Carry On luggage
 

Can you put your carry on anywhere in the plane? Such as the front to get out faster if you are in the back. What if your bag does fit? Where would it go? Do you have to pay? Is it best to sit in the back to get space in the overhead bins?

Hi marcus and welcome to Fodor's. To answer your questions - depends on the airline and, to a great extent, the crew on your flight. Some but not all flight attendants will "protect" the overhead bins toward the front for these with an assigned seat in that area. Almost all will not permit a coach passenger to put their bag in a bin in the first class cabin until late in the boarding process when all first class passengers have boarded and stored their bags.

The overhead bins are a shared space within one's assigned cabin, but some mistakenly assume that a seat assignment includes rights to the bin over their seat.
If you board with a carry on that meets size limits for carry on bags and there is no space available for it on the plane, most (but not all) airlines will check it for you without charge.
Best way to optimize your chances of having carry on space available when you board is to board as early as possible. If you do not hold elite status with the airline, that may mean paying an additional fee.

Some of these questions were answered on your earlier thread about bin space and seating on a plane. If you tell us what airline you are flying, we could give you more specific suggestions about where to sit on the plane and boarding order.

I'm flying on JetBlue

Please also remember to put items which will fit under the seat in front of you. This includes jackets and umbrellas; my day pack always goes there. If everyone did that rather than taking up space in the overheads, there would be more room for everyone.

JetBlue boards from the back to the front. They also have priority boarding which costs maybe $25-40 more and then you will be guaranteed a bin. These are also called "even More Space" seats - which gets you more leg room, the first half of the plane, early boarding - but not more seat width.

If you put something in someone else's overhead bin can they remove it?

The answer to your last question was already answered above by Seamus.

"The overhead bins are a shared space within one's assigned cabin, but some mistakenly assume that a seat assignment includes rights to the bin over their seat. "

>>If you put something in someone else's overhead bin can they remove it?<<

No bin belongs to anyone -- including you.

No way would I place any clothing (eg jacket) under the seat in front of me.

Not too long ago I discovered apple sauce spilled all over this area. When I mentioned it to the flight attendant, she suggested I get paper towels from the restroom.

You were probably lucky it was just applesauce ...

NoFlyZone . . . I would never EVER put my jacket/coat or any other clothing on the floor (under the seat or anywhere else). It very easily fits in the overhead on top of my carry on and doesn't take any of 'your' space.

You can not put your carry-on in the first class section (if there is one - many JetBlue flights do not have classes). It is considered rude to be sitting in the back and put your luggage in the front bins if there is bin room in the back, since those in front do not have an easy option to do the reverse.

You are stressing far more about this than I think you need to. Unless you are a late boarder, you will likely find space for a reasonably-sized suitcase. If there is not room, they "gate check" your bag and it either appears on the jetway when you land or, less often, at the regular baggage claim.

It is REALLY rude to put your bag at the front and then walk the entire length of the plane to get to your seat.

>It is REALLY rude to put your bag at the front and then walk the entire length of the plane to get to your seat.

And some people have been known to remove such bags and put them in the aisle ... FAs come along ask who it belongs to and when nobody up front responds it gets pull off and either thrown into the hold or back to the gate.

If you put your bag in front, but had to sit in back, you would not get off any faster. Everybody in front of you would be retrieving their bags before they get off and you could not get past them to get yours. If your bag is near you, you can get it and be in line to get off. If you have to stop up front to get your bag, you will be holding up the line of people who already have their bags behind you.

Be sure not to pack anything in your carryon (like medicine) that you might need during flight.

Pay attention to the size and weight limitations listed by your airline.

My husband put a brand new suit in a garment bag in an open bin toward the front of the plane and when we got to it upon exiting, it was gone. Someone took it and was probably enjoying his new suit! Luckily we were on our way home and not going to the wedding!If my bags are not near me, I try to keep an eye out for them when people leave which wouldn't work if it is in the front and you are seated in the back. OVERHEAD bins are to be shared and it really irritates me when women put their handbags and hat and jacket up there where a suitcase could go. Guess people do NOT listen to pleas from flight attendants to put PERSONAL items under seat. rarely have I seen a flight attendant tell someone to please remove their handbag and place it under their seat... they really need to do that more often.

I also think it rude to place one's bag in a bin at front of the plane when their seat is at the back. If someone did that, I'd probably remove it and put it in aisle. Bins are to be shared but if you do this, then you are essentially taking some else's space.

I would never place my jacket or coat underneath the seat in front of me. Ugh! I always place it ( folded) on top of my bag. Usually I check my luggage ( 22" ) so I don't have a great deal of sympathy for those who haul their luggage ( often over the size limit and stuffed to almost bursting ) handbag, coat, briefcase or tote etc. onto the plane and expect there to be room in the overhead bins.

If I need my carry on bag with me for sure I find a way to board early -- by paying for the privilege or by upgrading my seat to exit row etc. Otherwise it gets rough.

But as mentioned be sure must-have items like meds are in your personal item or otherwise able to be pulled out if your bag gets checked.

Good luck!

Really? Women put their purse/pocketbooks in the overhead bin???

Certainly not where I'd put mine (since all my money, ID, meds, etc. are in it) and honestly I can't recall seeing others do it either.