Help with overhead Bins
 

We are in our 60's and both have had back surgery in to last two years. We always carryon our luggage, usually weighing 20-25 pounds. My husband is concerned he can't lift the luggage overhead and feels we should check our bags.
Obviously, I'm opposed to this.
Will the stewardess help lift our bags or should we check them. Your call. Thanks.

First of all, it's flight attendant, not stewardess. But whatever they are called, they are under no obligation to lift your bags. In fact, because of the risk of injury in lifting someone else's heavy bag, they may be prohibited from lifting it. The way I see it, if you're going to carry on bags, you are completely responsible for getting them completely on and off the plane. If you're unable to do that, you should check the bags.

Right, the flight attendants are not supposed to lift your bags. I agree with your husband - check your bags.

"Obviously, I'm opposed to this." ???

Opposed to being thoughtful and sensible? I don't understand the refusal to check bags, especially when there's obviously a good reason to do it, as in this case. I can lift my bag into the overhead, but why would I when there's a perfectly reliable system in place to handle the bag for me. I might add that boarding a plane would be almost pleasant except for all the people loading big heavy bags into the bins, even supposedly allowably big.

Well, the reluctance is: 1) paying for checking bags; 2) concerns that bags will be lost; and, 3) needing to spend time waiting at baggage claim. I get that, but then a passenger needs to take complete responsibility for schlepping their things on and off the plane.

We always. check our bags. None has ever been lost.

Thank you for your timely replies.
I should have prefaced by saying, we have always lifted our own luggage and I certainly think I can do so again. Mine as well as his.
We are flying from B'ham to Detroit with only 45 minutes to make our connection. We are leaving CDG for one night stays around Normandy. With that short of a time frame, I fear our luggage won't make it to the plane in Detroit. Yes, I am counting on my luggage not making it to the plane. I'm usually very optimistic, but I just have a bad feeling.
That means I must repack my luggage at home and hope my luggage catches up with us sometime before we come back home. Trust me, it has happened before.
As for the term stewardess, I have three friends, two still fly and that's what they refer to themselves. They all fly Delta, if that's any reason?
As for going to the carousel and wasting our time, we have only done it once, and the luggage was a noshow.
I'm happy to check bags flying back. I guess this is going to be an argument between the husband and myself as to what we can do. It's a one time lift.
As for being thoughtful and sensible, I am both. I generally help anyone that needs and extra push with their luggage and help pull it out if necessary. To me, being sensible means to keep my luggage close. Thanks again, FYI I wasn't asking for someone to lift my bag while I stand by, just make be give an extra shove. Thanks again for your Info.

Jeff, all marginally valid, but still not good enough reasons for me, compared with the benefits, and especially in the OP's circumstances.

How is checking a bag any different than anything else we do to make travel a bit easier on ourselves? If the services we need are there, why not use them?

You should have scheduled your flights better then. I'm sure you'll have a reason why you couldn't have, but it remains, not a smart thing to do, checked bags or no checked bags.

I think this is a case of looking for validation for a course of action you intend to pursue, whatever the answers. The checked bags may be the least of your concerns.

I am very short so while I can lift my carry on (I also do carry on only) to the overheads on a smaller plane like a 737 -- I simply can't reach them in most jumbos. I will step up on the seat and start to lift it up and other passengers almost always come to do it for me -- I never have to ask ask (the very few times no one has helped I can easily lift it from standing on the seat)

I have no visible disability (except being so darned short :) ) . . . But in your case if there isn't an obvious disability and being a man others might be less likely to jump up to help. So my suggestion -- does your husband use a cane? If so others will surely help. If not, What I'd to is in my sweetest voice ;) ask the nearest man who is still in the aisle doing his own bag >>My husband just had back surgery, could you please help him lift our bags?<< No need to mention anything about yourself -- most guys 'assume' women can't do it ourselves >) (Not being sexist - that is just what happens)

IME people are more than willing to help since it gets you out of the aisle quicker.

And no - flight attendants probably won't do it - not their job and they are busy.

Don't overfill your bag -- 20-ish lbs, 25 lbs max and you shouldn't have a problem.

"...standing on the seat" ???

If you can't lift your own bags, I would check them.

The flight attendant may or may not be willing & able to lift them for you. You could try to count on the "kindness of strangers" and hope someone else will hoist them for you I guess.

