You may want to reconsider overstuffing your carry-on luggage
The Real Reason Why a Flight Attendant Won’t Lift Your Bag into the Overhead Bin
Published on Nov. 21, 2024
It’s an all-too-familiar scene: You’re boarding your flight, searching for space in the overhead bin as you make your way to your seat. You notice an opening and try to hoist your carry-on luggage into the bin, but suddenly you realize your bag is way too heavy. So you politely ask a flight attendant to pop it up there for you. Chances are, though, the flight attendant won’t take over for you. But why? And what’s a flier to do? The answer may surprise you.
Keep reading to find out why the friendly, hardworking flight attendants on your aircraft won’t lift your bag for you—and what you should do instead if you find yourself in need of assistance.
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Why a flight attendant won’t lift your bag into the overhead bin
Even the most helpful and courteous flight attendants are unlikely to help you lift your bag into the overhead bin. Believe it or not, this seemingly routine task isn’t actually part of their job. While it might seem like a perfectly reasonable request, flight attendants are advised against it by their unions, including the Association of Flight Attendants, due to the risk of injuries.
Kat Kamalani, a former flight attendant, addressed the subject in a video “Life Changing Tips from a Former Flight Attendant” that she posted on TikTok. “A ton of airlines tell you do not do this because there’s so many injuries with it,” she explains. Plus, because lifting bags into the overhead bin is not a flight attendant’s job, medical bills resulting from related injuries aren’t covered by insurance.
What should you do if you need help?
@katkamalani #stitch with @kaylakayla.1999 that’s facts!!! #travel #tips #askontiktok #CustomersMostLoved ♬ original sound – Kat Kamalani
If you still need help lifting your bag into the overhead bin, don’t worry—there are still a few other options. In her video, Kamalani also points out that some flight attendants don’t mind helping you out; they just can’t take on the entire weight of your bag. “Just ask the flight attendant to assist you, and they will totally put it up there,” she says.
If the flight attendants don’t feel comfortable helping you, you can always ask another passenger for assistance. People who are taller and possibly stronger than you may not mind helping you out at all. Also, be sure to look for the little placard beside or inside the overhead bin that tells you whether your bag should be stowed horizontally or vertically—this way, you’ll get your bag in correctly the first time and won’t needlessly have to lift it up a second time.
Another pro tip: It never hurts to try lifting your bag above your head at home before heading to the airport. Packing lighter can help alleviate this issue altogether, and it also makes it easier to abide by the TSA carry-on rules. Or you can take some heavier items out of your carry-on and place them in your personal item or under-seat luggage, which goes under the seat in front of you.
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