When you’re flying in the ‘back of the bus’ you don’t get a lot of person space. Airline coach seats are small. You get the space underneath the seat in front of you for your feet. And there are overhead bins.
Traditionally, you can bring a carry on bag on board and a personal item. That carry on goes in the overhead bin, and the personal item like purse or laptop bag goes by your feet.
But these are social norms, not rules. Some passengers are going to put their personal item up in the bin, too. What do you think about that?
A viral video suggests that people who do this are true scum.
The easiest way to tell if someone is a good person in an airport is see where they put their luggage when they get on the plane.
If they put their carry on luggage in the overhead compartment and they put their personal item like their backpack or their purse under their seat they’re a good person… if they put their backpack or their purse…in the overhead compartment so that no one else can put their carry on luggage on and they have to check it and they have to wait by baggage claim to get their stuff, they are the worst type of person and they deserve a jail sentence. For life.
@dxnielbennett straight to jail #airport #travel #goodpeople ♬ original sound – Daniel Bennett
If you put your carry on and your personal item in the overhead bin and the flight is full you’re probably taking space away from someone else who might now have to gate check their bag. That’s pretty selfish. On an airline, are we all in this together, or is it every man for themselves?
Still, I think things are a bit more complicated.
- If you’re really tall, maybe you need that space at your feet
- And if the flight isn’t full, you’re not really hurting anyone else (as long as gate agents don’t improperly require bags to be gate checked, when there’s plenty of bin space left)
More importantly, what if you put your personal item in the bin above your seat and you do not have a full sized carry on? So you’re just using the bin for one item. Sure it could go at your feet. But everyone gets one item in the bin, why shouldn’t you get yours?
Personally I couldn’t imagine leaving my laptop bag in the overhead bin rather than in front of me and within reach. I’m going to be grabbing for it during the flight.
What do you do with your personal item, after your carry on bag goes in the overhead bin? Do you try to place it overhead, to give yourself more space at your feet? Or does it always go beneath the seat in front of you?
It’s the FA’s job to maximize bin space, but they are more concerned about leaving on time to manage the situation.
When flights are packed (always) the overhead bin space is shared, wheeled luggage takes precedence. I then ask passengers to place coats on top not beside so that we can accommodate more luggage on board. People are not intentionally trying to be thoughtless, but they don’t operate out of a bubble of themselves. The problem I run into is when people bring more than they are allowed. Some people are easily bullied, I am not, because the flight is for the enjoyment of all….not just one. And I would never throw a laptop in the bin, because people don’t know that’s a laptop, and…well…I just wouldn’t.
“Wheeled luggage takes precedence” was the rubbish a JetBlue flight attendant spewed at me when I put my backpack up there. It can be squeezed under a seat, and I usually do that, but I wanted a little more space on a relatively long flight. She made me put the bag under my seat because it didn’t have wheels and the bins were full. The airline made it right with a $25 flight credit because of its overhead-bin guarantee, but…no, lack of wheels does not make my bag ineligible for placement in the overhead bin.
It’s been said a million times: charge for carry-ons and let checked bags fly free. Solves all this nonsense
Unfortunately, the problem is not so simple. And those that place a so-called “personal item” in the overhead bin is not just being a real shmuck!
Certain seats simply don’t have a seat in front of them under which even a small personal item may be placed (and I am not talking about fancy-shmancy first class or business class seats). Examples of such seats are bulkhead seats as well as some exit row seats.
Furthermore, with the further “densification” of steerage seating (such as 3-4-3 seating on most 777 aircraft) with narrowing of seat widths, there is an attendant narrowing of the space under the seat in front of you. I seen many seats, especially window seats under which you would not be able to fit anything other than the smallest possible personal item (such as a small clutch purse). In terms of computers, unless you have a very small notebook PC or tablet (screen under 15″), the chances of being able to fit such equipment (including mouse, power brick, and rudimentary cables), even with a small case, under the seat in front of you are relatively small.
