Umm, ok croberts134, I agree the personal item and carry-on item have different size requirements as you say.

However, who defines what is a carry-on vs. a personal item? I carry on only 1 bag (a small backpack around 20x16x9 when relatively full). It is my 'carry-on' bag, it is not my 'personal item' as far as I am concerned. So as long as it conforms to the maximum carry-on dimensions, I would argue that it should receive equal treatment as someone else's roll aboard or whatever. If I were to carry it on and also carry on say a camera bag as my personal item, what then would you say should happen if there were a dispute as to whose 'carry on' should be moved to under the seat or off loaded and checked?

Do you really think that my carrying on only 1 bag should mean that it is a 'personal item' simply because it is smaller than the maximum carry-on size restrictions? The issue to me is not really about OH space, it is about foot space. I want my under seat foot space empty, just like everyone else does. I believe I am equally entitled to have that space free if what I carry on will fit in the OH space and space is available when I board. To have to give up that foot space because I happen to have a carry-on bag that is smaller than someone else's, means that I would be punished for carrying on a smaller bag while the other person would be rewarded for carrying on the maximum size bag allowed. Should I then start to add to the problem of not enough OH space by making sure I use a bag that is the maximum size allowed?

I am not aware of any definition of 'carry-on bag' that insists on any particular type of 'bag' or that it must be of the maximum dimensions. My 'carry-on' is equal to anyone else's carry-on is it not?