About 7 or 8 years ago I was on a DH on a UA 777 from ORD to IAD, then scheduled to operate a flight 30 min after block in. I was one of the last to board due to full flight and the gate agent wouldn't let me down early. Naturally no overhead space. They also wouldn't gate check/valet tag it for me to pick up at the gate in IAD. I went up to the cockpit and told the guys what was going on and asked If I could stash my bag and flight case in their closet. The captain refused. I told him about my 30 minutes before I was supposed to work a flight and really didn't want to go to baggage claim. His response was basically tough luck. Thankfully the lead FA heard what transpired and she let me put my stuff in their closet.