My dad took a flight yesterday in American first class (a domestic connection after returning from Europe), and he asked me an interesting question that I figure is worth addressing here. Somehow, it’s a topic that I’ve never explicitly addressed.
In this post:
Should or can flight attendants help with carry-on bags?
My dad texted me to ask a question about something he experienced on his flight. He explained that he asked the flight attendant to help him with his carry-on bag, and she apologized and said that she couldn’t, and that it’s against company policy. Then another flight attendant heard her saying this, and came to help with placing his bag in the overhead bin. He’s curious what’s going on here…
Please don’t hold the question against my dad, as I realize some frequent flyers (and flight attendants) may roll their eyes at this. While my dad has traveled a lot over the years, he doesn’t fly as much as he used to, and when he does, it’s mostly internationally.
My dad is also a senior, and while he’d be mad if I shared his age, he has qualified for a senior discount at Dunkin’ for decades, if that’s any indication.
Anyway, his confusion is understandable, especially if you’re not a super frequent flyer on US airlines. For one, lots of flight attendants on US airlines do gladly help with bags. Next, if you fly a foreign carrier, it’s common for them to proactively help with bags.
For example, when I fly Singapore Airlines (as a youngish and able-bodied person), the flight attendants rush to help me with my bags, as if I can’t do it myself. Meanwhile on US airlines, it’s not uncommon to see flight attendants even refuse to help seniors or those who struggle with mobility with their bags.
The concept of just completely refusing to help passengers with carry-on bags is very much an American thing. That’s not to say it never happens elsewhere, but it’s by far the most common in the United States.
Are flight attendants not “allowed” to help with bags?
What’s actually the policy here? Are flight attendants really not allowed to help passengers with bags, do they just have the right to refuse to help, or what? The answer is nuanced, and it really depends on which party you ask.
Some flight attendants will claim that helping with carry-on bags is one of the leading causes of injuries while on the job, and that their workers’ compensation doesn’t cover injuries resulting from this. Based on my understanding, that’s not really accurate.
As I understand it, no airline actually tells flight attendants that they’re not allowed to help passengers with their carry-on bags. However, airline policies differ when it comes to the extent to which flight attendants are encouraged to help passengers with their bags.
For example, Delta states that “flight attendants are unable to proactively assist customers placing carry-on baggage into overhead bins, with certain exceptions.” I’d say the key word there is “proactively,” which seems like an important word here, since that’s different than “reactively.”
Meanwhile Southwest flight attendants are “allowed to assist passengers, although it’s not a requirement,” but “it’s part of Southwest hospitality.”
There’s also nuance between “lifting” and “assisting” with bags. In this case, “assisting” is generally defined as helping to move the bag into the overhead bin after it has been lifted.
This is also an area where unions often chime in. Flight attendant unions typically discourage flight attendants from helping passengers lift bags, and state that if a flight attendant is injured in any way, they should immediately refuse to work the flight.
So yeah, flight attendants are within their rights when they refuse to help passengers lift bags. They argue that if you can’t carry-on the bag yourself, you should check it. While they don’t have to help in a professional capacity, many flight attendants will still show courtesy to those who need help, just as I would do for a fellow passenger who could use the help.
But there’s no denying that a lot of flight attendants take a principled approach, and parrot the “I’m not allowed to help” line. That’s their prerogative, and that’s also why there’s so much inconsistency, as my dad has observed over time (and experienced himself).
To give flight attendants some credit, I can also understand how they’re “over” the concept of passengers bringing on massively oversized bags, and then making them the crew’s problem. At the same time, dealing with the traveling public is what they get paid for. I also think there’s a difference between a general social courtesy (for seniors, those who need help, etc.), and just an able-bodied person who can’t lift their 50 pound bag.
Bottom line
Air travelers in the United States are sometimes confused by the policies surrounding crew members helping with carry-on bags. While some flight attendants claim that they’re not allowed to help with carry-on bags, that’s not quite true.
The truth is that they’re not required to help, and the real reason for that is over concern of them getting injured. Still, it’s up to individual flight attendants to decide how they handle this situation. So you’ll see some flight attendants who don’t help at all, some flight attendants who “assist,” and some flight attendants who are very helpful.
