Whenever I fly Delta on their smaller planes, they allow a carry-on and a personal item, but the carry-on usually has to be checked at planeside as you board (they give you a "pink" ticket).

I'm about to take a United Canadair Jet which seats 50; do you know if they have the same sort of thing?

I would think they almost certainly have the same setup because the overheads are rather small. By using planeside check, you are set for your next flight on a larger aircraft that will accommodate your carry-on. If there is no connecting flight to a larger jet, you still have the advantage of by-passing the baggage claim if you haven't checked something else.

Thanks, Flyboy. That's what I'm hoping for. I'm not checking anything, and I am connecting to a larger flight.

It's the same on United (Express) except the colors are different: a green tag is for planeside pickup, orange goes to the baggage claim.

Thanks, Someotherguy! That's good news. Yep, I'm on United Express (then on to US Air).