Flight attendants call for carry-on baggage standards

[JessicaTam]

From ABC radio news:

Cabin crews claim they are suffering injuries from trying to lift heavy bags and there are delays as staff run around at the last minute trying to stow bags that do not fit in the overhead lockers.


Flight attendants call for carry-on baggage standards - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[simongr]

There are standards in place - they are just not enforced.

 

[harvyk]

So they make it expensive for people to check bags and they are now surprised that people do all they can to avoid yet another charge?

The way I see it is the bad decisions made by airline managements have come home to roost, a short term gain for long term pain type thing...

 

[The Rok]

Or is it more a case of a union whinging because of extra work THEIR members have to do because THEIR members fail to implement/enforce rules laid down by the airline!


Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

 

[DTM1]

I have no problem with this as long as the rules are enforced consistently. People with multiple bags that are too large drive me nuts.

And there's always the "but it fitted fine on the last plane" after transferring from an A380 to a 737....

 

[JessicaTam]

I think the flight attendants are their own worst enemy. Considering that they are usually the ones at the boarding gate they must see what is heading down the ramp to annoy their colleagues. It is hard to accept the call for 'standardisation' when they don't enforce the current rules.

 

[anat0l]

So they make it expensive for people to check bags and they are now surprised that people do all they can to avoid yet another charge?

It probably doesn't help that the road warrior has fully matured now. You can see quite a bit of advice going around that any road warrior will be well-advised to try and keep their travel gear to a single carry on, typically a rollerboard. It saves massive time at the airport, particularly as you do not have to go through baggage check-in procedures, and later do not have to endure the wait at the baggage reclaim.

Giving even an extra free checked bag or a heavy bag for free (i.e. 32 kg piece) will not change this behaviour. Even on this forum, many people will go HLO if they can help it (though admittedly, many here are good enough to adhere to the sizing and weight guidelines); let's be brutally honest - no one here is going to really recommend that the avid business traveller check-in baggage if they can help it. Perhaps it's only luckily that many people on this forum can actually lift their own cabin baggage (and don't expect FAs to do it for them), and also know how to rearrange an overhead locker if required.

The way I see it is the bad decisions made by airline managements have come home to roost, a short term gain for long term pain type thing...

Perhaps this is quite true.

The difficulty is that now any attempt to control the situation is the equivalent of suicide. The first airline who dares to be draconian on the cabin baggage policy will suffer some sort of publicity wrath from disgruntled passengers complaining that said airline has turned into a bunch of naz_s. The social media furore on the inflexibility of said airline will be plastered ad nauseum, and the other airline will benefit greatly, even if they enact the same enforcing measures. Certainly you can expect extra stress reports from frontline staff at airports, possibly an increase in passenger rage or assaults / verbal tirades against frontline staff.

So I think the airlines have backed themselves into a corner here that they will not be able to get out of cleanly, if at all.

 

[Blinky]

I don't mind the rules being enforced, but a 7kg limit is a bit ridiculous when some of the older bags themselves weigh 4kg and more. I would be happy with a 10kg limit strictly enforced.

 

[Archphoto]

Don't BA have unrestricted carry-on (but *you* have to lift it into the overhead compartment yourself without the assistance of a flight attendant)? Or am I dreaming?

 

[simongr]

Giving even an extra free checked bag or a heavy bag for free (i.e. 32 kg piece) will not change this behaviour. Even on this forum, many people will go HLO if they can help it (though admittedly, many here are good enough to adhere to the sizing and weight guidelines); let's be brutally honest - no one here is going to really recommend that the avid business traveller check-in baggage if they can help it. Perhaps it's only luckily that many people on this forum can actually lift their own cabin baggage (and don't expect FAs to do it for them), and also know how to rearrange an overhead locker if required.

I don't mind the rules being enforced, but a 7kg limit is a bit ridiculous when some of the older bags themselves weigh 4kg and more. I would be happy with a 10kg limit strictly enforced.

I do stick to sizing restrictions and location but I do not stick to the weight restrictions. I don't see how overhead cabins can take the same number of pieces on BA and QF but the bags on QF need to be up to 16KG lower in weight.

I never ask cabin crew to lift my bags and if they did have to assist in moving things around I wouldn't get them to lift them.

Int'l long haul I travel with a rollaboard and trifold suitbag - but that is in J where overhead space is at less of a premium.

Dom whY I travel either wih just the rollaboard or a rollaboard and laptop bag (generally if travelling Thu/Fri due to casual clothes on a Friday) - interestingly since hitting P1 I have to put the laptop bag on top of the rollaboard as I am in the front row of whY on the 763 or A332.

 

[harvyk]

It probably doesn't help that the road warrior has fully matured now. You can see quite a bit of advice going around that any road warrior will be well-advised to try and keep their travel gear to a single carry on, typically a rollerboard. It saves massive time at the airport, particularly as you do not have to go through baggage check-in procedures, and later do not have to endure the wait at the baggage reclaim.

Giving even an extra free checked bag or a heavy bag for free (i.e. 32 kg piece) will not change this behaviour. Even on this forum, many people will go HLO if they can help it (though admittedly, many here are good enough to adhere to the sizing and weight guidelines); let's be brutally honest - no one here is going to really recommend that the avid business traveller check-in baggage if they can help it. Perhaps it's only luckily that many people on this forum can actually lift their own cabin baggage (and don't expect FAs to do it for them), and also know how to rearrange an overhead locker if required.

