Overhead Bin Hogs (inspired by airport seating hogs)

[crashbb]

My standard boarding procedure is:

When out in the boarding area, remove from backpack what I will need for take-off - usually gum, IPOD, and book.

Board plane and quickly throw backpack into the overhead compartment closest to my seat. Sit down. It is usually and aisle seat so I don't buckle up until the inside seats are full.

If, during the flight, I need something from the carry on, I can get it without bothering people. If I am not in an aisle seat, I'll time this with a trip to the washroom (or when the aisle seat person is out of their seat).

Just before landing, I return all non needed items to my carry-on (keeping book and IPOD).

After landing, grab backpack. Wait until off of the plane (and out of the way) before returning book etc. to bag.

This seems to work well both for me and the people travelling with me.

 

[Drizzo67]

My standard boarding procedure is:

When out in the boarding area, remove from backpack what I will need for take-off - usually gum, IPOD, and book.

Board plane and quickly throw backpack into the overhead compartment closest to my seat. Sit down. It is usually and aisle seat so I don't buckle up until the inside seats are full.

If, during the flight, I need something from the carry on, I can get it without bothering people. If I am not in an aisle seat, I'll time this with a trip to the washroom (or when the aisle seat person is out of their seat).

Just before landing, I return all non needed items to my carry-on (keeping book and IPOD).

After landing, grab backpack. Wait until off of the plane (and out of the way) before returning book etc. to bag.

This seems to work well both for me and the people travelling with me.

crashbb - sounds like you have that down to a science. I will be using your method on our Feb 07 trip.

Since we travel in the winter from a cold weather state, my real issue is with where to put the massive winter coats. We always leave ours on until all passengers board and place rollaboards in the overhead bins. Only after this is done do we squeeze our coats in (or roll them up nicely and place them under the seat in front of us. (they make great blankets should the plane get cold.)

Dina Marie

 

[taximomfor4]

I was going to sneak my 4 children on the plane for my March trip. I can only afford my own airline ticket. I have to use my oversized carryon, because the kids don't fit in my regulation one. So all of you better not file complaints with the airlines to enforce carryon regulations until AFTER we get back.

Beth

p.s. for anyone truly wondering, I am just kidding. When I travel without my kids, only pack a duffel carryon that fits under the seat (my purse fits inside it). When I travel with the kids, I have that bag, and each kid has a soft backpack that fits under a seat. Even so, we always wait till the plane empties out before trying to deboard the plane. DH and I with 4 kids and 6 carryon bags is very much like herding cats between the fridge and the wall.

 

[Drizzo67]

I was going to sneak my 4 children on the plane for my March trip. I can only afford my own airline ticket. I have to use my oversized carryon, because the kids don't fit in my regulation one. So all of you better not file complaints with the airlines to enforce carryon regulations until AFTER we get back.

Beth

Beth - that was very funny

Dina Marie

 

[Lewisc]

I was wondering what parents did with kids that were too old to be a "lap baby" but too young to justify paying for a seat.

I was going to sneak my 4 children on the plane for my March trip. I can only afford my own airline ticket. I have to use my oversized carryon, because the kids don't fit in my regulation one. So all of you better not file complaints with the airlines to enforce carryon regulations until AFTER we get back.

Beth

p.s. for anyone truly wondering, I am just kidding. When I travel without my kids, only pack a duffel carryon that fits under the seat (my purse fits inside it). When I travel with the kids, I have that bag, and each kid has a soft backpack that fits under a seat. Even so, we always wait till the plane empties out before trying to deboard the plane. DH and I with 4 kids and 6 carryon bags is very much like herding cats between the fridge and the wall.

 

[taximomfor4]

I was wondering what parents did with kids that were too old to be a "lap baby" but too young to justify paying for a seat.

Well, my youngest is 4 1/2. I suppose I could stick a binky in her mouth, bring her old carseat, and call her "under2." Perhaps I could even get a copy of some miscellaneous cousin's toddler's birth certificate to show as proof. Then the 7 yo, 8yo, and 13yo could squeeze into the smaller carryon.

See?! I think I am getting good at Frugal Flying!

