Originally Posted by
EWRflyr
Actually it is partially fed driven as our baggage policy is submitted to the TSA/FAA which they can check for compliance.
Also, it is not about ticking off the UniCal crews. Mainline UAL pilots do not have flight cases anymore since they went to ship sets for all their manuals and charts. Mainline CAL does not have that yet. Hence we need the exemption to carry our flight case above the 1 + 1 limit. This was put out because CAL DHs on UAL flights were getting contentious with UAL agents over the issue of flight crews having three bags.
I'll be glad to not carry the thing and free up space, but until then I've got three bags on board if it's not a day trip.
EWR,
I used to be a gate agent, and have been part of an FAA audit. I understand about weight and balance. My point was that an FAA inspector isn't going to give a rip if you work for mainline or not if you are commuting. All they are going to care about is how many bags you are carrying onto the aircraft for weight and balance. The fact that mainline crews flight cases are exempt tells me that this is more about bin space than the FAA. If this were driven by the FAA, then all cases, no matter who carries them, would come under the 1+1 rule.