These Airlines Now Offer Larger Overhead Bins

If you are a traveler tired of helplessly trying to jam your carry-on baggage into an airplane’s overhead bin, relief has finally arrived.

In recent years, both Boeing and Airbus have built single-aisle airplanes with substantially larger overhead bins, The Wall Street Journal reports. First introduced six years ago by Alaska Airlines, the larger bins are becoming more prevalent across the industry.

For example, American Airlines now has the bins in two-thirds of its single-aisle airplanes. That number likely will increase to 75% by spring.

Alaska Airlines has the bins on 56% of its Boeing fleet, and that number also is expected to grow.

The bins are large enough that all passengers on a flight can put a roll-aboard bag on its side into the bin, the WSJ says. The bins usually have stickers that remind passengers to load bags wheels first and turn them on their side instead of laying them flat.

Not every airplane requires the larger bins. According to the WSJ:

“Bin space is much more of an issue on single-aisle airplanes, known in the business as ‘narrow-bodies.’ Wide-body jets, with two aisles, usually have ample bin space.”

Some airlines have not embraced the new bins. For example, Southwest has no plans to change from standard bins. The airline already offers two free checked bags to each traveler and “doesn’t want pack rats in the cabin,” WSJ writes.

But other airlines are committing to the new trend. United Airlines has announced that the new planes it is ordering will feature the bigger bins, for instance.

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