Flight attendant warns if you stow your bag in the wrong place ‘it will be removed’

Don’t end up getting your bag removed Travelling with lots of luggage can prove tricky once everyone gets on the plane. As a result, the cabin space can become quite crowded, with overhead bins and the area beneath the seats filled to the brim on flights with easyJet and Ryanair. In the rush to secure storage space, passengers may be tempted to store their bags in the nearest available spot as soon as they board the plane. However, this simple action could lead to an unexpected consequence: being separated from your bags, which is far from an ideal way to start a holiday. Flight attendants have the task of ensuring that everything fits in the cabin, which sometimes requires rearranging items. This may involve taking bags out of bins and finding new spots for them. Valencia Rae, a flight attendant based in Florida, explained: ‘I pull the smaller item down from the bin and ask, ‘Who’s is this?’ and if no one answers, I announce it will be removed from the plane since it’s going unclaimed. ‘Most of the time it’s a bag that could fit under the seat, or could fit into a smaller open space on the other side of the plane. I always want the owner of the bag to know that it’s being moved.’ READ MORE: Family stuck abroad after boy refused entry onto easyJet flight following injury [LATEST] Cabin space can become quite crowded Valencia clarified it’s acceptable to place your bag a little further away from where you are seated, as long as it remains within your line of sight and not in the first-class area. Karina Kay, a flight attendant based in Las Vegas, suggested if you run out of space in the overhead bins, you should prioritise storing items under your seat. She explained that most planes, especially those operated by budget airlines, do not have enough overhead locker space for every passenger to store their bags. She added: ‘Of course we all want to be comfortable and stretch out, but hold on to your personal items until boarding is completed. Give others with larger carry-ons a chance to place their baggage, then place yours in the surrounding space.” While some passengers argue if they have paid to check a bag, they should have the right to use the overhead bins as they please, flight attendants may have a different perspective. Trending Lucy Williams, a flight attendant based in Denver, believes that it’s a “first come, first served” situation and passengers should be considerate of others. She said: If someone pays to check their bag, why can’t they put the smaller item in the overhead? It’s first come, first served. That being said, I will always ask if we need the space, if they mind using the area under their seat, but I won’t force it.’ Efficiency is crucial in these situations, as passengers who take too long to figure out where to store their bags can cause delays. Michael Clip, a flight attendant at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, warned the plane doors will not close until all luggage is properly stowed. If there is insufficient space for bags, a gate agent may have to tag the items and place them in the hold, which can be time-consuming and potentially lead to a missed departure slot. This article was crafted with the help of AI tools, which speed up Express.co.uk’s editorial research. A news editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to readercomplaints@reachplc.com.