Check you bags, board with Zone 2
Just heard this while waiting for my flight: "We have a very full flight to Houston and we will run out of overhead space. If you are in Zone 4 or 5 and would like to go ahead and check your carryon, you will be able to board with Zone 2."
Doesn't that defeat the purpose of boarding early? I know if I don't have anything going in the overhead, I wait to get on towards the end.