AIBU to think that one piece of cabin handbaggage should mean exactly that?

[axure]

Just back from a mid-week city break, treated myself to a nice new expensive handbag. Packed everything else into my suitcase which I checked into the hold, so all I was carrying onboard was my new bag in the cardboard bag from the shop. I was amazed at the number if people with massive "cabin" bags PLUS a large handbag. No-one was asked to place their case in the cage, nor confronted about having 2 pieces of hand baggage. The attendant asked if she could place my bag on top of cases as they were struggling for locker space, I said OK but please not to crush my bag, needless to say my lovely new bag is creased on one corner and I'm fuming. Why don't airlines enforce their rules?

[junowiththegladrags]

Fly with Ryanair next time. You'd love the bastards.

[FlaminNoraImPregnantPanda]

Depends who you're flying with. Some rules allow 1 piece of cabing baggage plus a handbag or laptop bag. Ryanair let you keep you clothes on for now at least

[ZombieArmsDragOnTheFloor]

I agree - often rules are a piece of cabin baggage plus a handbag/laptop bag. The handbag doesn't count as cabin baggage.

ALthough I don't fly Ryanair.

[Pootles2010]

Why didn't you put your bag under your seat?

[Pincushion2]

Hate this too. Hate it even more when I can't even squeeze my coat/small rucksack/DS' bag/camera in the overhead locker because it is completely full with suitcases! I have had my things unceremoniously taken out and dumped on my lap to make way for yet another case belonging to someone who simply can't be bothered to wait a few minute at the luggage carousel.

I'm definitely feeling ranty today...

[ClippedPhoenix]

It's not something I really take any notice of to be honest.

[EuroShagmore]

Were the airline rules one piece of handluggage? Not all are.

Ryanair does enforce it but most people travel with the largest case possible. I never bother, and stick a case in the hold (for an exorbitant fee). Last time my modest rucksack was removed from the overhead to make space for a case. It took my legroom instead. The person with the case got to stretch out. how is that fair?

[frasersmummy]

I was flying out of luton about 5/6 years ago and got stopped at security and was told only one piece of hand luggage was allowed through to airside.. I had a tiny handbag and had a bag from whsmith with a bottle of coke and a pkt of crisps in it.

I was told I had to give up my whsmith bag.. i had a coat with large pockets so put the stuff in my pockets and wen through like that . and like you say there were people stuffing huge bags in the overhead locker...

its another one of these rules that needs policing with some common sense but it never is

[Absy]

Depends on who you're flying with. If it was with BA where they don't charge you stupid amounts for daring to bring luggage, YANBU. If it was one of the grabby other airlines that charge you for bringing an extra pair of underpants, YABU

[Trills]

Your handbag might have been squished anyway - no matter whether the lockers are packed tightly or not things can move around.

[Trills]

Definitely on some airlines the rule is one carry-on bag (small suitcase) plus one handbag or laptop bag.

[Pootles2010]

I must admit I like to have both case for the locker and handbag I have a suitcase that just fits the measurements for lockers, so I don't have to check it in, sooo nice to just hop off the plane without waiting for your bags! Normally about 10 minutes from them opening doors of planed to being in my taxi. And of course I need a handbag for my crochet/book/chocolate (absolutely neccessary).

[Myliferocks]

We flew with Ryanair the other month to Italy and back.
At Milan airport a group of school girls turned up at the gate and spent 5 minutes getting handbags out of their hand luggage bags only to be told 10 minutes later when they were boarding that they had to put the handbags back in their hand luggage bags.
The funny thing was that a couple and their son who were further back in the queue were told that one of their hand luggage bags was to big. They promptly took something out of it, put it in a carrier bag, so that person had 2 hand luggage bags, went through and when they got on the bus behind the gate area, put the item back in the too large hand luggage bag.
Two different rules on the same flight!
Go figure!
Only with Ryanair!

[ChippyMinton]

YABU to blame others for damage to your bag, I'm afraid. It was up to you to look after it - it could've gone under your seat.

Pretty sure not all airlines have a one bag rule.

[SandStorm]

I'm flying with United tomorrow and their rule is one piece of cabin luggage and one piece of hand baggage such as a handbag, shoulder bag or laptop bag.

[axure]

It was EasyJet and quite clearly stipulated ONE piece of hand baggage, up to 10 kg. I didn't want to put it under the seat in front of me as I wanted to stretch my legs on the 2 hour flight.
FlyBe are also very strict about the one piece of hand luggage rule and also weigh it, I've seen people made to pay to check a bag weighing >10 kg - very satisfying! I get annoyed with people who disregard the rules because they can get away with it. Have flown Ryanair and actually find them OK because you know where you stand, follow the rules - no problems.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

You can put it under the seat for take off then have the precious new bag on your lap for the rest of the time.

[CoolaSchmoola]

I would have done something similar to MrsTerry's suggestion. Bag under seat in front for take off, then under knees so I can extend my legs during flight.

Oh and Ryanair have recently changed rules - one bag PLUS one bag of duty free purchased air side if you're on an international flight.

I too have a naice handbag habit. When I've flown Easyjet (used them a lot when we lived in Cyprus) they did enforce this rule, so I put my handbag in my hand luggage to board, then promptly took it out once on the plane. Hand luggage in the locker, bag under seat in front for take off, then behind knees for flight, then back in hand luggage for disembarking.

I would NEVER put one of my handbags in the overhead locker, and definitely not if they were new. I'd rather have cramped legs for take off and landing than risk a bag crush incident!

[NUFC69]

In September we flew from Phoenix to Chicago with American Airlines (they are a cheapie airline and people have to pay for hold baggage). The plane was twenty minutes late taking off as they had difficulty accommodating all the"hand" baggage. In the end the flight attendants were begging people to put stuff in the hold. The whole thing was madness and we nearly missed our onward flight from Chicago to Heathrow because we were so late.

[honeytea]

Even with ryan air I take my handbag+cabin bag+shopping but then I am a very nervous flyer and usually sobbing by the time we go through the gate so they never stop me.

[trixymalixy]

I find Easyjet usually do enforce the one item of luggage rule.

No way would I put an expensive handbag in the overhead locker. They are always crammed on airlines that make you pay to put bags in the hold.

[redexpat]

Friend gave me a top tip: if your handbag is one of the over the shoulder ones with a long strap then you put it on, then put your coat on over the top, do it up and sail right pass the check point at Stansted. [hwink]

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

Tbh, it would annoy me if I couldn't take a piece of hand luggage and a handbag. I'm happy to use the seat in front of me to store stuff under, and sometimes people buy loads at duty free and get allowed to carry that on board anyway.

People all weigh all different amounts and come in all different sizes, so do their hand luggage needs.