Luggage arrived in Perth soaking wet flying QF from MEL -> PER.

[ferntree]

Not only is it transported in wet weather, it's left out on the tarmac for hours uncovered in all sorts of weather. This happened to me a couple of years ago when my Qantas flight MEL-HBA was delayed five hours due to "engineering problems" (I.e. age of Qantas 737s). I could look out on the tarmac and see the rain beating down on it.

When I finally got my lugagge, everything inside it was drenched. When I raised the matter with Qantas, they claimed that they could not send anyone out to cover the trolley because of "health and safety issues."

Moral of story: don't use soft lugagge bags!

 

[Denali]

Our bags are soft case and Ive sprayed the outside with some scotchguard a couple of times. I will also line the inside with a couple of garbag bags, I usually find a reason to use the bag at some point in the trip so its no big deal to have them.

 

[Flying mermaid]

My son and his family flew from MEL -> PER on QF today. There was very heavy rain in Melbourne and the flight was delayed by about 45 minutes. When he collected their luggage in PER, the car seat, stroller and the clothes inside their suitcase were all saturated. It was very difficult to cope with as there was no other way to transport the baby without the car seat. So she had to travel in a wet seat. He then had to put the family's clothing into our clothes dryer. He doesn't seem too worried, but I am very annoyed on his behalf.

It happened to us on a flight from Sydney to South Africa. We have hard sided suitcases, but it must have come through the zip. Fortunately being in South Africa I could hand over all the clothes to the maid at the B&B we were staying at and it was all washed and ironed for a minimal amount.

I was fairly stressed as we were going to my mother’s funeral and I threw a bit of a wobbly on this board and RedRoo saw it and organised for Qantas to offer some money to get stuff laundered, but they made it clear that normally they would take no responsibility and it was a travel insurance claim. In the end I didn’t claim anything, as the cost was quite small. It was more the shock after a very stressful few days of arriving in Durban and finding Mr FM’s clothes soaked through. If I remember correctly the hold had water in it, after a storm and the plane was delayed while they dried it. I guess his suitcase must have been sitting in a pool of water

 

[fn0]

Is Australia the only major country that still uses these completely open baggage trolleys? I've never seen these anywhere else.

The type of baggage trolley used is usually more dependent on which airport you are at and what type of plane it is than which country you are in.

 

[ecst]

My Samsonite Firelites seem to deal well with the elements, these all have rubber linings which "overlay" the zipper itself.

Yet to test them out around thick snow; however they do OK in heavy rain (minimal seepage thru roller attachments, not zips) while other bags were drenched

 

[petef]

Is Australia the only major country that still uses these completely open baggage trolleys? I've never seen these anywhere else.

At least in other countries that do, they cover it with canvas and only take it off when they unload at the plane.

 

[jpp42]

The type of baggage trolley used is usually more dependent on which airport you are at and what type of plane it is than which country you are in.

Perhaps but my point is that no other country that I've visited uses open trolleys in climates where precipitation is common (which is pretty much everywhere).

The use of open trolleys is consistent across SYD, MEL, BNE, etc.

Australians should demand higher standards. This is not customer friendly.

 

[CaptJCool]

Qantas

On-board showers Mark Zero

Keeping you fresh and QT clean

 

[AIRwin]

Or Qantas Laundry - leaving you in a quandary...

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Perhaps but my point is that no other country that I've visited uses open trolleys in climates where precipitation is common (which is pretty much everywhere).

Not my experience and a quick search of the internet for photos of luggage being loaded suggests open carts are quite commonly used worldwide.

 

[Pushka]

Is Australia the only major country that still uses these completely open baggage trolleys? I've never seen these anywhere else.

Travel to the non major places in the US. Some places don’t have airbridges let alone enclosed luggage trolleys. We were snowed on whilst boarding in Flagstaff. Many Asian airports alike but with rain not snow.

At least in other countries that do, they cover it with canvas and only take it off when they unload at the plane.

Not in my experience.

 

[james4321]

Thanks for your reply esseeeayeenn.
I am not impressed that luggage is transported open to the weather. I have never really taken much notice of luggage during inclement weather. We usually sit on the left side of the plane. Possibly luggage is loaded on the right side.
Next time, I will recommend that they have their luggage wrapped.

Wrapping is a good solution, especially for car seats and strollers - not only keeps them dry but keeps them clean as well

 

[jpp42]

Travel to the non major places in the US. Some places don’t have airbridges let alone enclosed luggage trolleys.

Sure, but normally we don't think of BNE, SYD, and MEL as "non-major places!"

 

[Pushka]

Sure, but normally we don't think of BNE, SYD, and MEL as "non-major places!"

How does Phoenix grab you then.

 

[Franky]

How does Phoenix grab you then.

St Louis in February this year with snow flakes tumbling down and having to recover our carry on bags...

 

[JoshuaEicke]

My son and his family flew from MEL -> PER on QF today. There was very heavy rain in Melbourne and the flight was delayed by about 45 minutes. When he collected their luggage in PER, the car seat, stroller and the clothes inside their suitcase were all saturated. It was very difficult to cope with as there was no other way to transport the baby without the car seat. So she had to travel in a wet seat. He then had to put the family's clothing into our clothes dryer. He doesn't seem too worried, but I am very annoyed on his behalf.

So what do you expect the airline to do? Carry umbrellas over the baggage carts?

 

[get me outta here]

I have everything inside firmly wrapped in clearish plastic bag 'packets' inside. This keeps things dry, keeps security people's dirty hands off my stuff, and they prefer to just feel around most of the time. Stuff in clear plastic is less offensive and potential less dangerous to them too.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So what do you expect the airline to do? Carry umbrellas over the baggage carts?

covered bag trailers, and hooded conveyers. Just like they do in many other airport.

 

[jb747]

Is Australia the only major country that still uses these completely open baggage trolleys? I've never seen these anywhere else.

Not at all. They are very common.

As has already been mentioned, the 737 doesn't use baggage containers. Domestically, you need to travel on 320 or 330.

 

[OZDUCK]

Not at all. They are very common.

As has already been mentioned, the 737 doesn't use baggage containers. Domestically, you need to travel on 320 or 330.

Definitely common - Arlanda Airport 3 months ago and there was rain around.

Loading our B737-800