Generally I'd say that if it encourages more people to check luggage and reduce the shit show that boarding has become I'm all for it. But then it doesn't affect me personally because I don't pay for bags and only carry a backpack on board. I definitely see how the move might encourage more people to sign up for United credit cards with baggage perks that "pay for themselves."

Also, if you pay a lower fare or don't book early enough and your party is broken up that's your problem. Maybe I'm an asshole for saying no. But unless it involves children or some other extenuating circumstance, or you just need me to move an aisle or two back and I still get my aisle or window or whatever I chose that day, I'm not giving you my seat and won't feel even a little bad about it.

I would guess that enforcement would just mean at the gate you couldn't take through anything bigger than specified in the article.

Most people in that situation would prefer to keep the item with them or under the seat rather than up in a bin.

You can't fit much under the seat though. It's not much of an alternative

Someday you will handled like luggage, you are put into a pod with 20 other people and one toilet and the pod is stuffed into the plane. At the destination they pull the pod out and stuff the next one in while you are exiting. You can utilize a 3d packing scheme to optimize the pod space. Perhaps they will offer free paralytics to ensure you don't move much.

I'm pretty sure the CEO of Spirit airlines said something along the lines of people not caring how they're treated as long as the fares are cheap. I believe this was said in response to them having the worst legroom in the industry.

Which is one reason I never fly with them, at 6'5" I would only fit in with the luggage.

On the other hand maybe people will choose not to use the overhead bin now that it costs money. Wouldn't that save some time?

That could happen, but I doubt it because the alternative is checking bags which also costs money and takes more time.

Isn't the alternative to keep your bag under the seat in front of you?

Most people use both spaces, I'd say. You can't fit much more than a bookbag under the seat

Umm, in my experience, you can almost always fit the standard cabin class bag under the seat in front of you. (55x40x25 cm, or 22x16x10 inches)

Of course, I still rather put the bag in the overhead compartment, because then there is more legroom. Or some legroom, to be precise. If the bag fills up the space in front of you, it's quite inconvenient.

Sure, but I imagine that many of the people skipping the overhead locker are people who are only bringing a small bag