Every hub-to-hub flight on United, particularly in the northeast corridor (e.g., ORD<->PHL or EWR, which I find myself on pretty regularly), not only do they run out of bin space, they pre-warn folks in boarding groups 4 or 5 to just check their bags ahead of time 'cuz odds are very good they ain't gettin' them onboard.
I fly on average once a month (though it's been roughly every other week for the last couple) and it's been getting worse and worse with every trip. Makes me glad I've at least maintained silver status... in the past I used to wait until the last minute to board, but these days, being in a priority boarding group is the difference between gate checking or not gate checking...
I'm often on very crowded flights, but not so much in the northeast. Maybe people there tend to bring more/bigger luggage, but it seems to me the airlines created the issue by charging for checked bags.
Oh yeah, I couldn't agree more. 'course, I carry on because I don't want them to lose or damage my stuff (I get a free check bag with status but never take advantage of it), but I think most casual travelers are reacting to the fees.
Every hub-to-hub flight on United, particularly in the northeast corridor (e.g., ORD<->PHL or EWR, which I find myself on pretty regularly), not only do they run out of bin space, they pre-warn folks in boarding groups 4 or 5 to just check their bags ahead of time 'cuz odds are very good they ain't gettin' them onboard.
I fly on average once a month (though it's been roughly every other week for the last couple) and it's been getting worse and worse with every trip. Makes me glad I've at least maintained silver status... in the past I used to wait until the last minute to board, but these days, being in a priority boarding group is the difference between gate checking or not gate checking...