I typically travel with a roll on suitcase and a laptop bag. The roll on suitcase is designed to fit into the overhead compartment, and will not fit under the seat. I’ll put the laptop bag under the seat, along with my coat. If there is lots of spare room in the overheads once everyone is on the place I might move the under the seat items overhead, since it is more comfortable.
Some of the comments here almost use the word “latecomer” as a derogatory term. Typically it has nothing to do with being late, and everything to do with being assigned a high boarding zone by the airline.
As far as I am concerned it is perfectly acceptable to rearrange items already stowed so that I can fit my bag up there, in particular when it is due to inconsiderate stowing (putting a bag on its side so it takes up more room instead of wheels in first). I’ve never had to ask someone to move something from the overhead to under their seat. I don’t think I would do that, but I would tell an attendant that I cannot find a space - which will either mean it will be checked plane side or they will ask someone to move something under their seat.
Do flight attendants take kindly to people who refuse to move things under their seat? They seem a little tough in general, I would think they would just check the refusing parties item at that point, even if it was something like a laptop bag
I think that is fair. I’ll try to pack as light as I can for a trip, but the airlines through fees and mishandling have made checking in items such a nightmare that I will go to great lengths to avoid this.
Around here you’re allowed only ONE piece of cabin luggage plus handbag or computer bag. Approved size is 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm (22" x 16" x 8") so (as far as I know) there is space above the seats for EVERY passenger. It has never been an issue before - for jackets etc the trolley dolly is always happy to store it in the closet so that it doesn’t get crumpled.
Max weight is 7kg for carry-on. Not strictly enforced, but you will sometimes be checked at the gate, and if overweight say goodbye to checkin as it enters the hold…
I don’t know about other aircraft, but I know for a fact that the CRJ-700 and 900s (200s too, but I admit I don’t know for the 1000) were NOT designed to accommodate one wheelie bag or similar dimensioned bag per passenger in the overhead bins (my cite: the technical integrator for the Challenger series of planes at Bombardier). There simply isn’t enough space designed into the overhead bins. Each passenger does not get that amount of space as “theirs”.
The overhead bins were not originally designed to hold heavy suitcases/carryons- they were for securing small, loose items, and larger bags should go under the seat. This is, in fact, what the safety videos/speeches on planes will also tell you, and it is to prevent those small loose items from becoming projectiles in the event of an accident/decompression/etc. The bins are strong enough to serve that purpose, but they remain small. There is no way to redesign them without removing head room above the seats or the aisles, and that’s already pretty minimum for most passengers, or redesigning the plane, which isn’t going to happen.
That said, I mostly agree with the OP. If there is room in the bin above your seat or one reasonably nearby, then go ahead and put your bag up there. Save the space under the seat for your legs.
The worst are those self-important twits who lay their fricken suit jackets in the overhead bin. Then they have the nerve to get all offended when asked to move it so roller bags can fit up there instead.
Have you ever had them actually ask anyone to move a specific bag under their seat? 'Cause I’ve been flying for many years, and can’t recall any instance of it.
It is very common for them to announce during boarding “We have a full flight today, so please place your bags under the seat in front of you if possible, to save the overhead bins for other passengers.”
However, when the bins are full up, they announce “The overhead bins are full. Please call a flight attendent to check your carry-on if you cannot fit it under your seat.” No dithering about where to shift things – no room for your luggage, it gets checked.
This is, by the way, the secret solution to people holding up boarding by wrestling their bags into the overheads, or rearranging the overheads, or trying to use one specific overhead bin – “Ooh, doesn’t fit. I’ll ring the flight attendant to check it for you.”
As soon as they see your hand going for that flight attendent call button, the luggage is in the bin and their butt in their seat in seconds.
I fly 30K+ miles a year and I’ve never had a flight attendant ask me to move my bag under my seat, but if s/he did, I wouldn’t refuse. I think rigidly sticking to what’s your right whether it is reclining all the way back or not using the space under your seat is the definition of inconsiderate. I don’t like to have a back under the seat in front of me, but if my doing so makes life a little easier for others, I will do so.
My personal philosophy is that we’re all crammed into the aluminum tube together, we’re all getting there at the same time, so we can either decide to get along and make it as stress-free for everybody as possible, or we can be assholes, think only of ourselves and decide everybody else can go fuck themselves. I choose to accommodate other people as much as I can by (1) carrying as little as possible on the plane with me and (2) complying with any reasonable request made by cabin or flight crew and other passengers.
Sorry. “headdesk” is an internet shorthand for “I’m frustrated with this thread 'cause I already addressed this exact thing multiple times” See posts 2 and 22.
You made your point perfectly Sunrazor. I think for a lot of people who travel frequently, we all realize it is a pretty miserable experience for us and for the staff and if we try to get along it sucks just a little less.
but I don’t see how your points in those threads address what I said in my post: you are assuming an exact quid pro quo, that is the person punished by your refusal to be accommodating is the same person who is causing the problem. You are just as likely to be inconveniencing some random passenger who might be late to board because of a late connection or an overworked flight attendant.
That’s the point of consideration for others, all of us need a break from time to time and it is impossible to fairly assess who deserves it and who doesn’t, so why not give us all a break and inconvenience yourself once in awhile to make the whole experience of flying less horrible for everyone?
No, my frustration is with the “not using it” portion. People keep saying I should put a bag there because I’m not using the space, but I AM using the space: I’m using it for my feet.
If there was space that I really wasn’t using, then I’d agree I’d be a selfish person to refuse it. But that’s not the case here. I *am *using the space, so what people are telling me is that my intended use of the space is less important than their intended use for the space. Not so, I say.
All these post without mention of something I’ve been seeing more of lately: people with carry-on bags so heavy they need help to put them in an overhead bin. (This increase is no doubt a consequence of charges for checked bags.)
The general technique is to struggle and strain until some stronger person offers to help (so he can get to his seat). At the end of the flight these bags are retrieved by half-dropping them, which is a hazard to anyone underneath.
Yes, there should be a rule that people should be able to hold their carry-ons above their head, or travel with someone who can do that for them. If they can’t do that, they should check it in.
To be fair, I usually travel alone when I fly so I always get put in the last boarding group - often despite the fact that I have a window seat and therefore have to climb over people who were in previous boarding groups. I book my flight months in advance, I check in 12 hours before the flight, I arrive at the airport two hours before departure, and I still board last.
In October, I flew roundtrip to NYC and on both, by the time I was near my seat they made an announcement that overhead space was 100% full. Both times, I had to figure out a way to get from my seat back to the front of the plane (in aisles filled with people still trying to board, mind you) to get my roller bag to the flight attendants so it can be gate checked. Talk about a pain in the ass. I would have happily gate-checked the thing earlier if I’d known that the bins were totally full.
No – you should have to pay the same for the airline to carry your bags, regardless of whether it’s checked or carry-on. If carry-on is free, so should checking the same bag.
Except it’s not free. Delta just started charging $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second. Unless I want to drive several hours to a larger airport, they are the only flight out of my town.
I’ll continue to carry my luggage on, and stow it under my seat or ask for help getting it in the overhead bin, thanks.
