Even the most helpful and courteous flight attendants are unlikely to help you lift your bag into the overhead bin. Believe it or not, this seemingly routine task isn’t actually part of their job. While it might seem like a perfectly reasonable request, flight attendants are advised against it by their unions, including the Association of Flight Attendants, due to the risk of injuries.
Kat Kamalani, a former flight attendant, addressed the subject in a video “Life Changing Tips from a Former Flight Attendant” that she posted on TikTok. “A ton of airlines tell you do not do this because there’s so many injuries with it,” she explains. Plus, because lifting bags into the overhead bin is not a flight attendant’s job, medical bills resulting from related injuries aren’t covered by insurance.
What should you do if you need help?
If you still need help lifting your bag into the overhead bin, don’t worry—there are still a few other options. In her video, Kamalani also points out that some flight attendants don’t mind helping you out; they just can’t take on the entire weight of your bag. “Just ask the flight attendant to assist you, and they will totally put it up there,” she says.