 

[WillCAD]

I was going to sneak my 4 children on the plane for my March trip. I can only afford my own airline ticket. I have to use my oversized carryon, because the kids don't fit in my regulation one. So all of you better not file complaints with the airlines to enforce carryon regulations until AFTER we get back.

See, that's the kind of insensitive and rude behavior that causes problems for everybody else on the plane.

What you should be doing is shipping those kids ahead to your resort via FedEx. When your kids absolutely, positively have to be there overnight (don't forget the air holes!)

When they wil take responsibility for $10K in camera gear and a laptop, I'll check it. Until then, it's staying with me.

And my roll-on isn't 80 pounds. It weighs under two empty, and about 14 packed. (I've weighed it out of curiosity.) I have no problem quickly and safely putting it in and out of the overhead.

Anne

Right there with ya, Anne! Of course, my camera and laptop gear is substantially less expensive than yours - total of about $3K instead of $10K - but that's still a TREMENDOUS amount of mney to me, and NOBODY touches my camera or computer but me!

I used to carry on a small laptop bag and a small camera bag, but last year I bought a combo bag from Adorama that can fit a medium-size laptop, an SLR and one or two lenses, and a few accessories. It's durn heavy when I put all that stuff into it, and it doesn't have wheels, but it lets me squeeze all of my most important stuff into a single bag and it's small enough to fit under the seat - so no more overhead for me!

I am usually one of the first half dozen on board, not for bin space or to avoid the unwashed, but to SIT DOWN and start to doze off. So not all of us 'elites' need to rush on board for those reasons - those of us who commute to work just want to sit and get into our routine. Plus I can stow my bag, grab my pillow and blankie, sit and fasten my seat belt in seconds - I've even been complimented by FAs and other passengers for my speed!

Me, too, although I've never been complimented for getting my bag under the seat and sitting down in 2 seconds flat. I don't commute, I only fly once or twice a year, but I have it down to a science.

I'm actually pretty quick getting through security, too, since I stop in the terminal before I go anywhere near the line, and make sure that my pockets are empty, my ID and boarding pass are in my hand, and the zipper on the laptop compartment of my bag is open for easy access. I can push my crap (Bin 1: bag, Bin 2: laptop, Bin 3: shoes and jacket) through the machine and be ready to step through the metal detector in about 8 seconds.

----------------------------------------

It's not rocket surgery. It just takes a little advance research to know what size bag you can carry on, and a little common sense to realize, "If I can't lift this bag into the car, I probably won't be able to lift it into the overhead bin on the plane."

The realization that, "OMG, there are more people on this plane than just me, and they all want me to get the hell out of their way!" seems to elude some folks during boardning and deplaning, however.

 

[ducklite]

See, that's the kind of insensitive and rude behavior that causes problems for everybody else on the plane.

What you should be doing is shipping those kids ahead to your resort via FedEx. When your kids absolutely, positively have to be there overnight (don't forget the air holes!)

OMG Will, that was PRICELESS!!!



Anne

 

[taximomfor4]

See, that's the kind of insensitive and rude behavior that causes problems for everybody else on the plane.

What you should be doing is shipping those kids ahead to your resort via FedEx. When your kids absolutely, positively have to be there overnight (don't forget the air holes!)

But don't do it on a Friday, unless you want to deal with getting the Saturday delivery CORRECTLY arranged. (Recent Fedex Issue, lol).

 

[katerkat]

I feel compelled to say, I *always* wait and disembark last from the plane with the carseat. (Russ likes to run down the aisle, so you people would all be in his way anyhow.) It annoys me when airlines don't preboard kids with carseats - not all kids under 6 or 5 or whatever - just the darn carseat. It's heavy and annoying and yes, I whack the seats with it when I'm trying to carry it down the aisle. That's why there should be few to no people in those seats!

One of our flights to WDW, a guy had a perfectly sized wheeled carryon that should go in the overhead bin nicely. (I believe he was a traveling FA.) Except....the handle was broken and sticking out, so instead of neatly fitting four, his had to go on in sideways and take up the space of three carryons. He should know better!!

Luckily, at least half my flights are on the little jets where pretty much no one gets to carry anything bigger than a purse on board. Everything is gate checked.

