Seatacus
Veteran
Hey....why not let TSA monitor all carry-ons? Aren't they the ones who see every piece as they go through security. I've seen sizer templates on x-ray machines.
When Carry-ons Don't Fit
- Thread starter andyperkins
- Start date
OP
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #17
As a flight attendant for US Airways I am embarrassed by the actions of my colleague. Sorry that happened to you. Boarding is the most difficult part of the flight everyone is frustrated and the bags add more stress. Now if we had a better policy in place, there would have been plenty of room for your bag and nothing broken.
Airline management has a problem with this. (United and CO in Denver comes to mind) I did have an AFA Inspector on the flight just a few weeks ago that said something was comming out just that, but she wouldnt give any details.
Dog Wonder
Veteran
More bags would be checked, and less carried on, if there was confidence the airlines would deliver them to the destination and baggae claim in a timely manner.
AIRWOMAN
Veteran
- Oct 20, 2005
- 3,440
- 0
The flights I took were fairly short.....Paris to Toulouse and back. So they may allow something a tad more substantial on a longer flight. I did see one passenger that was made to check a small flight crew case because an agent monitoring the line thought it was too heavy........doesn't appear that the Air France FA's are required to power lift passenger carry ons either.
sharktooth
Veteran
- Jan 27, 2006
- 1,846
- 0
Andy,
This is your topic, but you started it out with "When Carry-ons Don't Fit" and you have taken a decided turn to, say, "Taking Your Bag With You Is Cheaper Than Shipping FEDex Therefore Your Bag Should Incur A Fee".
So, now your stance is that the "ticket" entitles one to one seat for duration, everything else, bags, food and air should be extra? Should "extra wide" passengers be charged extra? What about those who bring outer garments that need stowage? Seems to me that pretty soon you will be using those overhead bins to transport air, assuming one is still in business.
Dont call me Shirley
Veteran
- Aug 20, 2002
- 3,270
- 306
I've had to check my 19" Travelpro at the gate on an Intra-Europe because of its weight. Typical Euro-weenie thinking that stowing heavy bags above peoples' heads is a bad idea!
Being a flight attendant, I guess I can comment on this with great acuracy. First of all, carry-ons in the US are out of control. Pax come on the plane and put everything in the overhead bins(they don't give a cr_p about their fellow pax). Second, US people are alot bigger than when I was hired in the late 80's. Bigger people means bigger clothes, means bigger bags. Additionally, airlines shoiuld be charging more for this extra fuel cost, pass this on to the consumer, not take it from emplyee payroll or benefits. We have folks come on the plane with these huge bags. How big are they? We start calling them "drag-ons". Then they want me to put it in the overhead bin(because nothing can go under their seat). I usually just tell them to find a fellow pax to assist them with lifting it. Even fellow pax look on in amazement. They sad part about this, is that nothing really phases me anymore. I just except it and feel sorry for these folks. Welcome to "public transportation". Faster and cheaper than Greyhound. Here's a good one. I had a grown business man ask me to put his bag in the overhead one time. I looked at him and asked "Did your wife have a problem putting it in the car for you?".
hallelujah!! Lest we forget the PHL Christmas fiasco. This is the whole reason people don't check their bags, especially with US, to this day.
What I also don't understand is why "joe-businessman" can't seem to bend over and use the space under the seat in front of him to stow their briefcase/computer bag?? I know exactly how my computer bag fits on every plane that is flown by US, UA, NW and AA. If that "joe-businessman" can't seem to bend over to stow his smaller bag, maybe he should do some crunches so he can pick it up upon arrival. Another pet peeve of mine is, why can't people place their coats on their laps until the entire plane has boarded? How difficult is it to fold it on your lap?
ANDYPERKINS; you and I could have a field day with passengers and their luggage.
After 9 years of weekly travel I've learned how to pack my luggage appropriately for my 3 - 5 day work week. And 99% of the time I use my 20" rollerboard and I know exactly how it can fit in the overhead. The problem is your once a year Ma & Pa Kettle that don't fly and take up all the space.
A recent incident I witnessed with a female US F/A and a female passenger made me chuckle. It seems "MS FLYER" had a rollerboard, computer briefcase and a very large purse. The F/A stopped "MS FLYER" as she entered the plane and saw those 3 items. F/A says, excuse me but you can't board the plane with those 3 bags. "MS FLYER" gets all huffy. F/A says, if you want to get on the plane you must get rid of one of those items. I'd suggest trying to stuff your rather large purse in your suitcase. "MS FLYER" storms off the plane into the jetbridge all the while mouthing off at the F/A. Once she got the very large purse in her suitcase she reboarded the plane. All the way down the aisle she's mumbling under her breathe!!
