In a report by Epoch Times on December 10, 2025, it is common sense for people traveling from warm regions to cold regions to bring along a thick coat when boarding a plane. Some passengers choose to wear their coats during the flight, while others opt to stow them in their carry-on luggage. However, a third method of handling coats is not approved by flight attendants.
According to a report by Daily Mail on December 9, flight attendant Mateusz Maszczynski revealed that passengers occasionally make a mistake when dealing with their coats during boarding. This mistake involves placing coats on the overhead luggage compartments.
Mateusz Maszczynski explained to the aviation news website “Paddle Your Own Kanoo,” stating, “The issue is that by filling the overhead bins with coats, there may not be enough space for everyone’s carry-on luggage.”
“This can lead to pressure, occasional complaints, and inevitable delays due to the need to remove items from the bins.”
The flight attendant disclosed that in the past, overhead bins were intended for storing coats and hats, not extra luggage. However, he pointed out that the design of these bins now serves to accommodate carry-on luggage.
He emphasized that overhead bins are meant for small suitcases and bags, not for additional clothing.
Furthermore, regardless of how thick or heavy a coat is, passengers should not place it on the overhead bins. Mateusz Maszczynski mentioned that the overhead bins are typically “dirty,” and the thought of putting a coat in there feels uncomfortable.
Due to the wheels and shell of carry-on luggage coming into contact with the bins, it is easy to imagine that the bins can pick up bacteria from the floor.
Mateusz Maszczynski suggested compressing the coat to fit into the carry-on luggage or placing it in a small bag for convenient storage under the seat. Coats can also be used as makeshift blankets.
Etiquette expert Heather Wiese once told Stuff NZ that one common mistake many people make is loading too much luggage onto the overhead bins.
“The overhead bins are primarily for storing carry-on luggage that won’t fit under the seats in front of you. Other items should be stored separately and should wait until all passengers have boarded to occupy more space after putting their larger items in the bins.”
Backpacks, coats, and smaller items can be stored under the seat in front of passengers, and each person should try to use the overhead bin above their own seat, choosing the nearest one if it doesn’t fit, preferably in the overhead bin over the seats in the front row rather than the back row to avoid going against the crowd when retrieving luggage upon landing.