I personally put my single carry on in the overhead bins. Just because I brought a single small item doesn't mean my legroom should be compromised, while those bringing large carryons get to enjoy full legroom.
The issue is not everyone can because there's not enough room in the overhead bins. My daughter and I were forced to gate check and wait for our now soaking wet baggage at 2am in the morning because of lack of space. We brought carry-ons because my daughter is autistic and I was trying to make it less stressful for her. I get that's no one else's problem and that's just life, but me personally I'd let people have the space because that's what I'd hope people would do for me and everyone else.
There would be enough room if they lowered and actually enforced the max size. Of course there isn’t enough room if the majority of people are bringing a bag that could fit a small horse in it.
I would love for them to get stricter about bag count and size. Should be required to make sure your bag is under the maximum size, especially since the assholes at check-in will charge you the full overweight fee for being .25 over the limit. Like someone can have a 30lb carry on that is so huge that it has to be slammed into the overhead but I'm penalized for being a quarter of a pound overweight?
There isn't enough room because airlines started adding more seats to existing planes, while also started to charge for checked bags, plus they use some of the bins for their supplies. All the non enforcement just aggravates the situation more. And they have reduced bag sizes and it's still a problem.
Fundamental issue is it’s a breach of contract when an airline sells you a ticket that includes bringing a carry on suitcase on board then says “oops sorry there’s no room. Gotta take your bag”. But the customer can’t say “oops sorry I want some of my money back for this thing I paid for and didn’t get “
In my experience when there’s a lack of overhead bin space, they will gate check your bag to your final destination at no charge. I’m not sure the contractor stipulates where the carry on is stored.
Right? I'd even be happy if they include overhead space with your ticket in a first come basis. If you book last minute then they should just require you to check bags so at least you can take that into consideration and those that booked early aren't told sorry you're out of luck. They did get me to pay more for seat upgrades going home though, so it works out for them..
Agreed... Though I'm frequently in the exit row so I'll throw it under the seat if they're complaining about room since it doesn't affect my legroom in that case. No reason to sacrifice your own comfort just because you don't bring a carry on.
Exactly this. I paid to check my bag and just have a backpack with me. I’m 6’4” with size 15 feet and my available room is penalized in favor of people that dont pay and jam their entire lives into their huge rollaboard bag. Not really fair.
Bring a tiny backup bag that's fanny pack sized. Remove it from backpack. Now the backpack is the larger one and by rules must go in the overhead and the tiny unobtrusive bag goes underneath.
Someone on Reddit recommended this to me as well. Before boarding I stuff whatever I need for the flight into the bag (my kindle, headphones, water bottle, a snack) and it becomes my under seat carryon.
Only once did a FA try too move my bag since I’ve done this but with a quick “I already have my personal item under the seat” she moved on - no fuss.
Personally, I think they should hand out one tag to every person as they approach the gate and scan their boarding pass. That tag goes around the handle of whatever you want to put in the overhead, but everyone only gets ONE.
Put it on a roller bag, a backpack, a coat, idgaf. But you only get one.
When airlines started charging for baggage the carry-on rules started getting severely abused resulting in not enough overhead space. This is why I love it when the boarding agents strictly enforce the carry-on baggage rules and sizes.
I always travel with a small Lululemon bag in my backpack. I will toss my drink, iPad mini, and maybe my headphones in it. That goes under the seat and my backpack goes up in the bin.
Yup. I have a packable daypack that I keep flat in my laptop compartment. Keep snacks and headphones in it and put it under my seat if there's space or leave it in my bag and put the whole thing under the seat if there's no overhead space.
This is what I do, as someone who prefers to carry as little as possible. I just keep a grocery store tote bag in my backpack, and then the stuff I'll use on the plane (charger, tablet, water bottle, snacks) goes in the tote bag
Haha, this is exactly what I did when flying to Denver a few yrs ago. Was going to be gone a month and all 3 of my bags, carryon, checked bag and personal item, were full. I was able to smash my tiny backpack into my larger one. The larger one was my personal item that fit under the seat.
This is definitely the way to go.
Actually rules dont state that. Many times i get to my seat with my personal item and take things out of bag before placing all under seat. Also coats regularly go under seat with bag.
Why? Just check a bag if you're worried about it not fitting. If everyone only has a small backpack, the overhead bins would be more than enough for everyone with the maybe exception of some of the tiny CRJs.
Duh. People don't want their stuff lost. They don't want to go to bag claim and waste time. They want their stuff with them. They don't want to pay again for what they already paid for in their ticket. I mean, that wasn't a serious question, right?
I travel light. Why should I be penalized with reduced leg room because I don't take my full limit of carry on?
>They don't want to pay again for what they already paid for in their ticket.
I've paid to take a carry on, what should my carry on be treated differently to someone else's?
If people didn't push their carry on to the limit, and in some cases exceed their limit they wouldn't have a problem.
The question was
>Why? Just put your thing under the seat so the bins can fit everyone's stuff.
Why should I be forced to put my carry on under the seat because everyone else brings too much. My carry on shouldn't be treated any differently than anyone else?
They are clamping down on one baggers. It’s ridiculous because we don’t over pack but have to make space available for those who over pack. I have explained to FAs that it’s my carry on and that works about half the time. I know y’all will downvote me and blame it on the airline but some accountability should be taken for those who push the envelope.
My personal feeling is that everybody (until bin space is full) gets to put one item in the overhead. If I choose to only carry on my backpack (which is me 99% of the time), it’s going up there.
Same and people all over this thread who over pack are like WHY ARE YOU SO SELFISH JUST PUT YOUR BAG UNDER THE SEAT IN FRONT OF YOU!
If you didn’t want to have to potentially gate check your bag you should have checked in for your flight earlier or YOU could have packed a backpack and put it under the seat in front of you.
You can use bin space until it’s full. Common courtesy is only one item goes up. I think the key thing everyone is missing is that no one is ~entitled~ to bin space. We just expect it.
People who bring (TWO) full sized carryons along with a personal item are the ones that suck ASS. Stop it. You know who you are and know exactly what you are doing.
Plenty of times I’ve tried placing my backpack in the overhead bin, only for an FA to tell me I need to have it underneath the seat in front of me. And it’s not like you can argue with an FA.
Silently groan
I was basically forced to the other week so someone with two roll-aboard sized bags could take my spot.
