We know that airlines overbook their seats, then count on no-shows and rebookings to make the system work. This helps ensure that each flight will be as full as possible, but it also leads to situations where passengers must be paid to take a different flight. What if the airlines are doing the same thing with overhead bins and “allowing” more carry-on luggage than a plane can even hold? What if they’re overbooking those compartments in the hopes or expectation that some passengers won’t bother with a Rollaboard and will simply check their bags instead?
If that’s the case, then the aisle pandemonium can’t be chalked up to passengers’ misbehavior or to honest confusion at the gate. No, it would mean that all this hassle is a natural outcome of the airlines’ cabin-stowage arbitrage. It would indicate inconvenience by design.
Of course they want to make it inconvenient so you pay to check your bag instead. Call their bluff, stay within the carry on size restrictions and have them gate check it for free when they run out of room.
I love it when they check my carryon. I have a backpack that comfortably fits everything I’d need for a 14 hour flight, carryon usually is just clothes.
I dont mind the extra 10 min wait for my bag at the exit. Also- last on first off so it comes off pretty quickly