Feds after the passenger who started it all:

[hedgehog]

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/plane_iac_foe_faces_hit_sKV8ov9bc1fFZcr8XWwmaJ

Good!

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[KansDem]

2. You know, this practice of hauling steamer trunks on as "carry-ons" has got to stop!

The last time I flew (last March) I was appalled at what passes for "carry on" items: passengers were carrying on large suitcases instead of checking them through for what they were: large suitcases. And since I tend to board last, there's "no room" for my carry-ons which meet the measurement requirements. I had to check one carry-on through as I did my "large suitcase" which I paid the "checked baggage" fee.

When I flew from Los Angeles to Kansas City, I switched planes in Denver. As I was boarding I was told there was no more room, so I had to check one of my two carry-ons through. This was as I was actually getting on the plane! It wasn't a problem since I was able to take my attache case on, but as I neared the plane's door, there was a flight attendant arguing with a passenger about the need to check her "carry on" through as checked baggage. The two went back and forth--the person's "carry-on" was obviously too big for the overhead bins (I saw it as I passed and it was definitely a large suitcase--with handle and wheels), but she kept insisting she take it onboard. I don't know what the final outcome was, but I sympathized with the flight attendant.

My sympathies are with Mr. Slater: when you work with the public, you're going to see piss-poor behavior.

The selfish boors who board first need to stop taking all the available over-head compartment spaces. Pay the "checked-baggage" fee!

And airlines: Enforce your own carry-on requirement rules!

edited to clean up language...:blush:

[hedgehog]

3. I am very sheepishly carrying 2 carryons - my computer bag and

my C-PAP machine. I went out and got the smallest possible bags for these items.

[Lochloosa]

5. I love my C-PAP.....

:boring:

[KansDem]

9. As a diabetic, I need to carry on my insulin and meter...

I pack these in my attache case, which also holds my papers that I often work on during the flight.

My insulin needs to be kept cold so I pack it in a plastic bag filled with ice and then place the bag inside a plastic container. It works pretty well and I've not been hassled about it at the security checkpoint.

But that's one carry-on that needs to be carried on!

[xchrom]

4. Do I agree with that. The over head bin thing and baggage

Restrictions has gotten out of hand.

And it seems that the more crowded planes have become
The worse everyones behavior has become.

[LostinVA]

7. The bin above your seat should be YOURS

ONLY for people in your row. Period.

[KansDem]

8. I agree...

Often I have to search for space elsewhere because the space above my row is filled.

I find this inconvenient since I at times need to get into my carry-on and don't feel comfortable walking half the plane to do so!

[LostinVA]

10. And, if your embarking time is after most passengers, sometimes there is NO ROOM

You pay for your seat and bin, as far as I'm concerned.

[xchrom]

11. +1

[Gaedel]

12. Worst thing they ever did

The worst thing they ever did was to put in the overhead bins. Used to be what you carried on had to fit under your seat. The overhead rack was for hats and coats. You could take your suit coat off and put in up there and it wouldn't get wrinkled. Planes boarded and de-boarded a heck of a lot quicker when there were no overhead bins.

[SoCalDem]

20. Yup.. "back in the day" the under-seat space was plentiful enough

to stow a pretty decent sized carry-on.. and the overhead compartments were for pillows & blankets... and there was even a bit of room in front of you, under the back part of the seat in front of you.. But that was before sardine configurations came to be.

My son always laughs at the pictures I took on United's 747 inaugural flight from Chicago to Los Angeles.. Pong Tables & a PIANO bar in COACH..


On Pan Am's Inaugural 747 flight from JFK to San Juan, the upstairs First Class lounge had shag carpeting on the walls & very lounge-y orange sofas & there was an open cockpit.. I was with a group of Travel Agents & we all got a turn in the co-pilot seat:).. We flew first class & had real silver silverware & tables set into slots on the floor..tables cloths too.. and of course..we had steak & lobster :)

[sinkingfeeling]

13. Lots of smaller and larger jets do not have overhead space for every seat. For example,

the Embraers used by American Airlines or a Boeing 747-400, with rows of 4 center seats.

