Every day at airports across the world, airline cabin crews have to deal with the lack of overhead bin space. We flight attendants do have wings, but unfortunately we do not have magic wands that allow us to fit every passenger’s bag aboard every flight. Airplane overhead bins are not designed to hold large amounts of suitcases, duffel bags, or musical instruments. That’s what the cargo space in the belly of the plane is for.
Luckily, not everyone brings on two bags and, if they do, they’re not all the same size which means we flight attendants usually have something to work with. You see, during boarding one of my jobs as a flight attendant is to help with luggage. This ends up being more like solving an over-sized puzzle.
It usually goes like this: “If I move this bag here and place that suitcase there, then turn this shopping bag sideways and you put your laptop case under your seat, then you can squeeze your roller bag in the overhead bin instead of having to check it.”
Time permitting, that’s what I do on every flight, whether it’s oversold or not. But sometimes it just doesn’t work. Perhaps you’re in the last boarding group and the bins are already full, which means I’ve already helped a dozen people stow their bags. Or, maybe your bag is too thick and physically won’t fit.
But there are also some things to take into consideration when you’re traveling with carry-on luggage, as well as some actions every passenger can take to ensure the best possible outcome for your carry-on bags as well as your fellow passengers. Keep these facts in mind for your next flight:
1. Not all bins are created equal. Every time I work on the Embraer 170 or 175 passengers comment on the smaller bin space and say, “It fit on the last plane.” Mainline and international flights usually have much larger equipment than regional aircraft, which means the bins are probably bigger, too. If you’re on a super small regional aircraft, it’s likely you will have to gate check all of your carry-on luggage. As for the larger aircraft, take an Airbus 320 for example, the 22-inch roller bag I use for work will fit perfectly if I slide the top handle inward with the wheels out. If I turn it around and have the handle facing out, the bin won’t close. On some Boeing 737s, I have to turn it sideways for the bin door to close. It simply comes down to the shape of the overhead bin.
2. There isn’t space for every passenger to bring on a roller bag. Even though everyone who boards has a confirmed seat, not everyone has confirmed stowage space. The closest you get to that is under the seat in front of you, assuming you’re not in row one. Otherwise, the overhead bin space is first-come, first-served. If your bag does have to be checked because of this you won’t have to pay – at least on the carrier I work for.
3. Crowded bins have always been a problem. Despite the fact that the airlines are charging a nice chunk of change for checked bags, the truth is, passengers have always brought on too many bags. Long before airlines started charging luggage fees, in the late ’90s, I spent many boardings standing in the back galley surrounded by piles of luggage that needed to be checked because the bin space was full.
4. Yes, luggage fees have exacerbated the bin space problem. When airlines announced that they would start charging for checked bags I knew what that meant. Luggage was going to be overstuffed and even more bags would be brought on. That’s exactly what happened.
5. Some people suffer from luggage separation anxiety. This isn’t a joke. Passengers have various reasons for wanting to keep their luggage with them. For some it’s time, such as they don’t want to wait at baggage claim, and for others it’s a fear of their bags getting lost or damaged.
6. People don’t follow the rules. Even though passengers are supposed to limit their carry on bags to two per person, they don’t. Look around the next time you fly and you’ll see.
7. One bag up and one bag down. I’ve seen one person fill up an entire bin. It’s not fair to your fellow passengers. Unless you’re sitting at a bulkhead or first row, please place only one bag in the bin and the other under the seat in front of you.
8. Coats and jackets on top. Filling an overhead bin with coats and jackets is a waste of space not to mention you risk someone ruining your items when they throw their roller bag on top of your stuff. I’ve seen jackets smudged with grease from this happening. Simply wait until all of the people are on and the bins are full then place your outerwear on top of the luggage.
9. Please don’t break the bin. Please don’t ever force a bag in a bin. Bins can crack as well as the bin door – and guess what: if a bin is broken the plane can’t fly. And that’s a whole other debacle…
10. Prepare for the worst (checking your bag) and hope for the best (finding space in the overhead bins). And while you’re at it, be sure to read my post Top 10 Luggage Tips For Flying on the Top 10 Blog.
