I personally think that the new bag policies are absurd.

For years NWA tried to streamline boarding in order to turn the planes more quickly and keep things on schedule. Now the baggage charge has all of the tourists carrying on EVERYTHING in an effort to avoid paying, the boarding is slowed, the process is a mess, and every flight has a parade of people and bags going back and forth between and back and front of the cabin. This of course destroys the efficiency that they worked so hard to gain, and slows nearly every flight.

Planes push back late instead of closing early.

Passengers in the back fill up the FC bins with bags of oranges and frozen turkeys while the FAs either ignore it or just don't see it as they are busy hauling bags from the back of the plane. Late boarding FC pax don't have any bin room and have to gate check because the FC bins are full of Y carry-ons. FAs manhandle already stowed bags in an effort to cram "one more" into the FC bins. FAs struggle with shopping bags and 12 packs of pop when they should be serving drinks to FC!!!

I'm joking, but not really!

So I think this sounds like it might be an improvement - letting FC, elites and people with sane amounts of luggage get stowed first.

I do agree with Macoz that he should be able to use the bin space for his laptop. Or whatever he likes. People who bring small luggage should not be penalized so that others can use the space to avoid paying $15....