Originally Posted by
KMPete
I keep mine on my larger cabin bag just in case they make me check my bag at the gate. I don't think it helps in any other way or at least not that I've ever noticed. I still get the yellow tag, so it certainly doesn't ward that off.
I once avoided having my cabin bag taken from me at LCY on a very busy flight where customers were given no choice in the matter. I was pointedly missed out (and I was not sitting in that silly roped-off area for GCH) and the poor guy next in line whose bag was taken asked the agent why mine was not. GCH was her response which was a bit awkward so I pretended not to have heard. Generally my cabin bag contains camera equipment that I would refuse to check; once on Easyjet I was late to board and was forced to hand over my bag - I emptied much of it into my pockets first and then staggered on with the camera/500mm lens held in my hands.