I think the real solution is two-fold:
(1) Continue to renovate cabins to have large overhead bins for which one standard size roll-on suitcase as well as one small personal item (computer bag or purse) per passenger is accommodated.
(2) REASONABLY enforce carryon regulations (ignoring the games some gate agents and FAs on certain airlines play to artificially load the aircraft quicker). I’ve seen too many passengers with carryon backpacks large enough for a Mt. Everest expedition (along with a large personal item) allowed to board with such items and then fill an entire bin with same. In the same realm, flight crew and NRs should be subjected to the same rules; I’ve been on flights on which the bins over the first two to three rows of steerage were full before the first paying customer boarded.
suggestion that I have and use all the time is i put my back pack under seat in front of me for take off and landings . i pull backback out and put behind my legs and then I can stretch out my feet under the seat in front of me. it works great., People should try that.
New complication: with bins now enlarged and carry-ons on their sides there is no longer space on top for coats etc.
Speaking of Buses. Question – When is a plane like a bus. When it is on the ground and the pilot isn’t a pilot but a bus driver.
I’m 6’3″ (relatively tall), and I tend to put my backpack under my feet (unless the flight is empty, then I put it under the seat in front of the seat next to me).
The key is, once we’re up in the air, I put my backpack under where my seat ends, as my legs extend out farther than my actual set. It gives me the space under the seat in front of me, and I make sure that I don’t impede upon the space of the person behind me (who might have something under my seat).
That’s how you get more foot room. You don’t have it at take off and landing, but it works for 95% of the flight!
when a plane is full, one must put only one carryon bag in the bin or equivalent-and not in first class if in coach, and not at the front of the plane if in the middle or back!! thinking everyone is entitled to their small space- when not full, then there is more opportunity to have more leg room without a backpack or other bag, but again, when we buy a seat we also should be carrying respect for others with us as well- still wonder how some get on with three major items and then balk when they can’t put 2 or all 3 in the bin-
@Seth
I got a similar speech on a Southwest flight too.
Had a single backpack as a carryon no ‘personal item’, I tried to reason that we should all have overhead space for our carryons but flight attendant wouldn’t budge and had me stow under the seat in front. I feel like I’m being punished for being prepared for a full flight (this was LGB-LAS) by checking my wheeled luggage and bringing a smaller backpack aboard, especially on a carrier like Southwest that has free checked bags.
What am I to do, should I be more inconsiderate on these flights and bring my wheeled luggage on as a carryon and leave my backpack behind?
On a recent flight I arrived at my aisle seat only to find that the window seat passenger placed all his personal itemS underneath ALL 3 seats. How on earth did the gate agent miss this?
I’m tall AND didn’t want to waste my 15 minutes of fame starring in a travel blog video, I asked a FA to intervene. Problem solved! Fortunately overhead space was still available..
For those suggesting to move the bag out of the space under the seat in front of you to under your knees once the flight is in the air, have you ever had a FA tell you to put it back if you’re not actively getting something out of it? I’ve had that a handful of times.. can’t seem to win either way.
I only bring on board a small backpack, and it is going in the overhead bin as I’m 6’5″ and need every inch of leg room. I think any bag with wheels needs to be checked. If you bag is so gd heavy you need wheels to get it to the gate, it has no business being in the cabin–check it.
Both my bags are going up top so I have leg and footroom, and if you don’t like it, you can GFYS.
On a recent flight I arrived at my aisle seat only to find that the window seat passenger placed all his personal itemS underneath ALL 3 seats. How on earth did the gate agent miss this?
I’m tall AND didn’t want to waste my 15 minutes of fame starring in a travel blog video, I asked a FA to intervene. Problem solved! Thankfully, there was overhead space available.
@HT I’m 6’6. And I do exactly the same thing with my computer backpack. I don’t put my personal item in the overhead. Long flights or short flights.
