Fair enough, I appreciate the well articulated response and agree with your usage, but you said it right here:
I knew that would be the one thing someone would comment on
That's the unfortunate state of things due to years of people using the word derogatorily. I applaud you trying to bring it back to proper usage, just be prepared that you will continue to get responses like mine and I doubt they'll all be as considered as this was.
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.
I watched Beverley Hills Cop as a kid.
Axel F is the only thing I know how to play on a keyboard.
I did not realize Axel F was Axel Foley until a couple years ago.
Hey that's a nice home you have. We're moving in.
You can fight me for it but it will be long and bloody. Probably best you just move out and concede it to me.
Airbus has only really been in competition with Boeing since the 2000s. Boeing's merger with Mcdonell Douglas was in 1997 and that is when corporate culture shifted hard away from quality and to machinists, mechanics, engineers, everyone being told to think "how can I increase stock value today".
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.
Exactly what I was driving at.