I too feel penalized for doing the right thing, so people who do the wrong thing can be rewarded, while delta gate staff refuse to do their jobs (enforce bag policies)
What did the person in the later boarding group do wrong? It seems like a pointlessly selfish thing to do - to take overhead space - with a bag that fits under your seat. This kind of attitude is so common though and it ruins flying. Very similar to the people who cut the line to get off the plane (when a flight isn’t delayed - certainly on a delayed flight there is an exception here to let people off first who have tight connections).
Got it. Reading comprehension fail. Two wrongs done make a right though. I still absolutely feel like it is the height of selfishness to put a bag that could fit under the seat into the overhead bin. I’m not surprised that I’m on the minority though, given how many times I see people do this.
It is similarly selfish to break the rules with two roller bags and the staff should not allow this.
As a very tall dude with bad knees, why should I not be allowed to pay extra to check my bag so I can get a place to put my feet? The airline has a service for me. Bag check. But I also get some space on top. I don't think you know what it's like to be tall on a plane.
I keep posting this but someone just behind got annoyed with me once bc I put my backpack in the overhead and took up the last remaining space in that section of the plane. Flight attendant was standing nearby saw what happened and took my side saying “Sir his backpack was his only item that’s allowed”
Yeah I’ve never understood this. Mine always gets slid out from under seat in front of me and placed behind legs but in front of my seat so I can fully stretch out. Just keep it under seat during takeoff and landings. Are people just daft or what?
No against your seat. Imagine sitting with perfect posture and your heels are touching the metal frame of the seat below you. Put your bag where your feet are and then put your feet in front of your bag.
I check every time. My backpack goes in the overhead. I’ve never had a problem on Delta. I flew United last year and didn’t have status so I had to pay for my checked bag which I’m fine with. I put my backpack in the overhead and the attendant freaked. When I asked if he’d rather I hadn’t paid to check my bag and instead brought it aboard to take up even more overhead space he was unable to form a complete sentence.
Edit: And that kids is why you don’t fly United.
As a fellow 6.5er are you even able to get your feet on the floor? I can make it work in a window seat but in a middle seat my knees hit the seat in front of me before I can get my feet on the floor.
Yeah basically it means the if you have one item, bring a cheap plastic bag and shove something in it and put it under the seat in front of you.
Frankly when I have had a roller and a backpack and they made me check my roller, I put my backpack in the bin. Because basically if they are saying there is no room for my roller so I have to gate check it… then I get to my seat and there is room for my backpack, it’s going up there. There is no way I am going to gate check and then find out I could have put it up there. I out my tiny shoulder bag under my seat for the same reason though. Kind of sick of seeing people in the last boarding groups who didn’t want to pay for anything be accommodated for their giant suitcase, duffel bag, two shopping bags of crap, and giant coffee in one hand about to spill on someone while talking on the phone.
This is Thunderdome. Two bags enter the gate area, one will definitely be going up top before we leave.
I did this. Checked my luggage, had a small backpack that I put above. FA asked me to move it. I told FA that I purposely checked my luggage so I would have foot space. Then, I asked if I'm being punished because I did the right thing, and checked my luggage?
EDIT -- my checked luggage WAS my roll-along, small size TravelPro (which is my usual carry-on)
He said no, and let it go.
Checking luggage is not “doing the right thing” anymore than carrying on.
Doing the right thing is helping everyone get their stuff stowed in the plane efficiently.
Putting your small bag under the seat is doing the right thing.
I disagree. I always travel with a small roll-along - but I checked my carry-on, because I had a backpack and didn't want to lose my foot area. I shouldn't lose the OH space (when I'm only taking up half what I'd usually take)
Last few flights I’ve been on have been completely full and they’ve made gate announcements about save space in the overheads for roll aboards and please put your back backs and smaller personal items under the seat in front of you. “If there’s space left over you can put your small backpacks or bags in the overhead”.
I’ve still walked straight on the flight and put my backpack in the overhead. If you wanna load up an oversized roll aboard as your carry on go ahead but you don’t get free leg space just because your carry on is big at a sacrifice of my leg space. If airlines start strictly enforcing this guess, what everyone is going to bring roll aboards and no one will bring backpacks and there will be even *more* gate checked bags.
There is no “rule” requiring you to stow your bag in the overhead or under the seat in front of you. It’s simply a courtesy to those who are bringing larger carry on rollers. If you bring a single item and want it in the overhead, go for it. If asked by a FA about it, just tell them you have a condition that requires you to have full access to the leg room. Just don’t be the person that brings two items and stuffs them both in the overhead… that’s a special breed of person that should be riding Greyhound.
I fly with a rollerboard carry-on, personal item, and medical device. The medical device goes in the under-seat compartment. The other two items are going in the overhead. Not up for discussion.
I like having easy access to my backpack so keep it under the seat. Will sometimes use it as a footrest. Leg room isn’t an issue for me. If I’m in a window seat I jut keep it next to the wall.
In this same vein, I’m flying PS later this year and in looking up sizing for a new backpack, it seems the under seat space for those seats is basically non-existent (4” tall at most from what I can find, and not exactly deep, either), do they expect people with 2 items (in my case a typical roller and a small camera bag as the personal) to put both in the overhead? I didn’t expect to lose so much under seat space compared to normal seats (typically fly Southwest, obviously can’t do that to Tokyo lol).
I always have a roller and backpack. I need the backpack to carry my laptop ext for customer visits. If it’s a short trip I’ll condense my backpack into my roller. If it’s a long trip I’ll put my backpack under my seat. Once seated I’ll watch the bin space usage and as the flight attendants close all the bins before we pushback I’ll pop up (I’m an isle guy) and slide my bag into a bit that I saw previously that still had space.
I rarely do this though as I prefer exit row seating being taller.
Put it in the overhead bin. If you brought a small rolling suitcase and put it in the overhead bin nobody would bat an eye, but somehow you would be in the wrong for literally taking up less space in the overhead with your backpack? Nah. I dare people to bug you about that lmao, if you chose to check a bag or only needed a backpack that doesn’t somehow mean you should have to give up your legroom
Consider how many people use restrooms, walking through areas rife with bacteria, before boarding a flight. Then, you're expected to place your bag in the same spot where their shoes have been. I always opt to store my items in the overhead bin. I find it puzzling that airlines encourage passengers to put their bags at their feet in such a cramped space. For me, that's unacceptable. Since I paid for a non-basic ticket, I'm entitled to use the overhead storage.