Your right, I like others travel HLO not because of the cost of checking in bags (although that cost = $0 for me as I expect most others here), but because I don't like waiting around baggage carousels. However I would suspect that there are quite a few people out there who would do HLO simply because it does save them money, and not for any real time savings.

Perhaps this is quite true.

The difficulty is that now any attempt to control the situation is the equivalent of suicide. The first airline who dares to be draconian on the cabin baggage policy will suffer some sort of publicity wrath from disgruntled passengers complaining that said airline has turned into a bunch of naz_s. The social media furore on the inflexibility of said airline will be plastered ad nauseum, and the other airline will benefit greatly, even if they enact the same enforcing measures. Certainly you can expect extra stress reports from frontline staff at airports, possibly an increase in passenger rage or assaults / verbal tirades against frontline staff.

So I think the airlines have backed themselves into a corner here that they will not be able to get out of cleanly, if at all.

Well I don't think they have quite backed themselves into a corner, however I suspect that some of the check baggage charges would need to go. Perhaps offer something like QFLink's Premium Hand Luggage model (so you keep your "carry on" up until you board the aircraft, and then it is waiting for you on arrival at your next port. That way the bags are still loaded into the hold, it doesn't really add on any real time for the flyer who hates baggage claim, and it frees up overhead locker space for items which could be needed mid flight only.

 

[Blinky]

I too try to get by with HLO, but after more than three days away, it gets a bit impractical. The other benefit about getting quickly and with hand luggage is that you beat the queues to the hire car booths.

But to the point, some weight limit is necessary, in my opinion, and should be enforced.

 

[simongr]

I too try to get by with HLO, but after more than three days away, it gets a bit impractical.

I have done three weeks...

 

[Blinky]

I have done three weeks...

I don't doubt it. Some people do two months through Europe with HLO. Maybe if I was in my 20s.......

 

[Hvr]

Or is it more a case of a union whinging because of extra work THEIR members have to do because THEIR members fail to implement/enforce rules laid down by the airline!


Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

Good to see the union bashing come to the fore. I reckon the denial of compensation payments might have come into play. Surely if employees aren't doing their job management has to step up and do their job?

I think the flight attendants are their own worst enemy. Considering that they are usually the ones at the boarding gate they must see what is heading down the ramp to annoy their colleagues. It is hard to accept the call for 'standardisation' when they don't enforce the current rules.

Totally agree. Yesterday I saw an economy passenger with three large bags carry them onto the plane. All he was told was that he might have to try and put something under the seat in front of him. For heck's sake he should've been made to go back and check at least two of them in. Individually they were way too big to even be in the cabin let alone three of them.

This was while another FA was putting out PA calls telling pax that if they had two items the smaller one must be put under the seat in front because it was a full flight. A total waste of breath because there were so many pax with way too much luggage it wasn't funny. Glad I was in J and only had a small backpack for my weekend away.

 

[anat0l]

I don't doubt it. Some people do two months through Europe with HLO. Maybe if I was in my 20s.......

Try daily laundry. It is possible but I won't say it's without certain practical obligations. It's trading one set of inconveniences for another...

Works well for the seasoned business traveller, as business travel hardly demands a variety of clothing (unless you are female, possibly ), plus - notwithstanding any business "props" which must be taken with you, and possible obligatory gifts that must be bought for one's SO - you don't have the touristy bric-a-brac to stuff into your bag either.


To tie this back to the topic, for business travellers certainly this model is getting more popular.

HLO for both business and leisure is already incredibly popular in Europe, and the LCCs were not necessarily the ones who spearheaded the "revolution". Most people travelling by train are not heavy on baggage, even though luggage provisions on trains are mostly unencumbered.

I'm not sure if the cabin baggage situation in Europe mirrors that of here as well as the USA.

 

[Blinky]

Well I'm going to have to look at economical packing. Mrs Blinky and I are going to Europe for two months starting next March, and while our Business Class long haul allowances are huge, the connecting flights we have to do are anything but, and have very costly excess baggage charges.

 

[simongr]

Sadly when I travel with the family it is anything but hand luggage only... On next year's trip to DXB and Cyprus I think we might get close to the nine 32kg bags we are allowed... Actually thinking of taking my dive cylinder...

Normally for an int'l business trip 2 - 3 work shirts, casual clothes I am wearing will be casual and travel clothes and some shorts and t-shirt(s) for in the hotel in the evening. I tend now to travel to places that don't require a jacket (although the air con in the office in Saudi was one place I wanted a jacket) so that makes life easier.

 

[under the radar]

here's a thought..there wouldnt be the need to ENFORCE the rules IF PAX DIDNT CONSTANTLY FLOUT THE RULES IN THE FIRST PLACE..(which are in place for a reason and are all clearly set out on airline websites) how about taking responsibilty for your own actions!! :shock: (rant over)!!

 

[anat0l]

how about taking responsibility for your own actions!! :shock:!!

Nice idea. Unfortunately, hasn't worked for all walks of life since humans came into existence.

Moreover, no one likes to be told that they are flouting the rules, hence rage, rants and countless accusations of inflexibility and naz_sm.