Right, I've always thought it made more sense to charge for carry-ons than for (some moderate allowance of) checked bags, since checked bags are easier on the airline:

- less of the scarce cabin space used

- less time/complication loading the plane

- less labor to inspect (you have to apply more scrutiny to stuff a passenger can use in flight), although airless don't directly pay for that.

... but less desirable for passengers (other than not having to carry):

- have to wait for it at baggage claim

- can't access it during the flight

- have to risk the stuff being stolen or lost

Not surprisingly, every flight has the overhead bins over capacity, even though this shouldn't be possible! (I think it's because someone will have a regulation size carry-on and then add a second carry-on that takes too much space, and airline employees aren't paid enough to start confrontations by correcting passengers.)

Previous HN comment/replies: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12438683#12439465