I can appreciate that flight attendants don’t want to be responsible for lifting the bags of hundreds of travelers per day, though I think there’s probably also a middle ground in terms of showing courtesy to people who might need help, just like we otherwise help strangers in society. At least that’s my two cents…
What do you make of the “flight attendants helping with bags” situation in the United States?
To avoid this problem, I bought an underseater suitcase so that I don't have to lift it. I don't want a flight attendant to get injured.
If you can't lift your bag, check it in.
It's more nuanced. If the Flight Attendant is injured, it's very difficult under the mess of differing State Workers Compensation laws. These laws not only generally favor the employer but also when you are dealing with Airline Crew, there's an added complexity as to which jurisdiction is it filed? Where they were operating? There home of record? Where they are based? The rules are all different and this crosses the lines of Collective Bargaining Agreements...
It's more nuanced. If the Flight Attendant is injured, it's very difficult under the mess of differing State Workers Compensation laws. These laws not only generally favor the employer but also when you are dealing with Airline Crew, there's an added complexity as to which jurisdiction is it filed? Where they were operating? There home of record? Where they are based? The rules are all different and this crosses the lines of Collective Bargaining Agreements and differing State Laws.
Then after that mess is decided, these types of injuries are generally ones of repetition, not a one-time incident and lend themselves to being more difficult to prove as Workers Comp than say a broken bone.
Because of that Unions, with good history and reason, recommend that it's just not worth it for Flight Attendants to take on that risk. The Companies or their insurers will definitely fight the claim. This dynamic is unique to the USA for a variety of reasons but that's the reason why. Not because American Flight Attendants are fat and lazy as is claimed by some on here.
Thank you for your insight but airlines have cut staffing (pre-Covid, most US 777 Boeing had 11-12 crew-members, now 9-10 with perhaps 3 in ECY crew-members boarding over 200 pax in ECY alone). Yes, many board with oversized bags. One elderly disabled gentleman had $40,000 worth of silver & it took 3 male crew-members to “assist” in overhead stowage. The bag should NEVER been allowed by the ground staff. Assisting is a courtesy because it...
Thank you for your insight but airlines have cut staffing (pre-Covid, most US 777 Boeing had 11-12 crew-members, now 9-10 with perhaps 3 in ECY crew-members boarding over 200 pax in ECY alone). Yes, many board with oversized bags. One elderly disabled gentleman had $40,000 worth of silver & it took 3 male crew-members to “assist” in overhead stowage. The bag should NEVER been allowed by the ground staff. Assisting is a courtesy because it can cause serious injuries & flight attendants have other serious responsibilities during the critical phase while “boarding” where all eyes are supposed to detect unusual behavior or medical situations. Most crew-members are also dealing with catering issues, pre-departure & taking meal orders. Which is why they are demanding boarding pay. Yes, you are bringing on bags too heavy, too large & expecting crew-members whose hourly pay does not even kick in until the door closes & the pilot’s foot is off the breaks. That’s entitlement. Check your bags, please, if you cannot lift it! You can prevent injury to yourself as well.
"One elderly disabled gentleman had $40,000 worth of silver "
That's around 45 kilograms! I agree that the ground crew made a stupid error.
If you have a carryon that you can't lift. It may be better for you to check in the bag. You should only carry on what you can lift. Dont expect others to help you. Its your bag and its your responsibility to stow it. Why would you expect someone else to lift it for you? Check in the bag that you can not lift.
Ben, in Us airlines I work for , they use they are very clever with the policy wording . They say that we are require to “assist” with carry on for those with disabilities . They use assist instead of lifting, because they will not be liable if an accident happens. Not only the bag can result in an injury to the fa , but the item can be so heavy and could fall on...
Ben, in Us airlines I work for , they use they are very clever with the policy wording . They say that we are require to “assist” with carry on for those with disabilities . They use assist instead of lifting, because they will not be liable if an accident happens. Not only the bag can result in an injury to the fa , but the item can be so heavy and could fall on the passenger who owns the bag or another passenger seating around the area. So it is all about corporate liability and yes , I know many coworkers who have been denied workers compensation for lifting bags.
So assist can be interpreted as follows : help the passenger find a spot the carry on, recommitted the bag , or check it .
