This happened 5 years ago. I was flying out of Port Hedland (regional airport) with QF to Perth, flying overseas the same evening Perth for a major family trip. The wife and kid were flying out of Sydney separately to meet up in Singapore. There was no room for any luggage stuff up or the trip will be made really messy.
As it happened, the Port Hedland check-in was progressing well and all boarded awaiting departure in the aircraft, quite a full flight I would say. The usual waiting for paper work clearance etc...... except that it took longer than usual. That was a hot day, yeah but that’s Port Hedland, big deal. Vaguely I remembered it was at least a 717 type aircraft (not smaller).
I was at the window seat and I saw something that was so nerve breaking (for me personally) and I was very unsettled in the next 2 hours journey. Then came the announcement over the PA by the Pilot. Apparently it was such a hot day that the overall weight has to be reduced to assist the plane lifting off. So the handler had to arbirarily off-loading bags..... and I thought OMG, this can’t be happening.... and I saw the off-loading action not far from where I was sitting. I couldn’t be 100% for certain if my bag was one of those being removed but one did look like my bag.
Waiting so anxously and so painfully at the conveyor belt for my bag in Perth airport was simply too painful to bear and again just like the movie or the musical chair, it came out almost the last one. Phew, what a relief. A few very annoying passengers including a colleague of mine were the unlucky one. I was just too grateful to collect mine.
So from now on, when I have a tight connection as such, I will ask and remind them at check-in, wouldn’t know if that makes any difference.
As it happened, the Port Hedland check-in was progressing well and all boarded awaiting departure in the aircraft, quite a full flight I would say. The usual waiting for paper work clearance etc...... except that it took longer than usual. That was a hot day, yeah but that’s Port Hedland, big deal. Vaguely I remembered it was at least a 717 type aircraft (not smaller).
I was at the window seat and I saw something that was so nerve breaking (for me personally) and I was very unsettled in the next 2 hours journey. Then came the announcement over the PA by the Pilot. Apparently it was such a hot day that the overall weight has to be reduced to assist the plane lifting off. So the handler had to arbirarily off-loading bags..... and I thought OMG, this can’t be happening.... and I saw the off-loading action not far from where I was sitting. I couldn’t be 100% for certain if my bag was one of those being removed but one did look like my bag.
Waiting so anxously and so painfully at the conveyor belt for my bag in Perth airport was simply too painful to bear and again just like the movie or the musical chair, it came out almost the last one. Phew, what a relief. A few very annoying passengers including a colleague of mine were the unlucky one. I was just too grateful to collect mine.
So from now on, when I have a tight connection as such, I will ask and remind them at check-in, wouldn’t know if that makes any difference.