overhead bins

Tag Archives for overhead bins.

American Airlines Passenger Threatened With Arrest: No Room For Mom’s Ashes In The Overhead Bin

by Gary Leff on January 10, 2024

Jan 10 2024

The announcement that overhead bins were full, and everyone still remaining to board would have to gate check their carry on bags, came at the worst possible moment for one American Airlines passenger. She was carrying her mother’s ashes.

When she explained that to the gate agent, she says she was told to “take them out of the bag and hold them.” She doesn’t share whether her own reaction to this was intemperate, but says that she was “yelled at” and threated with arrest.

Overhead Bin Wars: Are You Guilty Of Carry-On Crimes?

by Gary Leff on December 7, 2023

Dec 07 2023

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?

Why Airlines Make You Gate Check Bags When There’s Still Overhead Bin Space Free

by Gary Leff on November 4, 2023

Nov 04 2023

One of the most common complaints I see about airlines in social media, paired with photos, is overhead bins with plenty of space after a passenger is forced to check their carry-on bag because, the gate agent had said, ‘the bins were full’.

This is frustrating for customers, who aren’t just inconvenienced (separated from their belongings, they have to wait at baggage claim – and risk getting lost). It’s also perplexing. Why was the gate agent lying to us? The reason is actually simple.

Coach Passenger Kicked Off American Airlines For Using First Class Overhead Bin

by Gary Leff on September 21, 2023

Sep 21 2023

Should the first class overhead bins be for first class passengers only? And if so, should a passenger get kicked off of the flight when they disagree – even if they move their bag back to coach?

Passenger Threatens To Call Cops On Flight Attendant After Defending “His” Overhead Bin Space

by Gary Leff on September 1, 2023

Sep 01 2023

An American Airlines passenger, sitting in the bulkhead row of economy, complained that another passenger was storing their luggage in ‘his’ overhead bin. He’s already seated, and has more luggage than he is allowed, and he doesn’t want anyone else adding to the bags above his row.

American Airlines Crew Reserves Overhead Bin By Writing On It With A Sharpie

by Gary Leff on May 29, 2023

May 29 2023

Though several airlines have put in larger overhead bins, there’s still not enough space, and one of the biggest frustrations passengers express in social media is being forced to gate check their bags. The rush for bin space can be a war of all against all, but that includes passengers versus crew too.

Don’t Ban Overhead Bins On Planes

by Gary Leff on June 2, 2022

Jun 02 2022

It’s long been said that there’s only two kinds of luggage, carry on and lost – and airlines don’t yet even have to refund checked bag fees for luggage that’s lost (though the Biden administration wants to change this).

Banning carry on bags might save several minutes during boarding and deplaning, only to cause even greater delays at the baggage belt.

JetBlue Introduces Bag Ban For Basic Economy Passengers, Diminishes Value Of Elite Status

by Gary Leff on February 16, 2021

Feb 16 2021

JetBlue will ban basic economy customers from bringing full-sized carry on bags on board, and will finally eliminate change fees on other ticket types, which their competitors did last summer.

Elites used to get waived change fees, but the airline says they aren’t contemplating any new elite benefits in exchange – what they do for members is already enough.

Director Of ‘Women For Trump’ Blasts American Airlines For Making Her Gate Check Bag

by Gary Leff on November 2, 2020

Nov 02 2020

Kylie Jane Kremer who runs a Political Action Committee called Women for Trump took to twitter to complain that American Airlines wouldn’t let her bring her carry on bag onto her flight to Atlanta, enroute to a Trump campaign rally. She thinks the reason why had nothing to do with available overhead bin space on her regional jet – but because of her Melania Trump hat.

If This Flight Attendant Gets Furloughed She Can Always Join The Circus

by Gary Leff on August 23, 2020

Aug 23 2020

Last summer a Southwest Airlines flight attendant greeted boarding passengers from inside a bin, scaring some of them, with a video that was posted to Facebook. But surprising passengers in an overhead bin is one thing – you climb up on a seat back and stuff yourself in. What this flight attendant is able to do is truly next level.