I see way too much of the cuties putting everything in the overhead bins(even with more than 2 items) causing others in zones 4-5 to have to check their bag… ALso some FA’s do not really check for space. The other day daughtr in zone 5 United and they let the 2 people in fromt of her with very large roller bags on and insisted on taking hers,… and there was space left in bins and it would fit under the seat in front of her….. American one trip would not let any roller bags on the plane( we were in FC with olenty of room) so my new carryon roller got left in the rain then got a chunk taken out of it… They did not care to do anything about it…
Gary,
Could you please let me know why my comment wasn’t approved? TIA
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On a recent flight I arrived at my aisle seat only to find that the window seat passenger placed all his personal itemS underneath ALL 3 seats. How on earth did the gate agent miss this?
I’m tall AND didn’t want to waste my 15 minutes of fame starring in a travel blog video, I asked a FA to intervene. Problem solved! Thankfully, there was overhead space available.
It is interesting to see how everyone deals with problems caused by airlines and their personnel. Asian airline flights flying across the Pacific and back have the same problems but their approach is different. It is made much more collaborative instead of shoving the policies in your face. EVA having a gate agent come out and get the number of voluntarily gate checked bags needed. I have voluntarily had my roller carry-on checked that way. I always carry a lightweight folded bag with me to take those things that cannot go in the hold (such as lithium batteries) and those things that could get stolen (electronics, etc.)
If you only have one item, which is the size of a “personal item” you should have every right to put it in the overhead bin like everyone else who has that same right. It shouldn’t matter the size of that one item. As someone already stated, should we put the smaller backpack inside a rollerbag just so we can put our only item in the overhead? Seems silly to me.
I would like an airline to introduce overhead bin spaces that are individually assigned and sized for one carryon bag, so if it doesn’t fit it has to be checked, and you can’t steal someone else’s space. You could sell it individually from the ticket or bundle them.
@305
And you can say it a million and 1 times but there are certain items which are not allowed to be in checked luggage (lithium batteries) and certain things which shouldn’t be in checked luggage (key medicines).
So charging people to carry them on is a bit ridiculous
I do both depending in the situation. My rollerbag goes up, backpack under seat.
But if plane isn’t full, I may put both up. Or if the space for FC is generous, I may out both up.
Or if the space is crap and I have to lay my bag down, I may put my backpack over it.
I only fly FC domestically and BC international. The ONLY times I was FORCED to gate check (and this was also FC) was on crappy AA flights. Which is why I don’t fly them anymore.
I carry three bags. One is a medical device. I. MIGHT but the med device under the seat, but otherwise all three go in the bin. Don’t really care if I’m using too much space.
Check-in should give you one tag for the overhead, plus one personal tag if you’re in a seat with no underseat space. Tagged bags get priority on the bins.
My carry-ons are usually a medium-sized weekender duffel bag and a small backpack – if I put the duffel in first and the backpack behind it, they take up approximately the same space as a carry-on suitcase.
This has never been a problem except once earlier this year on AA mainline, FA was looking to free up bin space so she pulled my backpack out and yelled “Whose is this? It needs to go under your seat!” so I took it from her and stowed it. She then pulled out the duffel bag and again yelled “Whose is this? It needs to go under your seat!” I indicated that it was mine and that I already had an item under my seat. She gave me a sour look, threw the bag back in the bin and slammed it shut – I hopped up and put my backpack back in the overhead.
I’ve sometimes put both my carryon items in the overhead space even when the airline reps were not wanting that. But that’s been when I am in an aisle seat and can combine the two into taking no more space than the typical wheeled cabin baggage put in the overhead bin.
If one does not have “a wheeled carry-on”!!
What do wheels have to do with the discussion??
What if my carry-on is the size of a typical luggage bur has straps but not wheels???
If the space is for everyone, then everyone has a space, theoretically.
If one does not have “a wheeled carry-on”, but has a backpack with medications and other items and, say, a CPAP device, they have just as much claim to bin space.
Taller people have enough cramped quarters in coach/misery class, that they might not have any comfort with backpack, etc, under a seat where they want to put their feet.
