JWP2010
Point I am making is that it really is down to the individual at the gate.
Yep. That's the way it is and will remain so for as long as govt/carrier mgmt/airport mgmt/ won't give clear, unambiguous instructions.
The other problem, as often documented in this forum, is that you have to find a way to persuade
every carrier in the world to stick to THEIR regulations too. Since countless pax judge a carrier by how much free weight they can get away with in the cabin - and book accordingly - you can see that the problem is going to be around for a while ...