...my stuff would get stolen if my bags weren't near my seat. I want to watch it at all times.
6:24pm on 2/9/26 by
popupcamper
We just flew round trip last week and overhead bins over our seats near back of plane were empty for us both flights when we boarded. Not sure about front of plane.
6:53pm on 2/9/26 by
katienowaity
I'd be interested to hear as well.
6:53pm on 2/9/26 by
aem541
I noticed last flight (before assigned seats) that the first large bins for people in the very front row (with no underseat storage) are the row 2 bins. Which means row 2 people have to use row 3 overheads. And so on. I wonder if that is it.
7:09pm on 2/9/26 by
Jennyhirsch
I'll watch and report back later this week after my first flight post-seat assignments.
7:14pm on 2/9/26 by
Jennyhirsch
The complaints I'm seeing are way worse than it used to be. I'm seeing "I'm in row 5 but it's full to row 20 before I board."
7:22pm on 2/9/26 by
popupcamper
Went down the rabbit hole. Sounds awful. Now I am dreading my flight. If I choose a seat up front, it is because I want to zip off the plane fast, not wait to go back to row 20 to get my bag.
7:43pm on 2/9/26 by
Jennyhirsch
And there is still preboarding? Dear god. That is where the bin space is going too. And people can buy upgraded boarding positions? Again, that's to get overhead space. No other reason to do it.
7:45pm on 2/9/26 by
Jennyhirsch
Yeah I'm kinda confused on the boarding thing. I've got preferred seating with my CC but I'm still BG 5 with seating row 6. My next trip with my momma I paid for the nice seats for her and I think that comes with better boarding.
7:53pm on 2/9/26 by
popupcamper
More reasons to fly with any other airline and it's usually cheaper
8:02pm on 2/9/26 by
WorldTraveler34
I flew round trip last week. But I bought the extra legroom seat mainly to feel out the process because anxiety issues. So I was BG1. No issues with bin space with seats in row 5 and 6. The first flight seemed like some people in front seats had luggage
8:18pm on 2/9/26 by
MarioMom
Had luggage behind me. Big bog when deplaning as they had to go back to get bags. Person in middle extra legroom seat got it assigned for free. So he was a late BG. He didn't have overhead carryon but I can see where his stuff would have been in the back
8:20pm on 2/9/26 by
MarioMom
I have 5 trips in the coming couple months. I bought seats in all the 700 series planes. On the Max8 I left as a preferred seat. I'm A list. And I was gonna spend the $23 on priority boarding. Much cheaper than the extra room seat.
8:22pm on 2/9/26 by
MarioMom
My biggest anxiety is having to gate check my carryon. Filled with electronics and meds and to gate check would mean removing its contents.
I loathe assign seating. I do like the extra legroom seats tho. 5" makes a diff! LMAO.
8:24pm on 2/9/26 by
MarioMom
Both flights only had 2 preboarders so maybe assigned seating cut down in those? The passengers have been nice about grabbing people's luggage at deplaning and handing it upfront to the owner.
8:27pm on 2/9/26 by
MarioMom
I flew Sw this weekend (first time on Sw if you can believe it). Was in row 17/18 and BG5 and there was plenty of luggage space when I got on on both my flights.
9:30pm on 2/9/26 by
touringmom
So they are putting their carry on in the bins closet to the door when they board but then sitting towards the back when they board instead of taking their bags with them? What the what?
9:33pm on 2/9/26 by
cdlla
Just flew SW & didn't see any issues with running out of bin space in the front. Preboard people still in assigned seats & as far as I could tell were sitting middle of the plane with bags near them. And only a few preboards.
9:39pm on 2/9/26 by
daw623
@cdlla I didn't see people doing that. It's just you could be in BG1 and be in the back of the plane or front. They did make an announcement to put your luggage close to your seats. The front of the plane space filled quickly as we were the first to board
10:06pm on 2/9/26 by
MarioMom
DH flew with the new system last week and loved it. He said flight attendants were very vigilant about insisting that bags go only in the overhead bin directly above assigned seat.
10:53pm on 2/9/26 by
snowdiz
The first bins are full of flight crew items, always is.
11:15pm on 2/9/26 by
Elaine5715
My SW experience from last week; gate agents were requesting volunteers to gate check bags for both flights. DW were in boarding group 5 and row 8 each way and we didn't utilize the overhead bins. I only saw a couple of people needing to use bin space..
6:45am on 2/10/26 by
TacMed
....behind their seat assignments. SW should have known that once they began charging for bags that it would in turn increase the number of people having carryon bags and using bin space.
6:47am on 2/10/26 by
TacMed
I've seen this on other airlines as well. I fly a lot for work and usually get the even more seats on jetblue that are supposed to have dedicated bin space, but after all the preboards even with A boarding, I have to go back several rows to stow my stuff
7:59am on 2/10/26 by
SugarGliderNH
We flew Wed and yesterday. Wed lots of people had to go back to store luggage bc people had dumped theirs early, but yesterday the attendants were telling people to take it to their seats. One was talking about how they were going to get this figured out
8:37am on 2/10/26 by
aliceinwonderla
Agreed this happens often on various lines due to the charging of bags
8:56am on 2/10/26 by
LaurenInWonderland
I just flew round trip last weekend from grr to Mco and had no issues. BG 3 both flights. Row 8 on the way there was a little full but still fit 3 carryons near our seats. Row 20 on the way home and bins were empty when we got on.
1:51pm on 2/10/26 by
jesterb
The flight attendants also made a specific announcement to put your luggage near your seat and not the front of the plane.
1:52pm on 2/10/26 by
jesterb
So many interesting things to comment on now that I am on the plane. Fabulous flight attendants. First 8 rows overhead bins closed upon boarding. Attendant asked to see seat assignment (3E) before letting DH put a bag up.
10:04am by
Jennyhirsch
So all bins were empty and she monitored who put bags up overhead. Repeated announcements to use bin above your seat. Didnt seem to be problems further back, plenty room. This is currently attendant dependent though, not policy.
10:05am by
Jennyhirsch
There are a few extra seats. Attendants said you can only ask for different seat and switch seats once we are in the air.
10:06am by
Jennyhirsch
A couple near us had basic fares and were assigned seats by SW. Same confirmation number but wife in 2nd row and husband in 3rd row. They were bummed not to be assigned seats together (hence the question about switching seats once in air).
10:08am by
Jennyhirsch
About 35 people in BG1. Just a random, free wheeling big group with 35 people up in no particular order. I was brilliantly signed in DH's SW app, so he took my bag to zip along and check out bins while people passed as I logged into my tix to scan. Sigh.
10:11am by
Jennyhirsch
I am currently a fan of seat assignments now. Only 1 wheelchair preboarding, compared to the 10-20 wheelchairs each trip every other week for the last 2 years. Felt calm and people looked happier and less stressed.
10:13am by
Jennyhirsch
I flew on day 2 of this process. Was in BG 5. Row 12 or so, was perfectly fine. Just line any other airline boarding
10:42am by
mary32830
I am not going until June. Hope they have bugs worked out by then. Have the priority card so was able to choose preferred seats when I bought the tickets and am planning on not doing carryon which is unusual for me but I get free checked bags so I'm ok.
11:29am by
Sorcerers_Apprentice