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Delta passenger's name-drop attempt fails amid carry-on baggage dispute

Delta passenger's name-drop attempt fails amid carry-on baggage dispute
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Airbus A380 | Airbus

A recent incident on a Delta flight has highlighted the frustrations passengers often face with carry-on baggage policies. A passenger, who was asked to gate-check her bag due to full overhead bins, boarded the plane only to find ample space available. Expressing her frustration, she mentioned to a flight attendant that she "went to college with" Delta CEO Ed Bastian. The flight attendant retorted, "you should have kept in touch."

Melissa Perri documented the exchange on social media: “Lady behind me on this @delta flight is complaining to the stewardess because they made her check her bag and there’s a ton of room. Her husband to the stewardess: ‘you know she went to college with the CEO of Delta.’ Stewardess: ‘You should have kept in touch.’”

Despite many airlines, including Delta, installing larger overhead bins on newer aircraft models, some planes like Delta's Boeing 737-800s still lack this feature. Larger bins are beneficial for both customers and airlines by reducing checked baggage fees and minimizing delays caused by last-minute gate checks.

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The practice of requiring passengers to gate-check bags even when bin space is available stems from airlines' attempts to avoid boarding delays. This policy frequently results in customer dissatisfaction as travelers see empty bins after relinquishing their carry-ons.

The issue remains one of the most common complaints seen on airline social media platforms alongside reports of damaged checked luggage.

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