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AIBU?

airlines should rethink cabin bags situation

192 replies

aaatozedd · 14/07/2018 14:30

AIBU to say I'm finding these days when I go on a plane;
-people bring too much cabin baggage and get arsey with the staff about it if told it's too much/suitcase too big etc

  • there's not enough space in all the overhead lockers for all the bags
  • people swing the cases around to get them in and out which makes it feel more cramped and dangerous that bags hit people on the head etc


I think airlines should go back to one charge for seats and that includes checking in a suitcase if you wish. So people can still bring cabin bags but have the option to bring a suitcase/check in luggage etc.
OP posts:
Walkingdeadfangirl · 14/07/2018 14:57

No I dont want to pay more for my aeroplane tickets just because someone doesn't like the situation.
If you want a one charge for seats and bags fly with one of the expensive airliners, dont make us pay more for budget flights.

JJS888 · 14/07/2018 14:58

They do. They are called normal airlines. Easy Jet and their ilk are most certainly not normal. You pay peanuts, you fly like a monkey. Your choice.

Sirzy · 14/07/2018 14:59

I have just booked a flight with Ryanair. I am flying alone and only for a few nights. I don’t need a hold bag so would be annoyed at being made to pay for one!

I do think though that by charging so much for a hold bag it does mean people are less likely to decide to do it! Taking a case wokld have doubled the flight cost for me!

SmellyNelly2018 · 14/07/2018 15:06

Personally, I can’t wait to check my case in at the check in and get rid of it and relax I also don’t even mind checking in a tiny suitcase as I like to bring my own bottles and toiletries in it and I can do that this way.
Many on budget airlines get arsey as they like to keep their bags with them without waiting for baggage. They get stroppy because they insist they must have their cases with them at all times and they like to dash off in a rush at the other end without waiting the 20 mins half hour it takes in the case scramble.
I’m ok with Jet2 but personally I find the likes of Ryanair and too many passengers with the mentality above to stressful to be around. Especially in the days when you didn’t book seats also I am tall so I hate the lack of leg room with Ryanair at least with Jet2 you get more leg room than the likes of TUi, Easyjet, Ryanair etc.

aaatozedd · 14/07/2018 15:07

I don't feel like there is much choice now though of airlines where the cabins aren't full of suitcases- what airline is that?
I'm not saying people should pay a lot more if anything. Because some of those so called budget airlines are very pricey anyway now imo. But I think a suitcase should be included or put your case in the hold, like olden days.

OP posts:
SmellyNelly2018 · 14/07/2018 15:09

I think the OP’s post was referring to people on budget airlines being told they have to check their tiny suit cases in this is free (they aren’t being asked to pay for them) but because so many people have them the airline have to insist some of them are checked in for free to free up space/weight.

aaatozedd · 14/07/2018 15:10

I'll look into jet2 thanks smelly
One of the things I have noticed people are getting arsey about is that they bring a case which is too big, like it doesn't fit into the 'measure your case' thingy, then they get the arse with staff. Also, people try to bring a rucksack and a case, and get the arse if told this isn't allowed.

OP posts:
Beehiveyourself · 14/07/2018 15:12

I think airlines should go back to one charge for seats and that includes checking in a suitcase if you wish.

🤔 Don’t all airlines do this anyway?

Bluelady · 14/07/2018 15:15

Not sure where I heard this but apparently some airlines are planning to reverse their policy and start making check in baggage free and charging for cabin baggage. Suits me, I love checking my bag in and being free of it.

aaatozedd · 14/07/2018 15:15

beehive no they charge for the seat, then an extra amount for a suitcase that goes in the hold. I think a suitcase should be included in the fare like it used to be. Some people could then bring cabin sized suitcases but wouldn't feel like they had to to save money.

OP posts:
Sashkin · 14/07/2018 15:17

I hate checking bags, you have to arrive earlier, wait ages at the other end, and there’s always the risk of your bags getting lost. Far better to just take a little bag on the plane with you. Unless you are going skiing, you can get everything you need into a small case quite easily.

I hear you that plane overhead lockers aren’t big enough to fit a bag for each passenger. On most airlines my bag will fit under the seat in front instead, but some of the budget airlines are designed so you can’t put anything on the floor.

blackfootdaisy · 14/07/2018 15:18

on a flight recently so many people only brought hand luggage they were cramming it in
the overhead lockers weren't designed to hold so much
People were getting arsey because the weren't near their stuff

Sashkin · 14/07/2018 15:18

Don’t all airlines do this anyway?

Not shorthaul. Even BA have a handbaggage-only fare.

