Originally Posted by
Widgets
E175 and 717 have mainline-level overhead bins that accommodate all carry-on size-compliant luggage. Were you at the end of boarding when bins may have filled up? Or the GA incorrectly assumed Delta Connection = small bins.
Situations like these are why I let passengers try to stow onboard unless the item doesn't fit in the carry-on size box; boarding with an oversized carry-on, even if it can fit in a bin, can be an $11,000 fine and it takes space away from compliant passengers. "It always fits and no one ever stopped me before" is not an excuse for boarding with an oversized bag (NOT targeted at OP, but to passengers who try to bring 4' long backpacks as carry-ons).
I was boarding in the elite zone, so I was NOT the tail end of process. The luggage claim in DTW refused to believe it until I strongly suggest to them to pull the boarding list, which they did and confirmed that I was boarding very early on.
I honestly think the GA was being intentional nasty, i.e., bad day, or whatever, and I got picked on. I think he know the OHB is not too small, or we would have done the pink-tag gate check of bags. I have a 21.4" carry-on size used by many seasoned traveler and flight crews. Besides that, I was carrying a small computer bag.
After I boarded, I watched many pax came onboard with bags significantly larger than mine and the woman sat next to me had a big Gucci make up case, + large LV handbag, + a similar sized (to my) Tumi carry on, + garment bag! She also had a SBUX Venti drink with her, which was spilled onto the seat and one side of my pants. Clearly the GA was profiling or being very selective.
I do, however, want to mention that E175 and B717's bins are smaller than other mainline aircrafts, even though they are meant to be "full size". MDs have non-symmetric OHB as one side only has 2 seats... My point is that my bag is standard carry-on sized and fits easily in the OHB.
My comment about small planes are very true. I am not sure where you are based at. RJ is a very common aircraft used to cover my home airport of SJC. It's actually rare to see a full-size mainline DL aircraft. RJ is used to feed LAX, SEA, PDX, and SLC on certain schedule with E175 being the other mix and occasionally B717. 737, A319, A320 are only use when the flight comes from MSP or ATL (I think).