Mis-use of hand luggage

[rhjames]

I mentioned this in another thread, and figured it deserved its own.

I am fed up with people taking oversize hand luggage onto planes, and taking all the available space. I flew Qantas Sydney to Coolangatta this week, and one of the last passenfers had a huge bag, and the luggage space was already very full (my bag was already two seets back.) While the staff had a polite word about how it should have been checked in, a lot of rearranging was needed and shuffling of bags to find somewhere for it.

What really annoys me is when I have a seat at the front, and my bag ends up at the back - try recovering it when everyone stands up!!.

Now my biggest complaint. These bags are sometimes so big that they are a nuisance to carry down the length of the plane. Experienced economy passangers know to get on early, put the bag in the first available locker in business class, then take their seat at the back of the plane. So we business passengers get on at the end to find all locker space taken. The trouble is that you don't know whos bags are in the locker.

I've seen this on both domestic and international.

The airlines have test frames for hand luggage - has anyone seen them used? I'd like to see a blitz on this - there can be some flexibility, but huge bags that are clearly well over size, and also multiple bags should be checked in under the rules.

Does anyone else have a problem with this, or know of any airlines enforcing the rules?

 

[Dave Noble]

Unfortunately, enforcement of the hand lugagge rules in Australia seems to be very lax. Departing out of London , the new rules of 1 piece only of max 22"x17.7"x10" seem to be fairly well policed by the airport operator BAA ( and 1 piece means that. not 1 piece plus a handbag or laptop etc . only exception is duty free purchase )

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I can't recall having a problem putting my carry on near my forward seat before in NZ or Australia. In US, otoh, I'll board as early as possible due to this very reason.

 

[NYCguy]

Departing CNS for SYD on Friday, I was horrified to see the number of people carrying excessive junk into the cabin. I asked the FA at the gate "Are you aware that it is illegal for these people to be taking these oversized items into the cabin?". She went red in the face, but did not reply.

Apparently CASA has an occasional audit of how well airlines enforce cabin-baggage limits, but it doesn't seem to have much effect.

Either CASA has to start fining airlines AND individual passengers for infringements, or Airline staff need to start being assertive, even a little obnoxious, when confronted with inconsiderate idiots who have no regard for the comfort and safety of their fellow travellers. FA's have to start saying "Sorry sir/madam, but if you won't check that bag in, neither you nor the bag will be flying today". They must feel supported in making the assertion, that the CSM, the Captain of the flight and the Airline's management team will back them up 100%. Until crews are empowered to nip the problem in the bud at the departure gate, selfish, self-important buffoons will continue to ride roughshod over the rules, and over the welfare of everyone else on the aircraft.


I travel frequently on US domestic flights with UA - often getting an oversized item past a hard-boiled, senior UA FA is like trying to get the proverbial camel through the eye of a needle. I have heard several crew assert that "either the bag goes in the hold, or you both go back to the gate". Aussie crews, take note.

 

[Soundguy]

I havn't noticed much of a problem here in Australia but it is an issue in the USA. They have brought it on themselves..... it is much safer and more convenient to carry on as much as you can there given the checked bag limits (weight and number) they have imposed - not to mention with checked in bags you run into extra delays and the risk of having items stolen and your bags trashed.

 

[serfty]

It is only recently that this type of thing has become prevalent in Oz; it used to be enforced quite well.

These days, if I have my legal 2 domestic bags and the flight PAX loads look fullish, I am at the gate when boarding commences.

Using my WP privileges I am normally one the first on the aircraft these cases.

 

[simongr]

I am now one of the first to board on most of my flights. Given mostly int'l J I want to make sure I can get a couple of glasses of champagne down if possible

One thing that is starting to annoy me now is the lack of a premium lane on boarding at Sydney. this isnt all flights but a couple recently I have had to either queue with everyone or fight my way through indignant PAX to get ahead. Even if I do this though and wait until late to board - I am stuck in the airbridge behind a queue of people. I would rather board early and get past them all - minimising the risk of overhead being full. Mind you - even on full flights recently (except for the 2 pax in First on my recently TPE-NRT flight - three staff to two Pax was a good ratio). There has been lots of space in the overhead.

S

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

methinks you have been spoiled by SQ

 

[simongr]

Havent flown on SQ since 2000. Its been oneworld all the way for the ppast 6 years Flights have been CX a lot recently. Mind you the F seat might have something to do with cabin baggage space availability.

Also - just wondering for my next two flights in F on CX whether I might actually try and take my baggage on board rather than checking it. Although I have to say last night was the first time my bags have been on the carousel before I got through immigration!

I have one suit bag, one rollaboard and a small back pack with laptop and video camera in it - wondering if it might be worth asking to see if it cana go onboard on Tuesday and Friday night...

 

[serfty]

I am now one of the first to board on most of my flights. Given mostly int'l J I want to make sure I can get a couple of glasses of champagne down if possible

One thing that is starting to annoy me now is the lack of a premium lane on boarding at Sydney. this isnt all flights but a couple recently I have had to either queue with everyone or fight my way through indignant PAX to get ahead. Even if I do this though and wait until late to board - I am stuck in the airbridge behind a queue of people. I would rather board early and get past them all - minimising the risk of overhead being full. Mind you - even on full flights recently (except for the 2 pax in First on my recently TPE-NRT flight - three staff to two Pax was a good ratio). There has been lots of space in the overhead.

S

Actually, In all my OZ International boarding experiences this year Boarding has begun with families and "people with Special Needs".

