany....

Oh, and if you are sitting in row 24 don't try and stuff all your junk above row 3 and then go take a seat GRRRR.

On TED flights the bin above row 1 has a sign 'reserved for row 1 only' since there is no under the seat stowage due to the bulkhead - I can't tell you how many times I board, am the only person in row 1, yet the bin is full.....

Back to your regularly scheduled discussion.

 

[DebbieB]

If you have a carryon plus a personal item, the personal item is supposed to go under the seat. I was ticked last month when I was entering a plane, I was in row 5, I saw spaces in the overhead, but the guy in front of me dumped his rollaboard in one space and his laptop case in the other, so I had to find a spot in a row behind my seat for my rolling laptop case (too big for under the seat).

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I don't normally use Samsonite luggage but they do have this GREAT little rolling laptop case that fits under the seat in front of you. Only once did I encounter a seat underframe too narrow to place the bag and I stowed it above... otherwise it is wonderful. It even has angled inserts so that you can reach down and unzip the case and pull your laptop out without moving the bag. When I am traveling for longer periods of time (leisure) and I have a checked bag as well, I bring this for my laptop, cameras, ipods, cables, etc.

It's too small for an overnight bag if you also have a laptop in there, but it's a nifty bag!

http://www.ebags.com/samsonite/silh...g_tote/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=49310

 

[DebbieB]

I like the window seat and often it is only half the size of the center or aisle underseat areas because of the curvature of the plane. I don't ever take a rollaboard on the plane, mainly because it is too heavy for me to lift (I'm only 5'2" and not strong), so the laptop bag is my carryon, not my personal item. Thanks for the link.

 

[tinatark]

Everytime I fly, I wish the airlines would institute this rule: If you stow something, you have to wait til the passengers without stowed bags get off the plane. We don't ever stow anything - and it is such a pain to wait while they grab their gigantic bags from above!

 

[bicker]

<closing eyes and putting envelope to forehead> "The great Karnak foresees an Anne approaching in the distance with a dissenting perspective!"

 

[bicker]

I like the window seat and often it is only half the size of the center or aisle underseat areas because of the curvature of the plane.

Actually, on many aircraft, the window and aisle seats have comparable space under the seat in front of them. The middle seat does tend to have a bonus in that regard.

 

[safetymom]

I agree that too many people bring too much stuff on the airplane. I guess they figure their time is more valuable than mine.

 

[goofy4tink]

<closing eyes and putting envelope to forehead> "The great Karnak foresees an Anne approaching in the distance with a dissenting perspective!"

For what it's worth, and that isn't much, I find it hard to believe that she would disagree with this position!!!
We have all been stuck behind those that 'had' to preboard due to either limitations or young children. Now, we all have to wait while they get their respective stuff together...all the stuff that made it possible for them to preboard, now keeps the rest of us cooling our heels. I know that I have spent huge amounts of time waiting, with my carryon stuff in hand, for those in the front of the plane to get it together.
If you have to preboard, I would think that heading for the rear of the plane is a better idea. Yes, I've said it before, but just for the reasons for preboarding you should have to allow those without any issues get off the plane. Those of us that have nothing to 'get together' shouldn't have to stand waiting for those in front to gather up their kids belongings, car seats, what have you. Perhaps they could sit and wait while the quicker passengers deplane and then they can head out.
There, I've said it...no one else has to

 

[Jeanne B]

This is also a pet peeve of mine as we've had several times where we've had to put our legal-sized carryon in a bin a few seats back because the bin above us is crammed full with other peoples luggage (which is oversized!!). I wish the airlines would crack down on this but they don't, and people know it so they abuse it.

It always cracks me up when I see someone struggling to get their carry-on, which is so clearly oversized, heaved up into the bin. And some nice gentleman always ends up having to help....ridiculous!!

 

[bicker]

If you can't fit your carry on wheels-in-handle-out IT'S TOO BIG!

For what it's worth, and that isn't much, I find it hard to believe that she would disagree with this position!!!