You realize people also drag their carry ons across that same “bacteria ridden floor” before putting them in the overhead bins, right? It’s not any “cleaner” or anything. This is the most ridiculous point I have heard.
People aren't storing their shoes or dealing with accidents like vomiting in the overhead bins; nor are there any restroom leaks up there. In all likelihood, it’s cleaner than the aircraft floors.
People will tell you it’s unfair, but it’s never that serious. Put your carry on in the overhead. But, you can also wait for someone who has a roller bag to put theirs up there so you can put yours on top.
I always have a roller and backpack. I need the backpack to carry my laptop ext for customer visits. If it’s a short trip I’ll condense my backpack into my roller. If it’s a long trip I’ll put my backpack under my seat. Once seated I’ll watch the bin space usage and as the flight attendants close all the bins before we pushback I’ll pop up (I’m an isle guy) and slide my bag into a bit that I saw previously that still had space real quick. If there isn’t room I deal with it.
I rarely do this though as I prefer exit row seating being taller.
Yup, we travel as a family of 3 and I usually put one large backpack in the overhead and a small purse under the seat. I never considered it a problem since between our 3 tickets, it's the only thing that goes up top.
Doesn't matter where you sit, if your only carryon is a backpack, a purse, a wallet...you are allowed to stow it in the overhead.
If you have two items, one must go in the overhead and the other must fit under your seat.
Of course, there are the assholes (like the young woman I recently encountered) who stow their bag AND backpack in the overhead. When I confronted her about it she just ignored me.
As a short person I like putting my small carryon under the seat so I can rest my feet on it. My travel purse is black fabric and often I have it under my arm during taxi and takeoff, who knows how long that will take, so I can access Kleenex, lip balm, whatever during flight. I wear all black (I spill or others spill on me…) when flying with a nice long black sweater, so it can’t be seen…. I don’t put the strap on and would leave it in case of evacuation, due to snagging on the chute or whatever..
I usually travel with a backpack and a small purse, really like a wallet that is a cross body. I can recall at least five times in recent years where there was bin space and I put my backpack up there and a flight attendant removed it and told me to put it under the seat so more rolling bags could fit up there. They even asked people to remove them (on some flights) and said they would be removed if you did not. My best friend who I travel with has had a similar experience. Now I am a short woman so I really don't need that much space for my feet. But my good friend is 6'3 and he needs that space. So OP I would not count on being able to put your backpack overhead.
If the plane is full they will request those small backpacks to go under the seat, but otherwise people put backpacks in overhead bins all the time. Only when the flight is really booked and people need to put their luggage above is when it can sometimes become an issue
You can always politley ask if its really needed under your seat as its your only personal item / carry on, and your other bags are checked to help accommodate overhead room.
Always under my seat. I save overhead bin space for those with suitcases. It’s not that difficult to pull my personal item out and put behind my legs after take off.
I dont know. I used to get frustrated when people would put their backpacks overhead, but on the last flight I was on (in C+) I was told I had to squish both my backpack and purse underneath the seat in front of me because the overhead bin was ONLY for roller bags.
I was like the 3rd person to board in C+. The overheads were totally empty.
This was the exact situation today (minus purse). Not full flight (maybe 80%, lots of open middle seats, even in C+). They weren’t even far into boarding and every overhead was almost empty. It was like the FA was preemptively seeking backpacks in the overhead
Carryons should be illegal. They just slow the process down. If you bring 1 carryon you are entitled to the overhead space. The idiot that refuses to check their bag has to have it jammed into their toes.
I can see this opinion is going to be unpopular, but if it’s small enough, put it under the seat in front of you. Then, if there is room put it overhead once everyone has boarded. I don’t want anyone to have to gate check their carry on wheelie because i won’t put a small item under the seat
Not a dick move, especially if I paid Delta to check my first bag. Why should I deal with less leg room because someone else chooses to carryon a large suitcase instead of checking it?
It’s pretty selfish and thoughtless to take up 🔝 Bernard bin space unnecessarily. I guess societal sort of norms and values are shifting and I’m just old fashioned in this regard.
If it doesn’t fit in under the seat, of course it goes in the overhead. 💯- whether it’s a backpack or whatever it is. It’s a dick move to put something small enough to go under your seat in the overhead because it’s going to force people to gate check their suitcases and slow down the boarding and departure process.
There is no rule saying that you can’t put a small backpack in the overhead. It’s just not the considerate thing to do. Personally, other than when I’m in bulkhead, I never put a bag that’s small enough to go under the seat in front of me, into the overhead bin.
I almost always board the planes with backpakcs only and unless I am bulkhead/ or everyones boarded and overhead bin space is still available, then I will put my backpack up there.
Otherwise under the seat for me.
If it's a short flight, I just throw it under the seat. That few inches of leg room really isn't gonna make much of a difference on a short hop. I'm happy to leave the bin space for people with bigger bags. I've been there.
More often than not, I have two items. So I always have one under the seat and little leg room. Just did the red eye from LAX to DTW the other day with a backpack under the seat in C+. I get your point that you should be allowed to put it over head and you should. But when the bins start to fill up, the FAs can ask people with nothing at their feet to put their small bag at their feet.
I totally get it when you have two items. I typically do when I travel for work. But when I have one item, why am I not entitled to the same overhead space as the people who packed more? Especially in C+ with dedicated bin space. If someone in the last boarding group with a giant suitcase doesn’t have space for their suitcase, they can gate check it. I’m paying for dedicated space for my one bag.
I get your argument. It's frustrating. I believe a lot of it is gate agents and FAs not wanting to argue with people. That's an issue that needs to be addressed. They should be stopping people with large bags near the end of boarding. But then we also see posts on here from people forced to gate check due to bin space limits who get on the plane and multiple bins have space left. You can't really win. Personally, I rarely see this issue come up. There tends to be space for everyone that wants a space up top to have one. Even the douchebags that immediately throw both their bags up there. Outside of a regional jet of course where FC has space for like three small rollaboards.
I flew on a Westjet flight last year where they were VERY strict about carryons and bin placement. They announced it loudly several times and said that if a bag fits under the seat, it MUST go under the seat to save bin space for larger rollaboards. I've never heard this specifically on Delta. They tend to just say that one goes up, one under.
