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Tips for carrying more on a plane
Now that American Airlines is opting to charge passengers $15 for the first checked bag, as Grant wrote in his post yesterday, there's a huge potential of more people taking carry-ons on the plane. Yep, lots of luck finding overhead bin space. I can see a rush to get in line first when a plane is ready for boarding.
Here are some of my ideas for maximizing the carry-on potential if more airlines follow suit and charge for that first bag. I have tried them and they work. I think I was a pack mule in a past life.
1. As, I've posted before, this is a good time to pick up a kid if you don't already have one--get two if you can. I have two for this very reason. Give Mike and Mindy a little backpack for crayons, a coloring book and snacks, and a stuffed animal or a doll to take along if they are so inclined, but remember, if they have a seat that's been paid for, they get an adult size carry-on. No one said that the passenger has to be able to carry his or her bag onto the plane. Kids' clothes are small, so that leaves more room for yours. Your child also perfect for carrying that camera bag.
2. Instead of packing that sweater or jacket that you might need when you get to a colder climate, wear it. So what if it's summer and 98 degrees outside? Don't let something you can wear take up valuable space.
3. Tie that pair of running shoes onto your carry-on handle. Don't pack them inside. Just be careful as you're walking down the airplane's aisle that they don't whack people who have already settled into their seats.
4. If you've been somewhere and picked up a souvenir item--like an African drum, don't see it as a carry on. Sure, it's a carry-on, but it doesn't really look like one now, does it? I've carried an African drum, PLUS a carry on twice. No one said a word each time.
5. For some other packing ideas, check out this photo posted on Flickr by Halley. Particularly, notice the young woman with the pillow in the plaid pillowcase. She's not getting on a plane, but she has the right idea. Last week someone asked me how to take a pillow along without it taking up space. I suggested this way exactly. I've done it and it works.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ann May 22nd 2008 10:48AM
As a flight attendant for a major airline, you are wrong about not having to be able to carry an extra bag on board (having a large bag for small child) If you are bringing it on board you need to be able to carry it and stow it. You cannot expect airline employees ie flight attendants to help you. The airline has cut our pay by 1/3 and since we're not suppose to lift bags if we get injured helping you, we're on our own. The airline will not pay us for an on the job injury. We are not required to help you.
Many times we would like to help you, but because of how we are treated by our company prevents us from doing that. Unless you're disabled if you can't carry it, and stow it, then you either make two trips, down a long concourse against a the flow of boarding passengers leaving your childing by himself, or you check the bag.
RB May 23rd 2008 11:38PM
Dear Flight Attendant Ann,
You are one of the problems with the airline industry as it is. If you don't like to be in the customer service industry, find another job. Maybe if you put more into what you do , your company would do better and you will benefit from the success. They should let you all go and throw a couple trained seals on the plane.
Potsy May 22nd 2008 11:19AM
I think the airlines should charge people for their carry-on bags. I flew a few times within the las week and it took forever to get off the plane.
Slappy May 22nd 2008 9:51PM
I'm with Potsy, people bring too much stuff on to the plane with them!
Frank May 22nd 2008 5:14PM
Ann;
I cannot remember the last time I saw a flight attendant help stow a bag. Basically flight attendants are not needed and redundant. I am tired of hearing complaints about pay, conditions etc.. on and off the plane. Flying is a commodity now just like a bus and there is no money to simply have people hand out a drink, a meal if you are lucky and tell us about safety features we already know about. On the plane they just need to install cameras in the cabin and have the pilot or co-pilot tell people to sit down/get up when needed. BTW in my view Flight Attendants attitude put them in this situation. If customers valued them then the company would keep you as people nowadays want good customer service regardless of the price.
Steve Jun 2nd 2009 1:20PM
With all due respect, Ann, just because the kid is unable to carry his bag himself doesn't mean you have to do it for him. The parent can carry it onboard for him (and the kid can carry the camera bag, as suggested). Either way, the fact is that the kid is still entitled to an adult-size bag, as long as you don't have to lift one of your dainty fingers to make sure it gets on board.
I know, because my mother employed precisely this strategy many times when I was a kid, and it worked every time. She had been a flight attendant herself in a previous career, and she knew how the system worked.
Thank you for your input, however. And if you care to share which airline it is that employs you, I (and probably a few other readers here) would be greatly interested in sharing our business with them--in the VERY distant future.
Steve