Thank you for stating the problem so well. I have suggestions: like children, passengers will use the permissions allowed. All of us need structure. Suppose Southwest and other airlines locked the overhead bins after boarding is complete. Then, upon landing, those with in-hand luggage would be allowed to disembark first, without having to wait for all the people who had stuffed most of their household goods in the overhead. I also suggest that Southwest experiment with a no-overhead luggage flight; that is, test how long it takes to board and disembark if all luggage has been checked. Checking baggage is so easy and so trouble free with Southwest that Southwest's tolerance of selfish passengers is unwise. Note: it angers the disciplined passengers. I fume, for example, when I have to hold a coat on my lap because the space is needed for someone who needs to travel with a three-month wardrobe. The disgust with the overhead baggage abuse has been festering. The other day, on flight 1952 from Seattle to Chicago, I followed a young woman, probably about #B40 for boarding, who had three large bags: a roller with another sizable bag affixed and, in her hand, a bag that was much too large for placing under a seat. That is, she would take up space overhead for three bags, and on a full flight. She was not challenged about what she brought aboard.
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