Airlines Are Finally Increasing Overhead Bin Space for All Carry-Ons. What Took So Long?

When airlines roll out new or refurbished planes, they often highlight the upgraded features, such as new seatback screens, Bluetooth connectivity, or self-serve snack bars. While these enhancements are appreciated, let’s be honest—many of these flashy additions are designed to divert our attention from the extra rows of seats that airlines have squeezed onto the aircraft.

One significant upgrade that benefits both passengers and airlines is the redesigned overhead bins. These new, next-generation compartments are larger than older models and can typically accommodate most carry-on bags, even on fully booked flights—often allowing roller bags to be stored upright on their sides rather than lying flat. This innovation aims to address a major frustration of air travel.

For years, travelers in the United States have been struggling against both fellow passengers and airlines (let’s not forget about those bag sizers at the gate) to secure space for their carry-ons. This raises an important question: How did we, as a society, end up in a situation where our carry-on luggage wouldn’t fit in the overhead bins? And why have airlines forced us to engage in a challenging game of luggage Tetris with our seatmates all these years?

The demand for increased carry-on capacity is fundamentally a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Jostling for overhead bin space and having to gate-check bags became the norm less than two decades ago. It’s easy to trace the root of the problem back to 2008, during the Great Recession, when major U.S. airlines began charging customers for their first checked bag (along with various other fees) in an effort to remain financially viable.

To avoid the cost of checking bags, passengers started bringing nearly everything into the cabin. This sparked an ongoing trend of travelers struggling to fit their carry-ons into the overhead bins.

With more bags in the cabin than ever before, airlines faced another challenge: insufficient space to accommodate it all. This led to the practice of gate-checking, where passengers had to surrender their carry-ons to be stowed away, only to be retrieved after disembarking or, even worse, at baggage claim upon reaching their final destination—forcing travelers to endure the prolonged wait at the baggage carousel.

Fast-forward to the present. The issue of gate checking is not only disliked by passengers; airlines are frustrated by it as well. This is because gate-checking bags often disrupts the boarding process. When travelers discover at the last moment that the bins are full, agents have to remove bags from the plane, frequently after passengers have already brought them onboard.

Although this process takes just a few minutes, every moment matters when it comes to delays and aircraft efficiency, according to travel expert Gary Leff, founder of the blog View From the Wing. “If this happens on every flight, you’re looking at cumulative delays and missed connections.”

While expanding overhead storage seems like a straightforward fix, retrofitting planes and making the necessary investments were not priorities in the late 2000s and early 2010s. “Airlines were reluctant to make expenditures they didn’t have to, especially right after bankruptcy or while trying to avoid it,” Leff explains.

Adding to the complexity, the process of having manufacturers create larger compartments and obtaining certification from regulators can span several years. Airlines are typically hesitant to certify a cabin twice, so they often wait until a full overhaul is necessary (involving new seats, updated technology, etc.). Alternatively, they may hold off until new aircraft are delivered. “In essence, we got a delayed start to a lengthy process, with airlines generally aligning larger bins with cabin refresh cycles,” explains Leff.

One airline that has largely sidestepped the bin dilemma is Southwest Airlines. The Dallas-based carrier refrained from following other major U.S. airlines in implementing bag fees in 2008; each passenger could still check two bags for free—and this policy remains unchanged. However, Southwest has recently announced a plan to retrofit its existing aircraft with new interiors featuring larger overhead bins and new seats. Despite the free checked bag policy, many Southwest passengers still prefer carry-ons for their convenience and speed (you can’t misplace a carry-on when it’s with you, and there's no wait at baggage claim post-flight).

“Our research indicated that gate-checked bags significantly lower customer satisfaction,” a Southwest representative shared with Dinogo. The retrofit initiative is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

On the other hand, Delta Air Lines claims that a “majority” of its mainline fleet is now equipped with larger overhead bins. Interestingly, the airline is not upgrading its upcoming refreshed Boeing 737-800 aircraft with more spacious bins. Instead, it plans to install “new doors to accommodate larger bags,” according to a Delta spokesperson. In other words, Delta is not fully replacing the old overhead bins on its 737-800 aircraft during this refurbishment cycle but is adding new doors to the existing bins to fit some larger bags.

In addition to introducing brand-new aircraft with enhanced overhead space, United Airlines is modernizing its current fleet with “United Next” interiors, which will include seatback screens, advanced technology, and refreshed bins. The airline states that by 2030, 75 percent of its fleet will feature “new-generation” designs, allowing passengers to store their roll-aboard bags vertically and providing 60 percent more bin capacity. Importantly, United claims that every passenger should theoretically be able to fit one full-sized carry-on onboard.

However, larger bins are not a cure-all, according to Leff. “Even when bins are theoretically spacious enough for each passenger's full-sized carry-on, that doesn't always occur.” This is partly because passengers still need guidance on how to position their carry-ons on their sides, and sometimes they attempt to store multiple items per person. Most airlines permit one carry-on and one personal item, and while the personal item should ideally fit under the seat, some travelers end up placing that item or other belongings like coats and gear in the overhead bins.

Additionally, gate agents may require travelers to gate-check their bags even before the bins are fully occupied. “They face significant pressure to ensure flights depart exactly on time, not a moment late,” Leff adds.

Ultimately, if you want to keep your carry-on with you in the cabin, ensure it fits beneath your seat (not above). While the onboard capacity for carry-ons continues to expand as airlines introduce new and updated planes, there's still no assurance that your larger bag will be accommodated in the overhead bins.