Overstuffed & Oversized Bags

August 19, 2009

in Flying Hell Commentary

When did it become an unwritten law that “thou shalt cram all your stuff into carry-on baggage so thou mayest avoid checking luggage?”

On most busy flights, attendants do not have time to make sure every passenger conforms to the size and weight limits for carry-on baggage. So the overhead compartments get full fast. It is common to see passengers shoving, punching, squeezing and forcing obviously oversized bags into the compartments and under the seats.

This is so inconsiderate to other passengers, who have to wait while you wrestle with your overstuffed baggage — boarding and unboarding. I have been forced to carry my stuff in my lap because everyone else carried on too much stuff and filled up all the compartments.

Surely there are washing machines where you’re going! Do you really need all those outfits? Then break down and check the bag, for pete’s sake! It won’t kill ya to go to baggage claim, but it is annoying to the rest of us when you selfishly break the rules.

And one other thing: A “personal item” doesn’t mean yet another overstuffed bag — it means a purse or brief case…

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

SAW August 20, 2009 at 6:05 am

This problem has reached a peak because the airlines felt it neccesary to now charge $20/bag and $50-100 if that bag happens to weigh an ounce more than 50lbs.

Couple this with the fact that your luggage gets lost on one of every four flights, and it's no wonder we try to fit everything into carry-ons.

Don't look to the passengers to change this – look to the airlines to promote policies that make checking baggage safe, efficient, and cost-effective.

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GottaLoveIt August 20, 2009 at 4:32 pm

I can see where you're coming from, and it's annoying, but I can understand why people do this. I hate checking anything. I only check things I would be ok with losing forever, and I think I'm perfectly justified in feeling this way because of the way flying is. I just moved across the country and my carry ons were filled with video games and electronics because they're just too expensive to check and I value them too much to lose. (Not to mention I need them for my job.) Sure, my carry on luggage was much bigger and heavier than it should have been, but I'd rather be an inconvenience than lose my stuff.

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SAW August 21, 2009 at 9:46 am

Wait… you NEED video games for your JOB?

Is your company hiring? I want in!

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The Alchemist August 24, 2009 at 8:50 am

There is a simple solution that the airlines could easily impose. Require anyone not in a wheelchair to carry their carry-on bags onto the plane. That would eliminate those large rolling monstrosities that some people pass off as carry-on bags.

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Hugh August 25, 2009 at 1:03 am

This is one of my biggest pet peeves, and one of the reasons it takes so long to board and unboard a plane. However, since the airlines started charging for even the first bag, I completely understand why it is happening. It still pisses me off, but I'm a bit more understanding. I wish they would at leats limit the number of the bags…I see some people with 2, 3, or even 4 "carry on" items being stowed…I end up with a small briefcase style laptop bag that often won't fit in the over head bin because some lackwit has several bags (usually oriented sideways in the leats efficient use of space possible), and all their coats crammed in the bin.

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MikeyC August 25, 2009 at 1:53 pm

I traveled for work from 2001-2006. Because of my job and the trip lengths I, for the most part, checked in luggage. Especially so after 9/11. So all I had was a back pack that easily went under the seat in front. But I always thought they should mark off and label a space for the specific seat number. This would also keep the people who sit in the back from putting their luggage up front. Which sucks for people in the first row of coach who can't even put their luggage under a seat.

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