Sound about right. I certainly like it when there’s room in the overhead bins for my carry on and I’m not forced to pay for checked baggage. But I’m much more thankful for being able bike through the tropical jungle in shorts and a tshirt in the warmth of the afternoon sun when earlier in the day I was freezing my but off bundled in jackets and gloves on the way to the airport.
I learned a lot about carrying on my luggage! Thanks!
Many thanks for the link and wishing all of you ‘Vacation Gals’ all the very best for the holiday season
Excellent tips. Thanks for sharing your expertise.
Thanks for sharing these overhead bin facts, Beth. We appreciate your efforts to help make the flying experience better. Doug at the Authentic Seacoast
I love #5. I think #5a should state ‘If you’re traveling with an item you don’t want scratched/dinged/dented, drive yourself or stay home’.
Took a flight earlier this year where a woman was griping about having the gate check her ‘Versace’ bag. Almost the whole way from ORD-MSP, all we heard was, ‘That’s a $4,000 bag…if there’s a scratch ANYWHERE, your airline is paying to replace it!’ The guy next to hear finally told her to shut up and that no one cared. She put on her Gucci shades, pulled up her fur coat and sulked the remainder of the flight. And yes, she was flying coach!
I’ve noticed that the “not enough room in the overhead bins” problem is practically non-existent on airlines that enforce their carry-on requirements.
Also, I’d be *extremely* unhappy if I had to check a camera or computer bag because the rollerbag-plus-big-travel-tote crowd had filled the overhead bins with luggage that could have been checked.
I’ve had to gate-check luggage because the plane ran out of space before, Durant; all you do is take out your personal electronics/jewelry/whatever is expensive, and take those on in your smaller carry-on. It’s not ideal, of course, but it’s also not the end of the world.
A fab post, Beth. I actually don’t mind gate checking luggage. I make sure to have all the things I really want to keep close in my bag that fits under the seat. If I don’t have to pay for the bag to go under the plane, I’m good.
(Stumbled, tweeted & added to my “Must read travel stories” in Pinterest- which brings in a surprising amount of clicks and shares)
Thanks for pinning this post, Jody!
Yes, thanks Jody! It’s true, those fees add up.
Two words: Gate Check.
Exactly. Why should other passengers have to put their bags on the floor just because someone else wants to save the bag check fee?
Oh my gosh, so true. While I’m sure there were problems before the baggage fees (as there always are with the general public:), did that ever exacerbate the problem by encouraging everyone to try to make it without checking a bag. The other thing that I’ve noticed has happened is people bum rushing the gate to try to be one of the first on so they don’t have to check their bag. What a mess. Bless your heart for dealing with it everyday. People are not easy.
Good insights. I definitely don’t envy the situation the airlines have put you in with the new policies. When I fly (and I do try and fly light), I always find I have to remind myself it’s not the cabin crew responsible for the latest and greatest baggage related nickle and dimeing scheme. It can definitely be difficult after particularly frustrating encounters with the booking agents and staff.
Wow, I never realized that if a bin was broken the plane couldn’t fly. I’ve never seen one come close to being broken though either.
I always find it amusing on flights when the flight attendants say please place heavier items at your feet and put light weight items in the overhead bins. But everyone always does it the opposite! I’ve never seen a passenger actually pay attention to that rule.
I like how you also say that overhead bins are first come first serve. I got really angry about that on a flight recently actually. I was flying EasyJet, I purposely made sure I got on the plane as quick as possible since there is no assigned seating and to make sure my bag had room in the overhead bin. I was probably the 15th person on the plane everyone was on and one girl with a big pull along bag came on last and couldn’t find room for her bag. She wasn’t sitting anywhere near me but the flight attendant made me remove my bag so hers could fit then i was stuck with my bag at my feet in this extremely tight plane and she wasn’t inconvenienced at all… not cool.
Nice to see this from a flight attendants perspective
I wish everyone followed #6 & #7. I usually check my bag, but if I don’t it’s a small bag that I either put under my seat or it only takes up a small portion of the overhead bin. I think it’s inconsiderate when people bring on huge and multiple bags, but I doubt it’s going to change. Great tips here!