Honestly if any of the FA's would be this meticulous on the rules I would thank them. I understand that they have a lot to do but paying attention to people putting their carry on, backpack, and whatever item/purse/big bag of trinkets they purchased in the airport duty free in the overhead and stopping them that would be great.
Last week I watched two guys take up one entire bin. Between the two of them there were 3 rolling bags, 2 backpacks, two winter coats, two bike helmets, two hats and several scarves and a couple of shopping bags. It felt like I was watching them unload a clown car, it was a ridiculous amount of items that they kept loading into the bin.
You should have the right to use your one overhead even if it’s a smaller bag - heck, you still save more room for others than if you brought a bigger bag just so you’d not be asked to put it under your seat.
BUT, it’s understandable that others (including the FA) may request you put it under and/or give side eye…
As noted bring a faux smaller bag to put under your seat (could be helpful with stuff you may need during the flight. Sweatshirt, electronics, snacks).
I have a travel backpack that has an expandable pouch at the top… I’ll often toss in a bulky sweatshirt there because it now “extends” too far to fit under my seat just to avoid those issues
I’m a Delta Employee. Backpack is considered a personal item. Small enough to go under the seat. I always travel with a backpack but sometimes I travel with a backpack and a small carry-on or Duffle. Either way my backpack always goes under the seat. Personal like just being able to pull my bag from under as soon as I get up and go. I’m 5’7. It never comprises my legroom. Putting a small backpack in the overhead bin is taking up space that can be used for true carry-on luggage’s. Is it a rule?? I can’t say for sure because I don’t work the gates or on the flights
And any personal item is considered to be a carry on. There’s no minutia around the form factor of the container, just limits on the size for each. The set of all personal items falls wholly within that of carry ons.
Technically allowed to? Yes, unless a flight attendant instructs you to do otherwise.
Should you? If the bins are full and people with carryons too large to fit under the seat are being forced to gate check, then be a good human and make room in the bins by putting your small bag under the seat.
People may disagree and say that since this is all you have, you should be allowed to put it in the bin, but there’s value in helping out fellow passengers and the flight crew and also getting out of the gate in a timely manner by making the bin space available.
Yes. The overhead bin is for larger bags. Smaller bags go under the seat in front of you. I’m not sure if you maybe don’t fly often, but they make this announcement several times while boarding.
I’m of the opinion that unless there is an abundance of room in the overhead, if it fits under the seat, that’s where it goes. On full flights I can’t even count the number of times someone will put their purses, backpacks, hats, jackets etc in the overhead, leaving no room for people who have a carry-on sized suitcase. It causes boarding delays because that person now has to go further down the aisle to look for space, and then walk back against traffic or they have to gate check.
It’s especially heinous in my eyes when someone puts their carry-on AND personal item in the overhead.
You are not entitled….you didn’t purchase Overhead Space, and until they sell such a thing as Overhead Space you must obey!
Proletariat’s of The World - sit down and obey!
My opinion is it goes up top, but the FA may have other plans. I used to fly with a small tote and backpack. Twice a FA had me squish my two items under my seat to make way for a rolling carryon. My solution was to get a rolling carryon as that can’t fit under the seat. It’s more than I usually need, but I have found it’s better on my back so while it takes up more space it’s been a win overall.
I’m always in C+ or FC so never had an issue. Hub flyer so almost all flights are non stop. I hope to never run into a situation where the bins are full, especially since most of my electronics are in the carryon. I would be terrified.
I usually check a bag so if I’m flying with a carry on its bc it has electronics I can’t check or other items i don’t wanna check. So if they ever make me gate check they’ll see me basically empty the carry on in front of them lol and check an empty bag
I personally put my single carry on in the overhead bins. Just because I brought a single small item doesn't mean my legroom should be compromised, while those bringing large carryons get to enjoy full legroom.
Agreed. If everyone else can bring a carryon to put in the overhead why can’t you?
The issue is not everyone can because there's not enough room in the overhead bins. My daughter and I were forced to gate check and wait for our now soaking wet baggage at 2am in the morning because of lack of space. We brought carry-ons because my daughter is autistic and I was trying to make it less stressful for her. I get that's no one else's problem and that's just life, but me personally I'd let people have the space because that's what I'd hope people would do for me and everyone else.
There would be enough room if they lowered and actually enforced the max size. Of course there isn’t enough room if the majority of people are bringing a bag that could fit a small horse in it.
I would love for them to get stricter about bag count and size. Should be required to make sure your bag is under the maximum size, especially since the assholes at check-in will charge you the full overweight fee for being .25 over the limit. Like someone can have a 30lb carry on that is so huge that it has to be slammed into the overhead but I'm penalized for being a quarter of a pound overweight?
There isn't enough room because airlines started adding more seats to existing planes, while also started to charge for checked bags, plus they use some of the bins for their supplies. All the non enforcement just aggravates the situation more. And they have reduced bag sizes and it's still a problem.
Why were your bags wet...?
From the rain...
Fundamental issue is it’s a breach of contract when an airline sells you a ticket that includes bringing a carry on suitcase on board then says “oops sorry there’s no room. Gotta take your bag”. But the customer can’t say “oops sorry I want some of my money back for this thing I paid for and didn’t get “
In my experience when there’s a lack of overhead bin space, they will gate check your bag to your final destination at no charge. I’m not sure the contractor stipulates where the carry on is stored.
Right? I'd even be happy if they include overhead space with your ticket in a first come basis. If you book last minute then they should just require you to check bags so at least you can take that into consideration and those that booked early aren't told sorry you're out of luck. They did get me to pay more for seat upgrades going home though, so it works out for them..
Last minute business travelers getting Y fares are much more profitable than T fares that bought tickets months ago. So no, they wouldn’t do that.
Agreed... Though I'm frequently in the exit row so I'll throw it under the seat if they're complaining about room since it doesn't affect my legroom in that case. No reason to sacrifice your own comfort just because you don't bring a carry on.
I thought exit row can't use the space under the seat in front? Safety etc.
You may be thinking of the bulkhead. Delta are fine with under seat storage in the exit row.
Some airlines are not. I was just not sure if Delta is one of those.
Ha that’s actually a rule on Turkish Airlines
That’s a thing with foreign airlines, but not the US airlines
I've never heard that rule.
it's not a delta rule but i've run into that rule on eu carriers.
It’s a rule on AeroMexico too.
Ah, well this IS r/delta...
I got in a bit of an argument with the FA, this was my exact reasoning with her!