[LostinVA]

14. Then they should put seat numbers on them

And, after everyone has had a chance to stow their stuff, the FAs can use their discretion to "fill in the gaps."

My Dad flies alot on business, and he said she can't even put a suit jacket up there anymore, because people cram the bins to the gills.

[sinkingfeeling]

16. There isn't a one to one ratio. On some planes only about 1/3 of the seats would have any

overhead space. Would you accept the airlines charging a fee for a space?

[Statistical]

15. +1000. I hate people bringing oversized lugge, I also hate airlines for allowing & causing it.

I would say $100 fine for even trying to bring it on board. Sorry this needs to be checked and you will be charged $100 for that.

Of course the airlines contribute to the problem by charging the fee. Personally I wish there were no fees. No security fee, no 9/11 fee, no processing fee, no airport convenience fee, no bag fee, etc. Just include it in the DAMN price.

$200 ticket + $100 fees = $300 ticket so just charge $300 how hard is that?

I mean can you imagine if you went to the Grocery store and bought a gallon of milk for $2 then they rang it up and charged you $.80 stocking fee, $0.20 spoiled milk recovery fee, $0.15 anti-terrorism fee, $0.20 processing fee, $0.05 checkout fee?

[bigmonkey]

17. My impression was always that they add the fees transparently to divert anger from the company.

Similarly since the Reagan years you see the taxes highlighted on receipts more than before that period, as I recall. "Be angry at the government, it's not our fault!"

[FunkyLeprechaun]

19. That's another irate rant that I have about flights

I was going to Northern Ireland with my mum and my husband booked the tickets. He chose an option which looked like an £80 ticket (looked like it would be £160 for both of us). Doing all the steps, (no insurance, choosing flight seats etc) and the final amount was £401. We had to look back and figure out how it surged from what it looked like £160 to £401).

They charged for picking your seats on the flight. They charged for luggage (even if we didn't bring luggage). They had an anti-terrorism fee, Meal fee. We got it down to £300 (took out the picking seats option).

It was infuriating.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

18. I agree!

I was fine with my carry on (I try to make it look like I've got one bag, so purse and contents are in it) flying from Birmingham, Paris Charles De Gaulle, Boston Logan, Detroit, and Minneapolis. I had carried it all the way just fine, and fitting it into the overhead just fine. It's on wheels and a lot smaller than most of the bags that I see going onto the plane.

I put some valuables in it (still trying to move from my house in MN to my house in the UK). Doing fine from MSP, Detroit, and we had to recheck in at Logan for Paris CDG. The desk attendant said oh your bag is too big, you'll have to check it in. I said, "I've got valuables in there, could you change your mind?" She said no so I had to check it in for free (HEY! At least I got a 2nd bag being checked in without charge!)

I get onto the flight to Amsterdam. We land. I discover the passenger two rows up had used the overhead bin in MY section to store a BIGGER bag than my bag!!! I was absolutely FUMING (and actually started to rant with my husband after we got off and I started to worry about my bag)! HOW did this bag pass the check in process? How inconsiderate of them to use the overhead bin that wasn't theirs!!!

My bag was fine BTW. I had my political button collection (FDR, RFK, etc) in it plus several Eisenhower dollars and silver dollars. Thank goodness no one took anything! We must have been the last passengers to check in at the time.

Someday, someday I hope more passengers become more considerate but with each flying I do, there's always one or two passengers who are asses. One insisted on having his seat reclined all the way on a flight from Amsterdam to Minneapolis (I like reclining my seat but I don't want to bother the passenger behind me and I had no room to eat my in-flight meal and the passenger next to me had to REALLY squeeze past to go to the toilet). And sometimes I see passengers who have stored their bags in the overheads nearer the front of the plane when they are way in the back. WTF is up with that?

I love seeing my family but the flying, ugh.

[demodonkey]

6. GOOD! nt