airlines should rethink cabin bags situation

[aaatozedd]

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.

People who check in a large bag still seem determined to also have a massive hold-all or rucksack.

I take a cabin bag because I travel very light and can easily manage on 100ml toiletries. I use a soft bag, not a mini suitcase. I get quite exasperated by airlines allowing passengers to get on with a chunky to-the-limit wheely case, a HUGE holdall, practically the same size, plus handbag and maybe Duty Free. The staff at UK airports are quite good at stopping this . Staff in Southern Europe, judging by my last few trips, have a free for all policy.

It actually costs €30 per flight (at least that's what I paid 2 weeks ago) so for a family of 4 that would be an extra €240 in total just for luggage!

But you don't all need extra cases.

And YY to the fact the airlines are milking the cost of luggage.
I’ve paid £30 for one baggage too. So yes it has nearly double the price of the flight.
Which means btw that actually the prices for the flights are wrong and too low.
But few people will accept the ‘real’ price of flying anymore

I much prefer to just take hand luggage on short breaks it saves a lot of time.
I usually take a rucksack that fits under the seat so no trying to find locker space.

Spartacus I can't remember the exact cost but it was more than that. To be fair they were also VERY cheap flights

But you don't all need extra cases.
Depends actually.
I travel very light usually but when we went abroad last time, we had no way to do any washing there so took more stuff for the 10 days were were away.
You might have young dcs who need plenty of change of clothes
You might go to xxx and do some special activities
Etc etc

Most people do travel with a suitcase and do need it

Some people really take advantage by having one carry on bag and then a huge rucksack strapped onto themselves. There is nowhere to put it all.

Agree with that. I've never waited 1.5 hours for my case to appear but can understand wanting to travel hand luggage only. But airlines need to be stricter about the size.

As with anything, its down to manners and being careful when placing in lockers.
Never had or seen a problem with it.

Brexit what do you mean the prices of the flights are wrong and too low? Surely the airlines aren't regularly running these flights at a loss?

Spartacus I can't remember the exact cost but it was more than that. To be fair they were also VERY cheap flights

Yes, ours were too - and bought months in advance. When I picked our seats the whole flight was empty more-or-less. We also got a ticket that allowed us one hold bag each (20kg) and I paid for one extra for my partner (that we both used). I suspect it was closer to €30 too now I think about it.

This irritates me too. What I'd like is if I check in a hold bag a cabin bag could go in the hold as well for free and then I just get to take a normal handbag on with me.

If I check in a hold bag a have to wait at the other end anyway so it is no inconvenience to me to add my cabin bag to that but I definitely don't want to pay for the privilege so I end up bringing a cabin bag on.

I have just paid £22 one way and then another £6 for the extra cabin bag. If would have cost £55 one way to check a case in!

Flights are only cheap because aviation fuel isn’t taxed.

I don't mind too much on a budget flight. If you are charged extra to put a bag in the hold it's inevitable that people would only want to bring cabin bags.

I get fed up with the amount people try to stuff into the lockers on a scheduled flight when you have a luggage allowance. I can understand it when it's business people who might be dashing off to a meeting.
But you often see people who are obviously going on holiday and bring a couple of huge cases on board. It's just plain selfish. I don't see how they would need that amount of stuff for the whole holiday let alone use all the contents on the flight. Then if you are sensible, bring a small bag of things that are either valuable or that you'll use during the flight, but your are unlucky enough to be one of the last to board you find that the lockers above your seat are already full.

I think the cabin crew need to manage this situation a lot better. I was on one flight where the flight attendant simply refused to let any more suitcases on the plane because ground staff had started putting "hold" tags on suitcases while in the terminal queue. The overhead compartments were more than half empty! When I pointed it out, she said if I didn't like it, I wouldn't be allowed on the flight. Such a lack of common sense. I sent a photo of the half empty lockers to Easyjet to complain.

On the other hand, sometimes they let everyone on despite there being absolutely no space and let them wander up and down the aisles for 20 minutes, opening and closing full lockers, before making them all take their bags back to the main door.

It shouldn't be that hard to close all the full lockers then communicate to ground staff "no more bags onboard from now on".

Airlines WANT people to have cabin bags because it saves them money

Checked bags are more likely to get lost, and it costs money to reunite them with the owners plus pay compensation
Checked bags also require baggage handlers to unload them and bring them into the terminal - and this process takes time so prevents the plane for being turned around for the next flight

Part of the low-fare model is utilising every plane for more flights than the traditional airlines and this relies on quick turnarounds at the airports

So that's why there is no mercy when you're late for your flight and checked bags are discouraged- to avoid delays in getting the plane back in the air

I’m happy to check my main case, but always bring the type of bag they suggest I put under the seat in front. Far preferable to having it overheard - much easier to get stuff out of!

I'm a twat who got the right sized bag for the cabin dimensions allowed. Should have not bothered, when I flew a couple of weeks ago people were squeezing enormous bags into the lockers. Either it should be a free for all or they should actually check in anything that is bigger than the stated size.

tenbob so why asking that most people need to put their cabin suitcase in the hols then?
I mean I would suspect it will cost them, more, more risks of getting them lost etc....
Basically they end doing the same amount of work anyway??

The wait for luggage is a spurious argument. I've never waited more than 15 minutes for mine.

That’s 15 min too many.

I've never waited more than 15 minutes for mine.

You've been lucky! My average wait is 20-30 minutes but on occasion (always at Gatwick in the evening) I've waited up to 1.5 hours. I apologised profusely by phone to the person picking me up but they said they hadn't even left the house yet as they knew what Gatwick was like!

It isn't for me. It's fine. I'm on holiday, I don't want to rush about.

Agree, airlines should enforce their own bloody rules about the size and weight of carry-on baggage. It was refreshing on a recent flight to see them do just that. They were ruthless at check-in, measuring and weighing hand luggage and insisting many items went in the hold and charging for it. People were bitching but why should those who do pay for hold storage have to put up with no space in the overheads because others take up all the space with oversized and overweight hand luggage? Either pay up or suck it up and stay within the limits.

Champagne case lady had suffered brain contusion confirmed on CT scan, six months off work and still on phased return suffering headaches and dizzy spells. And couldn't bring herself to sue airline as she couldn't cope with extra stress. I think the whole thing is out of hand (pun not intended) and dangerous.
I'm very wary of the contents of overhead lockers.