Over at the travel security forum some folks would point out that that's outside the jursdiction of the TSA.

The line people and gate knats (which I have been) are "rule followers" and they think the rule is to be ready and not get left behind.......kind hearted people.

You must be different than the gate 'lice' who stand at the front and block other travelers--or worse yet, try to get on first--even though they know they're in group 6.

I don't know what they were thinking? :confused: I will try to train them to relax as I visit each airport. :)

There should be some sort of invisible force field that will zap people when they try to crowd the gate before they are called...we can only dream. Maybe space travel 2050. :D

Reminds me of a story someone told me about a flight out of Kinshasa where a passenger had stowed a fish in an overhead bin which proceeded to break down and leak rotting fish juice down onto the passengers below during the course of the flight.

I was stopped last month in Tampa at the ID checker -- she wouldn't let me continue until I put my (small) purse inside of my laptop bag (I also had a legal sized roll-a-board). She made me hold up the line of about 6 people behind me just to do that, even though I explained that I was going to just pull it out again when I got to the gate area, since that's where I was going to purchase a cup of coffee. I told her I would put it in there before boarding, but that just wasn't good enough for her... and then she got ticked off when my attitude wasn't all sunny and rosy. :mad: Too dumb.

I guess I crowd a little, but I prefer to stand before a flight and if I'm going to stand, then why not near the gate (but as out of the way as possible)? Getting cut off by the crowd so I can't board with the rest of group 1 is a pain. I'm also a window seat guy, so I try to board early so as to get in before the aisle/middle pax to avoid the up/down dance. If I'm on an airline I have no status on, I won't stand as close as I'm unlikely to be an early boarder.

This is true. But do you remember what it was like before WN started the three lines system? I flew them a lot in the mid-90s (required to for work unless they didn't serve the destination), and it was madness. They'd announce preboarding, and 80-90% of the pax on the flight would crowd around the jetway door. If you were in an earlier boarding zone, people in the later zones would refuse to move to let you by. I'd almost always be in the first boarding zone, and I would literally have to elbow my way through a crowd of second and third zone people standing in front of the jetway door, because most people would not respond to a polite request to let me by.

So, I guess the only way for airlines to solve the problem is to have a line for every boarding zone, but I think DL often has 8 or 9 zones for bigger planes, so not much chance of that happening.

IMO, part of the problem with full overheads is due to folks who do carry on two items, but then insist on putting BOTH of them in the overhead!

I can understand if you are tall and really might need the extra space under the seat in front of you to allow you to sit comfortably. But, most of the folks doing this don't look like they fit in the "very tall" category.

if you want the convenience of not having your luggage misplaced or having to wait forever at the baggage carousel (which I for one do), then you should be able to live with the "inconvenience" of putting one of your items under the seat too (and I do this also).

I hate to admit this, but I was guilty of bringing two max size carry-ons once.

My spouse had to fly overseas for a family emergency. As the situation deteriorated (illness to eventual death of his dad in a foreign hospital) he called for me & asked I bring him more clothes as it was difficult to find a laundromat.

The airline allowed me to bring both bags on board, but they were unaware of my purpose of traveling.

Now here's the really bad part: The businessman seated next to me nicely asked how I managed to bring both on board. I told him the truth. He told me that he brought a 45" rollerboard & a computer bag. They made him check his rollerboard, & he boarded before I did. :td: :(
That is not right.
From then on, I've never attempted to bring more on board than a 45" bag & a reasonable sized personal item.

It is not just the risk of delayed or lost luggage that leads me to carry on all my bags. It is the propensity of airlines to abuse, soil, and damage my bags, as well as the risk of airport employees pilfering from my luggage. I've had checked luggage come out covered with dirt and oil from the tarmac. I've had checked luggage come out damaged (zippers or handles broken). My boss has had items stolen from his checked luggage at US airports. I've had checked luggage come out soaking wet.

Bottom line is, I got tired of repeatedly buying new luggage to replace all the bags the airlines destroyed, so now I carry everything on. My luggage lasts much longer.

My experience with damaged luggage has been for it be replaced by the airline (insurance) at no cost to me. :D

As for carrying on ALL your bags :td:

But it is gratifying to elbow your way through and come out on the other side and board. Especially when you're noticeably younger than most of the people standing in the way, such as myself. :D

"All my bags" means one rollaboard that is actually smaller than the maximum size limit and one laptop case. I am always within the airlines' published carry-on limits, so I see no problem or any need to apologize for carrying everything on.