On a flight early this morning, I heard the guy boarding in front of me make a rather odd comment to someone else — “you took my overhead bin space, but that’s okay.” I wanted to discuss that in a bit more detail in this post, and talk about overhead bin etiquette.
In this post:
Proper airplane overhead bin etiquette
Overhead bins are an important space on airplanes, especially for those who swear by only traveling with carry-ons, and who want to avoid gate checking bags. Fortunately overhead bins are getting bigger on many airplanes, but then again, so are peoples’ carry-ons.
So, who has “control” of overhead bins — are the bins associated with the seats underneath them, or is it a free-for-all? Well, the answer is definitely the latter, with a few caveats. Here’s what I consider the correct etiquette to be for using overhead bins:
- You should always store your carry-on bags in the overhead bins in the cabin you’re traveling in, unless a crew member instructs otherwise
- You should place your carry-on bags as close to your seat as possible, and ideally not too far behind your seat, since that can make for a challenging situation during deplaning
- You shouldn’t store more than one thing in the overhead bin, and if you have a personal item, you should place it underneath the seat in front of you, so that those with larger carry-on bags will have space for their bags
- You absolutely have no special “rights” to the overhead bin space immediately above or near your seat; after all, others may need to store their bags in “your” space, given that crew bags may be in some overhead bins, sometimes there’s emergency equipment in other overhead bins, etc.
So while it’s of course frustrating when you board a plane and can’t find overhead bin space anywhere close to your seat, ultimately that’s not anyone’s fault, and there’s nothing that can be done. Typically no one is being malicious with where they place their belongings, but is just trying to get to their destination.
Some may disagree with this, but I think there’s nothing wrong with rearranging bags a bit to make room for your bag, assuming the bin just isn’t being used efficiently. You should of course be careful and respectful with peoples’ belongings, and should ask before moving a bag to a different bin. But if someone has a bag that’s stored very inefficiently, I think you’re fine to flip it around, or whatever.
The aspect of overhead bins that frustrates me
Personally what frustrates me most about the use of overhead bins isn’t the behavior of passengers, but rather how I feel like many airlines create chaos with how they approach the boarding process, and the need to gate check bags.
The issue is, I find that gate agents often fall into one of two extreme camps:
- Some gate agents completely fail to enforce carry-on limits, and will let people on with just about anything; on a flight I took this morning, two people in front of me each had three substantial bags, and the gate agent didn’t say anything
- Other gate agents create total panic, warning people that dozens of bags will need to be checked, and this often creates boarding chaos, whereby everyone tries to crowd the gate in hopes of getting on the plane earlier
Then you have what happens once onboard the plane. Sometimes you’ll find that crews start requiring passengers to gate check bags way earlier than necessary, so people are checking bags even when there’s still significant overhead bin space available.
If airlines have large overhead bins and are correctly enforcing their carry-on restrictions, then gate checking bags really shouldn’t be a major thing, in my opinion. It’s just amazing to contrast how much of an issue this is in the United States vs. Japan, for example. Then again, that contrast exists in so many aspects of our society…
Bottom line
Airplane overhead bins are a shared space in every way, and you’re not entitled to the space above your seat. Now, you should store your bag as close to your seat as possible, and in the cabin you’re traveling in, and you should place personal items underneath the seat in front of you. But beyond that, it’s all fair game, and no one should think they’re entitled to any specific area of the overhead bin.
Where do you stand on airplane overhead bin etiquette?
While I understand that those who have brought a rollaboard *and* a backpack should not put their backpack in the bin, I find it unfair if I am asked to take my backpack out when I don't have any other bag. I intentionally pack less to avoid bringing a rollaboard and thereby give myself more leg room--I shouldn't have to give that up to benefit others who did not pack as frugally.
I think a bigger point of controversy is if someone checks their carry on intentionally so they can put their backpack in the overhead bin and have foot room - more and more I hear FA saying all personal items under the seat. Should this person be allowed to put a backpack up since they didn’t have a carry on? How do you know which backpacks belong to those with only a backpack?
