FLC OF DC9-30 ALLOWS POTENTIALLY UNINSPECTED UNSCREENED BAGGAGE TO BE BROUGHT ONBOARD AND STOWED IN THE COCKPIT. FIRST CABIN ATTENDANT INDICATES THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE BUT CAPT ALLOWS IT.

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AT DEP TIME; CAPT; TALKING ON INTERPHONE TO RAMP; I WAS ON RAMP CTL FREQ. WE DO NOT LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER. THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THEN THE DOOR WAS REOPENED AND A COUPLE OF BAGS WERE BROUGHT ONBOARD AND THE L-1 FLT ATTENDANT DISAGREED WITH THE RAMP AGENT. THE CAPT SAID TO BRING THE BAGS ON AND PUT THEM INTO THE COCKPIT. WE DID AND WE PUSHED BACK. I ASKED THE CAPT ABOUT THE SIT. HIS ANSWER WAS THE VERSION OF ACFT WE WERE IN HAD 5 TANKS AND IT CUTS DOWN ON CARGO SPACE. SINCE THIS WAS AN UNUSUALLY HVY FLT; HE SAID RAMP TOLD HIM ON INTERPHONE THAT THE CARGO COMPARTMENT WAS FULL AND THEY COULDN'T GET THE LAST 2 BAGS ONBOARD. HE SAID HE VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE THEM IN THE COCKPIT. ON THE WAY UP TO MSP I DISCUSSED WITH HIM THAT THE CABIN ATTENDANT MAY WELL BE CORRECT THAT THOSE 2 BAGS DID NOT GO THROUGH THE SAME LEVEL OF SCREENING AS DID THE CARRY-ON BAGS. I BELIEVE HE SAW THE POINT. I BELIEVE SITS SUCH AS THESE ALWAYS OCCUR AT THE LAST MIN; AND THE REASON BEING; ALL THE DEMANDS OF AN ON-TIME OP LIMIT THE REAL TIME DECISION-MAKING ABILITY UNLESS SOMEONE PUTS THEIR FOOT DOWN AND SAYS WE WILL TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE THE PROPER DECISION. A CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM ON THESE MATTERS EXPLORING AS MANY POSSIBLE SITS AS TIME PERMITS DURING RECURRENT TRAINING SHOULD BE CONTINUED. LISTENING TO FELLOW CREW MEMBERS IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT. THE L-1 CABIN ATTENDANT WAS THE ONLY ONE TO RAISE A FLAG. DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT AREAS OF INTEREST AND CONCERN. I HAVE ABOUT 1 YR BEFORE I UPGRADE. I'M SURE I WILL HAVE THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF MY CREW; BOTH COCKPIT AND CABIN. IT IS SITS SUCH AS THESE THAT; UNFORTUNATELY; PROVIDE SOME OF THE BEST TRAINING.