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Five ways to beat the competition to the overhead bin
There's nothing so gauche as to stick your carry-on into an overhead bin far ahead of your seat, grab a book or magazine from it and walk 17 rows back to your seat. Because, whether you know it (or give a damn), one of the passengers sitting under your bag may not have a place to put his. Then, when the plane settles in at the gate, he'll try to shove his way to the back of the plane (where he was forced to stow his stuff) while everyone else is moving the other way. It's a recipe for disaster.
And, it's getting worse.
Airlines have had to cope with shrinking budgets, thanks to a dismal travel market, and that means making cuts. So, when there isn't another pill water, peanut or blanket to chop, the airlines have to take away the planes themselves. Airline capacity is falling almost across the board this year, making planes more crowded. That translates to fuller overhead bins. The other airline money-making scheme – charging fees for extra baggage – has also cramped the cabin. Passengers are hoping to dodge the extra cost, even though it is modest.
When there's an airline problem, of course, Congress rushes to devise some sort of solution – an obvious move given the track record legislators have had "fixing" the industry. The latest move appears to be an effort to limit and standardize carry-on sizes across airlines, with the TSA enforcing the rule at checkpoints. What will this accomplish? Well, your security wait just got longer. Not only will they have more work to do, but you'll have the joy of waiting behind 27 people who all need to argue with the TSA employee about how the new rule is bullshit.
Until Congress comes in and accomplishes nothing, what matters most are strategies for making sure you can get as much of your stuff as possible into the overhead bins, especially if you want to keep some foot space under the seat in front of you. Here are five ways to make the whole process easier.
1. Board early
Chance favors the prepared. Get onto the plane as soon as you can. If you have elite status, use it. Linger by the gate to wait for your zone to be called. Then, strike when the announcement is made.
2. Be honest
You could become a scumbag and toss your carry-ons into the first overhead bins you see ... or you could play it straight and put your bags in the appropriate bin. Become a part of the solution, not the problem.
3. Consolidate
Don't carry too many carry-ons, and if you do max out the gear you can tow, bite the bullet and stick some of it under the seat in front of you.
4. Gate-check
You'll have to wait a little longer for your bags, but it isn't nearly as bad as having to linger by the carousel. This is as close to a win-win as you'll find in the hell we call air travel.
5. Deal with checked luggage
Sometimes, you're going to have to suck it up and check your damned bags. Don't try to fight with the flight attendant or gate agent over size or amount. You'll only delay the process ... especially if the flight attendant has to announce that some of the bags in overhead bins will need to be checked. Don't push the envelope, and learn to live with the rules.
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Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
crister Oct 28th 2009 2:29PM
well, being blind like myself presents quite a few challanges in life, but one perk at least is being able to board the plane first and calmly make usage of the overhead space. my sighted wife doesn't mind it either. we get to put our things up, sit down and kick back while everyone else is fighting tooth and nail for every available inch.
Shane Oct 28th 2009 2:42PM
Since when did SWA start charging $15 for bags?
Steve Oct 28th 2009 9:09PM
The first 2 are free, I believe the third checked bag is $15.
Rae D Oct 29th 2009 4:27PM
If you are on a SW flight with more than two bags, you have bigger problems than any fees they might charge.
Norville Oct 28th 2009 3:53PM
I think the issue are the jerks who are overly selfish, never use under seat storage, and force people to put their bags in locations not "local" to their seat.
These jerks are the ones that REFUSE to place their smaller items in the seat back, under the seat in front of them, or place other "delicates" (i.e. their $20 Wal-Mart suit jacket) unecessarily in the overhead bin due to their selfishness.
To make matters even worse, people are allowed to bring more than two items and those are the same people who force everything into the overhead bin while the pockets and seat storage remains to be unused.
If people wouldn't use the precious overhead space for smaller items, then maybe we wouldn't be FORCED to use the first available space in those overhead bins. You even state yourself on how "... to keep footspace in front of you." You're missing one of the real issues and part of the problem. People need to fill that space first, period.
paul Oct 28th 2009 4:50PM
this article is called "how to beat the competition to the overhead bin" but most of the suggestions involve giving up and letting other people get the bin (e.g. how am i beating others to the overhead bin by checking in my bags???). these suggestions are worthless.
robbie Oct 28th 2009 9:52PM
Flyertalk is full of comments regarding coach passengers putting their items into the first class bins, person in the last row putting their stuff into a row far ahead of theirs. Just use the space infront of your feet. And if you must take a roller board along with you, gate check it if you'd rather lug it around the airport, or just pay the charge to get your bag checked regularly.
Of course this can again be solved by flying more frequently, attaining even the most basic elite status, and boarding first while your bags are riding below for free.
Sam Oct 29th 2009 10:23AM
Yes, the article title is very misleading. The author must get paid for every hit he gets.
