Stowing Your Bag

Have you ever encountered something so fantastically

outrageous that instead of getting angry about it, you just stand there and

laugh?  I was bumped to first class one

time and having boarded early, I stowed my laptop bag under the seat in front

of me and I quickly walked to the lavatory to take a pill that I’d

forgotten.  When I returned to the seat,

what I saw there really opened the “steam valve!”  In first class, there are only two seats on

either side of the plane (this was a Boeing 737).  The space under the seats however, is split

into three luggage compartments.  There

are two tiny ones on the outer edges and one large one in the middle.  The joker in the seat next to mine took my

laptop bag out from under the seat in front of us so he could put his laptop

bag there instead!  I just started

laughing.  I laughed so hard that he

looked up at me and made eye contact.  I

asked, “What makes your bag better than mine?” 

He said, “I like to put my feet in the third compartment here.”  I told him, “I’ll be happy to put your bag up

here in the overhead, since mine was there first and I plan to use it…”  He replied, “No, I already have two larger

bags up there.”  I finally said, “Well,

here’s how it works in a civilized world, since I’m following the rules and

have only brought one small carry-on aboard, and since my bag was there first,

I’m afraid I’ll just leave yours out here in the aisle and ask a flight

attendant to stow it for you.”  She was

happy to oblige.

It amazes me how people handle the space under the seat

in front of them.  I’ve seen a lot of

people (mostly women), leave that space completely unused but then they’ll put

their bag in the middle of the floor and wrap the strap or handle around their

foot so they don’t forget the bag.  It

may surprise you, but it’s illegal for you to do that.  Besides, in the event of an emergency, do you

really want a bag entangled around your ankles when you’re scrambling to

evacuate?  Really?

Flight attendants are extremely touchy about the use of

that floor space, and they should be. 

Did you know they, personally, can be fined by the FAA $1,100 per bag

for every single bag found that is not stowed all the way under the single seat

in front of you?  You can’t keep your bag

in your lap or behind your legs, head, or anywhere else on your body.  It simply must go in the overhead bin or ALL

THE WAY under the seat in front of you.

A small pet carrier is designed to fit under a standard

airplane seat, yet most pet owners choose to pull it out as soon as the plane

is in the air.  While I truly empathize

with the pet, I understand why some airlines prohibit the keeping of pets in

your lap during flight.  As cute as

fluffy may be, many people are severely allergic to her.  Also, if she were to get loose, there are

about a million tiny cubbies and places for a small cat or dog to hide in.  Be aware of your airline’s policy about pets

and carriers and be prepared to act accordingly.  It’s hard to believe, but not everyone is a

dog or cat person.

My seatmate was a little wary of me for our entire

flight, after I took the initiative to move his bag for him.  I think he was more surprised than

anything.  He looked at me, crossly, and

all I said was, “How does that feel?” and I might have chuckled some more.  Don’t stow your things under someone else’s

seat!  The space they do have left for

passengers is valuable, don’t steal it!

EXTRA: If

you have questions for Ken regarding business travel, hotels, airplanes, etc,

please call 1-877-49-EXPERT.  Your

questions will be recorded and sent to him. 

You can also follow Ken on Twitter @foodbreeze!