I loved it. And just smiled at the F/A. I guess "MS FLYER" thought she'd get away with 3 bags while the rest of us know the rules.
And the truly sad part about that is it happened all the way down at the aircraft, pooibly delay the boarding process. It honestly needs to be handled up at the gate area, not on the loading bridge. I know this F/A's pain. some choose to overlook the baggage, but that doesn't hepl the pax boarding behind, does it. But again, most pax feel that is not their problem.
MarkMyWords
Veteran
- Aug 20, 2002
- 1,900
- 1
Try standing at the boarding door, working as an agent. It is very easy to miss bags that the cusotmer creatively hides. I have seen business men put their computer bag over their shoulder, then put their coat on over it to try and hide it, only to get on the jetway and remove thier coat and bag. Or the all to clever folding your coat over the third bag. It is very easy to miss something at the jetway door when you are trying board.....
ClueByFour
Veteran
- Aug 20, 2002
- 3,566
- 37
Bingo.
I usually carry a 22" roller that fits in the sizers and a computer bag that easily fits under a seat in coach and is barely there under the seat in F.
I would consider checking luggage more often if I had any confidence that it will show up unabused and in a timely manner upon my arrival at my destination (this is not limited to US, btw). There are also occasionally expensive electronic devices I'm carrying for work that do not get checked under any circumstances, as some cost as much as a mainline pilot makes in a year--I've actually taken later flights rather than check some of this stuff.
The European airlines can do what they do because in %99 of cases you have to clear customs and immigration coming off a flight which kind of destroys the "time proposition" to begin with.
I truly believe that part of the problem lies in the fact that some percentage of the traveling public is dumb about how to place stuff once onboard. It never ceases to amaze me that some F/As can whip thru a cabin whose overheads appear to be jammed and free up tons of space merely by moving things about and turning rollers wheels-in.
Which brings up my last point--aircraft should be required to have overheads that take a 22" roller wheels-in. The 737 and E-170 overheads are lacking in this department. The Airbus overheads are great, IMHO.
Travels2mch
Veteran
The Flight Attendants shouldn't be responsible for being baggage police on what people bring on. But, they should enforce the small bags under the seat in front of you. joe-businessman wants to have extra room for his feet, causing the rest of us to have to go to baggage claim.
They also shouldn't have to lift people's bags....ever!! I won't help anyone lift bags (due to an already bad back). If you can't lift it, check it. This is more to the (and I don't mean to sound sexist here) 5'1" woman who brings on an overstuffed suitcase she can't lift.....I see it all the time. Then the flight is delayed while they go through their ranting and screaming, then attempts to unpack some things.....and on and on and on......The F/A should wear a badge saying "Can't lift it, check it". Was an hour late leaving FLL once because some B&%ch had her baggage tantrum, threatened the Captain, FA and GA that she will sue them personally if her baggage isn't in LGA when they land. This usually doesn't apply to business people (men and women), we know what can and can't go onboard, and tend to pack what we can carry and bring on board.
But the bottom line still remains, if US could get a grip on baggage handling, this wouldn't be a problem. I showed up at my customer sites several times in jeans and tennis shoes due to lost luggage, then I finally started packing lighter and carrying on.
Seatacus
Veteran
This is why I think that TSA should police the carryon luggage. They see everything.
US1YFARE
Veteran
- Mar 31, 2004
- 3,932
- 54
especially when your back is to the customer because you are having a conversation with a crew member about your husband running around on you
they do at some stations. I have seen TSA at BOS tell people they have too much.
I've always said, the two jobs in this compnay that I would not want is Crew Scheduler and Gate Agent. Agents take way to much Cr_p from pax. I've had to step in a few times and say" You talk to your mom like that?" Then don't talk to them like that either. You agents have a high tolerance level, just like the F/A's. Gos bless you.
I don't believe they are dumb, I really believe they don't care. I see it all the time. Most think it's all about them. Everyone knows the load factors are way up, due to flying being so cheap, compared to driving yourself. I guess they all think this is their own private charter plane. And if you want, just leave all your unwanted Cr_p on the floor.
