Originally Posted by
dulciusexasperis
The FAs don't want the hassle of telling someone their roll aboard will have to be gate checked and instead penalize the person who has a smaller bag in the overhead space.
Also, I think that in many instances the FAs assume that a small bag is a pax personal item along with a carry on in the OH, in which case it should be removed if need be. However, if the small bag is the pax only item in the OH, then it stays. If the FA insists that it be removed, it would indeed be discrimination in favor of the pax with a larger carry on. I would not want to sacrifice my foot space if I only have a small bag in the OH.