I see that one 45 min. connection as a larger problem for you.

>>"...standing on the seat" ???<<

Yes - and the question is?

And I definitely agree w/ suze your 45 minutes is the bigger issue.

(and no, I wasn't suggesting the OP/DH stand on the seat - I was just explaining that I have carry-on issues too. Which most of the responders apparently don't . . .)

Suze,
Overseas are supposed to have a minimum of one hour for a connection. That being said, we booked with Delta out of Atlanta and they moved us over to Air France from Detroit. Boo! No choice.

MmePerdue.. Now you see the problem. We have called and asked nicely, but no go. This flight has been booked for months. We are at their mercy, no upgrades on Air France, nada.

I am with Janisj on this one. We are not large people, just your average size traveler. I do see "flight attendants" helping out occasionally and my bag is only 22 pounds.

I would like to throw myself on the mercy of some nice, tall , young handsome men behind me wanting to get to their seats. We are fit except for the back issues and I consider mine repaired, whereas the man in my life doesn't want to re-injure his. Please don't let him get old on me!

I guess we will have to wait and see. The argument will wage on until we board in Birmingham.
I think everyone should do what they want and I'll carry mine and he can check his.... That does still leave me waiting at the carousel, but at least my bag will be with me.
Does this means we will be traveling in a group with our luggage outside the door at 6:30 a.m.? Please God, not yet.

<<Does this means we will be traveling in a group with our luggage outside the door at 6:30 a.m.? Please God, not yet.>>

Not necessarily. But next trip I would plan for more adequate connecting times and checking your suitcase (of course keeping the most important things in one small true carry-on that you can easily handle on your own). Or at least that's how I have chosen to handle it.

And yes, sometimes I do stand on the seat to put something in the overhead bin. I've got no choice since I'm short and could not reach it otherwise.

In my experience, when your flights are changed against your will, you have the option of saying no, not acceptable, and having them re-booked on flights with connection times that work for you. I suggest you speak to the airline with whom you originally booked and see what they can do for you. Stress your limitations, even expand upon them for purposes of getting more time between flights and I suspect you'll get some help. Don't take no for an answer, if you get it, and go up the chain until someone helps. This situation is completely unacceptable and should be remedied by the airline. I think it will be and be firm until it is.

OP, Are you flying from Birmingham AL BHM airport on Delta to DTW?
If so you are on a regional jet, a CRJ200, and you will most likely have to gate check your bag anyway as the overhead storage is limited to small bags such as laptop bags and or handbags.

Do flight attendants have an obligation to help the obviously handicapped with overhead bin items/luggage, e.g. only one arm, blind, etc?

regards - tom

The problem here is clearly the fights, not the issue of help with luggage. But I suspect the "obviously handicapped" check their big bags and get help with carry-on items when they board ahead of the rest of us. In this case, while the OP might claim disability and early boarding, after knowing the full story, it seems that none of it will help, the flights should be changed.

We have spoken with Delta three times. We are delta gold or platinum, I forget, , and all they will say is sorry, it's out of our hands...you now are flying Air France. When we contacted Air France, they were sorry, but can only seat us closer to the front by 8 rows.
As I stated w booked through the delta site leaving from Atlanta. A couple of months in, we were changed to Detroit.
When confronted about the connection, there was very little response other than, "I think you can make it." If it's next door, sure, if not...
I have taken out my black running shoes and am prepared to race through the airport,

Joethekay, yes, we are. That's our regular route to see grandkids and we know the Detroit drill. I'm used to gate check there and don't have a problem. I have tried to find the international gate online for Air France. This time tomorrow it will be done, so I will let it go and learn my lesson... It won't happen again.

We fly Delta all the time and it varies greatly as to the heigth and width of the overhead compartments. My DH is 6'3" tall and used to be able to lift our carryon easily into the overhead compartments on all the planes. However, he now has to really work to get things into the overheads on some of the newer wide body planes. He is frequently asked by other passengers if he can help them with their luggage and he is shocked by the weight some people think is okay for the overhead. I rarely see the flight attendants help lift luggage anymore and I am sure some of those compartments are just too high for them and also would assume their backs cannot take the strain anymore than ours can. I say if you are not sure you can lift the luggage you should check it.

Where is the 45 min connection? In CDG? It's hard to tell.