My carry-on is typically a small daypack, and I don't think I should have to place it at my feet to make room for other people's larger items overhead.
And I wouldn't say this whole thing is nobody's fault. Restrictions since 9/11 have meant there are more items that we're prohibited from carrying on, which has led to more checked bags.
Airlines pay tax on the cost of a ticket, but not on the checked-bag...
My carry-on is typically a small daypack, and I don't think I should have to place it at my feet to make room for other people's larger items overhead.
And I wouldn't say this whole thing is nobody's fault. Restrictions since 9/11 have meant there are more items that we're prohibited from carrying on, which has led to more checked bags.
Airlines pay tax on the cost of a ticket, but not on the checked-bag fee, which makes it more profitable for them to charge less for the ticket and more for the bag. So they've started charging more to check a bag, which encourages people to carry on everything they can.
Some levity.
Years ago on my flights from Asia, not only did they take their shoes off, they also cut their toe nails during the flight.
I must think by now, that has been outlawed. I hope so.
IMHO, this is only an issue because too many passengers are too cheap to check their bags. Amen.
No, it's a result of the USA Hub airline model where people are trying to make short connections and not trusting their bags to get delivered to the carousel in time. Or you're flying into Gate 4 and out of Gate 6 just 45 minutes from now and going all the way to the carousel & back is stupid.
This applies to Europe as well, and it is particularly risky with some non-mainline destinations. Two times on a row LH forced me to gate check my perfectly compliant roller bag in PRG and the two times they managed to miss their connection in FRA.
LH could have routed the bags FRA-MAD in LH and MAD-OVD in IB, but that would that would costed them money. As they only fly to OVD every two or...
This applies to Europe as well, and it is particularly risky with some non-mainline destinations. Two times on a row LH forced me to gate check my perfectly compliant roller bag in PRG and the two times they managed to miss their connection in FRA.
LH could have routed the bags FRA-MAD in LH and MAD-OVD in IB, but that would that would costed them money. As they only fly to OVD every two or three days, you are out of luck until LH gracefully decides to put the bags in their own metal.
It is already bad to have your 60min flight being extended by security checks, traffic going to the airport and airline&ATC delays, but those are out of our control.
Having recently waited 90min for my bag to come out of the carousel in PRG (the airport has had horrible bag issues this Summer, even with firefighters moonlighting as baggage handlers due to the lack of personnel), I want that one thing that I can...
It is already bad to have your 60min flight being extended by security checks, traffic going to the airport and airline&ATC delays, but those are out of our control.
Having recently waited 90min for my bag to come out of the carousel in PRG (the airport has had horrible bag issues this Summer, even with firefighters moonlighting as baggage handlers due to the lack of personnel), I want that one thing that I can control, have my bag next to me in the plane and be on my way as soon as the door opens.
I always have a checked bag, and only carry on a backpack that fits under the seat in front of me. I always put it above me and let the FA know I'll gladly put in under the seat if the space is needed. In part, that's to discourage the Y folks from using the F space.
I only fly Y in Australia. The F premium is too much for the length of these flights. There is never a gate checking/can't find an bin issue on their flights.
Lol I just had this issue last month. Someone put his luggage in the bin above me so I didn't have enough space for a small backpack so I put it in the bin across from me. This is in business class, 1-2-1 config. Well, the LA trashy dude and his wife deformed by plastic surgery didn't like that. Mind you the backpack took up less than 15% of the bin and he also had...
