Airline overhead space rant

[Scallywag]

What is it with overhead space being used up by all the morons who board first, forcing passengers boarding later to hand over their carry-on to flight attendants to store elsewhere or even ending up in "complimentary" "checking in"??

An idiot who was sitting behind me hogged the space in the space above my seat (she boarded ahead of me) then the flight attendants claimed it's all "first come, first served" like she's entitled to use up all the space while i am silly to kick up a fuss.

Admittedly, it's been a while since I flew but this reminds me why I prefer not to.

How do you all deal with co-passengers taking up all the carry-on space? And why have airlines not clamped down on this ridiculous first come first served, hog-all-the-space-you-can-while-you-can BS policy, yet?

[kork13]

It's a result of them charging for each individual checked bag. People try to carry everything on board with them instead, and take up the overhead space as a result. They notionally enforce the "1 bag of X size + 1 handbag" rule, but in most cases, unless it's egregious, it's not worth the fight (or the bad PR) for them to truly enforce their own rules, as long as it remains safe & orderly.

Gratefully, most airlines give military members free checked bags, so I simply check everything & only keep my laptop bag with me (easily fits overhead or below the seat). In a group, people are selfish. It's unavoidable, so I simply work around them & minimize what I bring with me. My father typically goes a step further, and literally flies with nothing but a small backpack. Otherwise, I just try to drive when I travel to the extent possible.

[Nutria]

How do you all deal with co-passengers taking up all the carry-on space?

Board early...

[Scallywag]

It's a result of them charging for each individual checked bag. People try to carry everything on board with them instead, and take up the overhead space as a result. They notionally enforce the "1 bag of X size + 1 handbag" rule, but in most cases, unless it's egregious, it's not worth the fight (or the bad PR) for them to truly enforce their own rules, as long as it remains safe & orderly.

Gratefully, most airlines give military members free checked bags, so I simply check everything & only keep my laptop bag with me (easily fits overhead or below the seat). In a group, people are selfish. It's unavoidable, so I simply work around them & minimize what I bring with me. My father typically goes a step further, and literally flies with nothing but a small backpack. Otherwise, I just try to drive when I travel to the extent possible.

What enraged me was the moron behind had put both her large backpack and her carry-on in the space above me. When I told her that it was one above and one below the seat in front of her (under my seat, actually, as I was sitting in front of her) she glared at me and said, "It's first come and first served", then went back to her magazine, while the flight attendant stood there like a lily livered coward and said she'd find "another space for me".

WTH...how about you enforce the airline's one-above, one-below-the-seat-in-front-of-you, policy, instead?

Any advice how I should have handled this? I did call the airline and complained, but this was really up to their flight attendant to have fixed / enforced.

I'm going to be forced to travel more frequently in the future due to a family situation, so any idea how to handle this, if needed? Prerry sure that woman behind me isn't the only selfish jerk flying out there, unfortunately.

[disneysteve]

How do you all deal with co-passengers taking up all the carry-on space?

We check our bags. We never do carry-on except for our "personal item" that goes under the seat. It's worth the price to avoid the hassles.

[Scallywag]

Board early...

My point, exactly. We don't control when we board or who our co-passengers are so how do we ensure we don't end up in situations like this?

[disneysteve]

My point, exactly. We don't control when we board

Sure you do. It's based on the seats you choose. They board front to back.

[Scallywag]

Sure you do. It's based on the seats you choose. They board front to back.

How on Earth do you choose what seats you're allotted?

[disneysteve]

How on Earth do you choose what seats you're allotted?

I always choose seats when we fly. I prefer an aisle and I usually pick a row farther back since those seats are cheaper. I don't care about the overhead space and I don't need to be the first one on. I'd rather be among the last group to board.

[kork13]

How on Earth do you choose what seats you're allotted?

Most airlines allow you to select your seats on their website or in their mobile apps. Some (Southwest, mostly) board by how early you check in for your flight. Also note that some airlines board by seat position -- window seats, then middles, then aisles, starting from back to front. That is actually one of the most efficient methods.

[Scallywag]

I always choose seats when we fly. I prefer an aisle and I usually pick a row farther back since those seats are cheaper. I don't care about the overhead space and I don't need to be the first one on. I'd rather be among the last group to board.

Even when you choose seats, they call you on board based on "group number", not seat number. That could be why the woman behind me boarded ahead of me and took up all the overhead space - she was probably ahead of me in the line when the group was called to board.

FWIW, I checked in and paid for two suitcases. All I had was one small backpack that I ended up putting under the seat because the witch had two ginormous carry-ons she stowed above my head

[disneysteve]

Even when you choose seats, they call you on board based on "group number", not seat number.

That's true, but if you are in an early boarding group, it's highly unlikely (probably impossible) that they would already be out of overhead space when you board. By the time I board in group 4 or 5 for my seat in row 25+, the overhead bins may be full.

[Scallywag]

That's true, but if you are in an early boarding group, it's highly unlikely (probably impossible) that they would already be out of overhead space when you board. By the time I board in group 4 or 5 for my seat in row 25+, the overhead bins may be full.

How do you choose group numbers? Do I book at the airlines site? It's been DECADES since i last flied and this is all new to me! Help!

[Nutria]

How do you choose group numbers? Do I book at the airlines site? It's been DECADES since i last flied and this is all new to me! Help!

IIRC, you're group number is based on your row number. The earlier you reserve a seat, the better your chance of getting in group A, and thus boarding early.

And at the gate, queue up early!

[disneysteve]

How do you choose group numbers?

You don't, but they typically load the plane front to back. When we're in row 23 or 26 or whatever, I know we're going to be in the later boarding group. If we want to board earlier, we'd book a row closer to the front of the plane.