What are the flight numbers in and out for the 45 min connection time? If you provide those, we can tell you which terminals you will arrive and depart from. If you need to switch terminals, you are very likely SOL.

I've never seen an incidence where someone who has difficulty getting their bag in the overhead has not received assistance from an attendant or another passenger. I hope I never do. We all know the plane is not leaving until the bag gets stowed, so if common courtesy is not enough of a reason to help, our own self-interest is.

If I'm reading this right, then the OP is gate-checking the bag at BHM on a smaller plane. That means she will have to wait at DTW for that bag to be offloaded so she can take it to the Air France gate. That will REALLY cut into the short 45-minute connection. She and her bag will be together, but they stand little chance of making the flight. Check the bag all the way through.

I think your default assumption has to be that you are on your own. No one else is obligated to lift your bags up and down like that. That's not the job of the flight attendants or the other passengers. If you can't manage it yourself, then check the bags. That's what an airline's baggage handlers are there for.

Back in the early 1990's I wanted to apply to be a flight attendant and there was a height requirement. I was too short to apply. I always assumed that it was in case they needed to help with luggage.

well said clevelandbrown.

Do you have any idea how many flight attendants are out on medical leave because of people NOT checking their bags and expecting them to lift them up? My personal favorites are seniors and people in wheelchairs(no disabled but just wanted a ride folks) that pack well over 50 pounds in their carryons,have more than the two bags allowed and expect us to lift them.
If I sound upset, I am .I cannot begin to verbalize how many folks (both male and female) that are out with back surgeries,shoulder problems,etc.from trying to lift the carryon luggage of the traveling public.

Sorry but my motto is: you pack it,you lift it!

Also-The flight attendant height requirement for hiring was not for doing luggage.

dutyfree: Anyone who crams 50 lbs in his/her carry on deserves to throw their back out. Mine seldom weighs more than about 22 lbs.

dutyfree, I totally agree with you. I have some close friends who are flight attendants on overseas flights and they express exactly the same views as you do.

I am short and not very strong. It is annoying, but I often check a bag that would fit in the overhead since I believe if I can't lift and store it, I should check.

I do see other passengers assisting others getting bags into bins, but often it is because the bag owner appears likely to drop it on another passenger's head. The only time I see flight attendants handling bags is in first class or to turn them so the bin door can close

dutyfree, you are absolutely right!!!!! Spot on!!! As a very frequent flier, I am often amazed and the amount of "stuff" people carry onto the plane and assume it can be stowed in the overhead bins. I always check and have a very small tote bag with me as a carry on. I really don't mind waiting at the carousel for my bag(s). They are large, so I don't have much choice... :)

With 32 replies I am surprised to find that no one has given the obvious answer.

Put the bag under the seat in front of you. Of course I'm sure I know what the response to that suggestion is going to be.

Of course putting it under the seat in front of you is an excellent idea;however, I've seldom seen a bag that was intended for overhead bins actually fit under the seat. Sometimes it's all I can manage to get my 18" Sac bag to fit. The answer is as dutyfree stated " you pack it, you lift it".

Because carryon luggage weighing 20-25 lbs. (as stated in the Original Post here) isn't going to fit there?

25lb of gold can easily fit under the seat. :)

Well if I ever travel with 25 lbs of gold, I'll not try to put it in the overhead.

Now you are getting into the how much space in the overhead bins is there for each passenger. In fact there is not enough space for every passenger to fit a 22" carry-on.

If each passenger used their proportional amount of the overhead space, I venture to say that in fact it would not be more space than is under the seat. Perhaps dutyfree can comment on that.

So if YOUR bag won't fit under the seat, we are now into the WHO should get to use a disproportionate amount of overhead space vs. another passenger? LOL

My carry-on will in fact fit under the seat quite easily and as rkkwan has pointed out, weight has nothing to do with it. Duhhh.

I would really love to see the airlines do away with overhead bins completely. All it takes is one airline CEO brave enough to do it first as happened with smoking on planes.

I view overhead bins as a serious health hazard. If anyone has ever experienced real turbulence on a flight and seen overhead bins popping open and stuff flying all around the cabin they would understand why.

What weight has to do with it (duh) is that most people are packing clothes, shoes, personal items for travel in that carry-on bag, so a typical size for that weight would be a 21-22" roller bag. Which does not fit under the seat.