Originally Posted by Adam Smith

Short checking would only be if checking the bag at check-in. As far as I'm aware, once they gate check, it's going all the way to the final destination, and I've heard people ask, numerous times, to have gate-checked bags available at a connection point, and be denied. Not to say it's impossible to short check at gate-check as I can't definitively state that it's impossible, but it certainly shouldn't be counted on.

OP, are you in Y or in J, and what size is your bag? If you're in J, you should have access to the closet to store your bag, especially if it conforms to AC's size limits (even if it won't quite fit in the bin). If you're bringing an oversize bag, bring a different bag or just check it. The CR9 bins suck and it's not worth the hassle. And if you're in Y, especially if you don't have status and will board towards the end, there's a good chance the bag will have to be gate checked. Or the only way to avoid a gate check may be to put it at your feet and put your smaller item in the overhead.