I have resisted this over the years, but I reckon it's time for me to start bringing the roller board with me on the plane.

I will up-size it a bit (still keeping it under the max dimensions) to accommodate my laptop. I vaguely recall seeing a few bags that had front mounted independent access compartments large enough to swallow my laptop bag (yet still providing easy access to the bag en route).

I guess I have been resistant for two reasons:

- I don't like playing the "find a slot for my steamer trunk roulette". There will be 1 out of 8 or 10 turns that I lose and have to put the bag upstream or gate check it...this will happen eventually just from connection delay's putting me at the end of the boarding queue.

- I worry a bit over the gate check on CRJ's for my mini-fridge...invariably I will be on a delayed flight and needing to run to the next gate, yet drumming my fingers in the jetway awaiting my luggage.

However, the upside is that I will no longer be one of those anonymous donors that is giving away free space overhead by checking my bag. AND I will not be challenged to put my laptop in my foot well. The trade off is good...just seems so silly and in the end it hurts those that insist on it more than it hurts me. I will be most assuredly be taking more space with my new bag than with my laptop.

I don't put any stock in what other pax might think of my current approach, but I don't want to be subject to an FA demanding I move my laptop when in the end, I can just put my steamer trunk (with my embedded laptop) up top and the FA is quite happy??!!??

I don't understand the "communal win" logic of the rules in my particular circumstance, but in the end I don't really need to understand the logic of the rule...just the letter of the rule.

My next flight is on 20Jan, so I'll head out this weekend to go buy a piece of nice big luggage to make me bonafide for top space.

If there are any experienced pack mules out there have recommendations based upon my stated need, please send them along.