New A320 interior – more cabin bag space!

[Ihar]

Flew on a new-ish A320 (G-TTNM) and noticed the overhead bins are larger allowing cabin bags to be placed vertically (with info decals in the bins advising to do so). I guess that increases big storage potentially by 1/3 (4 vertical vs 3 horizontal).

Does anyone know if these are being retro-fitted across the fleet? (I noticed the seats were considerably thinner (thickness) than standard, presumably excellent for weight/fuel efficiency). We normally board late so often quite a faff to try and get bin space.

[freckles]

But a lot of people don’t know how to use them and still insist in putting roller bags flat 🤦‍♀️ despite what the signs say.

Think they are just being fitted to the newer planes

[Ihar]

The airplane was 2020 so presumably as fitted in Toulouse. I’d have no issue in turning bags around to fit mine in.

What infuriated me this week was cabin crew were frantically trying to find space (so as not to delay the flight by opening the hold) and after the doors were closed some ****person*** in Club opened up the bin, took a soft bag out to collect something. A bag that could easily go under the seat (short-haul, middle seat not even used). I’m not suggesting that it was in any way connected to it being a LV bag, but when the oxygen masks come down we all get the same amount 😂

Hedgehogs – share the space (not my joke, but I think it did win the Edinburgh Festival best one-liner).

[NorthernLass]

I was on one of these last year on a full domestic flight, but not since. It was superb, not a single cabin bag had to go in the hold!

@Ihar, it also annoys me when people put small bags in the overheads. I put anything under the seat in front which can be physically crammed into the space! 2 bags sometimes, or one bag plus a coat.

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

A soft bag could easily get snagged on something under a seat, and rip. Especially a concern when the bag replacement cost is expensive. One of the advantages of the European short haul biz cabins is that the overhead space only has to cover 4 passengers per row, rather than 6. It’s a fair expectation that passengers up front have more capacity to put their bags up overhead.

I am sure the bag(s) the cabin crew were trying to find space for belonged to a Group 4-9 passenger. Such passengers are typically told at the gate that their bags may be gate checked. More fool the cabin crew running round finding space. A US airline would tip the bag into the hands of a baggage handler at the aircraft door.

[AJA]

Those new bins are great. I thought they were being retro fitted.

@lhar were you in CE or further back? And was the space being sought by cabin crew in CE or ET?

I have a rucksack that could at a push be squeezed under the seat but if I am travelling in CE I will first try to put it in the overhead bin. The space above my head is not mine but I don’t see why I should have to put my cabin bag anywhere else just to accommodate those who have a larger cabin bag than me especially if I’ve already put my bag there before they arrive. If cabin crew asked nicely I probably would acquiesce.

I get very annoyed with Eurotraveller passengers trying to put their bags in CE overhead bins on their way past the curtain. If someone from ET asked me to move my bag from the overhead bin in CE that would get a firm no back. Likewise ET pax trying to use the CE loo.

[NorthernLass]

I’m a bit puzzled by these attitudes. Surely the aim is to get all bags stored safely with minimum fuss so the plane can take off on time? If my bag fits under the seat in front, then that’s where it goes, so I’m not taking up space in the overheads unnecessarily, regardless of which cabin I’m in. And if there’s extra space in the CE overheads, I’m happy for anyone to use it!

I have a nice leather “bowling” shaped bag which looks quite big but actually slides quite happily under the seat in front, and has never snagged on anything.

In fact, in CE, you have 3 lots of under-seat space between 2 pax, so you can get quite a bit in there. Even when sharing a row with a stranger one time, we used our own spaces in front and shared the middle one for our handbags!

[Tocsin]

Just a reminder that exit row – and Row 1 – persons have to put all baggage in the overhead lockers…

I agree that the new-size lockers are a big improvement, it’s a pity that BA’s £7B isn’t stretching to a refit of older aircraft!

