Picture it: you are among the last people to board your flight and there is little or no space left in the overhead compartments.
Sometimes, this occurs because the flight is full and many people brought carry-on suitcases (with several airlines raising their checked bag fees at the start of last year, this is becoming increasingly commonplace). In other cases, there would be plenty of room if all passengers arranged their belongings efficiently.
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Instead, there’s a coat taking up half a compartment or a small backpack placed sideways at the front rather than stashed in the back, which would allow for another bag.
Some say overhead bins are only for suitcases and large bags. Others disagree
I’ve experienced the frustration of overstuffed bins on many flights, but the issue is also increasingly causing debate online. On the Reddit forums for airlines such as Delta (DAL) and United Airlines (UAL) , travelers will periodically complain about passengers who boarded early and took up overhead space by spreading out a coat or small bag in a way that makes it hard to share the space with a larger carry-on.
This will inevitably stir up debate about whether those who travel lightly or those who paid to check a bag (freeing up space in the overhead bins) are being punished for it by being asked not to take up compartment space with smaller items.
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“If the only thing I bring onboard is a backpack it’s going overhead,” writes one Reddit user under the u/TexasBrett username. “No reason I should be more uncomfortable just because you don’t want to check your bag.”
“My backpack will continue to go in the overhead bin and I will continue to stretch my legs,” writes another user identifying as r/samrwalker. “Check your d–n suitcases.”
But the perennial debate about who or what has “overhead priority” is not an individual problem but an industry-wide one — many older planes were built at a time when even short economy flights came with at least one free checked suitcase and are not equipped to accommodate large numbers of passengers with carry-on rollers. Passengers, particularly those who are already traveling in a less expensive fare class to save money, will inevitably look for ways to bring down costs further and will, therefore, keep trying to fit what they need on a trip in a carry-on.
A person is seen pulling a carry-on bag out of an airplane’s overhead bin.
Getty Images
Instead of fighting with fellow passengers, try calling for industry change
In many cases, the airline then has no choice but to start checking the bags travelers bring to the gate free of charge. Over in Canada, flagship carrier Air Canada (ACDVF) is now cracking down on the practice by starting to charge basic economy passengers for carry-ons larger than a purse or small backpack — a somewhat controversial measure that inevitably caused an outcry among both passengers and federal regulators.
More on travel:
Government issues new travel advisory on popular beach destinationThis national park sees the most winter dangersAnother country just issued a new visa requirement for visitors
I wonder if the energy spent fighting over whether fellow passengers are “selfish” for putting a small item in an overhead compartment (or, depending on which side of the debate you land, not checking a bag) would be better spent calling an airlines to stop nickel-and-diming. That is where we could begin to see actual change.
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