I’m taking an unpopular stand, but hear me out…
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced this week new shrinking guidelines for carry-on luggage.
If it’s intended for the overhead bins, in the not too distant future carry ons cannot measure more than the newly downsized dimensions of 21.5″ x 13.5″ x 7.5″.
Why am I in favor of this proposal by IATA to its member airlines?
Because I’m sick and tired of some dude ahead of me trying to cram his oversized piece of luggage into the overhead. He pushes and shoves and it still doesn’t fit. Finally a flight attendant has to come to his aid to turn the carry-on just right so they can close the compartment.
Meanwhile people trying to board are stuck waiting in the aisle behind the space hog.
On top of that space hog’s large piece that he should have checked now has taken over the majority of the overhead’s available space.
Leaving less space for your and my carry-ons!
And now that I am on a roll, I’ll tell you what REALLY pisses me off!
It’s the jerk whose assigned seat is at the back of the aircraft but stows his carry-on immediately on boarding in the FRONT of the plane.
I wish someone else would walk off the plane with his stuff at the end of the flight BEFORE Mr. Jerk can get to it.
Let’s do a little arithmetic.
Say the aircraft seats 150 passengers, with 130 of them having brought a carry-ons.
Now let’s suppose that 80 of those carry-ons in the overhead bins were over sized based on the newly recommended guidelines.
With the NEW size standards there could be available space for possibly 15 to 20 additional bags in the bins—not to mention a smoother boarding process.
Ok, so my math may be a bit fuzzy. You get the picture.
Because less stress in a stressful environment is a good thing.
This wasn’t a huge problem until the airlines started jacking people for checked baggage. I fly quite often and it’s not a problem on Southwest’s flights, where the first two checked bags are free.
The airlines have already downsized the seat and leg room in an effort to pack in more, making an evacuation wishful thinking. If the plane has to be evacuated, say in what the stewardess talks about at the beginning of every flight, the number of people between the exit and me have far more to fear from me getting there than any other hazzard ghat coud befall them. A hundred people on a turboprop to Denver is too much, and when the average seat has half the demensions of the average man, please leave the key to the sardine can with me. However, even this is not the worst airline offense. To solve that offense, particularly on long flights, children under the age of three, presently on parent’s laps need to be checked or at least stored in the overhead bins. Children screaming next to you for three or four hours, while you smile back at the parent can require psychiatric help for the innocent.
On southwest CHECK YOUR BAGS – be a little organized, slow the F down. Pissing idiots who fly southwest then bring two carry-ons. F you, F your car rental, F your sales meetings, F your tee time, F your possibility of flying standby on an earlier flight, F getting home 20 minutes earlier to F your morbidly obese Grain Valley wife screaming about your fat kids who ran out of Adderall two days prior.
I never carry anything bigger than a computer backpack onto a plane and I always store it above my seat. I had a flight attendant once tell me I should put it under the seat in front of me. I assured her that there was no way in hell that was happening since I already didn’t have enough room for my legs and I was smart enough to check my larger bag. The only thing worse on a flight than carry on hogs are fat people who only buy one ticket and crying babies.