Why Flight Attendants Won't Lift Your Carry-on Into the Overhead Bin — and 8 Solutions for Packing Lighter

Time and time again, we editors at Travel + Leisure have recommended skipping the checked-bag line fiasco in favor of traveling with just a carry-on and a personal item. The only hitch? You still have to endure the stress of hoisting your heavy suitcase into the overhead compartment — and if you’re traveling solo or on a busy flight where bin space is limited, this anxiety can become even more heightened. If you’re hoping a nearby flight attendant will help, you may be better served checking in with a fellow passenger instead. Why? It’s not actually in the flight attendant’s job description to lift heavy bags, and in fact, it’s a safety hazard.

“Most crew won’t assist with placing luggage [in the overhead bin] for one main reason,” says flight attendant Saraih Taylor. “We can’t guarantee the weight of a passenger’s bag.” She shares that at the airline she works for, the carry-on limit for passengers is 7kg, but most people tend to exceed that weight. “If the bag is larger than this weight, we run the risk of injuring ourselves,” she adds. And that seems to be the consensus among many other airline workers, as well. In fact, flight attendant Heather Poole previously told T+L, “I might help [lift the bag], but I won’t do it for them.” 

Not only are they not required to put your bags away for you, but flight attendants lifting your luggage without assistance may even be against the best practices of certain airlines, depending on their guidelines. Carin, a flight attendant for a major domestic carrier, revealed that her airline in particular requires workers to help passengers locate space in the overhead bins, and aid with lifting it if need be — but not to pick up the bag on their own. 

Considering how many passengers are on any given flight and how heavy certain bags may be, it’s actually quite a physically taxing task for flight attendants to take on, and one that could lead to injury. Taylor explains, “If we [put up] 180-200 passengers’ bags two to four times a day that are over the weight, we would be bound to have an excess of movement to the same areas of the body.” And since the flight attendant’s job depends on them actually working, she notes that injury could lead to loss of income in worst-case scenarios.

If you struggle to get your bag into the overhead compartment, you can always ask another passenger for assistance. However, we’ve also rounded up eight lightweight travel bags and packing essentials that will make it easier than ever to deal with your luggage in-flight without the help of others — and prices start at just $14 at Amazon.

Lightweight Packing Essentials at Amazon

Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Expandable Carry-on

The first step to ensuring you’ll be able to lift your suitcase into the overhead bin is selecting a lightweight carry-on with convenient (and sturdy) side handles. This expandable Travelpro spinner bag weighs just over five pounds and is lighter than most carry-on bags, so with some thoughtful packing, you should find it easier to hoist above your head than traditional hardside bags.

It comes with both top and side carry handles that are low-profile and comfortable to lift from, and the suitcase offers an additional two inches of packing space so you can fit everything you need. It also comes with an accessible front pocket that’s perfect for storing anything you might want to grab during your flight that you didn’t have room for in your personal item. 

Samsonite Underseat Carry-on Suitcase

Opting for a compact, underseat carry-on is a great way to avoid using the overhead bins altogether, and this traveler-approved option is the perfect pick for $100. It’s fitted with a number of handy pockets for your electronics, extra clothes, toiletries, and more, plus it’s affixed with four smooth spinner wheels for easy transit through the airport. One traveler shared that not only is it the “perfect size,” but they even decided to put it overhead and had “no trouble lifting it.”

Coofay Travel Backpack

Traveling with a backpack as a personal item is a great way to keep your hands free, but it’s also a reliable option for holding the bulk of your heavier items in-flight, saving space (and weight) in your carry-on. This convenient carry-on backpack unzips like a suitcase so you can truly maximize your packing potential, plus it’s compact enough to slide under the seats of most commercial airlines. A multitude of pockets as well as a built-in shoe compartment will make storing bulkier items a breeze — and it’s even on sale for just $22 at Amazon. 

Etronik Weekender Bag

Another flight attendant-loved option, this roomy weekender bag will fit under your seat or in the overhead bin — plus it’s far lighter than traditional carry-on bags. This weekender is designed with a built-in shoe compartment at the base to keep your footwear separate from your clean clothes, while the roomy primary pocket offers all the space you need within a lightweight frame.

One flight attendant revealed that they tell “all my other flight attendant friends to purchase” the “good quality” bag, adding that it “holds up,” even with regular use.

Cozy Essentials 20-pack Vacuum Storage Bags

While vacuum compression bags may be better suited for saving packing space, they will allow you to easily stow away extra items in your personal item, better allocating the weight between your two bags. This 20-pack from Cozy Essentials frees up 80 percent extra storage space, according to the brand, and with your carry-on less full, you’ll find it easier to slide into the overhead bin without battling for space (especially if you’re using a softside or weekender bag).

You can rest assured they’re traveler-approved as well, with one shopper noting that they made “all the difference in packing efficiently and wrinkle-free,” adding that they’ll “never travel without them again.”

Dream Pairs Women’s Foldable Ballet Flats

The quickest way to cut weight from your suitcase and make it easier to lift is by moving heavy items like footwear and large garments into your personal item, or wearing them in-flight. If you do want to pack an extra pair of shoes in your suitcase, this lightweight, foldable option from Dream Pairs is the way to go since they’ll hardly take up any space. Plus, you’ll have no trouble styling them in a multitude of different ways throughout your trip.

The outsoles are made from slip-resistant rubber, while the insoles are surprisingly supportive and well-cushioned, so you can comfortably wear them during long sightseeing days. In fact, they’re even flight attendant-approved, with one airline worker noting that they “were perfect for my layovers while in different cities” and easy to “toss in an overnight bag or when doing a day trip.”

Ouges Women’s Open-front Cardigan

Instead of opting for heavier layers that will take up valuable space in your suitcase and consequently weigh your bag down, a lightweight sweater that you can wear on the plane and during chilly evenings is really all you need to pack. Currently on sale for 67 percent off, this breezy layer can be worn during multiple occasions throughout your trip, so you can leave your less versatile sweaters and tops behind, and it even comes in 22 pretty colors. It’s also earned more than 9,600 five-star ratings at Amazon, with shoppers confirming that it’s “fantastic for international travel.”

Cubetastic Travel Toiletry Bag

Limiting the amount of toiletries you travel with, as well as storing them in your personal item instead of your carry-on, will cut down on the weight of your bag. However, if you struggle to pare down your beauty routine, it may be worth snagging a smaller toiletry case that will force you to make cuts.

This compact, water-resistant pouch has a built-in hook so you can hang it on the back of the bathroom door once you arrive at your destination. Plus, it’s designed with three clear pockets so you can quickly locate what you’re looking for without taking everything out. Its slim construction will take up minimal space in your bag, and if you store it in your personal item, you don’t have to worry about it weighing down your carry-on.

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.