Originally Posted by
SiestaMan
As I'm boarding a US flight today, in group 2 (because of status), FA observes that I have briefcase and small rollaboard. He tells me to put one piece under seat in front of me. I ask why, and of course he tells me it's a full flight and they will probably run out of overhead space. I protest that I'm 6' 3" and need all the footroom I paid for. I put my two pieces in the overhead, but as it turns out the bins didn't fill up. I was prepared to make a stand on the premise I purchased that foot area, and what's the point of early boarding to preferred customers if you can't store carryons that are well within airline specifications!
So my friends, can the airlines force us to do this?
You have to obey crewmember instructions. I certainly hope they make an issue out of it if the bins fill up.
What am I supposed to gate check because you were a hog?:
My typical carry-ons on vacation:
1) My laptop bag?
2) My rollaboard with a DSLR and several hundred dollars worth of medicine that I have no way of replacing at my destination if it goes missing? While not having it isn't going to actually harm me it's going to completely wreck my vacation.
Note that none of the delicate stuff is packed for going in the belly--and the airline isn't going to accept liability.