LookAtThatCritter · 14/07/2018 15:22

I’ve flown Virgin a few times in the last couple of months and if I didn’t stand by the gate to rush on the second boarding started I had a problem with getting space for my carry on! I don’t bring a particularly large carry on but it doesn’t fit under the seat - the lockers are taken up by people bringing suitcase sized carry ons, coats, duty free etc. They need to be stricter about insisting the larger bags get checked because the current system isn’t working!

YetAnotherSpartacus · 14/07/2018 15:24

Also, people try to bring a rucksack and a case, and get the arse if told this isn't allowed

We recently (and always) pay for hold luggage and priority seating and everything. On our recent flight, our only cabin bags were backpacks. We were instructed to put them under the seat (which we didn't mind), but we were bemused by the stress caused by so many fellow-passengers heaving bags into (and out of) the overhead lockers, as well as by the stressed staff begging, pleading and ordering passengers to nominate to have bags put in the hold and passengers fighting over space near their seats. Is it really all worth it?

ObjectionSir · 14/07/2018 15:26

I fly at least 3 or 4 times a month, this is one of the lesser irritations on flights.
Idiots who faff at check in/passport control/security are a far bigger nuisance. Wankers who insist on reclining their seat back as far as possible for a short haul flight should be shot.
And parents who allow their young children to treat the plane like a private jet or their own home, running around and screaming etc.

Iused2BanOptimist · 14/07/2018 15:27

I spoke to a woman who had a really bad head injury when a wooden presentation case of champagne fell on her head as people were pulling out their bags after they landed. I think it's dangerous. I'm very careful and warn my family to be very careful both with getting their own things out and beware of other people in the scramble.

GKite · 14/07/2018 15:30

I hate cabin bags.
I went on holiday back in May, the air craft couldn't take off because of the amount of luggage on board. When investigated it turned out some passengers had boarded with 3 cabin cases, a quarter of them weighed over 10kg Shock the limit was 6kg!

LuMarie · 14/07/2018 15:30

Completely agree with you.

It takes ages to get on and off the plane because of people struggling with huge heavy bags, small hand luggage gets squashed when crammed in with three trolley cases and it's dangerous, there ends up no space in overhead lockers above own seat for even a small purse style handbag so it's put miles away whilst someone else entire holiday gear takes up your space, coats and hats get creased and crushed. No bueno, not considerate of other passengers.

I know have to pay extra to check them in, but check them in!

Imchlibob · 14/07/2018 15:30

I think they should pare down the costs again and have one price which is just your seat and the gap under the seat in front (just big enough for a handbag or slim briefcase) and the space in the overhead lockers is ticketed separately at a modest fee (eg only £2.50) with a max of 1 bag per passenger up to standard cabin baggage size and first come first served with only the number of spaces sold for the volume available in the lockers.

Then you can't pass through security with a cabin bag unless your cabin bag has a cabin ticket.

When all the cabin spaces have been sold people can book the cabin-bagged-size luggage into the hold for £2 (but still only one item per person)

Then we stop having this ridiculous faffing around at boarding time with everyone anxious about whether or not they are going to be lucky this time. It's the uncertainty that makes it so stressful.

Metoodear · 14/07/2018 15:32

Me to

rillette · 14/07/2018 15:33

Ryanair do this now (or did on our last flight back in April). Unless you pay to keep your cabin baggage with you, it gets put into the hold. It's still a free cabin-sized bag but you're not guaranteed to be able to keep it with you unless you pay the extra.

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VickyEadie · 14/07/2018 15:33

I think that airlines are often far too lax about the size of bags they allow in the cabin - they say a maximum size, but many times I've seen people with much bigger cases being allowed to bring them on board, with consequent hogging of the locker space.

I was once on a scheduled (with checked bags part of ticket) flight and a bloke brought a complete hard drive stack on board with him and stowed it overhead - if that had 'moved around during the flight' and then dropped out when the locker was opened, someone under it could have been killed!

Mookatron · 14/07/2018 15:34

It's quite good when they put your luggage in the hold at the gate. I always keep a small handbag with essentials in it (real essentials) that fits inside the case. If they ask people to check it in I always do because then I don't have to worry about fitting it in the overhead lockers, having to go the wrong way down the plane to get it etc. I just take my handbag out and hand it over.

And since everybody takes carry on luggage you never wait long at the luggage belt!

FangAchePartDeux · 14/07/2018 15:38

I don't really understand the problem. If you only have a handbag or small rucksack, why not put it under the seat in front?

I'm a frequent flyer and, yes, it's a struggle to fit everyone's suitcases in the overhead lockers but it saves waiting at the other end when you want to make the most of your weekend or depend on late night transport. I sometimes have to wait more than 1.5 hours at Gatwick for my luggage!

That said, I agree that one checked-in suitcase should be included in the price.

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