[NorthernLass]

Yes, and that’s the only time I unashamedly stash everything up there! Though if I have a small handbag with a long strap, I can usually get away with having it hung over my opposite shoulder, so it’s secure enough for the cabin crew and I can then get to my phone/Kindle/etc without having to get up again …

[AJA]

@NorthernLass I think you misunderstand me. I am not saying cabin crew can’t put ET passenger’s bags in CE bins but I object to ET travellers doing it themselves. If you are travelling in ET then that’s where you should be expecting to put your bags.

If you want to use space for your bag in the overhead hin in CE then pay to sit there. Don’t assume you have the right to just use it.

Also if everyone just has one cabin bag and one personal item then there should be enough space in the overhead bins for everyone . It goes wrong when people try to push it.

I also accept there are 3 seats between 2 passengers in Club but that 3rd space is shared – if the 2 passengers are together then using that space is easier but if I am a lone traveller then I ask if we can share the table – I don’t assume it’s mine to use.

[Matt]

The new bins are great, they make a huge difference. Unfortunately they’re not currently being retro-fitted to older planes.

[NorthernLass]

@AJA, I always make it clear that I’m sharing the space on the middle table or under the seat! I know where you’re coming from, but you pay for your seat in the cabin, not for the overheads (and BA can even chuck you out of that seat if they need to!)

BA perhaps need to take some responsibility for pushing the CE cabin further and further back, thus proportionately reducing the space for economy bags. Plus they need to get the bigger bins fitted, I took about 20 short-haul sectors last year and only on one (a domestic!) were the new bins in place.

[travelmonkey]

NorthernLass wrote:

@Ihar, it also annoys me when people put small bags in the overheads. I put anything under the seat in front which can be physically crammed into the space! 2 bags sometimes, or one bag plus a coat.

It must be nice not to need that space. Those of us over 6ft with shoes that more resemble canoes will avoid stuffing any baggage under our seats 😉 I’ll admit we’re a minority but I put everything I don’t immediately need in the overhead just to fit in the seat!

However I’m also of the opinion that small suitcases aren’t hand luggage, and it’s no surprise if everyone wants their suitcase in the cabin rather than in the hood, the overheads will fill up. (Yes, I understand the convenience and the cost implications, and have taken advantage of both in the past). I saw this implemented best on A Finnair flight where any bag with wheels was removed from the traveller when they entered the gate area. It was beautiful! On the way home they didn’t do that, so two people suitcases were taking up the overhead space for 6 passengers, meaning my friend, sat in row 4 begat she needed a quick edit, had her bag all the way by me in row 16!

There we go, I’ve had my little grumble now.

[Nico]

Such a weird one, dont know the cost but saves a few minutes on each flight, which would make such a difference!

[PeteM]

Didn’t Sean Doyle suggest at some event fairly recently that rather than retrofit the new bins he’d like to start charging for hand luggage?

[NorthernLass]

Possibly, but I’m not sure it would be beneficial in the long term to make BA more like an LCC!

[Lynx]

In my view, if a bag is big enough to catch on something under the seat in front then it’s too big to go in the cabin anyway. As for it being ripped, anything sharp enough to do that would do the same to your feet, so I very much doubt there would be anything like that under the seat.
I’m also over 6’ tall, but if I sit up straight rather than slouching I can get a decent sized bag under the seat in front with my feet fitting behind or beside it. I’d certainly prefer not to have to do that, but if it’s a choice between that and putting it in the hold I can cope. I do try to board early though, so I can either get it in the locker or get first dibs at the space under the blocked middle seat.

[Richie]

Airbus is offerring Airspace XL bins on its A220 aircraft and with 2-3 economy seating there might be less bags under the seats.

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

LH Group airlines allow 2 cabin bags for biz passengers, plus a personal item. It somehow doesn’t stop them taking off on time.

[Nico]

PeteM wrote:

Didn’t Sean Doyle suggest at some event fairly recently that rather than retrofit the new bins he’d like to start charging for hand luggage?

Yes, he did, and need IT upgrade to be able to do it