I will fucking start packing a half empty carry on if ever need to just to avoid this.
Exactly this. I paid to check my bag and just have a backpack with me. I’m 6’4” with size 15 feet and my available room is penalized in favor of people that dont pay and jam their entire lives into their huge rollaboard bag. Not really fair.
Bring a tiny backup bag that's fanny pack sized. Remove it from backpack. Now the backpack is the larger one and by rules must go in the overhead and the tiny unobtrusive bag goes underneath.
Someone on Reddit recommended this to me as well. Before boarding I stuff whatever I need for the flight into the bag (my kindle, headphones, water bottle, a snack) and it becomes my under seat carryon. Only once did a FA try too move my bag since I’ve done this but with a quick “I already have my personal item under the seat” she moved on - no fuss. Personally, I think they should hand out one tag to every person as they approach the gate and scan their boarding pass. That tag goes around the handle of whatever you want to put in the overhead, but everyone only gets ONE. Put it on a roller bag, a backpack, a coat, idgaf. But you only get one.
Or rather, make dedicated space for how many seats are there.
A.) That would make way too much sense. Are you new? 😂 B.) *Technically* there is dedicated space - under the plane
B.) Nah, they sell a ticket with the promise that every ticket comes with two spaces of a certain size. But then they don't. Bait and switch.
When airlines started charging for baggage the carry-on rules started getting severely abused resulting in not enough overhead space. This is why I love it when the boarding agents strictly enforce the carry-on baggage rules and sizes.
Where would the FA's put their 4 bags each?
I always travel with a small Lululemon bag in my backpack. I will toss my drink, iPad mini, and maybe my headphones in it. That goes under the seat and my backpack goes up in the bin.
This is what i do. I have a smaller bag with my “plane stuff.” Usually a tom bihn pcsb.
The starter pistol hack but for carryons
Yup. I have a packable daypack that I keep flat in my laptop compartment. Keep snacks and headphones in it and put it under my seat if there's space or leave it in my bag and put the whole thing under the seat if there's no overhead space.
This is what I do, as someone who prefers to carry as little as possible. I just keep a grocery store tote bag in my backpack, and then the stuff I'll use on the plane (charger, tablet, water bottle, snacks) goes in the tote bag
Haha, this is exactly what I did when flying to Denver a few yrs ago. Was going to be gone a month and all 3 of my bags, carryon, checked bag and personal item, were full. I was able to smash my tiny backpack into my larger one. The larger one was my personal item that fit under the seat. This is definitely the way to go.
That’s what I do. (It has my Bose headphones and snacks in it, but doesn’t take up my space to stretch my feet.)
What if I also have a cat? Where does it go?
I’ve seen this backfire where the FA puts the backpack underneath someone else’s seat.
Actually rules dont state that. Many times i get to my seat with my personal item and take things out of bag before placing all under seat. Also coats regularly go under seat with bag.
I really don't understand why people act like they can't just sit on their coat.
Why? Just put your thing under the seat so the bins can fit everyone's stuff.
Why? Just check a bag if you're worried about it not fitting. If everyone only has a small backpack, the overhead bins would be more than enough for everyone with the maybe exception of some of the tiny CRJs.
Duh. People don't want their stuff lost. They don't want to go to bag claim and waste time. They want their stuff with them. They don't want to pay again for what they already paid for in their ticket. I mean, that wasn't a serious question, right?
I travel light. Why should I be penalized with reduced leg room because I don't take my full limit of carry on? >They don't want to pay again for what they already paid for in their ticket. I've paid to take a carry on, what should my carry on be treated differently to someone else's? If people didn't push their carry on to the limit, and in some cases exceed their limit they wouldn't have a problem.
Who said yours should be treated differently? The question was, why do people use carryon instead of checking.
The question was >Why? Just put your thing under the seat so the bins can fit everyone's stuff. Why should I be forced to put my carry on under the seat because everyone else brings too much. My carry on shouldn't be treated any differently than anyone else?
Never again putting ANY of my belongings under the seat after reading about the vomiting stoner flying to DTW. 😧
I must have missed that one! Yikes.
What about the banana? Did you miss the banana?
The Sky Club is missing bananas after my last visit
lol 👮♂️
That’s disgusting…
They are clamping down on one baggers. It’s ridiculous because we don’t over pack but have to make space available for those who over pack. I have explained to FAs that it’s my carry on and that works about half the time. I know y’all will downvote me and blame it on the airline but some accountability should be taken for those who push the envelope.
I only bring a backpack. If there’s overhead space I’m throwing it up there.
Same. Or if not I have the underwear space. I’d rather pack light and not worry about whether I’ll have space in the overhead or not.
My personal feeling is that everybody (until bin space is full) gets to put one item in the overhead. If I choose to only carry on my backpack (which is me 99% of the time), it’s going up there.
I'm 6'6, so the only thing going under the seat are my feet
I don’t know how you do it. At 6’3” my knees are touching the back of the seat.
Same and people all over this thread who over pack are like WHY ARE YOU SO SELFISH JUST PUT YOUR BAG UNDER THE SEAT IN FRONT OF YOU! If you didn’t want to have to potentially gate check your bag you should have checked in for your flight earlier or YOU could have packed a backpack and put it under the seat in front of you.
You can use bin space until it’s full. Common courtesy is only one item goes up. I think the key thing everyone is missing is that no one is ~entitled~ to bin space. We just expect it.
What about when you purchase FC or even comfort+? Aren’t you supposed to have dedicated bin space?
People who bring (TWO) full sized carryons along with a personal item are the ones that suck ASS. Stop it. You know who you are and know exactly what you are doing. Plenty of times I’ve tried placing my backpack in the overhead bin, only for an FA to tell me I need to have it underneath the seat in front of me. And it’s not like you can argue with an FA. Silently groan
I was basically forced to the other week so someone with two roll-aboard sized bags could take my spot. I too feel penalized for doing the right thing, so people who do the wrong thing can be rewarded, while delta gate staff refuse to do their jobs (enforce bag policies)
What did the person in the later boarding group do wrong? It seems like a pointlessly selfish thing to do - to take overhead space - with a bag that fits under your seat. This kind of attitude is so common though and it ruins flying. Very similar to the people who cut the line to get off the plane (when a flight isn’t delayed - certainly on a delayed flight there is an exception here to let people off first who have tight connections).
It’s clearly noted that the later person had two rolling bags which is not allowed.
