The seats are assigned. People have been standing in line for 15 minutes now. Why on earth would anyone want to stand there, when they could just sit and wait until the line clears?
I understand wanting to get off a plane ASAP, but boarding? You just end up sitting on the plane, waiting for everyone else to get on.
I was a flight attendant with TWA, so take this as what it is: advice from 20+ years ago.
If all the overhead bins are full they will gate check your bag; tag it, send it down the external stairs of the jetway, and it will go in the belly with the other checked luggage.
Yeah, I thought about that, but I once saw someone bring something too large on the plane and the flight attendant told the person it would have to be checked(at cost). Maybe the guy pissed her off, I don’t know.
If their “carry on” does not meet the size restrictions they absolutely will gate check it at cost. That’s their fault not listening or reading bag size restrictions orbwillfully ignoring them in hopes of forcing an oversize bag into the overhead.
Yes, this is also true if you board the plane and your luggage doesn’t fit (for example, regional flights on a CRJ or ERJ). As long as it’s within the airline’s policy for carry-ons, they’ll gate check it for free.