Was asked to check my carry on under the plane

As a passenger, what rights do I have when told I need to put my camera bag below the plane.  My bag was size approved, they just didn't have room for it in the cabin. They ended up moving someone elses bag and mine was kept above.  

But it was a pain.  The stewardess at one point said they had every right to do what they wish with my bags, even though I had camera gear in it. 

So do they?  

Sassy Girl wrote: As a passenger, what rights do I have when told I need to put my camera bag below the plane.

Have you considered reading the contract to which you agreed when you bought your ticket? Yes, you agree to terms and conditions, set out by the airline.

They have complete  authority on the plane. Including ejecting people, moving bags, telling you where to sit and what to do. And you acquiesce to that when you buy a ticket.

You're a photographer: read the contract.

N.B. that whole United thing with the doctor? That wasn't about whether they had the authority, it was about the logic they used in deciding who got ejected. And frankly, the guy was in the wrong for refusing, whether we like it or not, and whether it was handled well or not (spoiler: it wasn't handled properly at all, IMNSHO). But if you want to discuss whether the attendants can, the answer is, "yes, the absolutely can."

I think they should first move suitcases, rather than small bags, no matter what. I don't care whether some is privileged or not, roll-on bags take up too much room. Or change out the overheads to accommodate the bags straight in. Or stop charging for checked bags (which is the stupidest thing.... that charge is for the handling of the bag, not its weight. Turns out it weighs the same whether it's in the overhead or in the cargo hold. Who knew?)

All that said: plan for the worst, be polite, and do your best to get what you want. Sounds like you were successful, so good on ya.

To be fair, my information could be stale, and I could be wrong.

Keep what is most important to you in a bag that can slide under the seat instead. I keep my body, 400mm, 85mm, macro lens, then everything else gets packed up in another bag if there isn’t room in my “travel bag”. If they insist, no choice in that case. They give your seat away if you are difficult.

On another note, I almost got myself kicked off of a plane recently because they told us we had to check our life saving meds (epi, insulin, and candy for low blood sugar). Both my wife and daughter are T1 diabetics. I politely told him “we have life saving medications”, as I watched an entire tennis team jam their obviously-over-the-size-limit bags, in to the overhead compartments because they didn’t want to check them. He told me that wasn’t his problem. Told him pound sand and stared at him until he walked away.

Some fights are are worth it, some are not. The camera is not. *sigh* the airline personnel have gotten quite nasty since 9/11, but more recently, customer service scores and social media have forced them to back off a bit

It is their plane.  They get to make the rules.

Yes I think they have the right to do what they want with luggage. Next time get on the airline's website and read up on it before you fly. I think I'd take whatever (including meds) that I'd need for the day/next day in my purse/with me and not put it in another bag (that could end up stashed away).

Well these answers went a little different than I thought.  

So you would have let them take your camera gear and toss under the belly of the plane with out challenging them?  

I leave a lot of gear all year around in the truck; it is not
sensible to weather or temperature but to the changes.

I wouldn't do the same with my guitars though… suicidal.

It's funny that you bring up a guitar

Good tune and funny video though tragic story.
For the record, I'm a CF Martin player.

My husband plays a little and would likely know the guitar you are talking about.  How long have you been playing?

I was 15 then and noticed that, when he pulled out his guitar, Mario
was getting a lot of the girls attention. I knew what I had to do…
and it worked!

My favourite is a 1971 D-28 I bought new then. I also have a mint D-41
from the 70s (bought used from a junkie) and some others from Guild
(1974 F50R Navarre), Gibson (60+yo J45) (1982 ES335) etc.

Like everything I do, I like to push the envelope and be the best I can be
when I invest myself in anything.

BTW, I got myself a Strat last month!

Sassy Girl wrote: Well these answers went a little different than I thought.  

So you would have let them take your camera gear and toss under the belly of the plane with out challenging them?  

Nobody said they would, and that wasn't the question you asked in your OP. You asked whether the airlines have the right to decide what happens on their plane. And their "rights" are governed by the contract to which you agree.

As for this new question, no, of course not. It would be very easy to point out that all carry-ons are not created equal, and a simple bag is a lot more delicate than a suitcase. Suitcases should go in cargo, not shoulder bags. Said with a smile, and a disarming tone of voice. Right?

These days people see airlines paying out $$ for people who have or believe they have been abused in some way from the airlines.  Kind of similar to the recent ‘me too’ train that we saw a couple years ago, I find it tough not to see many stories we read about with airlines as same tone.  

It's a pretty common practice with small commuter planes. I know on a small jump from Idaho to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, I had to let them stow it underneath. 

+1 and they give you ticket and will be much safer than getting buried under all the gear as they put the gear in last.