Are Carry On Bags Out of Control ?

[Daggs01]

On a 73x my wheelie is always end on (as it is the right size) but on a 763 it can't go end on which is very annoying for me and other people. I am carrying exactly what I am allowed to carry but now there is a perception that I am doing the wrong thing...

Oh Wheelie?

I would have thought anything inside regulation would fit longways- that sucks.

 

[Muzfly]

My pet hate is Economy Pax plonking their carry on in the Business Class overhead lockers as they pass through to the back. Its always the smarties boarding late coming from the Qantas Club knowing there will be no room down the back. Maybe I am getting too old for this caper but I always pull them up when I see it and tell them to "take with them......"

 

[doctork]

Was on QF from MEL-SYD last weekend in Y in a 767. Guy with two bags gets on late and sits behind me. This isn't usually a problem. But they both weighed a lot. I know because in trying to heave his backpack into the over full bin he hit me with it. Twice. So my take on this topic is: I don't care if you want to take two heavy bags to avoid checked baggage. But you'd better go to the gym and learn to lift them properly. Or just use the under seat space. It's only a 1.5 hour flight anyway.

 

[VHOEJ]

Agree with the original post but we are a LONG way from being as bad as the US.

In saying that, I don't understand why Jetstar don't enforce it - they use it as a source of income and ignore it.

 

[NM]

[Mod Hat]
Address the argeument and not attack the poster
[/mod hat]

now for my comment:

I sometimes travel with carry-on bags only. My current trip is an example. I am spending a week in HK and have carry-on bags only, inlcuding a wheelie cabin bag that meets the QF and CX (and likely others, but I only checked QF and CX) dimentional limits for international econony carry-on bag dimentions) and a "peronal item" in the form of a back-pack laptop bag. My wheelie bag was weighed by the airport security staff at BNE international (they always seem to weigh wheelie bags just prior to security screening) and was found to be ok. I weighed it at home as being <8kg and the pre-screening weigh-in also showed as less than 8kg. QF and CX both say 7kg limit for economy passengers (I was flying CX in economy).

So I was within the published linear dimentions and weight for my purchased ticket. So I see no problems with stowing wheelie bag in the overhead locker. In this case I knew the seat next to me was not occupied (benefits of ExpertFlyer membersip) so I put my backpack under the seat next to me. But there was plenty of room if I had wanted to stow my backup on top of my wheelie bag in the overhead locker.

So while I acknowledge that there seems to be an increasing number of people carrying-on oversize/overweight bags, please don't assume that all wheelie bags are over weight or over-size. When purchasing my wheelie bag, I took the maximum dimentions published on the QF web site, along with a tape measure, and made certain that my wheelie bag was not over the maximum dimentions for my common flight patterns, and I ensure to weigh my bag at home before leaving for the airport.

 

[Fantic125]

I can understand using carry on only if you're flying frequently on domestic flights, and I've done it a number of times as well on international flights if I'm only gone for a few days and in one time zone.

Certainly the weight and size allowance is abused in the US and a number of Asia countries, but I haven't seen it abused that much in AU. Then again, most of my domestic travel is on the weekend to get me to SYD or MEL Int so I don't see a lot of the weekday warriors....

 

[bertair]

NM ,you are a rare breed of traveller; ie. a responsible one who bothers with limits imposed for good reasons.
Yes in the US where every piece of checked baggage attracts a fee unless you are International and make sure the agent knows it. It took me three agents and a long discussion plus documentation to prove my case that I did not have to pay for my checked bag. This was Alaska Air in Seatac.
I travel as light as possible, so much so I have ditched my lap top for an iPad. Try it, it is liberating.
And yes in the US many pax are getting overloaded with their wheelys.
I believe from hearsay that some Asian routes are something to behold. Some airlines at some ports are actually weighing all baggage before check in to bring some order to the situation. Eg. Manila.
You had to be on the HNL/SYD Jetstar flight I was on to the see the parade of wheelys. Good on the people bringing cheap buys back,I did myself,but had the sense to check my bag on and keep my limit.
In some ways the airlines keeping an eye on carry ons will make the experience of a long flight more enjoyable and probably increase efficiency and turn around time.
I have absolutely no problem with wheelies if they are in regulation size and weight,or any other carry on for that matter if it complies. It is the Pax we see struggling to even lift their wheely that is my target. Some are even trying to take two on board !
Most FF I would think would agree that too many are trying to flout the rules, not only on the "tourist routes", but most routes world wide. Perhaps it is human nature to try to carry too much with them but more education and possible cost penalties might bring some sense to this overloading many have when traveling.
20 kg should be sufficient for most peoples needs as Checked Bags with the 7 Kg carry on limit enforced.