Then main boarding commences and two lanes fire up; one for those in the back rows and another for F, J, CL, WP, SG, PS, emerald & sapphire.

At this stage a queue forms for the back rows and maybe 20 use the elite row. however, after a while the elite row is empty (I guess the rest are back in the QP's) with the other row by now quite long. At this stage the agents start ushering non elites through the elite row and as a result two large queues form.

So in reality your preferred boarding is only useful if you are one of the first on or one of the last on. (The latter is not a good idea on a full flight.)

Of course you need to be at the gate before boarding commences to observe this.

 

[simongr]

I have noticed sligthly different experiences at different gates. Gates 32 and 34 had the general mess. Gate 9 had more structure. I was surprised flying LHR-LCA that there was no preferred boarding at all and I was almost laughed at by the GAs.

 

[rhjames]

Gates 32 and 34 had the general mess. Gate 9 had more structure. I was surprised flying LHR-LCA that there was no preferred boarding at all and I was almost laughed at by the GAs.

Which airline and class were you flying?

 

[simongr]

Which airline and class were you flying?

BA in CLub Europe - I am QF SG and AA Plat.

 

[rhjames]

BA in CLub Europe - I am QF SG and AA Plat.

At that level one would expect plenty of preferential treatment. I normally find that flashing a Pt card creates suitable esponse. Although somewhere recently - might have been Zurich, I produced the QF Pt card in the lounge, and was asked "what's that?" Eventually a list of cards was found for checking. QF gold was there (not listed for that lounge), but no sign of platinum. My explanation that my card was a higher status didn't seem to convince her, and so back to the business lounge. Of course, the card looks like a dirty version of the silver card.

Which brings me to another point. Haven't Qantas ever bothered to check the colour of platinum. I handle it all the time, and it looks nothing like my card. Platinum is like polished stainless steel, and doesn't tarnish. In fact it's more silver than silver is. Perhaps they should swap the silver and platinum colours.

 

[Dave Noble]

I have noticed sligthly different experiences at different gates. Gates 32 and 34 had the general mess. Gate 9 had more structure. I was surprised flying LHR-LCA that there was no preferred boarding at all and I was almost laughed at by the GAs.

BA does not do "preferred boarding" (normally) for the flights operated with Club Europe and Economy. They do offer it for flights with Club World et al

Dave

 

[JohnK]

Carry on size limits and weights should be enforced at all times. If it does not pass the test carry on unit then it needs to be checked in.

Just as well I have a policy where I try to be one of the last to board aircraft and even then I find that sometimes I am waiting in the aisle for 5 minutes to get to my seat because the queue has stopped moving due to people trying to find overhead locker space for their 3 or 4 carry on bags.

I do aplogise as this was already posted on another thread but thought that it relevant on this spinoff thread as well.

 

[Groundfeeder]

I'm with Johnk and others here and have strongly objected whilst seated - to my approved carryon being relocated to the stern with the more-unwashed to cater for a tardy LOTFAP with oversized baggage for at least 12 souls.

I still don't know why a hatch is not provided in the floor to drop either the excess baggage and/or carrier to the hold (non-747 of course) to remedy this common situation, which has been subject to previous posts and probably now swirls arounds the Sandpit.

 

[rhjames]

How about the guy or lady who gets to his seat near the front with a huge queue behind. Stops to put the luggage up top while holding up the queue, unhooks his phone to turn it off, gets the bag out again to put the phone away. Might as well get rid of that blanket on the seat so that goes into the locker - better get a book out before sitting down, then back up with the bag, and sits down. Meanwhile 400 people in the queue are waiting.

Perhaps I'm strange but when I find my seat, I move into it to let a few people past before I get in the way. It seems to me that a plane could be loaded in a quarter of the time if some common sense was used.

Of course, back to the thread, this just gets worse when oversize and excess baggage is involved. Like waiting to get passed the guy trying to find somewhere for his bag because all the space is taken.

 

[JohnK]

How about the guy or lady who gets to his seat near the front with a huge queue behind. .... Meanwhile 400 people in the queue are waiting.

In theory this should not be a problem as most international flights boarding is called first for those seated at the back of the aircraft, then the middle section then the front section of economy. This theory can go out of whack as top tier passengers travelling economy can board at their leisure.

I don't think the airlines leave enough boarding time between calling the various sections or passengers are taking way too much carry on luggage. I have joined the queue as the last person and there are still 30-40 people in the queue that have not set foot in the aircraft yet.

Also I would hate to have carry on and have it moved down the back and then have to wait for the whole aircraft to empty before being able to collect carry on and disembark.

 

[NYCguy]

I am now one of the first to board on most of my flights. Given mostly int'l J I want to make sure I can get a couple of glasses of champagne down if possible

One thing that is starting to annoy me now is the lack of a premium lane on boarding at Sydney. this isnt all flights but a couple recently I have had to either queue with everyone or fight my way through indignant PAX to get ahead. Even if I do this though and wait until late to board - I am stuck in the airbridge behind a queue of people. I would rather board early and get past them all - minimising the risk of overhead being full.

S

Yes, I prefer to do this too. Have you ever tried pushing through the crowd at the gate as you loudly proclaim "Excuse me, excuse me, First Class, First Class here, make way, make way, First Class!".

I'm not usually one to rub my good fortune into the faces of the SBOGs, but it certainly does get people out of the way! You just have to be watchful that noone tries to trip you.

(SBOG = Should Be On Grayhound)