I do lift bags for elderly, and customers with disability , but that it is my personal decision.
Be fascinating to setup some scales at a few gates at an American airport and weigh every carry-on bag.
To allow checked bags or not is the larger issue. The rabid looks in peoples eyes as they try to jump the boarding queue so they will have overhead space for their bags. The delays in boarding and deplaning. Business and First Class passengers do not see the chaos.
Why should I as a business or first class pax care about the chaos. That's why I pay extra to fly premium class so I don't have to be bother about what goes on in the back.
Because it can delay your departure time and by extension your arrival time. And there may be a time when the people who fly up front or the company they work for or the points redemption schemes are no longer able to pay to ride in the front of the bus. Heresy to even think that on this site, I am aware. Like society in general, and as history teaches, what goes on in the back ultimately affects the people in the front. Let them eat cake.
As mich as I like the service on Asian carriers here I am with the US attendants.
If you pack, pack in a way that you can deal with your carry on on your own (yes I konw, some people cannot but the people who do pack too heavy for them are normally not those in wheelchairs or on crutches).
US passengers are inown worldwide for the famous kitchen sink they carry on board. If...
As mich as I like the service on Asian carriers here I am with the US attendants.
If you pack, pack in a way that you can deal with your carry on on your own (yes I konw, some people cannot but the people who do pack too heavy for them are normally not those in wheelchairs or on crutches).
US passengers are inown worldwide for the famous kitchen sink they carry on board. If you can lift it yourself, fine, if not do not let others do your work. No one will help you on a train, or in a bus, or with your rental car. Why should flight attendants do?
My carry on only exceeds 5 kilo after purchases in the duty free, it may come to 6. Normal weight is below 3. If you need more… your decision, your consequences.
I am a flight attendant and this article kinda makes me mad...so my comment is long. I Do help with the occasional bag even though the company discourages it, but I only help really old people who are struggling. The reason we don't help is plain and simple. When we are hired, they often advertise that they want us to be able to lift 50 pounds over our head...that's it. And that's to deal with...
I am a flight attendant and this article kinda makes me mad...so my comment is long. I Do help with the occasional bag even though the company discourages it, but I only help really old people who are struggling. The reason we don't help is plain and simple. When we are hired, they often advertise that they want us to be able to lift 50 pounds over our head...that's it. And that's to deal with the carts, not lift the bags. They don't test us on what we can lift, but we go into the job knowing that we may have to lift 50 pounds max...having said that ... How many passengers actually keep their bag's weight limit under 50 pounds...? Not a lot.
I actually talked to a young flight attendant who was in her twenties who was just coming off of workers comp for six months after helping someone with their bag in the overhead and her shoulder "just gave out.". In her TWENTIES. When we go out on workers comp, they don't want us to come back until we are at 100%. Thus, she didn't work for six months because of one person's bag...and she had to do physical therapy that whole time. I was on workers comp for four months because of vodka bottles. They are impossible to open but the constant motion of trying to open them finally tore something in my hand...and even thought it's workers comp, it was a 30% paycut for four months. I no longer open vodka bottles for passengers. It's stupid, I know, but it's better than getting hurt.
One final note... You don't know where your flight attendant is based or coming from. If you ask your flight attendant to help you and they get injured on that bag, that flight attendant is off the flight. You lose one flight attendant, that flight will be postponed until another flight attendant can be brought in from the nearest hub. If that airport is a hub for that airline, then it's a delay until the next flight attendant can show up...and that might mean deplaning everyone first so the injured flight attendant can go to the hospital. If that plane is not at a base, and even worse, in another country, that flight will be cancelled until another flight attendant can be flown in. Keep that in mind the next time you ask a flight attendant to put your bag in an overhead...you risk that flight being cancelled. It's better to ask for help from another passenger than a flight attendant. Putting bags in the overhead is not part of our job description anymore, so if a flight attendant helps you, they are doing it because they are a genuinely nice person.
Oh... US flight attendants... (eye roll)
A solid brick of 80gr/m2 paper equivalent to the size of a carry on bag would weight around 32kg*. No air pockets, no fluffy clothes, no space wasted, just a solid brick of paper. Paper is probably the heaviest "average" weight that people carry. You can get a kitchen sink, and it would, on a per volume basis, weight less than paper.