 

[serfty]

I find it interesting that BA have a 126cm dimensional limit and a 23Kg (!) weight limit also "... and you must be able to lift the bag into the overhead lockers in the aircraft cabin unaided."

The problem with the USA is competition; PAX have so much choice that if an airline gets a reputation for enforcing their carry-on limits they simply lose business. I see so many FT threads ralting to some b1thching about having to gatecheck luggage.

 

[cove]

The problem in America is that flyers won't pay the $25 per checked bag fee so they try hoisting what looks like the kitchen sink into the overhead while sticking their butts in the aisle to stop the rest of us getting to our seats. Then when the bag does not fit it goes free as checked at the door stowage into the hold and gets priority unloading.
This sickness will come here if airlines in Australia start charging for each checked bag.
My pet hate is the traveller in row one or two starts taking off layers of coats and jackets that did not fit in the baggage used and blocks the aisle. Now if that is you our only way of fixing the problem is to accidentally tread on your foot then apologize for being clumsy.

 

[BD1959]

Certainly becoming an issue, if not yet out of control.

My biggest gripes:

1) "Duffel bags" which are obviously oversize but not so obvious to the Gate Agent.

2) People who carry Duffel Bag, Handbag, back-pack *and* shopping bags - which is obviously over the allowed limit but not so obvious to the Gate Agent.

3) My not being able to store my allowed cabin baggage above my seat because:

i) The crew have stowed their own cabin baggage there (happened to me again recently on a LAX-MEL in Y ... right next to the emergency exit where passengers must stow their luggage in the overhead ... but it's handy for the staff member in the galley, right?

ii) The overheads are marked "not for passenger use" - seems to happen at the front (yes, in J, too) and the back mostly. All airlines seem to follow this practice.

BD

 

[Warks]

I don't know if it's getting worse here, it got bad a while ago and has stayed about the same I think. What it means is that I always make sure I don't board late otherwise there's nowhere left. I nearly always travel with carry-on only for domestic flights and I have a backpack (which fits the official size easily) and a laptop bag, which is allowable but can get used to fit a few more things in. It's not one of those massive laptop bags - it's the old IBM style with the space for the laptop (probably two laptops) and the flap pocket for the cords etc. This can always go under the seat if necessary.

I sure hope we don't go the way of the US. We flew Virgin America from LAX-SEA and were in the last row of seats. On arrival I have never seen a plane take so long to empty. A good 20 minutes passed before we got off. So much for quick turn-arounds eh? Maybe it always takes that long but I never sit at the back?

 

[Justchecking]

Interesting observation but last time I flew long haul the overhead lockers were practically empty. Why? Because I was flying full service where everyone got free checked luggage, pillows ans blankets. It must be the feeing that you will be looked after that allows you to travel without bringing along everything except the dogs bed. Only handbags and airport duty free was in the lockers. I long for the glory days of flying again......

 

[dfcatch]

I noticed the OP mentioned a "small bag".

Not commenting against the OP, but when I travel I always place my rollaboard above, and I place my small bag under the seat in front. When traveling with only the small bag, I use the seat in front.

To me - it's common sense..... Save the overheads for those with rollaboards, and if your bag fits under the seat - then it's courtesy to place it there IMHO.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I noticed the OP mentioned a "small bag".

Not commenting against the OP, but when I travel I always place my rollaboard above, and I place my small bag under the seat in front. When traveling with only the small bag, I use the seat in front.

To me - it's common sense..... Save the overheads for those with rollaboards, and if your bag fits under the seat - then it's courtesy to place it there IMHO.

dfcatch the basic flaw in your stategy is that it displays a significant degree of courtesy and common sense - these are character traits that MANY MANY of the flying public sadly lack - hence the problem at hand.

 

[dfcatch]

dfcatch the basic flaw in your stategy is that it displays a significant degree of courtesy and common sense - these are character traits that MANY MANY of the flying public sadly lack - hence the problem at hand.

