People travelling with take on suitcases .

I recently flew with British Airways. When I boarded the plane, it was fairly empty. I said to a steward that I might need help to put my carry on case up. When I told him my seat number , he pointed ahead to a stewardess, saying that his colleague would help me. When I asked her, she told me that they weren’t actually allowed to do it, but that she could help me to do it! This involved us both holding the case. Her being much taller than me, I couldn’t actually help very much! On the same flight, prior to landing, as the staff were checking seatbelts, a steward lifted a small hold-all from a tall man’s lap, and put it up on the rack! I took the train home, and put my carry on case in the luggage area in the carriage. The train manager came round, and held my case up, asking who it belonged to. I told him that at nearer 80, and five feet tall, it wasn’t possible to lift it to the height of the rack. He wasn’t amused, but put it up for me. You’d think that designers would realise that not everyone can reach these facilities - unless we stand on seats!

Oh, and to answer the original question after my rant... Yes indeed you should be able to get your own luggage into the overhead or don't bring it!

Grammeretto, I was once on the annoying side of your story. I always travel with checked luggage, and in the winter the only bulky thing I had was my winter coat. I put it in the overhead bin, where a young woman pulled it out to fit in her carry on luggage. I was very annoyed with her.

I have also had a flight delayed leaving since too many passengers were attempting to cram in overhead luggage, and no-one wanted to check them. On that flight, so many people had carry on, plus large shopping bags, handbags and heavy coats as well. So frustrating.

I wish the airlines would just go back to free or cheaper checked luggage.

Grandmama

Beware of luggage racks on trains. I knew someone who found her case had gone when she reached her destination. Easiest thing in the world to take someone's case.

I had that happen to me. We'd stopped at a station ; as I looked out of the window I saw a man with a suitcase and thought "Oh look, he;s got the same one as me". At that moment we pulled away and I relaised it was my suitcase.
I immediately informed the train staff and they told me it happens all the time. Never saw it again.

Ever since then I keep my case right beside me.

ViceVersa

Most airlines do state that you have to be able to lift your own bag into the overhead locker. We only travel with hand luggage (yes, even for a fortnight's holiday) and although I'm only 5'2, I can manage to do it.

I never take anything but carry-on baggage. But at 5'1" and missing quite a few lymph nodes due to breast cancer surgery, I do hope for help with lifting. I don't see why I should have to check it all in when it's only a small bag. People can be kind, thank goodness and not as judgement as some on this thread.

This is from BA
Someone upthread quoted some of it earlier.

Re cabin baggage:
^Max dimensions up to 56 x 45 x 25cm (22 x 18 x 10in) – includes wheels and handles
You must be able to lift your cabin bag into the overhead compartment unassisted^

It goes on to say that if you have a disability the cabin crew will do it but it must be of a weight that a person would generally be able to lift unassisted.

Beware of luggage racks on trains. I knew someone who found her case had gone when she reached her destination. Easiest thing in the world to take someone's case.

GrannyGravy13

I have just flown with cabin baggage only. One small under seat bag, along with a wheelie case which they are very strict in dimensions.

I can lift both bags easily, what I cannot do is reach the overhead locker 🤷‍♀️. The male cabin crew member saw my attempt (I was about to stand on the seat to reach) took the overhead case off of me and put it in the locker over my seat.

This is my problem too! I am able to lift the small cases but the over head lockers are too high for me to reach even on tip toe! I carry a back pack which goes under the front seat or ask my grandson to put it in the locker he is 15 and taller than me 😁

You can ask for assistance in advance or when you book your flight.
But I wouldn't dream of having luggage I can't lift by myself.
I use the trains more than planes and so often the escalators are not working so I have to carry my case up and down to reach my platform.

When DH was alive we went to NZ for a month with hand luggage only.
It was fine and meant we didn't have big bags to find space for while we were travelling around.
However, we bought a case over there to bring back all our souvenirs!

Several airlines have a policy that passengers must be able to place item in and take item out of overhead lockers, staff will not assist with either task. I used to take luggage onboard and could probably still lift a suitcase up but my fear is not being able to control it when taking down and it landing on someone or me! I do think some of the luggage going in lockers does seem very big.

Drives me mad, some of the "small" cases some people bring on board a plane. They wedge them in the overhead locket so no one else gets a look in.

I put everything in my hold bag, and just take a bag with my phone /kindle etc in.

Only ever done one trip where I just took a small cabin bag, tbh it made me "twitchy" 😅 that I didn't have all my essential hair /skin /makeup products.

We tend to always book BA even for long weekends so you can take a medium size case to pop in the hold.

If a woman cannot lift her case to go overhead then she should pay to put it in the hold. The nearest man may look fit and healthy and want to help, but there are hidden disabilities and even a youngish looking man can have sports injuries or a bad back etc.
Just take care of your own stuff.

A friend’s husband was recently asked to lift a cabin case into an overhead locker by a young woman. He told her that if she couldn’t lift it, she should have checked it in. A few minutes later her boyfriend got on and it became apparent how heavy this case was. Fortunately cabin crew saw and took it away.

On a recent long haul flight I was fretting that my cabin bag would be too big, I needn't have worried, the amount and size of bags some passengers had as carry on had to be seen to be believed 😃 I always try to stuff my bag under the seat because I am toi little to reach the overhead lockers🫤

I only travel with carryon and can lift things myself but never dismiss offer of help! I did two months travelling to Australia and SE Asia doing this, liberating ! The key is not to overload your case .

BA Carry on limit is 10 kg, the hold baggage is 23kg. I agree if you can't lift it don't take it.

I have just booked with Easyjet and they charge extra for overhead locker luggage. A small bag that fits under the seat is free but the cheapest option is to put a case in the hold.

62Granny Do you think like me that people who travel with suitcases that are not checked in should be able to lift them into the above head lockers and on and off the plane themselves and not rely on others to help them.

Yes.

We travel often with carry cases. I lift mine to overhead locker. If one can't lift cases, pay the fee (if necessary) for hold luggage.

Some so called cabin baggage is huge! I've noticed Americans in particular seem to expect this to be absolutely fine.

I thought that suitcases always went into the Hold.

Although we have wheely suitcases compliant for carry on we always check them as we can't lift them unaided.

Oops, meant to say cabin crew/ground staff can refuse boarding to anyone they deem drunk

Babs03

Air travel is not for the faint hearted, the bags are one thing but I do wish they wouldn’t serve alcohol on a flight seeing as some passengers board a flight inebriated already.

Airline staff and are specifically trained to spot people boarding aircraft if they judge them to be drunk and likely to cause a danger during the flight.

They can also refuse to sell drunken passengers when on the aircraft.

Why ban all alcohol which punishes those who like one or two drinks (in my case to relax as I am a nervous flyer) because of a few yobs

And it takes so long to board a plane, now, as we are all held in a queue behind people putting their luggage into the lockers.
My experience of late has been that planes rarely leave on time, even if the boarding time seems reasonable.

Babs03

Air travel is not for the faint hearted, the bags are one thing but I do wish they wouldn’t serve alcohol on a flight seeing as some passengers board a flight inebriated already.

I couldn’t agree more Babs……..What’s wrong with water, tea , or coffee? And WHY do airports serve alcohol 24 hours a day, or seems like they do?!? This 9pm encourages over consumption prior to boarding. But wait a minute……….income generation!!! of course 🤭, silly me…….. profit before passenger safety.