Lol I just had this issue last month. Someone put his luggage in the bin above me so I didn't have enough space for a small backpack so I put it in the bin across from me. This is in business class, 1-2-1 config. Well, the LA trashy dude and his wife deformed by plastic surgery didn't like that. Mind you the backpack took up less than 15% of the bin and he also had a small bag. The was still room for a pony for god sake. He took my bag and just tossed it on the floor and said to me 3b that's mine. I didn't want to end up in a YouTube video doing hand to hand combat with trash. However, this was an international flight returning to the usa and at one point he left his bag on his chair and I was Ever so tempted to toss an orange in there and watch him go through custom. But I said, nah I had a good trip don't need trash to bring me down. Sometimes I like to help karma along.
While you were certainly in the right as to where you placed your backpack, and I certainly hope you stood your ground, I question how you colorfully describe the obviously awful couple who were so vile to you.
His actions warranted a FA involvement, to possibly nip in the bud any further inappropriate behavior.
If this was a US based airline, a crew member could have easily 'felt uncomfortable' having these troublemakers on...
While you were certainly in the right as to where you placed your backpack, and I certainly hope you stood your ground, I question how you colorfully describe the obviously awful couple who were so vile to you.
His actions warranted a FA involvement, to possibly nip in the bud any further inappropriate behavior.
If this was a US based airline, a crew member could have easily 'felt uncomfortable' having these troublemakers on board and had them kicked off the flight.
Express karma? lol.
On a flight from MUC to VIE earlier this year we encountered a very entitled passenger who pulled my wife's duffel bag out of the overhead bin (the bin right above our seats) and put our duffel a row back behind us, proclaiming that only "real" carry-on suitcases are allowed up there but not soft bags like duffels. He proceeded to put his bag into the space previously occupied by our duffel. The flight attendant...
On a flight from MUC to VIE earlier this year we encountered a very entitled passenger who pulled my wife's duffel bag out of the overhead bin (the bin right above our seats) and put our duffel a row back behind us, proclaiming that only "real" carry-on suitcases are allowed up there but not soft bags like duffels. He proceeded to put his bag into the space previously occupied by our duffel. The flight attendant put our bag back to where it came from and found him another spot but didn't say much more. Some unbelievably entitled people on airplanes!
I check my roller and put my back pack in the bin.
If i have to start putting my backpack under my seat, I'll stop checking the roller and put it in the overhead.
A couple boarding before me had the seats behind me and put their bags above my seat; the bins above their seats were empty. I asked them why they did it, they said just put your bag above the row in front of you. I said, but then they won't have their bin space, can you just move your bags to the bin above you. He grumbled but did. I know that nobody owns the...
A couple boarding before me had the seats behind me and put their bags above my seat; the bins above their seats were empty. I asked them why they did it, they said just put your bag above the row in front of you. I said, but then they won't have their bin space, can you just move your bags to the bin above you. He grumbled but did. I know that nobody owns the bin space, but common courtesy should count for something.
BTW, I have a friend who is generally very polite, but always puts both his carryon and his underseat bag in the overhead bin because he's tall. So entitled.
I was flying NRT-LAX on Singapore in Business in a bulkhead row window recently where the only bins are along the window seats, and the passengers in the center section had boarded first (with a child) and took up the whole bin above my seat. I needed to put my (reasonably sized) carry-on bag up there too of course but didn't yet know who these bags belonged to. The bins behind me were also full....
I was flying NRT-LAX on Singapore in Business in a bulkhead row window recently where the only bins are along the window seats, and the passengers in the center section had boarded first (with a child) and took up the whole bin above my seat. I needed to put my (reasonably sized) carry-on bag up there too of course but didn't yet know who these bags belonged to. The bins behind me were also full. Anyways - this lady (also American, like me) gave me so much attitude for daring to shift her inefficiently loaded bags (I moved them respectfully to one side of the bin).
I wish airlines would stop leaving out the center section of bins for "spaciousness". It just creates stress - especially in a premium cabin where there should be plenty of overhead bin space available.
Common courtesy is to put your carry-on above your immediate seating area, if available.
As Ben said, politely inform a passenger if you have to adjust their bag, but never move it to a different compartment; only the FA should do that.
Never crush another person's belongings.
