For travelers on packed planes, 'fight for the overheads' is on

[snopes]

Because the number of flights has decreased and planes are flying fuller, and because major U.S. carriers except Southwest Airlines and JetBlue now charge fees of $15 and up to check a bag, planes' overhead bins are bulging.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/fligh...carryons_N.htm

[BoKu]

Ken Richards, 53, a surgeon from Greeley, Colo., has another solution to bulging bins: Charge for carry-on bags, not checked luggage. "I think that business travelers would still pay to use the overhead bins" to save time, he says. "Might make everyone's life a little easier."

Interesting idea. Maybe passengers should get some amount of carry-on luggage for free, and get additional mass or volume for an additional charge. That might cut down on cabin missiles and reduce the overhead bin feeding frenzy.

[RivkahChaya]

Before I had a child, I never used the overhead compartment. I never checked luggage, either. Everything went into one bag, which I stored at my feet (short legs). Sometimes I miss that. I hate flying anyway, though, so I drive whenever I can. I have even been known to take a train from New York to Indianapolis.

[Johnny Slick]

Even on airlines that don't charge for a parcel or two of bagges like British Airways, you have people using "carry on" luggage that is obviously made to carry way more stuff than you'd possibly need to have on the plane with you or for an emergency day or two if your bags don't show up when you do. This past ride back to Seattle the guy in the row in front of me just nonchalantly filled up the entire overhead bin where I was sitting, going so far as to give me a look when I pushed his jackets (there were 3 people in that row, all with their own "carry on" that was about 2/3rds the size of my actual luggage) to the side so I could stow my own in there.

I think some of it is the fact that you know that your checked bags will occasionally be searched, which seems like a large violation of your privacy than standing in line with everybody else while your laptop gets run under the X-Ray lights. I don't know why that is, it just is. Americans can be fabulously cheap as well (although this applies equally to the airlines - do you *really* need to charge extra for checked baggage?).

[Forgotten Fay]

When DH and I went to Australia, we had a large bag, two small back packs and my purse. The back packs included essentials, our camera, medication, 2 days of clothing just in case. Because I had my cane with me, we put them in the bins so I wouldn't be tripping over them. DH noticed someone smashing their bag into his (with the camera), and loudly said, "Hun, grab my bag before THAT guy breaks our stuff!" The guy looked at DH sheepishly and was far more gentle. It was like that on All. 5. Flights.

We stacked our backpacks, and made them take up the least amount of room we could. One poor woman got knocked in the head by some lady's big heavy luggage on the way there. I had a ditz next to me on the way back, across the aisle, who kept kitting me when she got up, moved around anything. After 13 hours of that, her laughing manically at "Two and a Half Men." and the guy almost punching the touch screen in my seat... I still wonder if I'll fly again.

Sorry for the hijack. I didn't realize just how much my flight cheezed me off. But Australia was worth it!

~*F.Fay

[kitap]

On the plane from Tucson to Dallas last year I saw a business guy collecting his carry-ons when we were deplaning. All 4 bags. I think that's ridiculous. And you could see by the sizes and how full they all were that this wasn't a case of "bag one was inside bag 2 but then he took bag 1 out of bag 2".

I was astounded in Chicago this year when going through security after customs that the security persons was actually making people check the sizes of their carry-ons while they waited in line at security, and did tell a few people "this is too big; you will have to check this".

[aceygray]

Because of this, Ryanair has become very strict with carry on luggage. Each passenger is allowed to carry on only one item. If you have a handbag, purse, or duty free purchases, they all have to go in your travel on case. If they don't fit, you have to check them & pay a charge. There's also limited dimensions and weight that your case can be, but they are not so strict on this. As long as you can carry it you are ok.

I fly with them a lot, and before this rule people pretty much brought all their luggage as carry on to avoid paying to check it. It meant that if you were one of the last to board the plane you had very little chance of finding space in an overhead compartment, and certainly wouldn't find any close to your seat.

