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Less space in overhead bins? Blame it on the airplane
There's a video of Aaron trying to close an overhead bin. He's a determined sort, so eventually it looks as though he hits pay dirt once he moves the bag to another location. If you noticed the first bin, you'll see it was full. Very full. So was the final bin, for that matter.
That's becoming a common problem according to this article originally published in the St. Petersburg Times. More and more overhead bins are proving to be quite the challenge for passengers scoping out space. Is it that people are carrying on more than ever before to avoid those pesky fees? One of Scott's posts today pointed out how those fees are continuing to climb.
Actually, the number of carry-ons hasn't increased that much.
Also, because airlines are tending to fly smaller, older planes, the bin space is smaller. Newer planes are the ones with the bins that look like they could double as sleeping quarters. Think of the closet space difference between brand new homes and those built before people could buy so much inexpensive stuff.
And here's one more reason given to explain the lack of bin space. Last summer the baggage fees weren't charged to people who had purchased their tickets prior to early June. Now, we're having a different scenario.
Regardless of why bins are becoming more full, know that they are more often than not stuffed to the maximum and be prepared. Hopefully, you won't have to work as hard as getting the bin to snap closed as Aaron did.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ernie Cat Jun 23rd 2009 9:20AM
I have been traveling on business with mostly with Delta on average of twice a month for over 12 years now and I have noticed that most of the travelers are using bigger carry on, that don't fit in the size wise and that the gate agents or flight attendants don't even say anything. I have even noticed that people who are seated in the back of the plane leave their carry on close to the front leaving no room for the passengers who are seated near the front.
Chris Jun 24th 2009 4:07PM
Ernie Cat, I sent an e-mail to American Airlines about the same problem there. The FA's and GA's are completely ignoring size restrictions and baggage size. To make matters worse, self-entitled elites are ignoring the rule that your "personal item" (often another bag almost as big as the first) goes under the seat in front of you, NOT in the overhead. The end result is that on my weekly flight to Atlanta from DFW, the overhead bins are almost completely full by the time the elites are done boarding!