In an effort to make the boarding process more effective, airlines have been focusing on the "two carry-on items" rule. They are also enforcing the size of the carry on bags and for all this, I applaud them! As a business traveler, it drives me crazy to see someone trying to get on a plane with a bag one of children could fit in and calling it a carry on! So, here is my effort to help the airlines out:
1 - Two items, is two items. I don't care if you stuff fourteen small bags into two appropriate sized bag, but two is all you get! The other day, I walked on a plane following a woman with two bags and when she left, she had four. I had to make sure she didn't steal one of mine, but whatever...she made it work and she was the one that looked like a pack mule leaving the plane, but she knew and followed the rules!
2 - One item is intended to go in the space above your head, the other, in the seat in front of you. Everyone who reads my blog knows that I am fan of bulkhead, so there are times I have to put two items up, but the trained flight attendant has planned for that. Anyone NOT in exit row should follow the rules and have one bag in each location. If they don't fit that way, they are not appropriately sized.
3 - Companies like Airbus and Boeing are making overhead storage more effective and I love that. However, that doesn't mean a bag large enough for my child is going to fit. Yesterday, I watched as a man tried to get a bag into an overhead bin and no matter how he tried, he couldn't. Then, he tried to move my bag so he could put it in sideways. I considered it until I realized he intended to move my bag (appropriately sized by the way) four rows back. That would have made de-planing loads of fun!
4 - This leads to my last comment, someone has to stop the person sitting in row 34, from placing their bag in the bin at row 12. You all have seen the person toss their bag in the first opening and keep walking to their seat twenty rows back. Dude, take you bag with you because the person in row 12, has to have a place for theirs as well.
As corporate travelers getting into a busy season of people who don't travel all that often, let's remember to be forgiving, be patient and be kind. AND, when you see an airline agent trying to get someone to follow the rules, stick up for them! Tell them how much you appreciate their consistency and their ability to protect the coveted space available to all passengers. This is not a glorious time of year for anyone who works at the airport. There are emotions, families, dreams of the perfect holidays, etc. So, be there for the gate agent, for the flight crew and show your support with a simple smile and thank you. In the end, we will all keep going!
1 - Two items, is two items. I don't care if you stuff fourteen small bags into two appropriate sized bag, but two is all you get! The other day, I walked on a plane following a woman with two bags and when she left, she had four. I had to make sure she didn't steal one of mine, but whatever...she made it work and she was the one that looked like a pack mule leaving the plane, but she knew and followed the rules!
2 - One item is intended to go in the space above your head, the other, in the seat in front of you. Everyone who reads my blog knows that I am fan of bulkhead, so there are times I have to put two items up, but the trained flight attendant has planned for that. Anyone NOT in exit row should follow the rules and have one bag in each location. If they don't fit that way, they are not appropriately sized.
3 - Companies like Airbus and Boeing are making overhead storage more effective and I love that. However, that doesn't mean a bag large enough for my child is going to fit. Yesterday, I watched as a man tried to get a bag into an overhead bin and no matter how he tried, he couldn't. Then, he tried to move my bag so he could put it in sideways. I considered it until I realized he intended to move my bag (appropriately sized by the way) four rows back. That would have made de-planing loads of fun!
4 - This leads to my last comment, someone has to stop the person sitting in row 34, from placing their bag in the bin at row 12. You all have seen the person toss their bag in the first opening and keep walking to their seat twenty rows back. Dude, take you bag with you because the person in row 12, has to have a place for theirs as well.
As corporate travelers getting into a busy season of people who don't travel all that often, let's remember to be forgiving, be patient and be kind. AND, when you see an airline agent trying to get someone to follow the rules, stick up for them! Tell them how much you appreciate their consistency and their ability to protect the coveted space available to all passengers. This is not a glorious time of year for anyone who works at the airport. There are emotions, families, dreams of the perfect holidays, etc. So, be there for the gate agent, for the flight crew and show your support with a simple smile and thank you. In the end, we will all keep going!