I never have carry-on rollers, and will only put my backpack up if there's space. My habit with my backpack it to put it under the seat...
Common courtesy is to put your carry-on above your immediate seating area, if available.
As Ben said, politely inform a passenger if you have to adjust their bag, but never move it to a different compartment; only the FA should do that.
Never crush another person's belongings.
I never have carry-on rollers, and will only put my backpack up if there's space. My habit with my backpack it to put it under the seat in front, and then after take-off I slip it under my knees so I can use the space to stretch out my legs...sometimes it actually provides leg support (depending what I have in the backpack.
Generally none of this an issue if I'm flying up front!
Happy travels!
Just my opinion, but just 1/3 of the bin should be enough for one passenger. It'd really depend on how you orient your carry-on whether flat or on its side; I've noticed that passengers tend to lay their bags flat than on its side which tends to take up space.
Since we're talking about overhead bins, should more airlines have omitted the centre bins on the A350 in Business and up? It does open up...
Just my opinion, but just 1/3 of the bin should be enough for one passenger. It'd really depend on how you orient your carry-on whether flat or on its side; I've noticed that passengers tend to lay their bags flat than on its side which tends to take up space.
Since we're talking about overhead bins, should more airlines have omitted the centre bins on the A350 in Business and up? It does open up the cabin and make it appear bigger and more airy.
The bins on the A330/340 just seem really tight in my opinion.
praying for common sense to return to the once great US of A.
I'm waiting for the post outlining the tipping etiquette for overhead bins.
I took an EK flight a few months ago, and the family next to us went out of their way to put their shoes in the overhead bin above us, and walk around the cabin barefoot. Amazing.
Have had a similar experience when a passenger took off his shoes and put them ON TOP of my carry-on! Absolutely no way that's acceptable. Asked a FA to solve the problem; he told the barefoot moron to either put the shoes under the seat in front or better still, wear them.
For context, this was in Business Class on a non-US airline.
I find people on UA flights in domestic first get a little unhinged. Everyone wants to put their personal item in the bin, so the bin space always fills up. Everyone is 1K too from SFO, so there’s all this jockeying for position to pre board.
As a result, I prefer E+ to avoid bin space knife fight. People are mostly better in back, but you still run into some characters that freak out if you touch their backpack to rearrange it within the same bin
A frustration I have is a lot of newer planes like the A320neo have much larger overhead bins that can store luggage horizontally and laterally on its side with the top pull handle face facing out of the opening. Most people don't understand this and I've almost never heard crew clarify this with announcements. This means there is a lot of storing of hand luggage inefficiently and taking up more space than needs to be...
A frustration I have is a lot of newer planes like the A320neo have much larger overhead bins that can store luggage horizontally and laterally on its side with the top pull handle face facing out of the opening. Most people don't understand this and I've almost never heard crew clarify this with announcements. This means there is a lot of storing of hand luggage inefficiently and taking up more space than needs to be which means others can't store their hand luggage.
I don't think 'close to seat' is necessary.
People putting them into an open bin on the way to their seat when that area is wide open and avoiding jam ups with other people is very efficient for the boarding process.
Not really. Like someone else already mentioned, if those sat towards the back of the plane decided to put their bags in the front bins, those sat at the front would have to put their bags further back, making the entire disembarking much less efficient
What a US problem! People with no manners, no etiquette and of course a system broken by government deregulation. This never happens in Europe, well a bit on Easyjet - but then you are not really paying anything for €9,99 for a 2-3 hour flight. We have here a whinger about major US airlines I assume by the city pair and time of day, complaining about traveling in economy. Fly first or suck it up!
You keep writing these etiquette guides as if most passengers care about their fellow passengers.
Chris W, one accepts that most who read some of Ben’s articles are seasoned travellers. However, as every day is a school day, most of us can learn something new from reading them. As for your “Etiquette guides” comment, it is my belief that those “Fellow passengers” whom I travel with do actually have genuine concerns for their fellow passengers too.
