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 27 of 28)
391. So, did the Vancouver airport fire this a-hole so Atlanta Hartsfield could hire him? My luggage is destroyed every time I fly, zippers ripped off, large rips in the canvas, etc. and I fly very infrequently. I had to purchase a piece of luggage to replace the suitcase destroyed on my last international flight and I'm afraid to take it to the airport. Airports should try to automate this process so luggage won't be destroyed by incompetent jerks.
Posted at 1:08PM on Feb 17th 2008 by Cyn
392. I didn't see anything wrong with the handling of those bags at all. If you expect your baggage to be lifted and set down gently then you need to restrict yourself to carry on luggage. These guys handle literally 10's of thousands of pounds of luggage every day. For him to gently place that luggage on the belt would involve more bending and lowering of the weight which would greatly increase stress to his back.
Posted at 1:10PM on Feb 17th 2008 by Donald
393. Im a baggage handler, this is doen at every airport, this is standard at how you are taught to do it, most of the time u have to hurry and its much worse than this
Posted at 1:14PM on Feb 17th 2008 by sam
394. Also I would add this suggestion: Don't spend a fortune on luggage only to hand it over to dozens of others to transport for you. Luggage should be practical, if it's bought as a status symbol have the good sense not to be so cavalier about it's care that you trust strangers to care for it as you would yourself.
Posted at 1:16PM on Feb 17th 2008 by Donald
395. About what I'd expect to see, given the way bags come out at the carousel. They hide behind bullsh*t "terrorist" secrecy so you can't sue them. The airlines and the TSA are the real terrorists.
Posted at 1:27PM on Feb 17th 2008 by RS
396. From the description of the video, I expected the worker to jump on luggage like the gorilla in those old commercials! He may have tossed the luggage a bit, but there was only one suitcase that he seemed to intentionally throw in a damaging manner. Otherwise it looked like he was trying to make a boring job more entertaining (like throwing a behind-the-back pass in basketball).
And, yes, I have had my own items damaged, a new suitcase with minor damage (4 symmetrical holes punched in it somehow!) and an old one that was ruined. Unfortunately I didn't notice the damage to the new one until I left the airport ~ always check your suitcases before leaving Baggage Claim! With the trashed suitcase, I was new to travelling and too timid to speak up), so I didn't know that I could seek reparation.
The old adage applies to every part of travel: Hope for the best; prepare for the worst! (And get ready to fight for restitution when warranted.)
P.S. To the person who was surprised that her hard-sided luggage was damaged: I'm sorry for your trouble, but try soft-sided or firm-sided luggage. Hard-sided luggage doesn't have the "give" to endure the obstacle course of airline travel. Soft-sided can be too floppy to be helpful. I'm going with the new "firm-sided" for my next suitcase; it seems like the ideal compromise.
Posted at 1:33PM on Feb 17th 2008 by TMR
397. How would he like it if someone handled HIS luggage this way? People spend lots of money while traveling buying souveniers, etc. He should be a little more considerate of other people's belongings OR get another job -
Posted at 1:35PM on Feb 17th 2008 by Karen
398. i worked for jetblue for a year..whenever were not in public view that is how the bags are handled. everyone and i mean everyone handles bags like that. were on a deadline to get the bags where they need to be, theres no time to be gentle and place each bag. and like i said everybody handles bags like that, if you dont like it dont fly.
Posted at 1:38PM on Feb 17th 2008 by rich
399. i wanna see any of you complaining unload or load 4 flights a day consisting of 500 bags each that weigh nearly 50 pounds each. see if your back makes it through the day lifting and placing each bag gently.
Posted at 1:42PM on Feb 17th 2008 by rich
400. This is a bunch of overreaction. If this is a secutriy tape then it is constantly running and the guy knows he is on it. What is he supposed to do, kiss each piece tenderly before laying it gently on the moving ( gasp!! ) conveyor belt?? GET REAL FOLKS. Dont be silly.
IF YOU HAVE FRAGILE THINGS JUST MAIL THEM AHEAD. This guy isnt doing anything out of the ordinary so stop acting like a bunchof babies.
Posted at 2:05PM on Feb 17th 2008 by CHess
401. Baggage isn't the only thing abused like this. Mail handlers, UPS, FedEx, all of them have idiots like this working for them. I recently shipped some fragile and irreplaceable antique ceramic items. I carefully wrapped each piece with 6" of foam padding on all sides. I then wrapped these in more bubble wrap on all sides, creating at least a 10" wall of bubble wrap around the entire contents. This entire padded brick of cargo was then packed into a triple-wall box with 2" of heavy styrofoam on all sides - top, sides and bottom. Then, large red FRAGILE stickers were pasted on all sides. With 12" - 14" of thick padding on all sides, this should have survived being dropped from 40,000 feet, right? Nope. It went by USPS and arrived with almost every piece smashed and broken. They had to have played Jai Alai against a concrete wall with the box to break the contents like this. Professional footballs take less abuse than this box obviously suffered. But hey - everything is OK! The post office is raising rates AGAIN, so maybe they will handle boxes with a little more consideration? ... No? Didn't think so. Moral of the story: if it's important and FRAGILE, hand-deliver it yourself. And drive, don't fly.
Posted at 2:15PM on Feb 17th 2008 by Doctor Bob
402. What the video shows is SOP . Too bad we didn't see video of the hidden out of view bag pilfering...that would be more intesting !
Posted at 8:56PM on Feb 17th 2008 by ron
403. PU-Lease. This article makes Americans sound like a bunch of wussie babies. Have some common sense. If you dont have the intelligence to pack your bags well and mail ahead the breakables, then you shouldnt be traveling,fool.
Posted at 11:33AM on Feb 18th 2008 by CHess
404. This is VERY common in the U.S. Just look outside your window next time before takeoff or after landing. They normally load/unload bags in this manner from the plane. Be careful not to pack things in the expansion areas on the front of your case. Bags seem to get thrown on the ramp/cart upside down. If they break your wheels off, forget about replacement...wheels are not covered by most airlines.
Posted at 1:39PM on Feb 18th 2008 by JT
405. Now I know why my bag smelled so strongly of someone else's perfume. and how it got broke
Posted at 8:13AM on Feb 19th 2008 by glenda