CYESQ

Son and I were on a VA flight last week. We were assigned seats in row 6 so we had to board last. By the time we boarded, we were told that there was no cabin storage space left so we would have to put our bags with the checked bags. For those who pack their clothes/toiletries in the carry-on bag, this was not really a problem. I only take my portable DVD, Kindle and magazines in my carry-on so I had to dig out my things and carry them on and then juggle them on my lap and beneath the seat.

I realize that the overhead bins are not necessarily assigned to the seat below, but I feel a sense of entitlement to the bin which is above my seat or at least nearby. Son said it's a common occurrence now that the airlines are charging for checked luggage and more people are carrying their bags on, but it hasn't happened to me before. I was a little miffed but there was obviously nothing any of us could do. Has this happened to you?

rkkwan

All the time. Been like that for years, even before airlines starting charging to bags. Of course, it's much worse now.

J62

I observe it all the time. Here are some steps I take to make sure it doesn't happen to me.

1. fly on airlines where I have priority boarding status.
2. if no priority boarding, I take a seat towards the back half of the plane, knowing that they board first. If there is no room right near my seat I'll use one further forward.
3. I carry a small briefcase that fits under the seat in front of me into which I can put the essentials.

As rk said, it's worse now since airlines are charging to check bags. Some airlines are more lax than others about the 1 carry-on + 1 personal item rule, which also doesn't help.

JaneB

I have the exact same strategy, J62. It's a jungle out there! I have seen someone take crutches out of the overhead and throw them on the floor and then take a computer case out and yell for someone to claim it. A fight nearly broke out and the flight attendant just stood by and watched.

abram

If I'm ging on a short trip, and my only luggage is my rollerbag, I always carry my meds, mp3 player, wallet, and jewelry in my purse because I've had to gate check many times.

soccr

What happened to the Lounge thread on this? Did you pull it, CYESQ?

Attendants need a role in this -- if you board early but sit in the back, your carry-on should go with you.

hetismij2

I was looking for the lounge thread too.

As I said over there - I carry-on a few €s worth of camera gear. No way I would allow that to go in the hold.

I would happily pay for carry-on luggage if it meant I was sure I could have my gear above my head. It really annoys me when I struggle to make sure my gear fits in a carry-on approved size bag, and isn't over weight only to see others bringing half their house contents onboard as carry-on.

dutyfree

Sorry folks but the real estate above your seat is not only yours!
If you think it's bad as a passenger try being a flight attendant...

We do try to keep people's bags with them according to zones but somehow the sense of entitlement is everywhere?

simpsonc510

I've noticed people who sit in the back half of the plane dropping their bag in a bin closer to the door. No FAs ever have suggested that those passengers carry their bag to a bin in the back, nearer to their seat. One FA made a passenger remove his bag when he was caught stashing it in a bin in first class and then heading to the back. THANK YOU for doing that, FA. I wish more would!

*****Sorry folks but the real estate above your seat is not only yours.***** That is true, but it should somehow be kept for the people who are sitting in that vicinity and not someone who wants to stash their bag nearer to the front and then sit in the back.

People carry everything but the kitchen sink onto planes nowadays. I would not want to be one of the last ones to take my seat! I am glad I have status with my airline of choice and can board in the first group of passengers.

dutyfree

My airline boards in zones and we are usually stationed throughout the cabin to supervise.If we catch people using bins that are far away from their seats we strongly suggest that they use something closer.

Kitchen sinks carried on?
My favorite from all my years of flying for a carryon was a dashboard to a van!The darn thing was at least 41/2 feet long and 2 feet wide.

lcuy

I once carried on a windshield for a 1960 Austin Healy Sprite. Of course this was back in 1973 when you could carry on anything you could carry.

CYESQ

Thanks Dutyfree! As a traveler, I thank you for your efforts with the carry-on bags.

To be clear, I was in a zoned seating arrangement and I had no choice when to board - it wasn't that I was one of the last ones because I was late. I always have checked bags but I don't want my camera or jewelry in those bags so I stash these in my carry-on. Anway, now I can see the disadvantage to being in a row close to the front when the plane is full.

Hey soccr and hetismij2, sorry for that. After I posted it, I realized that I'd probably get yelled at for posting on the wrong forum so I asked the admins to pull the one in the lounge and leave this one. Apologize for the inconvenience!

Seamus

<<<i>...I feel a sense of entitlement to the bin which is above my seat or at least nearby.</i>>>

You are certainly not alone in this feeling, though it is not consistent with actual airline policy. As a practical matter can't see that changing, either.

The bigger problem is gate agents not enforcing policy related to carry on size and count. If pax were allowed to carry on only one legal size item to stash in the overhead and a second to fit under the seat in front of them there wouldn't be such a shortage of space. Yeah, I know keep dreaming...

catcrazyaf

Sometimes, with the way things are going, I think passengers should be charged for carry-ons and free bags would be stored underneath.

JaneB

This is a VERY old and funny clip by Carol Burnett and company about flying:



http://www.youtube.com/v/QCz8he36hsk%26hl%3den%22