Narrative:

The size of the dog did not fit properly under a seat. We really had to struggle to get it in, per regulations. The same goes for dog carriers as luggage -- they should be checked before boarding. This person was very irate. She said that she had called and the size was ok -- I don't think so! I would like to add, I have flown with flight attendants that don't seem to care about bulkhead items. I asked a customer to place items in a proper stowage place. Other flight attendant's remark was 'oh, it's only a small item!' how can you help on this matter? The stowage rule should be good for all. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated that she didn't know if there had been an airplane change, but was adamant about the size of pet carriers being carried on. She would like to see an FAA directive about purses on the floor at bulkhead rows. She also says that one of the reasons for premeasured bags not fitting under seats is that the airlines are putting electrical outlets underneath seats for individual use of computers, etc. The outlet box has a diameter of about 4 inches, which is enough to make a real difference in not being able to stow normal size bags under the seats.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CABIN ATTENDANT RPT, B727, BWI-DFW. PAX WITH DOG CARRIER THAT WOULDN'T FIT UNDER SEAT WITHOUT A REAL STRUGGLE. PAX IRATE DUE TO AIRLINE'S SIZE MEASUREMENT.

Narrative: THE SIZE OF THE DOG DID NOT FIT PROPERLY UNDER A SEAT. WE REALLY HAD TO STRUGGLE TO GET IT IN, PER REGS. THE SAME GOES FOR DOG CARRIERS AS LUGGAGE -- THEY SHOULD BE CHKED BEFORE BOARDING. THIS PERSON WAS VERY IRATE. SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD CALLED AND THE SIZE WAS OK -- I DON'T THINK SO! I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, I HAVE FLOWN WITH FLT ATTENDANTS THAT DON'T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT BULKHEAD ITEMS. I ASKED A CUSTOMER TO PLACE ITEMS IN A PROPER STOWAGE PLACE. OTHER FLT ATTENDANT'S REMARK WAS 'OH, IT'S ONLY A SMALL ITEM!' HOW CAN YOU HELP ON THIS MATTER? THE STOWAGE RULE SHOULD BE GOOD FOR ALL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE HAD BEEN AN AIRPLANE CHANGE, BUT WAS ADAMANT ABOUT THE SIZE OF PET CARRIERS BEING CARRIED ON. SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN FAA DIRECTIVE ABOUT PURSES ON THE FLOOR AT BULKHEAD ROWS. SHE ALSO SAYS THAT ONE OF THE REASONS FOR PREMEASURED BAGS NOT FITTING UNDER SEATS IS THAT THE AIRLINES ARE PUTTING ELECTRICAL OUTLETS UNDERNEATH SEATS FOR INDIVIDUAL USE OF COMPUTERS, ETC. THE OUTLET BOX HAS A DIAMETER OF ABOUT 4 INCHES, WHICH IS ENOUGH TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN NOT BEING ABLE TO STOW NORMAL SIZE BAGS UNDER THE SEATS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.