Southwest allows TWO bags for FREE. Sheesh. And you still want to carry-on too many items?

This is exactly why boarding planes is such a pain nowadays, although usually Southwest flights are better because of their generous check-in policy.

A paper bag filled with shoes?! OMG.

Just goes to show, people will push the limit, no matter what.

This is how some travelers travel these days:

http://archives.newyorker.com/?i=2012-04-16

thanks for the advice, i'll definitely reduce my carry-on down to just 2 items. sorry if i sound like i'm deliberately trying to break the rules, i'm just genuinely curious as its my first time traveling to US, the countries where i'm used to travel to are not as strict about their carry-on policy.

I don;t know where you are traveling that carry-on policy is ignored. In my experience, they ar much stricter in europe (both size and number) that they are in the US. I have seen lots of american tourists have to gate-check their carry-ons in Zurich - since the US carry-on size is about 2" bigger than in europe - and these were just not going to fit onto the plane.

And last time leaving from the US I saw a family, apparently returning to the middle east, with positively mountains of luggge (that cost them a huge amount in overweight) try to haul another mountain of smaller things into the plane. They didn;t get past check-in. When the agent checking in their numerous large bags saw how much was left - she tried to explain to them that all these things could NOT be checked. When they refused to present them for weighting and checking she called over a supervisor - who made each of the 4 people pick out two items of reasonable size - and then forced them to check at least a dozen more items.

I have seen that cartoon before, easy. Loved it then, love it now!!

You could probably get by with the camera, backpack, and Uke. However, you will most likely run into problems if you try all three(uke, sack of shoes, and backpack. I say just pack your shoes in regular checked suitcase. A sack of shoes is not something I would want to mess with anyway.

It always amazes me that Southwest seems to have more luggage stored overhead, even when the checked bags are free. We always fly SW, when we can. It just seems like it is the best value/service/on time for us.

If you want to board early and have access to overhead bins, Southwest has an early checkin fee of $10 that automatically checks you in before the non-payers. (Even SW with its more liberal baggage policies has got to collect a few nickels and dimes.)

It may not apply in this case, but I have to defend at least some of the people who carry on a roll-aboard and a large personal item. First, nearly every seat on domestic flights has sufficient overhead bin space for 3 regulation-sized roll-aboards except for a couple near the front with the first aid kits and stuff. (Not like we have to worry about the bins of pillows and blankets anymore. ) Middle and window seats have a reasonable amount of space under the seat, though the aisle seat is smaller. So I can't knock the person with a roll-aboard and a personal item that fits under the seat. If you know how to stick the roll-aboard in wheels first and not crossways, it just doesn't take all that long to board and stash luggage.

Too many times through the years my luggage has not arrived when I did. And DD and DH who flew a lot for business had worse trouble than I have had. If I'm flying non-stop, if I'm going to be staying a day or two in the city where my flight terminates, that's one thing. (Although it wasn't such a good plan for DH who flew to Portland for a conference but all his suits went on to Japan and took 3 days to get back, so I had to overnight him a suit and tie.) If I'm flying to Athens, picking up a car and heading immediately to Meteora and parts beyond, when do you think I'm going to see the checked bag that didn't arrive with me? How many times have you heard about people flying to take a cruise and having to sail with only the clothes on their backs? They're not going to see their bags till the end of the cruise. When the airlines can do a better job of getting luggage where it's supposed to go, when it's supposed to be there, I'll be more likely to check more. I guess it's possible that OP might need those shoes without fail and is reluctant to check, but I can't see why she'd want to have to fumble with extra items if using one larger bag would solve the problem.

More often than not the policy is if you can haul it aboard the plane yourself and you are not bothering others you will not be stopped. Their goal is efficiency. If you can walk at a normal pace and not hit others while you walk down the aisle you are OK. Then maybe one time out ten they are intent on enforcing the rules. They do that by having you put your carryons in a wire frame with the specific demensions allowed. Too big. Too bad.

I also wonder if you could consolidate some of your items in a bag which fits their regulations.