Sunday afternoon I flew YVR -> SFO on United. Like all United flights these days, it was 100% full and I experienced something new: The FAs were rigorously enforcing the 'one bag in the bin, one bag under the seat in front of you request.'

In fact, it was more of a rule than a request, with FAs confronting people when they put two items in the bin and demanding that they put one item under the seat in front of them. At 6'3 and working for a company that won't pay for an E+ upgrade I need every inch of space under that seat in front of me, so luckily they didn't notice when I put my small rollaboard *and* my small backpack in the bin above. Is this new? Are all the carriers doing this? Was this just an overly enthusiastic purser demanding this of her cabin crew?