 

[ducklite]

Katerkat,

I still can't believe that airlines do'nt allow parents with car seats to preboard. It's just the common sense thing to do. It makes it easier for everyone. If nothing else it should be a reward for buying your kid a seat!

Anne

 

[taximomfor4]

Katerkat,

I still can't believe that airlines do'nt allow parents with car seats to preboard. It's just the common sense thing to do. It makes it easier for everyone. If nothing else it should be a reward for buying your kid a seat!

Anne

I always thought this strange, as well. It isn't buckling a 2yo's seatbelt that takes long, it is setting the 2yo aside on an empty seat, positioning the carseat, buckling it into the plane seat, then putting the 2yo in the carseat, then buckling the carseat harnesses over the child. THAT is what preboarding should be all about.

Anyway, little kids get antsy. The shorter amount of time they are on the plane, the longer before they begin kicking the back of my seat ( I am a seat-kicker magnet).

Now, putting kids up in the overhead compartment has to be done in preboarding as well, because we would not want our kids to be gate-checked and sent into the hold!!

Beth

 

[bavaria]

Why aren't Beth and katerkat ever on my flights?

WillCAD, I think that your superhero utility belt is why you make take just a few seconds longer than I do to get situated

 

[taximomfor4]

Why aren't Beth and katerkat ever on my flights?

WillCAD, I think that your superhero utility belt is why you make take just a few seconds longer than I do to get situated

Well, it is because I don't get to travel as much as I'd like. Let's just say I cannot afford my itchy feet.

I defititely should have picked a career that tossed in some business-trip opportunities. But if I ever am on your flight, you will know me because we de-plane dead last. In fact, my child will be shooshy-dancing so bad that the FA will allow us to remain in the plane long enough to potty. And I fly with my hand across my child's feet if they are going to bump the seatback in front of us. Oh, and I try to pack nothing that has to go up in the overhead compartment -- I hate trying to squeeze it up there (well, unless I am stowing the kids in the carryon, of course.)

 

[bavaria]

Next time I am on a flight from NE Ohio to Orlando I'll look out for that description....

 

[katerkat]

One benefit of the carseat seat - I have all his legroom to cram my bags.

This past set of flights to WDW, I got to have DH there. What a relief to board 10 minutes ahead of the toddler and his daddy, get everything situated, then have them waltz up 2 minutes before they close the gate. So much easier than trying to nudge Russ up the aisle ahead of me and letting him reorganize all the pamphlets in the seats next to us while I get everything done.

But you don't want to sit in front of him. We're still working on not kicking the seat. I think we're taking duct tape on the next flight.

 

[taximomfor4]

One benefit of the carseat seat - I have all his legroom to cram my bags.

This past set of flights to WDW, I got to have DH there. What a relief to board 10 minutes ahead of the toddler and his daddy, get everything situated, then have them waltz up 2 minutes before they close the gate. So much easier than trying to nudge Russ up the aisle ahead of me and letting him reorganize all the pamphlets in the seats next to us while I get everything done.

But you don't want to sit in front of him. We're still working on not kicking the seat. I think we're taking duct tape on the next flight.

Our last flight, my sons legs stuck straight out (his knees couldn;t be at the edge of the seat). So I was quite uncomfortable leaning to his side the WHOLE STINKING FLIGHT with my arm across his feet. His feet were millimeters away from the seatback so if he even wiggled, his foot would bump. I just kept my hands there. THAT is the worst...and it's a result of having kids kick and kick and kick and kick and kick the entire flight.

You could always take a page out of my book and pack him in the carryon, and stow him in the overhead.

Beth

 

[WillCAD]

WillCAD, I think that your superhero utility belt is why you make take just a few seconds longer than I do to get situated

Not at all - the belt goes in the checked bag.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Not at all - the belt goes in the checked bag.

But Will.... what happens if there's a crisis inflight?????

 

[Drizzo67]

But Will.... what happens if there's a crisis inflight?????

I don't think he'd be able to get into full wardrobe in those small plane bathrooms anyway.....he'd have to reveal his secret identity.

Dina Marie