Ben, I apologize if you have addressed this further on.

I think that the charging of the first checked bag within Canada etc. is going to result in even greater abuse of the carry-on baggage policy, which lostinthewash has referenced.

We flew to NY from Toronto on Sept. 14 - each of us had a carry-on that fit AC's regulations. My husband only carried his computer bag with papers knowing that others would be carrying-on multiple over sized bags and he was quite correct. It was pretty bad - and the FA actually asked him to put his bag on his lap for the outward bound trip to make room for other peoples' excess carry-ons. He normally is not a person who will say anything, but this time he did - to no avail of course.

The return trip on Friday, Sept. 19 was worse. As we sat waiting for the plane we could see people with huge suitcases that should have been checked - together with multiple shopping bags. Of course there was not enough room for those with regulation bags so they had to be gate checked. If the proper procedures were followed to begin with, then this would not happen. I did mention it to the FA since our take-off was delayed due to all of the gate-checking of bags and she told me that it was an issue but one that needs to be handled at the gate level. Personally I do not care who handles it.

Penalizing people who actually follow the rules and allowing people who do not to get away with it does not endear AC to anyone except for said rule breakers.

As we were sitting on the plane we could hear people discussing the new checked baggage charges and how they planned to carry on even more luggage etc.