The great Karnak foresees that she'd probably say something along the lines of, "Some of the aircraft have smaller overhead compartments which are smaller than the allowed luggage..." and probably go into how much extra time it would take if she had to check her regulation-sized rollaboard.

 

[DVC Grammy]

I'm sometimes amazed by how many "numerically-challenged" people there are..........when you wear a bag (backpack or purse) it does NOT become an item of clothing, thus allowing for 2 more carryons!

This message has been brought to you by the numbers 2 and 3........

 

[seashoreCM]

This just in: Some airlines, I think American is one, permit guitars (but not other similar sized objects) in the overhead bins even though the size limits are exceeded.

Don't forget that regulation size refers to what is measured using a ruler or tape measure, not what is advertised on TV or in a store.

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

 

[ducklite]

Everytime I fly, I wish the airlines would institute this rule: If you stow something, you have to wait til the passengers without stowed bags get off the plane. We don't ever stow anything - and it is such a pain to wait while they grab their gigantic bags from above!

I disagree. I can have my smaller roll-on (that goes wheels in) out and be down the aisle before most people can have their personal item out from under the seat in front of them.

99% of the time I'm in the first row or two in the aisle seat, and as soon as we are at the gate, I'm out of my seat with my bag down waiting to get off teh plane--before the door is even open. I'm hardly holding anyone up.

The ones who should have to wait are the ones with car seats and kids and all teh stuff that comes along with them. I do'nt care how good you are, you'll hold up traffic dealing with getting off if you've got a kid in a car seat.

Anyone that pre-boards because they need more time needs to wait until others are off the plane to get off. If it takes you more time getting on, it's going to take more time getting off. That's just common sense.

Anne

 

[Lewisc]

I don't see any problem with a passenger stowing a bag sideways in the overhead bin if the bag meets the airlines size limts and won't otherwise fit. The airlines probably need to do a better job enforcing size limits. The limits should fit the size of the overhead compartments and should be enforced.

 

[disprincesspatty]

This may be a silly question, but I don't fly very often. What happens if the bins are all full when you get on and you have a regulation size carry-on. Who's luggage gets checked? Mine or the person who put their luggage in my overhead bin?

 

[ducklite]

This may be a silly question, but I don't fly very often. What happens if the bins are all full when you get on and you have a regulation size carry-on. Who's luggage gets checked? Mine or the person who put their luggage in my overhead bin?

It depends. If the bags in the overhead belong to people in your row or the ones immediately in front or behind or across from you, yours would. If the bags belong to someone 15 rows back, it's quite possible thiers would.

It's entirely the FA's call.

Anne

 

[Lewisc]

This may be a silly question, but I don't fly very often. What happens if the bins are all full when you get on and you have a regulation size carry-on. Who's luggage gets checked? Mine or the person who put their luggage in my overhead bin?

Some airlines don't officially restrict bins to passengers in a specific seat. A few frequent fliers suggest using the bin opposite your seat, not above your seat, so you can see if a passenger is going through your bag during the flight. You have no line of site to the bin above you.

It's the FA call but SW will actually have the GA gate check bags before you even board the plan when the bins fill. I wouldn't count on the FA delaying the push back so they can figure out which bags should be checked. Passengers that absolutely have to use the overhead bin should make sure they're not among the last passengers to board.

 

[Esmerelda]

I have flown a lot and I have seen bags go overhead that a small child could fit inside of!! They don't fit....they cram and cram until they get it in therefore leaving NO space for anything else in that bin. I think this is totally ridiculous and extremely disrespectful <hmm..there's that word again that 75% of todays population forgets....hmm> to bring that much luggage onto an airplane. I wish they would crack down...only one small over the shoulder bag on board...the rest goes under. On a funnier note; I have seen them turn away large bags when the plane was full...I have seen some adults throw some juvenile fits...pretty darn entertaining if ya ask me.

My time is valuable also...whether its vacation or business and I still find time to go pick up my rolling bag at baggage claim. I've yet to have a major problem in 20 years.

good day,
Esmerelda <happy to not work for the airlines