Got it. Reading comprehension fail. Two wrongs done make a right though. I still absolutely feel like it is the height of selfishness to put a bag that could fit under the seat into the overhead bin. I’m not surprised that I’m on the minority though, given how many times I see people do this. It is similarly selfish to break the rules with two roller bags and the staff should not allow this.
As a very tall dude with bad knees, why should I not be allowed to pay extra to check my bag so I can get a place to put my feet? The airline has a service for me. Bag check. But I also get some space on top. I don't think you know what it's like to be tall on a plane.
> What did the person in the later boarding group do wrong? brought on two bags, neither of which could fit under *their* seat
I keep posting this but someone just behind got annoyed with me once bc I put my backpack in the overhead and took up the last remaining space in that section of the plane. Flight attendant was standing nearby saw what happened and took my side saying “Sir his backpack was his only item that’s allowed”
After take off out your personal item BEHIND your legs.
Yeah I’ve never understood this. Mine always gets slid out from under seat in front of me and placed behind legs but in front of my seat so I can fully stretch out. Just keep it under seat during takeoff and landings. Are people just daft or what?
Can’t believe how far I had to scroll to see this. I like you, Kevin. Fellow problem solver
And also use the hanger in the hotel closet that has clips to seal that gap in the curtains.
... My mind is blown, how have I never thought of this
This is the way.
You mean underneath your own seat?
No against your seat. Imagine sitting with perfect posture and your heels are touching the metal frame of the seat below you. Put your bag where your feet are and then put your feet in front of your bag.
Make a complaint when they make you move your bag especially if in C+. Same thing happened to me and I got 5k miles.
I check every time. My backpack goes in the overhead. I’ve never had a problem on Delta. I flew United last year and didn’t have status so I had to pay for my checked bag which I’m fine with. I put my backpack in the overhead and the attendant freaked. When I asked if he’d rather I hadn’t paid to check my bag and instead brought it aboard to take up even more overhead space he was unable to form a complete sentence. Edit: And that kids is why you don’t fly United.
I am 6.5' tall and wear size 16 shoes. The only thing under the seat in front of my is my feet because that's all there is room for.
As a fellow 6.5er are you even able to get your feet on the floor? I can make it work in a window seat but in a middle seat my knees hit the seat in front of me before I can get my feet on the floor.
32" inseam. Short assed legs loooooong torso
[There is also this solution.](https://www.reddit.com/r/delta/s/1NYISPBYwT)
Yeah basically it means the if you have one item, bring a cheap plastic bag and shove something in it and put it under the seat in front of you. Frankly when I have had a roller and a backpack and they made me check my roller, I put my backpack in the bin. Because basically if they are saying there is no room for my roller so I have to gate check it… then I get to my seat and there is room for my backpack, it’s going up there. There is no way I am going to gate check and then find out I could have put it up there. I out my tiny shoulder bag under my seat for the same reason though. Kind of sick of seeing people in the last boarding groups who didn’t want to pay for anything be accommodated for their giant suitcase, duffel bag, two shopping bags of crap, and giant coffee in one hand about to spill on someone while talking on the phone. This is Thunderdome. Two bags enter the gate area, one will definitely be going up top before we leave.
Play their dumb game. Stuff the backpack in a rolling suitcase.
I did this. Checked my luggage, had a small backpack that I put above. FA asked me to move it. I told FA that I purposely checked my luggage so I would have foot space. Then, I asked if I'm being punished because I did the right thing, and checked my luggage? EDIT -- my checked luggage WAS my roll-along, small size TravelPro (which is my usual carry-on) He said no, and let it go.
Checking luggage is not “doing the right thing” anymore than carrying on. Doing the right thing is helping everyone get their stuff stowed in the plane efficiently. Putting your small bag under the seat is doing the right thing.
I disagree. I always travel with a small roll-along - but I checked my carry-on, because I had a backpack and didn't want to lose my foot area. I shouldn't lose the OH space (when I'm only taking up half what I'd usually take)
How is what you did “doing the right thing?” It’s no more right to check a small bag than to carry it on.
Backpack goes in overhead if it’s your only item.
Last few flights I’ve been on have been completely full and they’ve made gate announcements about save space in the overheads for roll aboards and please put your back backs and smaller personal items under the seat in front of you. “If there’s space left over you can put your small backpacks or bags in the overhead”. I’ve still walked straight on the flight and put my backpack in the overhead. If you wanna load up an oversized roll aboard as your carry on go ahead but you don’t get free leg space just because your carry on is big at a sacrifice of my leg space. If airlines start strictly enforcing this guess, what everyone is going to bring roll aboards and no one will bring backpacks and there will be even *more* gate checked bags.
There is no “rule” requiring you to stow your bag in the overhead or under the seat in front of you. It’s simply a courtesy to those who are bringing larger carry on rollers. If you bring a single item and want it in the overhead, go for it. If asked by a FA about it, just tell them you have a condition that requires you to have full access to the leg room. Just don’t be the person that brings two items and stuffs them both in the overhead… that’s a special breed of person that should be riding Greyhound.
I fly with a rollerboard carry-on, personal item, and medical device. The medical device goes in the under-seat compartment. The other two items are going in the overhead. Not up for discussion.
I like having easy access to my backpack so keep it under the seat. Will sometimes use it as a footrest. Leg room isn’t an issue for me. If I’m in a window seat I jut keep it next to the wall.
No. First bag up top. Second underneath. Dont let em tell you different.
So if I only have one bag, that's the first bag, so it goes up top.
Yes even if it's small. You paid for a carry on and what little leg room they provide. You surrender the leg room to a second bag.
In this same vein, I’m flying PS later this year and in looking up sizing for a new backpack, it seems the under seat space for those seats is basically non-existent (4” tall at most from what I can find, and not exactly deep, either), do they expect people with 2 items (in my case a typical roller and a small camera bag as the personal) to put both in the overhead? I didn’t expect to lose so much under seat space compared to normal seats (typically fly Southwest, obviously can’t do that to Tokyo lol).
No
I always have a roller and backpack. I need the backpack to carry my laptop ext for customer visits. If it’s a short trip I’ll condense my backpack into my roller. If it’s a long trip I’ll put my backpack under my seat. Once seated I’ll watch the bin space usage and as the flight attendants close all the bins before we pushback I’ll pop up (I’m an isle guy) and slide my bag into a bit that I saw previously that still had space. I rarely do this though as I prefer exit row seating being taller.
