Toting carry-on bags? Etiquette will take you a long way

[bavaria]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/01/12/carry.on.tips/index.html

Just don't be a jerk, follow a few simple etiquette rules, and everything should work out fine, travel experts say.

Many of us have been saying this here for years, but here it is compiled into once concise article.

I had my first US domestic flight of 2010 and apparently many travellers have not yet read the article.

 

[runskyhy]

 

[dburg30]

I saw that and almost linked it but decided not to. The things have too much common sense in them, so I'm sure they wont get followed

 

[safetymom]

You know that some people will think that doesn't apply to them.

 

[Inkmahm]

Isn't the one item about putting your bag in wheels first actually incorrect? On the planes that I fly in, there is always a picture to show that the handles go in first and wheels are closest to the aisle. The bags fit better that way.

 

[busyshrew]

I'm always torn with guilt when I take carry-on nowadays... even though my bag is more than small enough (it fits JetBlue's smaller "Embraer" size requirements with inches to spare).

But at the same time, I'm scared to death to check everything.... I've had THREE friends on three different trips get their luggage lost.

 

[robinb]

I am guilty of the coat thing, but I jam my coat on top of my bag in the bin. No one is going to use the space on top of my bag.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You know that some people will think that doesn't apply to them.

It doesn't apply to me.

 

[goofy4tink]

I saw that and almost linked it but decided not to. The things have too much common sense in them, so I'm sure they wont get followed

Yep. Nothing being said there that we haven't been saying for years now. Way too much common sense.

Isn't the one item about putting your bag in wheels first actually incorrect? On the planes that I fly in, there is always a picture to show that the handles go in first and wheels are closest to the aisle. The bags fit better that way.

Every time I fly, bags go in wheels first, not handle first. But, at least the bag is going in sort of right vs those that have to put them in sideways...takes a huge amount of space, but they have to do it that way since the bag is way too long to fit in the correct way.

 

[robinb]

Every time I fly, bags go in wheels first, not handle first. But, at least the bag is going in sort of right vs those that have to put them in sideways...takes a huge amount of space, but they have to do it that way since the bag is way too long to fit in the correct way.

I just flew on an Embraer 190 which has 2x2 seating and I was shocked at how small the overhead bins were. We have standard carry-ons (21" x 11" x 6") and they did not fit in wheels first. I had to put my bags in sideways. I was not being rude by carrying on a bigger bag than allowed. The equipment simply did not accommodate the "legally" sized carryons.

 

[goofy4tink]

I just flew on an Embraer 190 which has 2x2 seating and I was shocked at how small the overhead bins were. We have standard carry-ons (21" x 11" x 6") and they did not fit in wheels first. I had to put my bags in sideways. I was not being rude by carrying on a bigger bag than allowed. The equipment simply did not accommodate the "legally" sized carryons.

Obviously there are going to be exceptions. When I fly, it's usually on the regular sized planes, with standard sized overhead bins.

 

[seashoreCM]

(approximate)

... follow a few simple etiquette rules, and everything shall work out fine, ...

If this were true then there would be a lot more compliance.

 

[NHdisneylover]

It is so sad to me that this needs to be a news article (and clearly it does!!). It is not much different than if people needed to read in the newspaper that you should not cut in line and it is nice to thank the cashier at a store

robinb--I admit we tend to put our coats up when we put our carry ons in the bin--however we do wait until almost the end to board so we generally are the last couple of bags in the bin and then the coats are being stuffed on top. I think (waiting to be flamed) the poitn was not to put your coat in the main space of the bin (in which no bag has gone yet) thereby preventing others from using that space. It is easier to tell people who lack the common sense to know these rules to just tell them to wait. Less room for confusion that way.

 

[robinb]

I think (waiting to be flamed) the poitn was not to put your coat in the main space of the bin (in which no bag has gone yet) thereby preventing others from using that space. It is easier to tell people who lack the common sense to know these rules to just tell them to wait. Less room for confusion that way.

I think you're right. Many people take up regular bin space for coats instead of stuffing them on top of everything else. I know when I flew last month the FA's were begging people to take their coats out of the overheads. Then again, it was that awful 190 with no overhead room.

 

[Inkmahm]

Every time I fly, bags go in wheels first, not handle first. But, at least the bag is going in sort of right vs those that have to put them in sideways...takes a huge amount of space, but they have to do it that way since the bag is way too long to fit in the correct way.

Huh. I'm going to have to pay attention when we fly to MCO two weeks from now. I'd swear it was the other way around, wheels out and handles in!

 

[bavaria]

There are exceptions like E190's and 767s (and of course regional aircraft which use airside checking for rollaboards)

But the general rule on US carriers is that bags go into the bin wheels first.

 

[Tara]

I just flew on an Embraer 190 which has 2x2 seating and I was shocked at how small the overhead bins were. We have standard carry-ons (21" x 11" x 6") and they did not fit in wheels first. I had to put my bags in sideways. I was not being rude by carrying on a bigger bag than allowed. The equipment simply did not accommodate the "legally" sized carryons.

I'm surprised they even let you take a standard carry-on bag onboard that plane. They typically try to gate-check all bags like that. Heck, they tried to get me to gate-check my son's tiny roller case that fits under the seat! (I've been on 5 E190s in the 6 days.)

 

[robinb]

I'm surprised they even let you take a standard carry-on bag onboard that plane. They typically try to gate-check all bags like that. Heck, they tried to get me to gate-check my son's tiny roller case that fits under the seat! (I've been on 5 E190s in the 6 days.)

We didn't print our boarding passes at our hotel and had to pick them up at the counter on the way back. We were strongly encouraged to check our bags through for free. It kinda makes me mad that if I have chosen to check the bags they would have charged me for it. But since they asked me to check the same bags they were allowing me to do it for free. I was also limited to only 35 lbs instead of 50. We were well under the limit.