Recently flew LAX-CLT on an A321. I showed up to the gate at the boarding time listed on my BP. They were already on Zone 4 and gate-checking bags. I walked over to the agent, showed my BP, and was let through. (There's no priority line here, why not?)

Got on board and all the F bins were closed. I was sitting in row 3 and began opening bins to see if any space was open. None. Keep in mind I'm now in the midst of zone 4 boarding despite only being 5 minutes after boarding should have started. I ask the FA for help but the only option is to gate check. I explain to him I'm a First Class passenger and that there's no reason for bins to be full this quickly into boarding. He shrugs. I gate check

Worst part -- upon getting down in CLT, I notice two pax in row 2 take 4 bags out the bins ABOVE ROW 3. On AA/DL, I've always had FAs help me find space for my bag, especially when seated in F.