PAX CAUSES A DISTURBANCE AT THE GATE PRIOR TO ENG START.

Narrative

WHILE READING THE BEFORE START CHKLIST; THE B POS FLT ATTENDANT ENTERED THE COCKPIT AND SAID SHE HAD A CONFRONTATION WITH A PAX OVER STOWING A BRIEF CASE IN THE OVERHEAD STORAGE BIN. I CALLED FOR A PAX SVC AGENT SUPVR TO HANDLE THE SITUATION SINCE WE WERE STILL AT THE GATE; AND THE FLT ATTENDANT ALLEGED SHE WAS PUSHED BY THE PAX. POLICY STATES THAT THE STATION MGR IS IN CHARGE OF THE ACFT LOADING WHILE STILL AT THE GATE. ALSO I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED SINCE NEITHER I NOR ANY OTHER CREW MEMBER WITNESSED THE INCIDENT; AND THE FLT ATTENDANT SAID SHE DID NOT WANT TO PRESS CHARGES; SHE WANTED HIM OFF THE AIRPLANE. AFTER THE SUPVR RETURNED TO SAY THE PAX WAS SEATED AND SHOULD PRESENT NO PROBLEM; I DETERMINED IT WAS SAFE TO DEPART. WE DEPARTED AND THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. HOWEVER; THE BOARDING PROCESS DISRUPTED OUR COCKPIT FLOW AND WE WERE FORTUNATE NO ERRORS OCCURRED BECAUSE WE FOLLOWED COCKPIT PROCS. I FEEL THE PROCS FOR CARRY-ON BAGGAGE NEED TO BE REVISED TO PREVENT THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. I ALSO FEEL THE FLT ATTENDANT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS DISRUPTION WITH A LITTLE COMMON SENSE. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 193002: THE CAPT ASKED HER HOW THE MAN BEHAVED TO HER AND SHE SAID HE WAS A 'PERFECT GENTLEMAN.'