I know that this isn't the first time that I've written about my flying experiences. I keep writing about them because I keep hoping, perhaps in vain, that someone who works for an airline will read what I write.

I am a frequent flier. I am not loyal to any single airline, but I do have a couple of favorites. I won't mention airline names because the names don't matter. My experiences have nothing to do with individual companies and everything to do with the industry as a whole. So, yes, if you are reading this and you are employed by the airline, it is your airline that is the problem.

Last night I flew from Ft. Lauderdale back home to Denver to end a business trip. I checked in two pieces of luggage - one of which could easily qualify as a carry-on. The check-in process was fine. However, due to a variety of reasons stemming from personal and corporate security to pure emotional attachment, I refuse to check my laptop computer and planned to take it with me on the plane.

There was a rather large Reggae band on tour that was booked on my flight. Each of the band members brought their guitars and other instruments with them. No, I didn't see anyone packing their drum set, but frankly, I wouldn't have been surprised. And, as each band member checked in ahead of me, I watched as the boarding agent looked over their "carry-on" luggage and smile and welcome them on board.

About halfway through the boarding process, the boarding agent stopped the line. He was sorry to inform us, but all of the overhead compartments were now full. So, anyone planning to carry on bags should check them, as the plane would be very crowded.

Of course, the thought never occurred to the boarding agents to enforce the carry-on baggage limitations.

If you've ever flown on a commercial airline in the last decade, you've seen these guidelines posted everywhere. The rules are posted at the line for the ticketing counter. The rules are posted at the security checkpoint. The rules are posted at the gate. Heck, the rules are even posted on your paper ticket and on the website when you book your flight.

The airlines - all of them - even provide a visual aid that states if your carry-on bag is bigger than the visual aid's dimensions, it cannot be considered carry-on baggage.

No, the boarding agents simply smiled and waved the huge guitars and other musical instruments right through, and then acted astounded when the overhead compartments were full before half the passengers had even boarded.

If this wasn't bad enough, when it came time to for me to board the plane, the boarding agent went to grab my laptop case. I asked him just what he thought he was doing, and he explained that it had to be checked. This caused a confrontation that was rather unpleasant. He stated that there was no room in the cabin for my laptop. I asked why there was room in the cabin for at least ten guitars. He claimed he had no idea what I was talking about. I told him that he could book me on another flight that would be less full, but there was a zero-percent chance that he was separating me from my three-week old laptop. He then curtly told me, "Fine, it better fit under your seat." I asked if the guitars fit under the band members' seats and he didn't offer a response.

I don't normally get nasty with airline agents. I understand that they have a tough job and that they've got to smile to everyone. They take a lot of stupid complaints from customers who expect the world simply because they've purchased a ticket on the plane. They get yelled at for delays, gate changes and a lack of free food. However, I don't consider my complaint to enforce their own rules to be unreasonable and I'd be curious to find someone who would - except perhaps the people that flagrantly ignore the rules.

You have no idea how difficult it is to be six feet tall and not being able to stretch your legs for a four hour flight unless you've been through it. Unfortunately, I've done it more than once.

I don't need a first-class or business-class seat and it wouldn't matter because they're not even offered on many flights anymore. I fit in a coach seat just fine when I'm not expected to share my seat with my carry-on luggage.

Airline industry executives are always wondering why passengers rate their flying experiences so poorly. They might score a few brownie points if they'd start enforcing the carry-on luggage rules that they wrote.