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It is one of the most infuriating problems on flights, arriving at your seat with your hand luggage only to find there is nowhere to store it.

But new plane designs will allow up to six suitcases to be stored in each overhead locker - meaning no more clashes with fellow passengers as everyone tries to squeeze in their belongings.

The so-called 'Space Bins' have been introduced by Boeing for their next generation 737s and will each take six carry-on suitcases measuring 9 x 14 x 22 inches.

Room for a small one? The new 'Space Bins' can store six cases each within the cabin

The design will be introduced into planes from late 2015 and Alaska Airlines will be the first carrier to trial the extra storage.

The problem of storage of hand-luggage on planes has been exacerbated by charges for checking in suitcases, increasing the number of people taking larger items of hand luggage.

Budget airlines frequently waive check-in fees and ask passengers to hand over their cases at the gate to be put in the hold as space runs out in the cabin.

In-air battles: Currently, passengers struggle to find room to store all their hand luggage

Beverly Wyse, vice president and general manager for the 737 program at Boeing, said: 'We're taking the Boeing Sky Interior, which is hugely popular with our airline customers and passengers, and building on that success by adding even more room for bags.'

Mark Eliasen from Alaska Airlines said: 'Alaska is committed to making flying a hassle-free and comfortable experience.

'The additional storage space will allow our customers to keep their personal items with them in the cabin, which we think they will enjoy.'

The design comes as Boeing's rival Airbus also revealed some new concepts for plane cabins.

The aircraft designer has filed a patent for a new kind of economy seats which makes passengers sit on something akin to a bicycle saddles.

Are you sitting comfortably? Airbus has filed a seat patent that has cushions are shaped liked bicycle saddles

The so-called saddle seating would allow the firm to fit far more passengers into flights lasting 'a couple of hours'.

When the seats are not in use, the would flip up to create more space in the cabin.

'In effect, to increase the number of cabin seats, the space allotted to each passenger must be reduced,' the patent application states.

Each of the bicycle seats is fastened to a vertical bar, and the seats retract to increase space when not in use.

Airbus officials say the patent request does not mean the seat will be commercialised.

'Many, if not most, of these concepts will never be developed, but in case the future of commercial aviation makes one of our patents relevant, our work is protected," Airbus spokeswoman Mary Anne Greczyn told the LA Times.