Carry On, World Traveler! Airlines Are Adding More Overhead Bin Space for Your Luggage

I was on a Delta Air Lines flight last month and noticed a feature I hadn't seen before. When I heaved my carry-on roller bag up into the overhead space above my seat, there was a large graphic in the back of the bin advising me to turn my bag on its side to accommodate more luggage. As it turns out, this was likely part of the larger redesign of overhead bin space that airlines are currently undertaking.

More space for your suitcase

According to a 2022 TripIt survey, 41% of American flyers avoid checking a bag when they travel. And of those who do check, plenty of them likely still bring a carry-on into the cabin as well. All that leads to a lot of luggage squeezing into a relatively compact space. The result, often enough, is passengers needing to check their carry-on bags at the gate on full flights because the overhead bin space runs out.

Airlines yet again increased the fees on checked bags, so travelers are looking for ways to save money on their vacations by packing light and going carry-on only. If you're flying Delta, this can provide a financial win of $60 round trip for one checked suitcase. On United and American, you'd save $80 round trip by limiting yourself to a carry-on instead of checking a bag. If you have a limited vacation budget, this can be a big benefit.

Of course, many travelers prefer carry-on luggage for the simplicity of avoiding the baggage carousel and the comfort of having all their personal items in their sight at all times. But if you're required to check your bag at the gate due to limited bin space on the plane, even though you won't be charged a checked bag fee, all the time you spent paring down your packing list and puzzling out every square inch of useful space in your bag is for nought.

Afar magazine recently noted, however, that many airlines are finally making the switch to larger overhead bins. These companies recognize that more travelers than ever are bringing carry-on bags, and often large ones at that, and something had to give. By beginning the process of changing out smaller overhead bins for larger ones, or making adjustments to existing bins to provide more space, more customers should be able to keep their bags with them on the plane. This will limit the number of bags checked at gates, which speeds up the boarding and departure process -- a win for everyone involved. According to Afar, Delta says that "the majority" of its planes already have larger bins, while United plans to have 75% of its fleet updated to newer cabins by 2030.

Avoid checked bag fees

Nothing happens overnight (except sunrise, I guess), so we can't expect all planes to suddenly accommodate every piece of luggage we bring on a trip. As we wait for airlines to cycle in the redesigned cabins with more bin space, there are other ways you can avoid checked bag fees when you fly.

If you have priority or elite membership with an airline, you'll likely be able to check at least one bag without a fee. And one way to get this perk is by having an airline credit card. I have the United℠ Explorer Card, so I'm able to save on a checked bag whenever I fly United, even if I book a Basic Economy fare.

You could also look to fly with a carrier that doesn't charge checked bag fees. Southwest is a prime example; all customers can check two bags for free when they fly. And be sure to compare different fare tiers when booking, since a higher-tier ticket might include checked baggage for a total cost that's lower than a basic fare plus bag fees.

I'm Team Carry-On as much as possible, so I'm excited to hear this improvement might be a more common feature sooner rather than later. Anything to make the flying experience just a little more civilized is a win, right?