Great tips! I think many of the problems come from inconsiderate people, as you mention in numbers six and seven. If only people would understand that less is better while flying.
Thanks for sharing this great tips, it’s very useful information for anyone who travels by plane … and YES it’s a phrase you always hear around when it comes to the Airplane Overhead Bin Space “It fit on the last plane.”
A rule of thumb that saves me from having the stress of having to check valuables:
I don’t take anything in my carry-on bag BUT those valuables. I also make sure my carry on bag is small enough to fit on my back and if the valuables don’t fit in that bag, then I am taking too much.
Of course, this doesn’t necessarily work for a move across the country… but in that case, I’d probably just rent a van and drive.
Thanks for the awesome write up. If only more folks read this!
Thanks for sharing the tips. I learned a lot from it.
Also, I think the airport staff should be stricter in letting people carry such huge loads of stuff inside the aircraft with them. If all the airlines are little by little known for that, passengers will be more cautious.
Rahman Mehraby
Travel Marketing Blog
Great post! I actually wish airlines which do a 180 and make checked bags free and charge for the carry-ons. As a frequent flier, I’d rather check a bag and board/take off much quicker than have to wait 30 minutes for everyone to stuff their bags in overhead bins.
And I agree about the luggage separation anxiety…seems to hit fliers who do not fly often the most. I fly all the time, and don;t worry about it. My luggage is rarely lost or delayed.
I agree. In fact, if there isn’t room for a roller bag per passenger, then the problem is with charging for checked luggage while allowing TWO carry-on bags. Perhaps allowing one free carry-on and one free checked bag would solve the problem, since many passengers end up in that situation anyway because of lack of bin space.
I do appreciate all that (most) flight attendants do to help though.
@ Dave (#6): While your suggestion to essentially “get over carrying your own luggage or drive yourself or stay home” seems great in theory, I had that same mentality myself until recently. One question I’d ask is, how on earth do you expect people to “drive themselves” from the U.S. to Europe? Or to Hawaii for that matter?
Excellent post…very well presented information!! Having worked in Aviation for 25 years and being a travel veteran, I fully agree with the information presented, thank you for sharing.
You are right about people not sticking to the rules, I check everything I can be seperated from and sometimes for shorter flights do not even bother with carry on. There is usually enough space under the seat for a sensible sized daypack and I never really understand why people with small children do not put bags under the childs feet. I am over 6ft and I find room easily enough.
I think that an airline should just take the overhead bins out. Overhead bins slow departure, slows down the deplaning. Nothing is more frustrating than having the flight arrive on time but people wrestling with the overhead bins slow down the process.
I think they should have the opposite all bags are checked and a fee for carryon bags except for one small bag!
As someone with a disability, I find this really frustrating.
I need to carry incontinence supplies with me (unfortunately I am not joking) and my life would be utter hell if I had to check my carry on luggage.
So will a letter from my doctor guarantee that I can carry on my luggage?
I’m travelling overseas for the first time this year and I’m very nervous about losing my luggage as it’s not simply a matter of buying a new toothbrush at my destination.
A different question is why the carry on limits are not enforced if it’s such a problem?
Hi Kath,
I would certainly notify the airline before the trip and as soon as you arrive at the gate (most importantly). In my experience, airlines are very accommodating to anyone with special needs. They may let you pre-board to ensure you have the space you need.
As to your other question, I think it depends on the airline and time restraints. I recently flew on American and they strictly enforced the rule.
To those suggesting eliminating bins or criticizing those who bring carry-ons for the flight – you’re happier when I have my backpack full of tricks for my two kids when we fly. Plus I didn’t just need that stuff for the flight. It’s also for when we are waiting around the airport before boarding. I definitely check our suitcases.
I think it would be a great idea for airlines to start charging for carry on baggage. I am sick and tired of watching passengers bring huge bags that are over the size limit onto the plane. I also think it would be time saving for those of us who actually check our bags for passengers with carry on bags be required to sit in the back rows of the plane. It takes forever for people to unload their bins after landing!