[Crius of CoH]

I mind me of an old Dennis Miller stand-up routine (the Black & White show, actually; start at about 3 minutes in) where he mentions the "wizard with a twine handle gaffer-taped to a Frigidaire freezer box" claiming it's carry-on. My few flights as an adult, I've used only a single carry-on bag to hold a couple days' worth of clothing and my camera; toiletries are cheap or free at the destination so no need to bring them. And my carryon always fits under the seat or in the overhead taking up an appropriate amount of space. Yahoos who bring on four or five bags as "carry-on"... you're a Dennis Miller skit, and deserve no respect.

[Esprise Me]

I prefer to bring all my luggage with me because it saves me thirty minutes to an hour of waiting for it at the carousel. I'd pay a premium for that, and I think it's a great solution.

[Crius of CoH]

Originally Posted by Esprise Me

I prefer to bring all my luggage with me because it saves me thirty minutes to an hour of waiting for it at the carousel. I'd pay a premium for that, and I think it's a great solution.

How much luggage, and of what size, would "all my luggage" be? Because what I'm seeing there potentially devolves directly into your very own "slippery slope" sig, heading perhaps slowly, but nonetheless inexorably, into a bad place. I mean, if you're talking about what I do - one,maybe two carry-on bags of "normal" carry-on size, then yeah, fine; that's how it's supposed to be now and why even pay for it? But if you're talking about a full set of luggage - four, five pieces of really almost any size - for the personal convenience of saving some time at the carousel, while massively inconveniencing everyone else on the plane by taking up space and time, then... I'd pay a premium to take a whack at ya with a wrench.

[Singing in the Drizzle]

While I will admit the last time I flew on an airplane was over 10 years ago. We had no trouble with carried on items even though it was a charter airplane and all the seat were full. This may have been because you were allowed 1 carry on plus 2 checked luggage not weighing more than 25k (55 lbs) with size restriction before extra fees where added.

I was surprised how easy it was to meet those requirement for my 15 days in Norway plus 2 day travel each way. This included the gifted I purchased and brought back with me. A few more delicate gifts were shipped back home since the businesses had reasonable rates for that.

[ToadMagnet]

The problem has become so pressing since major airlines began imposing fees for the first checked bag on domestic flights in mid-2008 that Congress is considering legislation to limit and standardize carry-on size and ensure enforcement at TSA airport checkpoints.

Seriously, wouldn't it make more sense for the airlines to just get rid of the checked-baggage fees than to get Congress involved? It's causing a lot more problems than it solves, it seems - and the lawsuit that ensues the first time an overhead bin fails and gravely injures a passenger will probably cancel out any fees they've collected.

Toad"I used to like flying"Magnet

[Ariadne]

I always travel with a carry-on only and have lived abroad for almost a month and a half out of a single carry-on bag. My bag is fairly large but within carry-on dimensions (including the size proposed by this legislation) and never so heavy that I can't easily lift it into the bin. When I travel it tends to be in Europe, and I enjoy the ease of carrying the smallest amount of luggage possible through train stations and on narrow cobblestone streets. If I am asked to check my bag, I freak out a little (not to the people at the airport, but inwardly). I like having all my stuff with me at all times and would gladly pay extra to make sure I get to carry on my carry-on. That seems like a great solution.

ETA: This is my carry-on bag (well, mine is a slightly older version, but I can't justify buying a spiffy new one). I can't recommend it highly enough.

[Eddylizard]

I thought the whole point of checking baggage was to weigh it to make a determination of how much fuel to load. The airline make an evaluation of the weight of checked baggage and cargo, plus a rough guess of the weight of the passengers plus carry on (I could be wrong but 80kg each) because they don't want to land heavy (with excess fuel) but they want enough to get there with a bit to spare in the event the plane has to circle the airport or go to its alternate.

Bringing on 20kg of unweighed so called hand baggage is just plain (no homophonic pun) bloody stupid. Okay, if we all did that it's an additional 6,000 kiilogrammes the ground crew haven't planned for when they fuelled us. Urm we are going to either land heavy, or land in the Atlantic.