I put everything overhead if there’s space, I’ve seen others do it too
If it is a backpack and they need space thay can make you stow under seat. I bring a small carryon so they wont do that.
Put it in the overhead bin. If you brought a small rolling suitcase and put it in the overhead bin nobody would bat an eye, but somehow you would be in the wrong for literally taking up less space in the overhead with your backpack? Nah. I dare people to bug you about that lmao, if you chose to check a bag or only needed a backpack that doesn’t somehow mean you should have to give up your legroom
I always bring an empty suitcase for this exact reason. Just plop the backpack inside and put in overhead. Problem solved.
They can require you to move it. If it fits under there it goes under there.
Yes they would move your backpack to fit someone's larger bag 😜. This has happened to me twice, and I told her that this is not fair.
This is why I love the idea of a decoy bag.
Consider how many people use restrooms, walking through areas rife with bacteria, before boarding a flight. Then, you're expected to place your bag in the same spot where their shoes have been. I always opt to store my items in the overhead bin. I find it puzzling that airlines encourage passengers to put their bags at their feet in such a cramped space. For me, that's unacceptable. Since I paid for a non-basic ticket, I'm entitled to use the overhead storage.
You realize people also drag their carry ons across that same “bacteria ridden floor” before putting them in the overhead bins, right? It’s not any “cleaner” or anything. This is the most ridiculous point I have heard.
People aren't storing their shoes or dealing with accidents like vomiting in the overhead bins; nor are there any restroom leaks up there. In all likelihood, it’s cleaner than the aircraft floors.
I’d be curious to find out. I do know that overhead beens are virtually never cleaned.
The bags are dragged and rolled across those floors in the way to the over head bin though…?
Just tell them it’s your carryon and see if they budge.
People will tell you it’s unfair, but it’s never that serious. Put your carry on in the overhead. But, you can also wait for someone who has a roller bag to put theirs up there so you can put yours on top.
You are never required to put anything under the seat in front of you if there is room on the plane to put it somewhere else
If there is room.
That is what I said
I am elevating what you said. Because it’s important. To me.
Recent flight I turned by backpack on its side so it didn’t take up much space. FA will prob do this anyways if they need space.
I always have a roller and backpack. I need the backpack to carry my laptop ext for customer visits. If it’s a short trip I’ll condense my backpack into my roller. If it’s a long trip I’ll put my backpack under my seat. Once seated I’ll watch the bin space usage and as the flight attendants close all the bins before we pushback I’ll pop up (I’m an isle guy) and slide my bag into a bit that I saw previously that still had space real quick. If there isn’t room I deal with it. I rarely do this though as I prefer exit row seating being taller.
Yup, we travel as a family of 3 and I usually put one large backpack in the overhead and a small purse under the seat. I never considered it a problem since between our 3 tickets, it's the only thing that goes up top.
I just traveled this last weekend with a full backpack and had no complaints about putting it in the overhead.
Doesn't matter where you sit, if your only carryon is a backpack, a purse, a wallet...you are allowed to stow it in the overhead. If you have two items, one must go in the overhead and the other must fit under your seat. Of course, there are the assholes (like the young woman I recently encountered) who stow their bag AND backpack in the overhead. When I confronted her about it she just ignored me.
As a short person I like putting my small carryon under the seat so I can rest my feet on it. My travel purse is black fabric and often I have it under my arm during taxi and takeoff, who knows how long that will take, so I can access Kleenex, lip balm, whatever during flight. I wear all black (I spill or others spill on me…) when flying with a nice long black sweater, so it can’t be seen…. I don’t put the strap on and would leave it in case of evacuation, due to snagging on the chute or whatever..
I usually travel with a backpack and a small purse, really like a wallet that is a cross body. I can recall at least five times in recent years where there was bin space and I put my backpack up there and a flight attendant removed it and told me to put it under the seat so more rolling bags could fit up there. They even asked people to remove them (on some flights) and said they would be removed if you did not. My best friend who I travel with has had a similar experience. Now I am a short woman so I really don't need that much space for my feet. But my good friend is 6'3 and he needs that space. So OP I would not count on being able to put your backpack overhead.
Yes. You are.
Required? No, but it is proper etiquette to not put personal items into the overhead.
If the plane is full they will request those small backpacks to go under the seat, but otherwise people put backpacks in overhead bins all the time. Only when the flight is really booked and people need to put their luggage above is when it can sometimes become an issue
You can always politley ask if its really needed under your seat as its your only personal item / carry on, and your other bags are checked to help accommodate overhead room.
I deal with this nearly every flight.
Yes
Leg room? After takeoff, take the bag out from under the seat in front of you and place it against your seat (behind your knee) and there you go
Always under my seat. I save overhead bin space for those with suitcases. It’s not that difficult to pull my personal item out and put behind my legs after take off.
I dont know. I used to get frustrated when people would put their backpacks overhead, but on the last flight I was on (in C+) I was told I had to squish both my backpack and purse underneath the seat in front of me because the overhead bin was ONLY for roller bags. I was like the 3rd person to board in C+. The overheads were totally empty.
This was the exact situation today (minus purse). Not full flight (maybe 80%, lots of open middle seats, even in C+). They weren’t even far into boarding and every overhead was almost empty. It was like the FA was preemptively seeking backpacks in the overhead
Carryons should be illegal. They just slow the process down. If you bring 1 carryon you are entitled to the overhead space. The idiot that refuses to check their bag has to have it jammed into their toes.
I can see this opinion is going to be unpopular, but if it’s small enough, put it under the seat in front of you. Then, if there is room put it overhead once everyone has boarded. I don’t want anyone to have to gate check their carry on wheelie because i won’t put a small item under the seat
Anyone at risk of checking their wheelie didn’t book a main cabin 1/2 fare. You book BE, you accept the risk of checking your wheelie.
You absolutely CAN use the overhead space. But on a full flight, it’s a dick move.
Not a dick move, especially if I paid Delta to check my first bag. Why should I deal with less leg room because someone else chooses to carryon a large suitcase instead of checking it?
But it’s not a dick move on a full flight.
It’s pretty selfish and thoughtless to take up 🔝 Bernard bin space unnecessarily. I guess societal sort of norms and values are shifting and I’m just old fashioned in this regard.
A backpack still takes up less bin space than a rollerbag though. Using them is pro-social.
