What is it about the luggage carousel that brings the worst to air travelers?
Marsha Sherrill nearly asked that question out loud when she recently landed in New York and watched the spectacle unfold.
“When they found the bag, they were climbing over people and bumping into people in front of them,” said Sherrill, a clothing designer in New York.
By contrast, the scene was more subdued when she arrived in London a few days earlier.
“They stepped back and allowed all travelers access to their bags in a very polite manner,” she recalled.
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Let’s talk about baggage claim etiquette. According to many subject matter experts, politeness has completely collapsed this summer.Remember The man who crawled through Cleveland’s luggage carousel?And this year has not been so good.? All too often, something close to a riot ensues as packages rush into the billing area and come down the conveyor belt.
“If air travel is a pain, luggage is an even bigger pain,” said Cathy Palmer, a frequent air traveler and nurse in Baltimore.
Rosalinda Oropeza RandallMr., an etiquette and politeness expert, said he was confused by our behavior in baggage claim.
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“When it comes to baggage claim, there are always a few passengers lined up firmly in front of the delivery chute, ready to pick up their bags as if this was their only chance,” she said. rice field.
Is it permissible to crowd around the luggage carousel?
In a nutshell, no.
Nick Leighton, etiquette expert and host of the weekly etiquette podcast, said: Raised by wolves? “Achieving this means everyone must be spaced all the way around the carousel and stand at least three feet away from the belt itself.”
At some airports, people line up on the floor of the luggage carousel to keep people on their belts. give space to each other. Only foreign air travelers cross an invisible line and crowd the carousel.
There is no agreement on the exact amount of space. Karen Villano, a ticket agent for a major airline, said the minimum clearance he has is two feet.
“This allows travelers to reach out and grab their bags as they come out on the carousel,” she said. But I’ve seen the ‘stand back’ line as far as 5 feet away, the minimum safe distance is she’s 2 feet or more, but allow yourself a little leeway.
Am I allowed to have other people help me carry my luggage?
Passengers are not luggage porters. However, some exceptions apply.
“If you need help getting your luggage off the ramp, you can ask,” said etiquette consultant Adeodata Tink. manners business.
Czink can’t always lift her luggage at the airport. She spotted a young passenger and said, “That blue bag is mine. Can you help me unload it?” she said. “I did so a few times and no one had a problem helping me.”
But as Czink and other etiquette experts said, don’t treat your fellow passengers like your own baggage handlers. That could push your fellow travelers to their limits.
Is it okay to touch other people’s bags?
Etiquette experts say it’s different.
“Generally, when you’re on the carousel, it’s expected that other people will occasionally touch your luggage,” said etiquette expert Jody R.R. Smith. Manner Smith Etiquette Consulting“Obviously they shouldn’t be taking it home.”
But she said many bags are similar. Other passengers may have to touch the bag to see the name tag.
“I’ve seen polite people rotate their bags as they slide down the chute to make sure the handles are facing outwards and that there are no piggyback bags.
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What is everyone missing about luggage etiquette?
Now I know not to crowd the conveyor belt, handle other people’s bags only when absolutely necessary, and not ask other passengers to be porters. But there’s more to luggage etiquette than that.
The question no one is asking is “Why is this happening?” Why do people rush to the carousel as if he only has one chance to pick up their luggage?They think once it’s gone in the chute it’s gone forever?Why do they go to baggage claim So why would you act so barbaric?
The answer is clear. Besides charging extra fees for luggage, airlines have yet to find a way to prevent it from being lost. Passengers arriving on the carousel are feeling anxious because they don’t know if their checked baggage has arrived. This uncertainty causes them to flock to baggage carousels and engage in other antisocial behavior.
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Passengers shouldn’t be blamed, at least not entirely, for the breakdown of civility on the luggage carousel. No, this is also an airline issue. As long as airlines keep losing baggage, the carousel madness will continue.
Please do not check your luggage until then. Please bring it onboard.
Luggage chips on the conveyor belt
- Track your package: “I use an AirTag so I always know where my bags are,” says Mike Sweat, a former geophysicist who often travels by plane from Lansing, Michigan. Be patient with the crowd until the bags show up.
- Recheck your luggage before departure: “Check your tags before you leave,” said Diane Gottsman, who runs a protocol school in Texas. Most black bags look the same. Often the only feature is the tag. You can avoid such confusion by purchasing non-black bags. Any color other than black is fine. Also, give it a unique name tag to distinguish it from all other products.
- Keep calm: be patient. If you don’t see your bag, stay calm (don’t climb the conveyor belt looking for your bag). Pallavi Sadekar, Head of Operations at travel insurance company Visitorguard.com, said: Instead, report lost baggage to the airline.
Christopher Elliot Author, consumer advocate, journalist.he founded Elliot Advocacy, a non-profit organization that helps solve consumer problems.he publishes elliott confidentialtravel newsletters, and Elliot Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer issue, contact him here or email him chris@elliott.org.