The Importance of Overhead Bin Space on Flights
Passengers often go to great lengths to secure an aisle seat on an airplane, but travel experts suggest that the true battle is for overhead bin space. With flights frequently full, finding a spot for your carry-on bag can be a challenge. Here are some strategies recommended by professionals to ensure you have a place for your luggage.
Priority Boarding: A Smart Investment
One of the most effective ways to secure overhead bin space is to opt for priority boarding. If you’re in the last boarding zone, the chances of finding available space are slim. However, this might not always be a bad thing, especially if you have a short layover. In such cases, checking your carry-on bag directly to your final destination could save time and avoid potential issues with overhead bin availability.
For those with longer layovers, checking your carry-on might also be beneficial. It eliminates the hassle of carrying your bag through multiple airports and reduces the risk of another flight running out of space. Plus, when a gate agent checks your carry-on, it’s typically free.
Despite these benefits, many travelers prefer to keep their carry-on in the cabin for easy access. If you have a tight layover or want to avoid the chaos of baggage claim, paying for priority boarding might be worth the expense. According to Henry Harteveldt, founder of Atmosphere Research Group, “priority boarding is basically the race to get our carry-on suitcase in the overhead bins.”
Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet, agrees, stating, “If overhead space is important to you, you do need to pay for priority boarding.” The cost varies by airline and flight duration. Some options include:
- Southwest: EarlyBird check-in starts at $15 one way per passenger.
- United: Priority Boarding starts at $24 per passenger.
- American: Priority Boarding starts at $9 per passenger.
- Delta: Available only for top-tier loyalty passengers.
- JetBlue: Priority Security starts at $20 one way per passenger.
Boosting Your Boarding Zone
Another way to improve your chances of securing overhead bin space is by applying for a travel credit card. These cards often come with additional perks and can help accelerate your elite status, which moves you up in the boarding queue.
Tips from Flight Attendants
Flight attendants offer valuable advice for managing carry-on bags effectively. If you’re among the first to board and don’t have a carry-on suitcase, they recommend keeping personal items like jackets and purses at your feet until everyone is seated. This helps prevent overcrowding in the overhead bins.
Karina Kay, a flight attendant based in Las Vegas, explains, “So many passengers place all of their belongings in the overhead just to free up the area at their feet for legroom, and that creates an overhead space issue.” She advises holding onto personal items until boarding is complete to allow others with larger carry-ons to place their bags first.
If you’re one of the last passengers to board and there’s empty overhead bin space in the premium economy cabin, ask a flight attendant if it’s okay to stow your carry-on, even if you have a main cabin ticket. Ingrid Imperiale, a Los-Angeles-based flight attendant, notes, “An open spot is an open spot, especially at the end of the boarding process.”
Lastly, try to use the overhead bin space near your seat. If a flight attendant needs to move or relocate a bag, it makes the process easier for everyone involved.