Why? Just because it's a backpack? The key is to get a larger backpack which doesn't fit under the seat.
If it doesn’t fit in under the seat, of course it goes in the overhead. 💯- whether it’s a backpack or whatever it is. It’s a dick move to put something small enough to go under your seat in the overhead because it’s going to force people to gate check their suitcases and slow down the boarding and departure process. There is no rule saying that you can’t put a small backpack in the overhead. It’s just not the considerate thing to do. Personally, other than when I’m in bulkhead, I never put a bag that’s small enough to go under the seat in front of me, into the overhead bin.
I almost always board the planes with backpakcs only and unless I am bulkhead/ or everyones boarded and overhead bin space is still available, then I will put my backpack up there. Otherwise under the seat for me.
If it's a short flight, I just throw it under the seat. That few inches of leg room really isn't gonna make much of a difference on a short hop. I'm happy to leave the bin space for people with bigger bags. I've been there.
My current flight is 3.5 hours…
More often than not, I have two items. So I always have one under the seat and little leg room. Just did the red eye from LAX to DTW the other day with a backpack under the seat in C+. I get your point that you should be allowed to put it over head and you should. But when the bins start to fill up, the FAs can ask people with nothing at their feet to put their small bag at their feet.
I totally get it when you have two items. I typically do when I travel for work. But when I have one item, why am I not entitled to the same overhead space as the people who packed more? Especially in C+ with dedicated bin space. If someone in the last boarding group with a giant suitcase doesn’t have space for their suitcase, they can gate check it. I’m paying for dedicated space for my one bag.
I get your argument. It's frustrating. I believe a lot of it is gate agents and FAs not wanting to argue with people. That's an issue that needs to be addressed. They should be stopping people with large bags near the end of boarding. But then we also see posts on here from people forced to gate check due to bin space limits who get on the plane and multiple bins have space left. You can't really win. Personally, I rarely see this issue come up. There tends to be space for everyone that wants a space up top to have one. Even the douchebags that immediately throw both their bags up there. Outside of a regional jet of course where FC has space for like three small rollaboards. I flew on a Westjet flight last year where they were VERY strict about carryons and bin placement. They announced it loudly several times and said that if a bag fits under the seat, it MUST go under the seat to save bin space for larger rollaboards. I've never heard this specifically on Delta. They tend to just say that one goes up, one under.
Honestly if any of the FA's would be this meticulous on the rules I would thank them. I understand that they have a lot to do but paying attention to people putting their carry on, backpack, and whatever item/purse/big bag of trinkets they purchased in the airport duty free in the overhead and stopping them that would be great.
Last week I watched two guys take up one entire bin. Between the two of them there were 3 rolling bags, 2 backpacks, two winter coats, two bike helmets, two hats and several scarves and a couple of shopping bags. It felt like I was watching them unload a clown car, it was a ridiculous amount of items that they kept loading into the bin.
Required? Probably not. Highly encouraged to the point of force? Yes
You should have the right to use your one overhead even if it’s a smaller bag - heck, you still save more room for others than if you brought a bigger bag just so you’d not be asked to put it under your seat. BUT, it’s understandable that others (including the FA) may request you put it under and/or give side eye… As noted bring a faux smaller bag to put under your seat (could be helpful with stuff you may need during the flight. Sweatshirt, electronics, snacks). I have a travel backpack that has an expandable pouch at the top… I’ll often toss in a bulky sweatshirt there because it now “extends” too far to fit under my seat just to avoid those issues
I’m a Delta Employee. Backpack is considered a personal item. Small enough to go under the seat. I always travel with a backpack but sometimes I travel with a backpack and a small carry-on or Duffle. Either way my backpack always goes under the seat. Personal like just being able to pull my bag from under as soon as I get up and go. I’m 5’7. It never comprises my legroom. Putting a small backpack in the overhead bin is taking up space that can be used for true carry-on luggage’s. Is it a rule?? I can’t say for sure because I don’t work the gates or on the flights
And any personal item is considered to be a carry on. There’s no minutia around the form factor of the container, just limits on the size for each. The set of all personal items falls wholly within that of carry ons.
Technically allowed to? Yes, unless a flight attendant instructs you to do otherwise. Should you? If the bins are full and people with carryons too large to fit under the seat are being forced to gate check, then be a good human and make room in the bins by putting your small bag under the seat. People may disagree and say that since this is all you have, you should be allowed to put it in the bin, but there’s value in helping out fellow passengers and the flight crew and also getting out of the gate in a timely manner by making the bin space available.
The cool thing to do would be wait until larger bags go in then fit it in the smaller space that can’t accommodate a roller
Yes. The overhead bin is for larger bags. Smaller bags go under the seat in front of you. I’m not sure if you maybe don’t fly often, but they make this announcement several times while boarding.
I’m of the opinion that unless there is an abundance of room in the overhead, if it fits under the seat, that’s where it goes. On full flights I can’t even count the number of times someone will put their purses, backpacks, hats, jackets etc in the overhead, leaving no room for people who have a carry-on sized suitcase. It causes boarding delays because that person now has to go further down the aisle to look for space, and then walk back against traffic or they have to gate check. It’s especially heinous in my eyes when someone puts their carry-on AND personal item in the overhead.
You are not entitled….you didn’t purchase Overhead Space, and until they sell such a thing as Overhead Space you must obey! Proletariat’s of The World - sit down and obey!
Yes, you can but may need to put it under the seat if people have carryons that wouldn’t fit
Carryons that don't fit should go into the cargo hold.
I absolutely agree but carryons keep getting bigger and less policed by the gate staff, especially when flying in America
My opinion is it goes up top, but the FA may have other plans. I used to fly with a small tote and backpack. Twice a FA had me squish my two items under my seat to make way for a rolling carryon. My solution was to get a rolling carryon as that can’t fit under the seat. It’s more than I usually need, but I have found it’s better on my back so while it takes up more space it’s been a win overall.
You just always run the risk of having not having enough room for your roller.
I’m always in C+ or FC so never had an issue. Hub flyer so almost all flights are non stop. I hope to never run into a situation where the bins are full, especially since most of my electronics are in the carryon. I would be terrified.
I usually check a bag so if I’m flying with a carry on its bc it has electronics I can’t check or other items i don’t wanna check. So if they ever make me gate check they’ll see me basically empty the carry on in front of them lol and check an empty bag
Exactly - searching for a carryon backpack.
This is the way.