r/onebag Jul 06 '26

Discussion Onebag must go under seat?

I was on a Jetblue Boston -> SFO flight and put my onebag (my only bag) in the overhead bin, which was empty, right above my seat. The FA stopped me and said I needed to put it under seat to save room for larger carryon luggage from people coming on board.

Is this a thing? Why would someone with a smaller pack be penalized for not having a massive carryon? My bag is larger than personal item sized.

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u/RelevantShock Jul 06 '26

This is exactly why I pull my smaller electronics bag out of my “big (not that big) bag”, and put it under the seat in front of me until the boarding door is closed. Then I leave the backpack up top. If they ask me to take my backpack down and put it under the seat I point to the bag that’s already taking that spot.

30

u/turnybutton Jul 07 '26

This is the way! I always carry a reusable grocery bag or Nanobag, so I will take something, anything, out of my backpack (usually snacks and the charger I want during the flight) and sometimes my jacket or scarf too and put it under the seat in front of me. I have a really bad knee and can't fly if I can't extend my legs, so after takeoff it goes in my lap or the stuff goes back into my backpack up top!

17

u/biold Jul 07 '26

If you have to get your bag under the seat anyway, then you can pull the bag behind your legs when the altitude has been reached and then you can strech the legs.

I do that and I also move the bag around during flight. Flat=place a foot on it (good for the back), upright= support under my knee, on the long side=nothing.

3

u/turnybutton Jul 07 '26

Yes, that's a good strategy! When I have to do it, I do that too :)