People who value cheap travel options, such as cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, and cheap vacation packages, usually do their best to avoid having to pay the airline charges associated with checking luggage.
Unfortunately this is a strategy employed by many, often making overhead bin space difficult, if not impossible, for late boarding passengers to find.
Alaska Airlines has decided to add larger bins on its Boeing 737s already on order as soon as the bins become available which is expected to be in late 2015. Alaska Airlines will be the first airline to get Boeings new Space Bins, designed to stow six standard size carry-on bags, which is two more than the common pivot bins currently on some Boeing Next Generation 737s.
Space Bins on the airlines new 737-900 ER planes will hold as many as 194 standard carry-on bags, a 47 percent increase compared to Pivot Bins that hold up to 132 bags. When the Boeing 737 was first introduced in 1998 Standard Bins were installed which held 77 bags, followed by the introduction of BigBins in 2002 which held 125 bags.
Alaskas larger overhead bins will make traveling on Alaska easier and more comfortable as well as expedite the boarding process both onto and off planes.
The airline predicted on its corporate blog that it expects the new bins to cut boarding times, improve on-time performance, and require less intervention from flight attendants.
Input from its flight attendants was solicited before the airline made a decision between continuing with its current Sky Interior bins and the new proposed Space Bins.
Alaska is excited about using Space Bins because they will enable passengers to easily toss their bags in overhead compartments requiring flight attendants to spend less time and effort reorganizing things and more time engaged with its customers.
Another plus of the new Space Bins is that they open two inches lower than pivot bins, which means passengers will not have to lift heavy bags as high. These bins are also deeper, with room for overstuffed bags and odd-shaped items such as guitars.
The larger bins will be added to all of the airlines Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX jets.
In commenting regarding adding the new Space Bins, Alaska Airlines stated it is committed to making flying a hassle-free and comfortable experience. The additional storage space will allow our customers to keep their personal items with them in the cabin, which we think they will enjoy.
Boeing has announced that airlines will be able to retrofit some existing 737 models with the new bins, if so inclined.
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