Flight Attendants Get the ‘Ick’ When You Put Your Winter Coat in the Overhead Bin: Here’s Why

It’s that time of year in the northern hemisphere when the temperature plummets and airline passengers are wrapping up warm for the winter. But as they board the plane, flight attendants are watching on nervously to see where those big puffer jackets and wool coats are going to go now that their wearer is warm and cosy on the plane.

Sure enough, those big fat coats are finding their way into the overhead bins. Will the flight attendant say something, or perhaps they’ll wait a little bit and see how this plays out?

The problem is that all those coats in the overhead bins might mean that there’s not enough space for everyone’s hand luggage. What follows is stress, occasional tantrums, and the inevitable delay as baggage needs to be offloaded.

Overhead Bins Aren’t For Coats — Even If They Used To Be ‘Hat Racks’

Back in the day, overhead bins were the enclosed storage spaces that we are now accustomed to, but open shelves just like you might find on a train. Decades ago, people weren’t traveling with so much hand luggage, and these shelves were specifically designed for jackets and hats, which is why they initially became known as hat racks.

Old habits, it appears, die hard, even though overhead bins are no longer meant to be used for storing coats and hats. Yup, you heard that right, your coat does not belong in the overhead bin.

Why Airlines Now Expect Every Inch of Space to Go to Rollaboards

I know that the last statement is going to be controversial. There will be plenty of people who are genuinely going to ask where they are meant to put their bulky winter coat if not in the overhead bin!

The thing is, airlines now expect every last inch of space in the overhead lockers to be reserved for hand luggage, specifically, large rollaboards, that passengers want to bring on board with them but that can’t be safely stowed anywhere apart from the overhead bin.

So many passengers want to bring their rollaboards onboard that there is very often more rollaboards than there is physical space in the overhead lockers to store them all.

Airlines will normally know how many rollaboards can theoretically fit in the overhead lockers and then gate check any additional bags that passengers attempt to bring on board, but there could still be issues if space is being taken up with winter coats.

How Passengers Treat Overhead Bins vs. How Crew Need Them Used

I know that passengers have differing views on bringing hand luggage into the cabin… there are plenty of customers who think it’s selfish that all the space in the overhead lockers is being reserved for rollaboards, leaving them to store their smaller rucksacks, purses and even coats in the limited foot space that airlines now provide.

The problem, however, is that the hand luggage brigade has won this argument with the airlines. In the vast majority of cases, airlines prioritize rollaboards in the overhead bins.

And guess who has to enforce that policy? Yup, it’s the flight attendants. Believe me, they don’t want but if they want to get the flight away on time, then they sometimes have to step in and impose the airline’s luggage policy on passengers.

The Part Most Travellers Don’t Know: Overhead Bins Are Filthy

If you are one of those passengers who prefer to put their coat and scarf in the overhead bin, let me try to convince you to rethink this.

Those overhead bins are filthy. I’ve been flying long enough not to worry too much about germs, but the thought of putting my coat into an overhead locker seriously gives me the ick.

Your Coat Picks Up Everything From Those Wheels on City Streets

Think about it: All those rollaboards that are being put into the overhead bin have been dragged around city streets picking up goodness knows what. And no one is cleaning and sanitizing those overhead bins… ever.

So anything that has been on that rollaboard is in the overhead bin, and it could well end up on your coat and right next to your face.

Flight Attendants Aren’t Being Petty — It Slows Down Boarding

Being told to move your coat from the overhead bin when you think you’ve done nothing wrong can really rub passengers the wrong way. But flight attendants aren’t on a power trip, and I can pretty much guarantee that they don’t want a confrontation.

The truth is that they just want to avoid a delay by getting all the approved luggage stowed in the overhead bins as quickly as possible.

Here’s the Polite Way to Handle Your Coat Onboard

So where do you put your jacket? You’ve got a couple of options. If you have space, consider consolidating it in your rollaboard. That way, it can go in the overhead bin and not take up any of your space.

But let’s be honest, most people don’t have that much space left over in their rollaboard. The second option, then, is to neatly fold it and place it in a small tote bag that you can place by your feet… that way, you won’t pick up any dirt.

Personally, I prefer just to use my coat as a blanket, although some airlines also have coat hooks. Whichever option you choose, your coat will thank you, and so will your crew.