True - and AA seem to anticipate this, hence the CSM will bark into the PA several times during boarding demanding people with two bags do exactly that. Not too sure how it works down the back, as I've used priority boarding to get my bum in my seat, and my bags in their places

 

[nonpop]

True - and AA seem to anticipate this, hence the CSM will bark into the PA several times during boarding demanding people with two bags do exactly that. Not too sure how it works down the back, as I've used priority boarding to get my bum in my seat, and my bags in their places

I'm in the US right now and have had several flights (LAX, ORD, DFW, SFO) with more to come.
All have been in first with AA. And yes the FA barks these exact instructions. SO I can 100% agree.

But what I find strange is that people will shove a huge bag in the over-head bin ... yet the bag is so big that the bin door will not close. They then just take their seat and somehow magically expect the bin will either grow larger or their bag will get smaller.

The FA then comes along and tries to close all the bins only to find no matter how hard they keep trying to slam it shut or squash (more like ram) the bag into the bin, it just will not close. So then the FA commences a game of Tetris and starts asking people who owns what bag etc and then does the over-head bin bag shuffle ... and very roughly at that. The FA takes their frustration out on everyones bags.

Then when the plan lands, everyone stands up and does a re-shuffle in the cabin to try and get to their bag.

I used my priority boarding (WP & 1st Class) thinking I'd be sweet. But when they do the bag shuffle, it then becomes a pain in the bum.

I've now had the pleasure of watching this a few times. Funny as all hell ... not.

 

[Meggsy]

I flew MIA - LGA early this year with AA on a 757. I was one of the first to board and sat right at the back of the bus and was stunned when 35 minutes later the last person was still not on board and the overhead bin/bag shuffle was still in full swing. Sadly the trend in Australia is heading the same way. If the airlines are not vigilant and enforce the rules we will end up the same way. 2 days ago flying ROK - BNE a woman boarded the plane with a back pack, a laptop bag, a handbag large enough to carry a small car, 2 shopping bags and 2 heavy coats. She could barely walk up the stairs to board and the FA offered to help carry a bag or two.:shock: She then proceeded to whack nearly every aisle seated person with her bags as she walked down to her seat. Out of control, yes.

 

[dfcatch]

Again - the question is why is it out of control?

Answer - simple - checked baggage charges.

That's why people carry on the kitchen sink.

AA prior to baggage charges was not the carry-on nightmare it is today.

 

[nonpop]

2 days ago flying ROK - BNE a woman boarded the plane with a back pack, a laptop bag, a handbag large enough to carry a small car, 2 shopping bags and 2 heavy coats ... She then proceeded to whack nearly every aisle seated person with her bags as she walked down to her seat.

+1 to seeing that similar situation way too often now in Oz (lets not even mention the US).

But on a QF domestic bird people get free luggage (yes 1 pc checked) ... so why do they insist on bringing everything except for Fido on board. Is it also the fear of luggage being lost ? Or is everyone in that much of a hurry ? Or have they just become conditioned ? or something else.

Personally, I must admit I avoid checked luggage like McD's brewed coffee. But I only ever have a small roller (smaller than the max allowed) and 1 laptop bag (very small) which sits on top of by roller when in the over head bin. So I only ever take up 1 'space'.

 

[Justchecking]

.... so why do they insist on bringing everything except for Fido on board. Is it also the fear of luggage being lost ? Or is everyone in that much of a hurry ? Or have they just become conditioned ? or something else. .

I suspect it's a lot of things including...

1. The refusal to pay 'outrageous baggage charges' (usually about a tenner at time of booking) but complete willingness to spend $10 on a coffee and a muffin at the airport.
2. Uncle platinum telling them he never checks bags in when he travels and it's the best thing ever. Luggage carousels are for mugs. Neglecting to also tell them that that he travels with approx 1/3 of the cough they do.
3. Current affair programs showcasing 'horror stories' of people who've had illegal stuff shoved in their bags unawares. What else could explain the glad wrapped bag phenomenon?
4. An inability to leave the house without piles of stuff they neither need nor will use. I believe this is a modern day mental condition....I need it, I need it. Oh really? So how exactly did ancient man survive without 4kgs of lipgloss? And what onboard emergencies are you envisioning needing an extra pair of strappy heels?

I've seen it all, including a woman toting a large pile of books under her arm (no not in a bag, piled under her arm) which she then insisted the complete stranger sitting next to her could put up with having them under his feet. Was she moving house and couldn't afford to pay freight? The three other woolies shopping bags full of clothes and nicknacks she was also carrying seemed to indicate that was the case. :shock: