Air Travel

Question:

> >And what about damage to the luggage?  Almost all the airlines now have >signs up that basically say you should expect your luggage to be >destroyed. > Would you be kind enough to quote one of these signs, for those of us > who haven’t seen them?

These signs say that the "primary function" of luggage is to "protect the contents."  Then go on to "as such" the airline is "not responsible for minor scratches, dents, marks, and cuts."  I may not have gotten the working exactly right, but that is the gist of it.  What is defined as "minor" is not said.  Generally, if they left the word "cut" out, I probably wouldn’t have a problem.  If a piece of luggage is going to get cut (and, I have had this happen twice), then something is wrong. Brad

Response:

DL told it’s non-rev passengers to start checking their luggage.   DL wants to start leading by example in the control of the carry-on problem.  DL recognizes this as a major problem. I wonder what the next step will be. — Wayne R. Saunders Saunders & Associates, "Specializing in Geophysics" Fort Myers, Florida Tel: (941) 936-8652, Fax: (941) 936-0342

Response:

> DL told it’s non-rev passengers to start checking their luggage.   DL > wants to start leading by example in the control of the carry-on > problem.  DL recognizes this as a major problem.

I called Delta’s International Res and Info desk twice yesterday, and talked to two different representatives, at two different times of the day, and got the same response to the carry-on question: For an international flight where pax is flying only on Delta (not on a code-sharing airline), pax is limited to two carry-ons, each of which must be no more than 45" (W+H+L) and no more than 40lb. Checked luggage is limited to two pieces, each of which must be no more than 62" (W+H+L) and no more than 70lb. For domestic flights, where pax is flying only on Delta (not on a code-sharing airline), same checked limit and restrictions as for international flights. But only ONE carry-on is allowed, and it has the same restrictions as above. For pax flying from Anycity USA to international hub to catch an international flight (again, where pax is flying only on Delta), the whole flight, starting from Anycity USA, is considered to be an international flight, so the pax on the domestic leg is allowed two carry-ons subject to same restrictions as in the case of international flights above. This suprised me since my travel agent told me only one carry-on would be allowed. That’s why I called Delta twice to talk with two different reps. I wanted to verify that I hadn’t heard wrong, and that the first rep was correct. I also checked out their Web site (http://www.delta-air.com), and found semi-contradictory info, but it’s probably outdated, and I’d go with what the reps said yesterday as latest. So, maybe they are taking the lead in policy, but whether or not they’ll enforce these limits and restrictions at the gate is another story…. J.D. Sholar

Response:

> So, maybe they are taking the lead in policy, but whether or not they’ll > enforce these limits and restrictions at the gate is another story….

Obviously, the carry-on situation is a big problem for most airlines. Again their are rules and policies, but the problem comes with enforcement.  With paxs becoming more belligerent, FA’s and gate agents appear not to want to get into this conflict with the paxs.  I guess it will take a tragedy of trying to evacuate a plane with luggage in the aisles for the situation to be rectified. Or maybe it will be a lawsuit by a pax who is injured from a falling bag which is oversized or overweight, against an airline for letting that bag come on board.  Most people are complaining about the carry-on situation, why the deaf ears by the airline industry? Wayne R. Saunders Saunders & Associates, "Specializing in Geophysics" Fort Myers, Florida Tel: (941) 936-8652, Fax: (941) 936-0342

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> So, maybe they are taking the lead in policy, but whether or not they’ll > enforce these limits and restrictions at the gate is another story…. > Obviously, the carry-on situation is a big problem for most airlines. > Again their are rules and policies, but the problem comes with > enforcement.  With paxs becoming more belligerent, FA’s and gate agents > appear not to want to get into this conflict with the paxs.  I guess it > will take a tragedy of trying to evacuate a plane with luggage in the > aisles for the situation to be rectified. > Or maybe it will be a lawsuit by a pax who is injured from a falling bag > which is oversized or overweight, against an airline for letting that > bag come on board.  Most people are complaining about the carry-on > situation, why the deaf ears by the airline industry?

Hi: On a recent flight from Anchorage to Seattle on American West, my son, having seen that his duffle bag came nowhere near fitting in the "box" at the gate took it to the uniformed person at the gate to have it checked.  They told him just to go on and carry it on (read, didn’t want to take the time to do it) and it was a full plane.  That may be the reason for some oversized carry ons. Tucker

Response:

Wayne, Confrontation is the biggest problem.  You have passengers that insist, and will yell and scream to carry on their  bag.  Airport agents will not get into a shouting match with a passenger over this. God forbid it is an ELITE Frequent Flyer who questions you….Need I say more. Unfortunately it will probably take a law suit for airlines to realize the seriousness of this. I have noticed more and more people are carrying on less on domestic, trans-border routes.  The problem lies in passengers going overseas or connecting to an international flight from a domestic/trans-border flight. It all depends on the support of the agents immediate supervisor/manager on duty.  If the higer up are strict and enforce the carry-on rule, then we’re ok, but not all of them do. To be perfectly honest with you, I truly believe that it must be the F/A that must draw the line.  Picture this, If the checkin agent advises bag is too big, and the gate agent advises bag is too big and then on board they advise bag is to big and make them check it, then they realize either I check it or it doesn’t go.  The aircraft door is the point of no return. If the F/A’s enforce the rule and the Capt. stands by the F/A and  the aircraft takes a delay because of it then the S**T will hit the fan and someone will notice.  This may eventually cause checkin to screen and enforce a lot more. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Obviously, the carry-on situation is a big problem for most airlines. >Again their are rules and policies, but the problem comes with >enforcement.  With paxs becoming more belligerent, FA’s and gate agents >appear not to want to get into this conflict with the paxs.  I guess it >will take a tragedy of trying to evacuate a plane with luggage in the >aisles for the situation to be rectified. >Or maybe it will be a lawsuit by a pax who is injured from a falling bag >which is oversized or overweight, against an airline for letting that >bag come on board.  Most people are complaining about the carry-on >situation, why the deaf ears by the airline industry? >Wayne R. Saunders >Saunders & Associates, "Specializing in Geophysics" >Fort Myers, Florida >Tel: (941) 936-8652, Fax: (941) 936-0342

Response:

>Obviously, the carry-on situation is a big problem for most airlines. >Again their are rules and policies, but the problem comes with >enforcement.  With paxs becoming more belligerent, FA’s and gate agents >appear not to want to get into this conflict with the paxs.  I guess it >will take a tragedy of trying to evacuate a plane with luggage in the >aisles for the situation to be rectified.

Look, I realize carry-on luggage is a pet peeve of yours; but I have never seen an aircraft with luggage in the aisles.  You