A battle looms for overhead bins
 

Interesting article about the fees that started last week: http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article...&GT1=41000

As long as the "battle" is fought between passengers who flout the rules and airline reps who will be enforcing them, it's okay with me.

It's the battle between passengers vying for the limited carry-on space available that I can do without.

I flew American over the weekend, and that was the first time I'd flown since its new baggage rules took effect. The personnel at the check-in counter and at the gate seemed to be enforcing the rules quite stringently.

It always amazes me that on any of my flights people think that they "own" the entire bin above their seats. When I am trying to secure an area for another person I always get the"thats my space" comment! Go figure?

I thought these two statements were interesting when connected:

<<One area of concern: With more carry-on bags, some flights that already have the maximum number of bags loaded in cargo holds may have nowhere to put more bags if overhead bins fill up at departure time.>>

and

<<Less luggage will reduce airlines' fuel bills a bit since the heavier planes are, the more fuel they burn. US Airways says its fuel costs per passenger, including international flights, now average $299 on a round-trip ticket, in line with estimates compiled in last week's Middle Seat column. Its average round-trip fare is under $500, US Airways says.>>

Seems to me the airlines aren't being honest. If the pay for checked policy is to reduce the weight of the plane by having less luggage, then how is the cargo hold filling up so there's no room to gate check?

Could this be simply because the airlines see an opportunity to toss our cheap non-paying luggage butts in the street and replace them with premium paying corporate shipping boxes?

It also irritates me when people think they "own" the bins over their head.

Once, I was trying to get my bag up into a bin, and a lady said that was "her" bin and she was saving the space for her husband. The flight attendant heard her and said, "Actually, you pay for a seat and the one picked to sit it is "yours" but the overhead bins are for EVERYONE." She then opened the bin and let me put my bag in.

The lady later told the flight attendant she wanted to report her and write a letter to Southwest, and she needed her name. The flight attendant said - very politely, "Sure, no problem. Let me write it down for you so you don't spell it wrong. I want to make sure Southwest knows I'm doing my job."

I LOVE SOUTHWEST!!!

I love Southwest also. I wonder how many people who claim to hate Southwest because of their "cattle car" boarding policy (which isn't really that anymore) will have a change of heart now that AA, USAir, and United will have mad dashes of passengers rushing onboard fighting for overhead bin space. You may have a reserved aisle seat on AA, but you may not have overhead bin space if you get on last.

Some of us need to fly to Europe, Asia, South America....

and Southworst won't do me any good in that dept.....


Still have not seen any difference in boarding times/bin hoarding, etc....

Business as usual.

AAFF, no doubt the worst is yet to come with American Faillines since they have only just imposed the fee and most people flying thusfar bought their tickets in advance.

Wait a few weeks.

Sorry, Andrew, but it's no different on WN. And, their "new" boarding is still the same, chaotic cattle car it always was. I'd pay to get a reserved seat and FF miles to places I'd actually want to go, rather than deal with the WN bedlam.

LT: <i>Sorry, Andrew, but it's no different on WN. And, their &quot;new&quot; boarding is still the same, chaotic cattle car it always was. I'd pay to get a reserved seat and FF miles to places I'd actually want to go, rather than deal with the WN bedlam.</i>

Not sure what you are talking about, but the new system assigns you a number in line. So you no longer need to camp out an hour ahead of boarding to get a good &quot;spot&quot; in line. If you're A25, you can get in line at A25 10 seconds before they start boarding the A group. A huge improvement over the old system. And I like the fact that I can sit anywhere and not ask to move if I don't like the person next to me. I also like being able to get exit row aisle seats for no extra fee, even though the leg room in regular coach seats adequate (better than on AA).

But if you prefer paying extra fees and getting smaller seats, and FF miles that are worth less by the month, stick with the major airlines.

I found these luggage id handle wraps - www.binhog.com.

It'll be easier to spot your bag with all the other bags in the bins!

I like the wrap that says &quot;Not Yours&quot; ;)

Is there a wrap &quot;Fodorite&quot;?

I like that if you have the US Airways mastercard or visa you get to go on the plane with pre-boarding no matter where your seat is. This helps a lot, especially if you are in the last zone, to have first crack at the overhead bins. It also infuriates the people in zone 1 when you walk up there for preboarding. Of course this only works when you fly US Airways and NEVER works in Newark!!! The flight staff will say, &quot;dont even try it in Newark&quot;. They're supposed to do it but don't. If you ask them why they say &quot;Because it's Newark.&quot;

I did not know that little tidbit about UsAir. My hubby is a card holder and he has been missing out on a benefit. How do they know you are a cardholder? Do they ask to see the card?

You have to buy the ticket with your card of course, then your boarding pass will say &quot;card member&quot; in huge letters across the top. That's something relatively new, in the pass you just presented the credit card with your boarding pass with all the preboard people. I love it!!!

I traveled on AA between LAX and SFO this past holiday weekend. On the flight up, they had not even started loading baggage in the cargo hold by the time we were boarded. There was no noticeable problem with the overheads. After they loaded the baggage, we were sent away from the gate to park and wait. We were only delayed an hour and a half.

On the return flight, after a 2 hour delay waiting for the plane to come up from LAX, we were finally boarding. I and other passengers were cracking up at a guy who seemed to have 2 overstuffed large carry-ons for each family member 2 adults 2 kids walking up and down the aisle trying to stuff the bags in the overheads and struggling with their being too big to fit propoerly. He was pounding, pushing, pulling anything to get it in. This flight left another 1 hour and 10 minutes after the NEW departure time. The pilot did make up about 6 minutes on the short flight ... LOL So this flight was delayed a little more than 3 hours.

Oh the joys of airline travel today :)