Yeah this happens in the US sometimes. One of the regional-jet carriers operating as American Eagle is notorious for having GAs and FAs refuse to accept any suitcase size luggage -- even on regional-jet equipment whose overhead bins can comfortably accommodate that luggage. Apparently it's in the conditions attached to their FAA operating certificate. See
no rollaboards allowed in overhead on CRJ-900? .
United almost certainly does something similar -- each United Express operator has their own rules about acceptable sizes for bags. Sometimes this leads to wholesale rejection of bags which certainly do physically fit in onboard storage compartments. But it's the rules they agreed to.
These size limits are unknown to customers, unadvertised, impossible to verify, and not consistent with mainline requirements. If an agent tells you "we have a new policy that says we don't accept bigger bags" there is no way for you to figure out whether or not they are telling the truth. You can choose not to fly if you like.
Originally Posted by
Two Bee
Bingo!
Just be cool, let them tag your bag, and smile while keeping your lips sealed, Then mosey on the plane, palming the greenie!
If it absolutely doesn't fit, or you can't find a bin large enough, put the tag back on and set it out by the door!
I don't feel comfortable recommending this strategy to others because it requires a certain level of sophistication (and/or deceit) which is difficult to explain.