Here's why your pristine Samsonite bag arrived at the baggage claim a little banged up the last time you passed through Vancouver -- this handler was either having a bad day, or he really dislikes his job. Regardless, he's taking it out on the bags, tossing them around carelessly. Hope you didn't pack anything fragile!
Reader Comments (Page 19 of 28)
271. Also, people who never have or dont work hard really should not criticize people who do.So called "professionals" are some of the laziest and most incompetent people there are.People are too easily corrupted.Didnt you know about the chain of incompetance?
Posted at 6:33PM on Feb 10th 2008 by Truth
272. that darn fragile clan they travel all over.
Posted at 6:33PM on Feb 10th 2008 by aj
273. How do you expect him to unload a cart full of bags??
Gently place them down on the belt?? For that kind of service you will need to arrive 5 hours before your flight and have your bags checked no later than 4 hours before your flight. Us passengers don't want to do that. Instead we want to overload our suitcases and check them in 30 min before flight time. If we had to load them on the plane we could do a much better job. Yeah Right.
Posted at 6:34PM on Feb 10th 2008 by cat
274. I can now understand why my luggage sustained the damage it did. I flew AIR-TRAN out of Philadelphia into Orlando. When I went to unpack my luggage I found the heavy plastic that is used in luggage to hold its shape was completely smashed at one end. Please have some respect for other peoples belongings. After all, if we did not use your services you would not have a job.
Posted at 6:36PM on Feb 10th 2008 by Judy
275. I watched this video expecting to see something unexpected...as a baggage handler i can tell you this is the norm-if i am throwing 100's of bags a day rest assure no one is handling your bags any different than this guy. The express for handling baggage is "throwing bags" in the airline industry. If you have something "fragile" bring it in your carry-on luggage or ground ship it.
Posted at 6:45PM on Feb 10th 2008 by Rose McCall
276. Does anybody think we're surprised here? You can see this behavior right from any window seat on the starboard side of the plane while loading. You act like we must be shocked. Everybody knows you're supposed to buy cheap luggage or if you don't, don't care about the condition. Best thing is canvas and perishables on board in the carry on.
Posted at 6:47PM on Feb 10th 2008 by A traveler
277. For those of you who are complaining about the way this man was doing his job, stop crying. It sounds like to me you people have never done that job and have no idea how that job is performed. Most of you probably have never done any manual labor in your lives. Hate to break it to you cry babies but that is the way your bags are sorted and put into claim areas at every airline. If you don't want anything broken carry it on. If its too big for carry-on, ship it and insure it. Stop being ignorant.
Posted at 6:47PM on Feb 10th 2008 by Not a Crying Sissy
278. Kids...Hate to burst your bubble...that was tame....He looked like he cared to what really happens behind the wall on the 'secure' side of the belt.....
Posted at 6:53PM on Feb 10th 2008 by Ramper
279. I hate to tell you complainers, but the luggage gets torn up by the machines in the "secure" area - not the baggage handlers. If you don't like it - DRIVE!! I would deal with this guy anyday if it meant I didn't have to have "Mr. Businessman/woman" on any flight - they ARE the worst passengers!
Posted at 7:13PM on Feb 10th 2008 by Tired of complainers
280. he must be black!
Posted at 7:22PM on Feb 10th 2008 by jamcelr
281. When I read the caption of this story, I expected to find the airline employee "angrily" flinging baggage all around. It's a complete exaggeration and even misleading to indicate the baggage handler was "going berzerk". Unfortunately, he's probably not handling the baggage much differently from any of his co-workers. Someone else previously stated: "what's the big deal"? I have to agree.
Posted at 7:36PM on Feb 10th 2008 by ldardis
282. Are you kidding me? This guy is being nice compared to others I've seen. I've seen bags thrown off of belts that are at least 20 feet high. Of course TSA always gets the blame.
Posted at 7:37PM on Feb 10th 2008 by Jesse
283. Ive seen far worse than this, he seemed to be doing a pretty good job . It comes down the shoot harder than that. I ehink we expect to much from our under payed and overworked employees and we expect to little from the overpayed executives that put our homes into FORECLOSURE. Give this man a raise and a pat on the back for a job well done.
Posted at 7:42PM on Feb 10th 2008 by Bman
284. I have worked for a major airline on the ramp doing this guys job for 16yrs. There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong or unusual with this video. People...we throw bags...we throw bags for a living. Operative word here, throw, that's what it's called, what we do. We unload hundreds or your bags on and off planes all day, do you really think we place each one nicely. Do you really think that when they're under 500 other bags in a airplane bin they're not getting crushed. We work in all elements, shorthanded, for low pay. They've taken away most of our benefits and cut our wages drastically in the past few years. But this has nothing to do with the video, that's just the way it's done. If you're worried about it don't pack fragile items and don't ever buy expensive luggage. Now go ahead and everybody write about how horrible we are but we'd like to see you do our job for a day. Oh and by the way, I happen to LOVE my job.
Posted at 7:46PM on Feb 10th 2008 by mindy
285. One other thought... I personally know a TSA employee who told me that the airlines place a great deal of pressure employees, including the TSA to move passengers through the airports as quickly as possible. While that sounds like a great idea for any of us who have endured long lines and long waits...it also means that employees take short cuts to get the job done.
Like I said before...I don't see this guy doing anything I would consider chronic "mishandling" of the luggage.
Someone posted he should be "carefully" placing each piece on the belt... Guess what? He doesn't have TIME to do that! That's why I always carry my most fragile items in my CARRY ON.
This isn't a private jet. Sheeesh. get real.
Posted at 7:49PM on Feb 10th 2008 by ldardis