[Esprise Me]

Originally Posted by Crius of CoH

How much luggage, and of what size, would "all my luggage" be? Because what I'm seeing there potentially devolves directly into your very own "slippery slope" sig, heading perhaps slowly, but nonetheless inexorably, into a bad place. I mean, if you're talking about what I do - one,maybe two carry-on bags of "normal" carry-on size, then yeah, fine; that's how it's supposed to be now and why even pay for it? But if you're talking about a full set of luggage - four, five pieces of really almost any size - for the personal convenience of saving some time at the carousel, while massively inconveniencing everyone else on the plane by taking up space and time, then... I'd pay a premium to take a whack at ya with a wrench.

Rest assured, whacking me with wrenches is included in your airfare.

Seriously, though, I'm talking about one regulation-size carryon plus a personal item (purse or briefcase). I've never flown on an airline that allowed you more than that onboard, unless you had a medical issue or something. But if everyone on a full flight carried even as much as I do, there wouldn't be enough overhead compartment space for all of us. So the logical solution is for the people who travel light and hatehatehate waiting at the baggage carousel to pay a little extra, while the people who have to check at least one bag anyway, or who are simply cheap, will check everything they don't plan to use during the flight.

[Malruhn]

I've been flying a lot in the last several months, and I've been appalled at the jerks that show up with two FULL SIZED suitcases or four OR FIVE carry-ons... and I'm not talking about moms with purses and diaper bags.

I do have a great way to solve it, though. You know those little stands that show how large a carry on may be? Set them up on the floor in a 3'x3' (1m x1m) platform. Arrange the bag, and then press a button. At this time, huge slicing blades would come scything down, cleanly excising anything that extends past the approved size. If it takes off an entire side of your huge bag, too damned bad! You should have known!!

And if you have more than the allowed number of carry-on bags, you get to put a number from one to the total number of carry-ons on each - and a computer will randomly select numbers from the range of bags. Those selected will be tossed into the belly of the plane at a charge. What? You can't be separated from your laptop? Fine!! Take a damned taxi to Albuquerque!!

But, I do admit that I am a heartless bastard.

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by RivkahChaya

Before I had a child, I never used the overhead compartment. I never checked luggage, either. Everything went into one bag, which I stored at my feet (short legs).

Gives you something to put your feet on, so they don't dangle.

Originally Posted by Malruhn

I do have a great way to solve it, though. You know those little stands that show how large a carry on may be? Set them up on the floor in a 3'x3' (1m x1m) platform. Arrange the bag, and then press a button. At this time, huge slicing blades would come scything down, cleanly excising anything that extends past the approved size. If it takes off an entire side of your huge bag, too damned bad! You should have known!!

And if you have more than the allowed number of carry-on bags, you get to put a number from one to the total number of carry-ons on each - and a computer will randomly select numbers from the range of bags. Those selected will be tossed into the belly of the plane at a charge. What? You can't be separated from your laptop? Fine!! Take a damned taxi to Albuquerque!!

But, I do admit that I am a heartless bastard.

Am I the only one who's ever gotten stuck behind the family traveling overseas who have to un-pack and re-pack their to-be-checked luggage at the ticket counter to redistribute the weight? That happened several times when we were flying from Seattle to visit family in Ohio. There were usually some household goods in the luggage -- small kitchen electrics, that sort of thing. I don't know if they were moving, or just taking gifts to family.

[Stan The Man]

Originally Posted by Lainie

Am I the only one who's ever gotten stuck behind the family traveling overseas who have to un-pack and re-pack their to-be-checked luggage at the ticket counter to redistribute the weight?

I see this nearly every time I'm at the airport.

[Canuckistan]

I bring one carry-on with me -- my backpack. It goes under the seat in front of me.

Not only do I get to come and go faster (barring the idiot who has to wait until I get right behind him to start pulling out bags from the overhead compartment), but I also actually have easy access to my bag during the flight.

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by Forgotten Fay

I didn't realize just how much my flight cheezed me off.

This song is for you.