It’s much more complicated than anyone has been mentioning. It’s really a function of the fare structure of the airline. Take United for example. Basic fares do not get a carryon. Economy fares do. If you carry on a single bag on an Economy fare, you can use whatever you choose (above or below) since it’s part of your fare. If they insist you use the below seat storage and there was overhead storage, then you’re being given the storage equivalent of a lower fare, Basic Economy, and they’ve now created a compensation event for not delivering what you paid for. Another airline that isn’t charging for carryons for anyone, then it’s a bit more evenly applied, so it’s not an entitlement like it is on UA.
We each board with small backpacks only, that fit under the seat. We do not put the backpacks in the overhead as they are not large and we want to get things from them while in flight. We do not bring carry-on baggage at all as we do not want to be burdened with it, getting it on and off the airplane and toting it around the airport. We always check baggage as we have credit cards that include this free, or we are in a class of service that includes free checked baggage. That way all we have to do with it is get it inside the front door and over to baggage check, and upon arrival we only have to move it from baggage claim to the exit.
In my opinion airlines could easily solve the carry-on baggage problem by making the first checked bag free and charging $20-25 for a bag taken onto the airplane that needs to be stored overhead.
This is why I always book bulkhead seats when possible. Then I can put both my items above without having to sacrifice legroom. I’m also not breaking any rules as there’s no place to put anything because there’s no seat in front of me. Plus I never have to worry about anybody in front of me reclining into me. #BulkheadForTheWin
How do you describe someone who not once, but twice, tries to put his bag under his seat (where my feet were)? I’m fairly tall (6’3″) with large feet (size 14) and was flying one Christmas, sitting in the row behind the exit row. The man who was sitting in front of me tried to put his bag under his seat (I had gate checked by carry-on and put my personal item in the bin because I knew I needed the space). I tried to be polite and tell him where his bag actually went, but he wouldn’t listen, so I called the FA. He corrected the man (other drama happened that’s irrelevant). After takeoff, we had to return to the airport for a mx issue. When we got on the replacement plane, the entire sequence of events repeated – with the man trying to use my space for his bag.
I *need* to put my backpack under the seat in front of me (I put my purse there, too) so that I can pull it out during the flight and rest my feet on it. Otherwise, my feet dangle, and I experience severe knee pain. I *love* the Lufthansa flights that have foot rests!
Even though I’m tall, I prefer to have my personal item (small backpack) with me at the seat. So I place it under the seat in front of me for takeoff and landing. If I’m in economy, I find it easy—once in the air—to pull out the backpack, stand it upright, and snug it up against the front of my seat. Then I can extend my legs over the backpack and have all the floor space available under the seat in front of me for my feet. If anyone in the row needs to get out, I just tuck the backpack under the seat again and reverse when everyone is settled again. It’s not hard to be both thoughtful and comfortable at the same time.
Maybe I’m a germophobe, but I feel leery about putting an item I carry next to my body ( computer bag) on a floor where countless people have put their dirty shoes. I fly FC or BC so bin space is usually not an issue, but I ask my seat mate if I can put my computer in the bin. It’s only 3″ deep so it doesn’t take much space if it’s stood upright.
I’m 6’2” tall. I don’t fly with a carry-on very often. I do however always fly with a backpack that will fit under the seat ahead of me. If I have no carry-on I will always put my backpack in the overhead. I don’t feel that I should not have access to the overhead space just because my bag will fit under the seat. If I do travel with a carry-on I will always put my backpack under the seat. If after boarding is complete and there is room in the overhead at my seat I would consider using the space for my backpack.
My computer backpack is going in the overhead bin. Not only does it have my PC but also plenty of other items I’ve needed for work for the last week. It’s plenty heavy. I pay to check a bag. I feel I’m entitled- yes, I said it-to some bin space.
People argue they don’t check a bag to save money & time. We’ll, I paid to check my bag & all these carry on bags being brought on board are costing me time; it takes forever to load & deplane with people trying to bring everything but the kitchen sink with them into the cabin.
I check my bag every single flight. CHECK my bag. And I fly a lot for work. CHECK your GD bags! So where does my computer bag go? Overhead bin every single time. Period. Stop bringing all of your stuff on the plane.
CHECK YOUR BAGS!!! problem solved.