Originally Posted by
formeraa
Why would GAs object? They are still non-union (for the time being).
FA's just object to assisting people with overweight and oversized bags - potentially causing bodily injury. Other than that, the FA's get paid no matter how many bags F pax are allowed.
The OP knew the rules. Obviously, the FAA was known to be at the airport (it gets around quickly when the inspectors are spotted) that day, if the GA's refused to be lenient. The GA's can be personally fined and, no, the airline is not obligated to pay personal fines. Why do DYKWIA-types always think the rules apply to everyone EXCEPT themselves???
I'm not talking about why today, but the root of the campaign to whittle down carry-on since Gunn & Co invented the on-time machine making getting planes out within 15 minutes of schedule a key marketing component. At one point you remember all the frames on x-ray machines to whittle down the size of carry-ons -- i think that was pushed by UA. Gordo came back by enlarging overhead bins and there was some ebb and flow. Post 911 delays at screening points became another reason.
As i mentioned, GAs and FAs have never enjoyed having to police and handle carry-ons. One uniformly restrictive policy rubberstamped by the FAA so airlines can lay blame on the government is the easiest way. True full fare international First Class pax are a relatively smaller percentage of business for the legacies than airlines such as EK, EY, BA, LH, LX, JL, NH, etc. Culturally a one size fits all policy would just be harder to make work for some of these airlines. For the UA, DL and AA there's just reason for them to annoy employees on this one.