Originally Posted by
televisor
Actually, I feel like overenforcing these rules would slow down boarding. If you have to stuff a sandwich and bottle into your case, and then remove it again once you're on the plane (since presumably you wanted those directly at your seat), you're going to slow down boarding much more.
I've never had issues carrying bottles or food in addition to my usual bags on US airlines, I've never bothered on the short flights I've taken on Easyjet or Ryanair though. I also don't see how a fannypack counts as extra seeing as carrying an equivalent amount of items in jacket pockets is perfectly acceptable, and takes up the same amount of space.
I think common sense is not allowed in the cabin and must be checked through to your destination. I'm fairly certain it's some sort of TSA guideline.
As to fines for not enforcing the carry-on limit, IIRC the FAA doesn't give a rip what the airlines allow in the cabin (in terms of baggage volume) and basically leaves the matter up to the discretion of the airline.