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Aircraft

Boeing increases carry-on capacity with new Space Bins

By Darren Quick
July 14, 2014
Boeing increases carry-on capacity with new Space Bins
Boeing's Space Bins will stow six bags, two more than the current pivot bins installed on Next-Generation 737s (Photo: Boeing)
Boeing's Space Bins will stow six bags, two more than the current pivot bins installed on Next-Generation 737s (Photo: Boeing)
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Boeing's Space Bins will stow six bags, two more than the current pivot bins installed on Next-Generation 737s (Photo: Boeing)
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Boeing's Space Bins will stow six bags, two more than the current pivot bins installed on Next-Generation 737s (Photo: Boeing)

Seasoned travelers know the benefits of restricting luggage to carry-on, letting them smugly cruise past the suckers waiting at baggage claim at the end of a flight. But with the number of people going carry-on only, finding space in the overhead compartments can be a hassle. Boeing's new Space Bins overcome this problem, with each storing two more bags than the current bins.

To be offered as an optional feature on the new Next-Generation 737's and 737 MAX aircraft, the new Space Bins will stow six carry-on bags of the standard 9 x 14 x 22-in (23 x 36 x 56 cm) size. This will bring the bag-carrying capacity of aircraft including the 737-900ER and 737 MAX 9 up to 194, which is 62 more bags than the current pivot bins that were introduced in 2010 can handle.

Boeing says the new Space Bins are as easy to close as the pivot bins, but don't require an assist mechanism. They also feature a lower bin lip height to make them easier to load and increase visibility to the back of the bins.

The Space Bins can be retrofitted to existing Next-Generation 737s and will be introduced on new aircraft deliveries to Alaska Airlines when they become available from late 2015.

Source: Boeing

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10 comments
Darren Quick
Darren Quick
Darren's love of technology started in primary school with a Nintendo Game & Watch Donkey Kong (still functioning) and a Commodore VIC 20 computer (not still functioning). In high school he upgraded to a 286 PC, and he's been following Moore's law ever since. This love of technology continues as Managing Editor of New Atlas.

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10 comments
Bruce H. Anderson
This can't happen soon enough. Because of my frequent flyer status the lack of bin space hardly ever affects me, but on almost every flight the gate personnel ask people if they would like to check their rollaboards to their final destination due to lack of room.
IDNTBF
This is an engineering solution to a social problem. People continue to carry more and larger items onto the plane, thereby filling up all the available space. Having room for two more bags would be good, if people were actually limited to one carry on that was the size of the bags in the illustration. But many people try to cheat.
The best solution would be to eliminate overhead storage completely and gate check any bags that do not fit under the seat. This would cut the boarding and deboarding time by 60%.
I look for the loopholes created by herd behavior. Since so many people are carrying on bags, I check mine so I can get on and off faster than all the people who are waiting for others to clear out their bags from the overhead bins. Also, I don't have to drag all that stuff through the airport and keep track of it when I get food or use the latrine. I fly SWA so I can sit where I want: Sometimes in the front row if I'm in a hurry, sometimes in the escape-hatch aisle if I want a tray and leg room. I fly dozens of trips a year via SWA and they have never lost one of my bags.
Then again, I am not so devoted to my "stuff" as most people. The few things I really need I keep in my under-seat bag and the rest can be replaced. Actually it would be better, because the airline would give me cash if they lost something and I could buy new stuff.
MarylandUSA
Is this a tech article or a press release? If it's a tech article, please tell us HOW Boeing managed to squeeze more volume from their bins. By making each bin longer? By removing dividers? By using thinner materials?
Rustgecko
@IDNTBF "People continue to carry more and larger items onto the plane, thereby filling up all the available space. "
It is not passengers who want to take more "stuff" in the overhead bins, it is many airlines encouraging them to do so by charging high rates for check-in bags and telling passenger that the way to avoid the high charges is to take everything in carry-on luggage.
MarylandUSA
@Rustgecko Frontier just charged my daughter $25 per carry-on!
Stephen N Russell
For all airlines to retro fit into planes & new planes coming off line.
the.other.will
My 2nd bag is always quite small because I want to leave room for my feet under the seat in front of me. And I'm only 5-9. The photo suggests the doors of the Space Bin slide into the space above the luggage. Airlines need to strictly enforce limits on the sizes of carry-on bags to improve the experience of the majority of the passengers.
nicho
@ITNDBF - you don't really fly, do you ? If you did you'd know that seat assignment is the only thing that governs how quickly you deplane.
Buzz Allnight
A feature that is needed is a clear see through door or a door that locks when full so the next dumb a$$ doesn't ruffle through every bag in there and try to jam another one in!
Calson
Airlines started charging for each checked bag and that can add $150 to the cost of the ticket. Airlines have also done little to reduce the time it takes for passengers to check luggage and to recover it (hopefully) at their destination. Even worse with the TSA nonsense I can no longer lock my luggage so any thief from the initial TSA inspector to all the baggage handlers with access to my luggage while in route to my destination have access to everything inside. Anything I need to have at my destination I need to carry on the plane as any experienced air traveler understands. What is sad is that with the pathetic state of the train service that the Republicans have cut funding for year after year is that Americans have the choice of driving or flying even for distances that a high speed train could cover in a couple hours and then luggage would not be a symptom of much bigger problems with our privatized and antiquated travel system.