If the bag doesn't fit through the opening it must be checked. But we felt it was a step we had to take. As the numbers of flyers increased so did the number of bags coming on to our planes which was making it more and more difficult to keep things on schedule. It's one way we felt we could make the flying experience better for you. All airlines have the same opportunity we did something about it.
Passengers have a role to play, too.
You clearly can be a partner in the process by limiting carry-ons by helping the cabin crew do other jobs more efficiently by being on time. Little things, I know. But multiply them by 50 million and the partnership becomes important. Now, given the events of the past few days, I also have to mention labor. It's always been the wildcard in this business as American Airlines just experienced and as did their stranded passengers.