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Videos: bad baggage handlers (or, Remind me again why we pay to check luggage!)
What happens to your bags after you hand them over at the airport? It's a question we've all asked ourselves. Are our bags cared for lovingly? Are they abused? Are they tossed and thrown... or set down carefully, gently?
While most baggage handlers are no doubt scrupulous and careful with luggage, every group has its bad apples. Here are some of the worst offenders, making us mutter to ourselves, "Remind me again why we pay to check luggage!"
Watch these baggage handlers see who can get the best backward, over the head shot into containers with luggage and shipped packages.
It's clear that this baggage handler is not really interested in "handling" the baggage as it comes off the plane.
This young lady was having fun bag tossing... until she realized passengers were watching her from the plane.
These British Air baggage handlers seem to enjoy watching the bags bounce off each other.
These EasyJet baggage handlers seem to think it's appropriate to stack the smallest bags on the bottom... and dump the larger bags on top.
This guy doesn't throw any bags... he just drags the bags behind the baggage car.
So you think locking your luggage makes it safer? Ha! This video shows you precisely how to get into a "locked" bag.
These baboons at Knowlsey Safari Park give new meaning to the phrase "baggage handlers."
Good luck on your next flight, and remember: don't pack anything valuable in your checked bags!
While most baggage handlers are no doubt scrupulous and careful with luggage, every group has its bad apples. Here are some of the worst offenders, making us mutter to ourselves, "Remind me again why we pay to check luggage!"
Watch these baggage handlers see who can get the best backward, over the head shot into containers with luggage and shipped packages.
This young lady was having fun bag tossing... until she realized passengers were watching her from the plane.
These British Air baggage handlers seem to enjoy watching the bags bounce off each other.
These EasyJet baggage handlers seem to think it's appropriate to stack the smallest bags on the bottom... and dump the larger bags on top.
This guy doesn't throw any bags... he just drags the bags behind the baggage car.
So you think locking your luggage makes it safer? Ha! This video shows you precisely how to get into a "locked" bag.
These baboons at Knowlsey Safari Park give new meaning to the phrase "baggage handlers."
Good luck on your next flight, and remember: don't pack anything valuable in your checked bags!
Filed under: Video
Reader Comments (Page 8 of 8)
Mead4MerryMaking Feb 27th 2010 3:11PM
I remember coming to work once and seeing bags sitting on the ramp in a particularly bad thunderstorm. I felt really terrible for the owners, but I knew that there was nothing which could be done. When lightning strikes within seven miles of the airport, OSHA requires that all ramp employees be moved indoors immediately. All work stops and the ramp is closed. It is not re-opened again until thirty minutes following the final lightning strike within seven miles. I've actually been on the ramp several times when we walked back out on to the ramp to work after a ground hold and were promptly marched right back indoors for another thirty minute wait.
Boston Blackie Feb 27th 2010 3:28PM
My answer to the problem is...mail a box of clothing out in advance of trip to friend or relative. Do not take anything that you can't use with you in checked luggage. It is that simple. I also figure cost of checking bag as part of the cost of travel. If you want special treatment for your special crap...well get rich, charter private plane and hire someone to deal with it for you.
Mouse Feb 27th 2010 4:19PM
Maybe some folks need to decide not to spend a fortune on their luggage? Luggage should be sturdy and used to SHIP your items, not a status symbol (and yes, mine is probably way too nice and a well known status brand). Never the less, video 1 sucks, the rest...not so bad and/or an accident. Get real folks. Spend your money and time on something else.
ciara Feb 27th 2010 10:42PM
people pay money to fly and pay money for their luggages,so i think these people should treat these luggages with care,if you dont like you job then why the hell work there.people travel with gifts expensive things and what happens if it get broken ,so they should have some fucking respect and treat peoples bags with care.
Ken Mar 1st 2010 10:53PM
I've worked for a major airline for over 31 years.
Let me give you a little back ground of what goes on. I'm not making excuses for the baggage handlers in these videos.
