Columnists

What should the airlines do to solve the carry-on-bag problem?

They could start by asking their customers.

Nearly 100 Seattle Times readers emailed or posted suggestions at seattletimes.com in response to a recent Travel Wise column on the battle for overhead bin space.

My suggestion was that the airlines start by enforcing their own rules — one regulation-sized carry-on and one personal item per passenger — then do as easyJet and Ryanair do and charge violators whose extra bags have to be checked at the gate.

And yes, as some readers mentioned, airlines need to reconfigure the metal measuring boxes at the gates to match the maximum allowable size for carry-ons — 22 x 14 x 9 inches — so that those who comply can board without hassles.

Here's what a few readers had to say. (Comments were edited for space.)

Demand refunds

"I recently flew on American Airlines from San Diego to Seattle. I had a smallish suitcase and a carry-on. I checked my suitcase and paid $25. Just before boarding, the attendant made an announcement that the flight was full, and asked people with (carry-on) suitcases to please check them at no cost and offered a free drink coupon to boot.

"I called American Airlines to demand a refund and got a surly person on the phone who basically told me I was out of luck."

Gary, Seattle

Shakedown at security

"I ran into a scenario with Delta coming home from Newark to Seattle that left me really angry. The line for security was being staffed by a Delta employee armed with one of those "your bag must fit here" metal cage devices. I have flown with this suitcase dozens of times and never had trouble getting it in the overhead, but she tried forcing me to return to the counter and pay the fee to check it.

Fortunately, minutes later, she was called away. The Delta employee who took her place didn't inquire about my bag. It fit in the overhead bin as always, and I managed to avoid what amounted to a shakedown at the security line."

Doug, Snoqualmie

Incentive for checking

"We have an idea to help get people to check their bags. Let them board first. We are tired of checking our bag and then finding NO room for our one carry-on. If you have a baggage-claim ticket you get to go first. This would be an incentive to get people to check their bags."

Terry and Lucy, Seattle

Express lines

"One way to reduce the amount of carry-on luggage is to offer an 'express lane' for security. You can bet people will carry on less if they can skip that long security line."

Deborah, Seattle

Charge by the pound

"If weight is the real issue because more of it requires more fuel to fly, they should base airfares on weight. A pure per-pound charge based on weighing each passenger with their clothes, carry-ons and checked bags would be fairest to all."

Bruce, Seattle

Assign bin numbers

"If airlines tagged the overhead bins with the seat number, you would eliminate the overusage of the bins and the problem with people bringing too much on the plane would naturally take care of itself."

T.J., Seattle

Backward policies

"I think most airlines have it backward. Checked luggage should be free. If passengers want to carry on more than will fit under the seat, they should be charged. It's incredibly maddening to arrive at your destination and get bogged down exiting the plane because people are collecting their items from overhead."

Kathleen, Seattle

Size bags at security

"I would add a checkpoint in the security line ahead of the person that checks ID's and boarding passes. This area would have a person, unaffiliated with any airline, who would verify that the rules regarding the amount, size, shape of carry-on luggage are being followed."

Charles, Seattle

Fly Southwest

"The last time I flew I was on Southwest, and they do not charge for bags. I know that even if the fare for a Southwest flight is a few more dollars I will choose them because they do not charge for bags."

Terri, Seattle

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