Originally Posted by rove312

Even if I have a decent post count, most of my domestic flights are on Southwest, and I have minimal experience in a setting where there's a charge to check bags and people may be inclined to carry on more.

I have no status and am going MCI-ATL-MSY on a $59 fare. Is DL's boarding order some status categories, then in sections from the rear? In the first segment, I seem to have lucked into an exit row when they removed the original flight from the schedule: row 26 of an MD-88. Second segment: row 24 of a 738. To be sure of getting overhead space, how should I fit in among the gate lice? Can I get away with putting the bag over another row, preferably forward? I don't know if I'm reading right that, if I need to gate-check on the first segment, I'd need to go landside to ATL baggage claim and be pretty sure to miss the connection.