Overhead Bins Stir Lots of Flyer Anxiety: Digital Tech Is Here to Help

Many U.S. airline passengers live in a near-constant state of anxiety because of overhead bins. They wonder if space will be available when they reach their row, fearing that if there isn’t, they’ll have to return to the front of the plane to check their luggage. Carriers don’t like this dance either, because last-minute checked bags are challenging to handle — a person must run them to the cargo hold — and may lead to delayed departures. Airlines could solve the problem by making it cheaper for passengers to check luggage. Most don’t like this idea, however, since baggage is a massive revenue producer for U.S. carriers. But there’s some good news: Boeing and Airbus, along with some of their suppliers, may have solutions for the carry-on crunch, and they’ve shown off a few this week at the