...should stop you...

The rules are two bags. IMO, you should check a bag.

Didn't some airlines allow 2 carryons and a personal items for First in the past?

"I need to carry all 3 things (camera bag, computer bag/purse, carryon bag) with me."

Replace need with want. You can easily check your clothing bag. Then you can use your camera bag as your carryon and your other item as your personal item.

Perhaps you didn't read my post carefully. This is not as "easy" as you claim. It interferes with "I'm looking to volunteer to be bumped, so I don't want checked bags to interfere with my options for bumping or staying overnight."

I'm sure it's easy for you, if you aren't hoping to get bumped, or don't mind staying overnight without your checked bag which has gone on without you.

For what it is worth, many airlines based in Asia allow only one carryon for economy class passengers, with a weight limit of 7kg (although not always strictly enforced).

Stuffing a carryon size bag with clothing (not even including books, laptop computers, or other heavy objects) will likely exceed such a weight limit.

Actually, there may be an exception (depending on the airline), since OP is carrying photo equipment.

This is from the TSA website:

"You may carry one (1) bag of photographic equipment in addition to one (1) carry-on and one (1) personal item through the screening checkpoint. The additional bag must conform to your air carrier's carry-on restrictions for size and weight. Please confirm your air carrier's restrictions prior to arriving at the airport."

"Air carriers may or may not allow the additional carry-on item on their aircraft. Please check with your air carrier prior to arriving at the airport."

I raised this issue with AA (just through their e-mail comments, not going any higher) and they seemed oblivious to the third-bag exception and quoted me the standard two carry-on info. I'd be curious if anyone has any success in doing this with any carrier.

I usually carry photo equipment, as well, and even though it's well-insured, it's not something you want to check.

Unfortunately for OP, the rules you quoted are TSA rules, not airline rules. I tried to explain the rules to a group I recently traveled with on AA. One of the guys is the type who always feels that he should be the exception to the rules. Guess what? He WASN'T and was forced to gate check his extra bag.

Since that's from TSA, I say that exception is for thru security, not for boarding.

Please also duly noted:
(Emphasis mine)

There are some parallel discussion with this thread over Travel Photography: Camera Bag as Third Carryon?

From her/his personal "research", sefrischling concludes none allows 3rd bag from the 14 airlines in US that s/he spoke to.

Allow me to repeat myself. TSA doesn't operate airlines. Carryon policy goes by each air carrier. I haven't seen any airline stating 3 carryons, photographic equipment or not, are allowed to board in print.

I believe I pointed that out in my post, no?

You should be able to get through the checkpoint with a third bag, if the TSA folks know and follow their own rules. Then it's up to the airline, and I'd be interested in knowing whether anyone has found an airline that will allow this exception for photo equipment.

Hadn't seen that thread, thanks.

Thanks videomaker, for your post. This was very interesting. I wonder if I could "gate check" my clothing bag if I am unsuccessful at VBD. This would be a fairly good "work-around" for my predicament - I'd still have to wait for my bag at the other end (one reason I don't like to check bags) but would have more flexibility for VDB options.

That would seem reasonable, though I can't say exactly what the airline would do.

You mentioned you usually fly UA or WN--Southwest seems media friendly, but apparently hasn't heard of the third-item TSA rule, since the Southwest website says: "Per TSA regulations, carryon items are limited to one bag plus one smaller, personal-type item." Not exactly correct.

But, according to the TSA's own rules, you should be able to get the third bag through screening. If you try it, you might want to carry a print-out of the web page--there have been cases where they don't know their own rules.

Let us know how it comes out, I'm curious, as well.

There's always someone like that, isn't there?

I just pack my purse in my rollaboard, redistribute the contents into my carryon, then reassemble when I get to the gate. Problem solved.

I think you should at least have a contingency plan should you require to check something. A fellow traveller had the approach that they could not be made to check their luggage. In the end, they were - but in the heat of the moment accidentally put a wallet containing their cash and credit cards into a flimsy bag which they then checked. All turned up safe & sound - but they didn't 'alf worry about it on the flight.

The reality is, many people have stuff they feel they cannot check. Valuable equipment, musical instruments, precious college notes, sentimental stuff etc. The only solution I know to get around the limit is to book an extra seat - which some airlines will let you do so you can carry stuff of particular value. Expensive - but there you go.

If you fly in economy, and don't accumulate "status" (ie gold cards etc) because you hop between airlines for the cheapest fare, then airlines may feel less likely to exercise their discretion in your favour.