AS TEMPERATURES drop below zero, most of us now don’t go anywhere without our trusty winter coat – but on a flight, these can cause you chaos.
Of course, we need to stay warm and dry but most of the time once you are onboard your flight, you won’t want to wear your puffy coat.
However, the problem comes when on board the flight – where do all the coats go?
If you put your coat in the overhead bin, then you are using up space for other passengers’ hand luggage – which in some cases they may have paid for.
Then, this can cause some rather heated discussions between passengers or even baggage being offloaded.
The reality is, coats aren’t supposed to go in the overhead lockers.
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The overhead lockers are supposed to be for hand luggage only, and this is mostly because small suitcases and bags cannot be stored safely anywhere other than the overhead lockers.
Typically, airlines know how many suitcases and bags will fit onboard the plane and this is why you see some people being caught out at the gate when they have brought an extra bag.
However, winter coats are immune to this, as you of course are allowed to wear a coat onboard a flight.
If you have put your coat in the overhead bin, then don’t be surprised if a flight attendant asks you to move it.
This is because they will be trying to get all the approved luggage stowed in the overhead bins first.
The question then arises, where are you supposed to put your coat?
Most airlines state that passengers should put their small bags, such as handbags, and their coats underneath the seat in front of them.
But if you don’t want it to take up your foot room, you might want to try squashing it into your suitcase or bag that is in the overhead locker.
Lots of airlines have coat hooks on the side of the seat in front of you though, so if you were to store it by your feet, this would only need to be for take-off and landing and then you could hang it from the hook.
The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey said: “As someone who is a frequent hand luggage traveller, seeing people put their coats in the overhead lockers is my biggest annoyance.
“Airlines state small bags and coats must be under the seat in front as only cabin luggage is allowed in the lockers.
“Yet passengers regularly ignore this, stashing their bulky winter coats in there instead.
“I’ve been on flights where crew spend ages asking whose coats they are so they can remove them, which delays the boarding.
“Or I’ve had it where flight crew did nothing, so I was forced to stash my suitcase halfway down the plane – then unable to get to it when trying to get off the plane.”
One person commented on Reddit: “I’m more annoyed by people who take up an entire bin by putting their carry on, backpack, and then huge jacket all next to each other.”
Another added: “We all have heard about one carry on item and one personal item at least ten times between ticket purchase and boarding.
“It’s not ignorance, it’s a selfish and purposeful decision.”
So make sure to keep it with you next time you are on a flight – or risk the wrath of crew and passengers.
In other aviation news, a major airport is hiking its drop-off fee with strict new 10 minute stays.
Plus, Jet2 is relaunching flights to much-loved winter sun destination – the first time in 16 years.