Ben, please do not be offended or put off from writing etiquette guides as...
Chris W, one accepts that most who read some of Ben’s articles are seasoned travellers. However, as every day is a school day, most of us can learn something new from reading them. As for your “Etiquette guides” comment, it is my belief that those “Fellow passengers” whom I travel with do actually have genuine concerns for their fellow passengers too.
Ben, please do not be offended or put off from writing etiquette guides as I am sure some people might learn something from your experience.
Not saying that I agree with him suggesting that Ben is writing those posts is pointless, but he's kinda right, the people who need to see this post the most would either never bother to or don't even know about the existence of OMAAT.
I'm sure Ben follows these blogs here with the same message on his Tiktok account to reach the other audience..
I don't face a lot of problems with overhead bins while flying, even on an economy class. I'm sure that it's because I usually put my backpack in the storage compartment on the seats, and only the suitcase (if I'm carrying one) into the overhead bin.
But I'd love to see more planes offering expanded overhead bins (such as Airbus XL lockers on A320neos and A330neos). It's just I don't think it's a problem...
I don't face a lot of problems with overhead bins while flying, even on an economy class. I'm sure that it's because I usually put my backpack in the storage compartment on the seats, and only the suitcase (if I'm carrying one) into the overhead bin.
But I'd love to see more planes offering expanded overhead bins (such as Airbus XL lockers on A320neos and A330neos). It's just I don't think it's a problem that needs to be fixed ASAP, but the overhead bin situations in an economy class aren't exactly great now.
By the way, although it might because I mainly fly within Asia, I didn't realise that gate agents are that sensitive about the cabin luggages you bring on board... I've been on couple of fully-booked flights but I've only seen that happening a handful of times.
I think we can all agree there are 2 real problems, (1) those who put their bags in the overhead space at the front of the plane and then walk to their seat in row 45 and (2) those who put tiny purses and backpacks in the overhead bins when they fit perfectly under the seat in front of them. This causes the bins to fill up and the last passengers to board end up having to gate check their bags.
My wife and I check our bags and carry 2 small backpacks (that combined take up less space than 1 roller). My small backpack is just as entitled to the overhead space so that my feet have room under the seat in front of me for 6 hours.
Agreed shared space but F and MCE on AA are suppposed to be reserved for those seats. Signs inside the bins are generally ignored. People headed to back will but their stuff in F, and people completely ignore the MCE reserved space. And the FA generally don't enforce it.
Since I always check my luggage I put anything I want into the overhead bin. Next if an economy passenger puts a bag into F class I give it to the gate agent for door tag and throw away the receipt.
Sure you do.
Everyone must really like you. You must have a lot of friends.
While I agree with most of your points, the only one I generally don't adhere to is placing it above your seat. I generally prefer to stow my bag as close to my seat or slightly ahead but at the opposite aisle, that way my bag is more visible to me at all points.
Since I'm not someone that stands up and grabs their bags as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off, I'm...
While I agree with most of your points, the only one I generally don't adhere to is placing it above your seat. I generally prefer to stow my bag as close to my seat or slightly ahead but at the opposite aisle, that way my bag is more visible to me at all points.
Since I'm not someone that stands up and grabs their bags as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off, I'm honestly glad I do this because when travelling with a generic black carry-on/backpack, I have had instances of people mixing it up and actually grabbing mine.
If it were right above my seat, it would be tougher for me to see what's going on with my bag and I most likely wouldn't notice until it's time for me to get it, by which point the entire situation becomes a mess.
The worst I have ever seen on all my trips is any African destination, i.e. on a B737 the first 20 passengers are capable of using all of the bins. But of course the problem here are the Gate Agents.
I like the way Delta has signs within the bins in domestic first that actually say "Reserved for First Class" or something to that effect. It lowers tensions for first class passengers (at least this one) when boarding.