Amen, Madison.

If a plane is full and every passenger brings on a 22" suitcase plus 1 personal item (the allowable) they will not all fit on the plane, simple as that. And a 22" definitely does not fit under the seat in front of you.

Clearly the overhead bins are designed to hold coats and reasonably sized carry on items, not to replace the cargo hold in the belly of the plane.

suze, if they didn't allow 22" in the overhead bins they would certainly post signs somewhere, don't you think? Not everyone has carry on luggage. IT'S A PERSONAL PREFERENCE. Why does it bother you if we do anyhow?

so it takes a few minutes longer to leave the plane. So what?

What a surprise that the 22" don't fit in the seat in front of me. I am shocked and amazed. I guess we learn something new every day.

If I'm not mistaken if all the luggage doesn't fit in the overhead bins it goes to cargo anyway.

Lighten up. Again, it's my choice to have one, within the limits, carry on bag. I bet you anything you travel with a lot of luggage. I think you need to direct your energies to those that travel with numerous suitcases, thus weighing down the plane and using more fuel.

Suze - not that I owe you an explaination but on my return trip I always check in my luggage because if it's delayed a day at the end of my trip, I don't care.

Madison, my last post was in no way personal. Read exactly what I wrote once again please. Simply a statement... IF every passenger boards a full plane with a 22" suitcase plus a personal item they cannot all be accommodated in the overhead bins.

<I bet you anything you travel with a lot of luggage> Well, you'd lose that bet. I travel with one 22" rolling suitcase which I check thru. I carry a large pocketbook on the plane, period.

I could care less about how many suitcases people check or how much fuel is used on behalf of those suitcases, because this does not effect my comfort on a flight in any way. An overcrowded seat row or cabin does.

These things always get a little heated, because people cant help but see it differently.

And it seems like the only fair way to deal with things when there is no "right or wrong" is to implement a system that makes sure everyone gets the same treatment, even if the treatment stinks. So, if there isn't room for everyone to put a 22" bag in the overheads, then obviously 22" is too big. Everyone paid for their space up there and if I'm using 2/3 of the bin made for 2 people, then I'm taking something from someone else that they worked to pay for. If 22" takes up my percentage of the bin, then there's no problem.

But if the guy I'm sharing the row with shows up with a 21" bag (even at the last minute) and he has no room to put up his bag because my 22" is taking part of his space, then that's not right. He paid, I paid. It's not like if he shows up 15 minutes after I do then I get 20% of his seat. Why should bin space be any different? Being pushy is still just lousy behavior.

If you travel much at all, I think you know that a 737 has less overhead space than a 777 - or at least the planes you're likely to be on. You know what you're doing and if you're being a hog or not. Now, if you don't care and figure that your behavior can be pawned off on airline regs, then I figure loopholes are a way of life for some people.

Now, I have no idea who on this thread flies on what plane, how crowded they are, therefore whether a 22" or a 20" is the most that would fit into one persons paid space, etc. It's not addressed at anyone in particular. Someone though, somewhere, knows they're doing it and is thinking "hey, the airline allows it, so I'm carrying it on". The airline ain't your mom.

If I hadn't read this thread, it would never have occurred to me in a million years that it was in some way selfish or using a loophole to limit my carry-on luggage to the size and amount specified by the airline. Since most people up there have not read this thread, I am having a hard time figuring out why it is in any way wrong to bring the size and amount of luggage the airline allows.

Presumably it all evens out and most of it fits, or else the regulations would change. I can't think of a single flight I have taken in which people could not, with a little shifting from bin to bin, fit all their carry-ons.

Whether you check bags or carry-on, I always preach...take only what you really need. Most of the European airports/train stations do not have all the luxuries of the US...moving sidewalks, escalators,etc. It's a struggle carting bags. If you take a train, there's not much room for your bags. Forget about 3 changes of clothes each day. You can usually wear things a few times. If necessary, you can always buy it when you are there. Arrange what you plan to take...remove half...pack the rest.

<I can't think of a single flight I have taken in which people could not, with a little shifting from bin to bin, fit all their carry-ons.>

I believe that is because not everyone carries the maximum allowable on the plane.