Two simple things would remedy the space problems:
1) The airlines need to enforce the carry-on rules; and
2) People need to be considerate.
jeff Oct 29th 2009 10:31AM
As a frequent flyer here are my two pet peeves: I choose to check a suitcase rather than fight for bin space, even if I have to pay. I put my small carry on with laptop in the overhead bin, only to have flight attendents take out and tell me to put under my seat so fliers too cheap to check can use the overhead (while I get no leg room). And even though I can board earlier, there are so many people crowding around the gate in pre-boarding that I can't tell which ones are in line and which aren't. Find myself either cutting a line of frequent flyers or waiting behind "Joe from Dubuque" who has a carryon big enough to be carrying his wife and is parked right in front of the gate agent.
Victor Oct 29th 2009 2:22PM
As a flight attendant of 20+ years, it is very frustrating for us to see small bags going into the overhead bins. To get your leg space simply place the briefcase or personal computer behind your legs in flight. That we you get your leg space, a person who has a large carry-on gets the overhead bin space and we all win.
Victor Oct 31st 2009 2:15AM
Well the good thing is that when you have elite status, you can park your stuff in your own allotted (and paid for) overhead bin area.
Eric Oct 29th 2009 10:33AM
The best way is to make sure you have a seat in the rear of the plane. Most airlines load from the back, and if you get on first because you have a seat in the rear - there will always be space in the bins. It may take a few seconds more to get off the plane - but that is far better than to have to check your baggage!
Mark Oct 29th 2009 1:46PM
Not true... most airlines board by elite status and then by zones - most have adopted window/middle seat/aisle order or boarding.
HOW Oct 29th 2009 10:51AM
JUST ANOTHER STUPID, 'SO CALLED NEWS' FROM AOL!!!!! WHO GIVES A DAMN ABOUT THIS. HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH FINDING OVERHEAD STORAGE FOR CARRYON. HAVE SEEN STUPID PEOPLE TRYING TO FORCE AN OVERSIZE PIECE INTO THE BINS, LEAVING IT PARTIALLY OPEN AND THEN THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT HAS TO HASSLE WITH GETTING IT CLOSED. AOL GET A LIFE AND POST SOME WORTHWHILE NEWS ARTICLES. ALSO GETTING TIRED OF SEEING THE 'GOSLINS' AND THEIR STORY. STUPID!!!!!!!!!
kio Oct 29th 2009 11:25AM
How Haven't you had problems with finding space? You must be one of those jerks that uses the first bin you come across. Don't care about the article? then why read and then waste your time commenting?
The last time I flew to CA for a assignment, I had the very first seat on a humongous plane. It wasn't just me who had to have their carryon's checked, however, I was the only one who's computer and other electronics got sent off the plane to be tossed in with regular luggage, and my backpack with money, ID, credentials and other items I prefer to keep nearby, was the last thing to be stashed in an overhead bin to the very back of the plane. As the plane unloaded I stood helplessly in front while numourous people handled it getting to their own. Considering I was the first person to board in my section, how was it that every available bin was taken? No doubt ill considerate, moronic jerks, such as yourself. I was very interested in this article however, I did find it to be somewhat useless.
Ben Oct 29th 2009 11:37AM
Actually the airlines have done it wrong. They should be charging for the carryons, except for the 'personal' items, like purse, handbag, briefcase, etc. If the carryon is smaller than the prescribed size (i.e. it fits in the template, there would be a smaller charge than if it exceeds the template. And, if the carryon does not fit in the overhead, because its too big, there should be an additional penalty. I am surprised that there have not yet been fights on board regarding access to the overheads, although I have seen two cases that came close. In both cases, the O/H was full by the time the passenger got to his seat. Airlines may have to put police on board during boarding in order to avoid confrontations.
Diane Oct 29th 2009 12:17PM
If more people were just a LITTLE bit more considerate, the world would be a much better place!
marie Oct 29th 2009 12:28PM
How many times have I heard flight attendants announce "put YOUR carryons in the overhead bin ABOVE YOUR seat. If the bags in the overhead are not yours or your seatmates, take them out and give them to the flight attendant. If they can't enforce the rule, then let them find out who the carryon belongs to and give it to the passenger for him to find a storage bin.
Lou Oct 29th 2009 2:13PM
Telling people who bring on way too much stuff to "live by the rules" is a little silly. They know the rules, know that it inconveniences other people and just don't care. Just like cell phone abusers and HOV lane abusers, they just don't think the rules apply to them. We should all shame them the best we can.
TKO Oct 29th 2009 12:36PM
The charge for checked bags is also to reduce the number of bags handled by ground crew, therefore the number of ground crew needed -a cost-cutting measure. Just got back from trip to Hawaii - it was unbelievable how much carry-on was allowed. Not the 1 bag and 1 small personal item rule. Saw one woman bringing on 1 overnighter, one briefcase, a huge purse and a bag of souveniers. That's 4 items, and the gate let her through. She was next to me in 1st class and it was a 767 so it was boarded from the very front of the plane. She made everybody wait while she tried to jam all her stuff in the overhead, then a few people got by and she decided to get something out of 2 of the items so everybody going down her aisle had to wait longer. It was unbelievable.