I've worked the pit and the ground. It's back breaking work, my back has gone out plenty of times over the years. I've ruined my body working this job, I've had my share of surgeries too.
Most people do over pack their bags. Also you need to remember when you do pack you need to protect certain things between your clothes. You check your luggage it travels along a conveyor belt that some times goes faster that 10MPH, Then an arm (a large metal L piece) comes out fast and jerks the luggage onto another conveyor belt. Because the luggage is very close to each other to be efficient. This travels to a staging area that a baggage handler to put in a cart or container, He has to Scan EACH bag either before he puts it in or after. They are tracking your bag. That's why you need to take off any old tags. Then it goes out to the plane. If it's in a cart it has to be put onto another conveyor up into the pit of the airplane. Before it's loaded you need to scan it again. Typically one guy is on the ground lifting with 1 hand while scanning with he other. You have to get the plane out on time or you get in trouble. There is 1 or 2 baggage handlers inside this pit that. The pits of 737,757, Air Buses the average height of the pit is only 4-5 feet. To short to stand in. So you are on your knees, knee pads are required. If you are in the pit yourself (which happens a LOT) you are required to take the bag off the belt turn and stack it from the bottom to the top neatly, so they won't fall over, then quickly handle the next bag. During that time you are supposed to test each bag for weight by pushing it, to see if it too heavy. Some times that little bags that looks harmless can weigh 50 lbs.! You are supposed to put the hard sided bags on the bottom and work from there. Pack it tight, to make sure you fit it all in. Then if you have freight or mail to load, that goes in first so you bags come out first. I worked one day and added up all the weight for JUST out bound flights we were just loading 737 one right after the other. With bags, they average the total weight of a bag at that time, was 27 lbs. They've upped it since then. Then there airfreight & mail on some flights. That weight came to over 30,000 lbs.
The first video is a crew unloading bags & boxes of Mail. Yes, they should be a bit more considerate when loading the box container. But the top ledge of that container is 7-8 feet high. There is no where to stand on the Dollie safely, especially in the snow to load that type container. The plastic boxes are filled with letters only. The bags are filled with small boxes that can sometimes weigh up to 70 lbs.
The second video the woman is putting the bags on the ground because she has no cart. She's probably waiting for another part of her crew (that is probably finishing another flight) to come and swing in so that the guy in the pit can come out and help her load the bags. She's not throwing them on the ground, like I've seen some times.
Third video the woman is probably looking for "Hot" bags, these are bags that have a quick connection time. The crew that should be taking the city bags isn't there, so she's trying to get Your bags on the next flight that is leaving in 10 minutes. Again she's not being rough with the bags. If you pack right there will be no damage. If we cared for the bags as most people would think should be, your flight would go out late every time.
Fourth video, this is Not rough handling
Fifth video, these guys don't seem like they had much training. If I were working the truck part I would have asked the guy in the pit for some big bags (as a base) for stacking. These guys must not be driving far, because the won't get very far before these bags start falling off.
Sixth video, again this guy needs some training. He didn't stack the bags right and that why they are falling all over the place. He didn't even know he was dragging that one bag, if he did, he would have picked it up. I'll confess one time 20 years ago I did end up dragging a small bag half way across the ramp. I felt Terrible, but I did learn a lesson. Pack in right and close the curtains & look back often to make sure things aren't falling out.
As far as the video with getting into a bag that is locked. Remember TSA goes through ALL your luggage before it gets to us. I know for a fact that there are some TSA who steal out of your bags. The government needs to put camera's up where TSA scan your bags behind closed doors.
If you mail something fragile, insure it. When you pack a bag, pack fragile item between your cloths, or ship ahead, using UPS or Fedex. If traveling abroad, make sure you keep your passport with you, don't pack it. I've unloaded a perfectly packed plane to dig out someones bag (that was the 2nd bag loaded, buried behind 120 other bags) because someone left their passport and or medicine in their luggage. This does not make me happy.
Have a good day and a safe flight.
PS:If a plane takes a 10 minute delay in the morning, as the day goes by the delay takes on more time and can end up being late by 3 hours or more by the end of the day.