My source: I have carried porcelanic...
Oh... US flight attendants... (eye roll)
A solid brick of 80gr/m2 paper equivalent to the size of a carry on bag would weight around 32kg*. No air pockets, no fluffy clothes, no space wasted, just a solid brick of paper. Paper is probably the heaviest "average" weight that people carry. You can get a kitchen sink, and it would, on a per volume basis, weight less than paper.
My source: I have carried porcelanic tiles, custom metal parts, "bricks" of ham (long story), photographic batteries... you name it, inside what is possibly the largest, heaviest, carry-on in the market, and I only rarely have I hit 20kg. After decades of traveling "to the limit" weight wise, I can estimate a bag's weight with reasonable accuracy, and the times I had to help a fellow traveler with a bag, I'd say they were at the 12kg, 15kg tops.
My point: rarely people carry 50 pounds (23kg) as carry on, because that type of weight is practically impossible to fit in a bag. I thus call b.s. on your comment of travelers CONSISTENTLY carrying 50lbs.
Seriously... if you are not able to open vodka bottles for passengers, I'd be concerned about your ability to open the plane door on an emergency. You may consider a career change.
* 0.56mx0.36m = 0.2m2 x 0.08 kg / m2 x 2,000 sheets [to fit on 0.23m allowable height]
Walk a 1000 miles in a Flight Attendant's shoes then you'll have a right to criticize. Unless you've done their job you have ZERO idea what they do on a daily basis. Bottom line, "you pack it, you rack it"!
When there's a union, the things your employees will do.
I was recently on an LH flight where the crew actively checked heavy looking hand luggage and instructed some passengers to place it under the seat in front of them. (The official limit is 8kh for LH)
I would say this is a fair practice, on the other hand I would expect FAs to help lifting bags under 8kg when required - of course while beeing insured by the airline.
plain and simple - people should respect size and weight restrictions on hand luggage (typically 7 or 8 kg max in EU). If they then have a problem / are not able to get their hand luggage in, crew should help. But crew should systematically refuse to help with any oversized / overweight hand luggage. I have often as a passenger been asked by people to help them with their hand luggage because it is...
plain and simple - people should respect size and weight restrictions on hand luggage (typically 7 or 8 kg max in EU). If they then have a problem / are not able to get their hand luggage in, crew should help. But crew should systematically refuse to help with any oversized / overweight hand luggage. I have often as a passenger been asked by people to help them with their hand luggage because it is too heavy for them to lift - my standard answer is that then it should have been checked
Also..Flight Attendants are Not Paid for the boarding process or deplaning. Another reason not to get injured ...
Perhaps we should use the US solution and give the FAs tips?
You rarely see people bring large carry-ons on Singapore Airlines!
It's civilized flying, They include 2 checked bags, and people do so!
I suspect that WN flights are going to see a lot issues with cabin bags. Especially all those Jetway Jesus types who need assistance. Boarding should take around 3 hours each time.....
It is COMPANY policy at American & United to not lift passenger bags because company insurance will not cover ANY crew injuries. PERIOD. I don’t know about Delta. It has NOTHING to do with union contracts.
AGAIN, it is in company work manuals to not lift pax bags. And why would a pax pack a bag so heavy that they cannot lift it themselves? Just gate check it folks.
IIRC, airlines have to offer assistance with bags for disabled pax. Even if they can handle their own bags through the airport, they might not be able to store them by themselves.
https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/disabilitybillofrights
"Once a passenger with a disability has boarded, airlines must provide assistance, if requested, such as:
moving to or from the lavatory, including using an on-board chair to assist, if requested.
stowing and retrieving carry-on items, including assistive devices."
IIRC, airlines have to offer assistance with bags for disabled pax. Even if they can handle their own bags through the airport, they might not be able to store them by themselves.
https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/disabilitybillofrights
"Once a passenger with a disability has boarded, airlines must provide assistance, if requested, such as:
moving to or from the lavatory, including using an on-board chair to assist, if requested.
stowing and retrieving carry-on items, including assistive devices."
Flight Attendant here… (My particular airline) we’re not paid for boarding or deplaning. Once that door opens we are working for free. If we are injured lifting a bag out of the kindness of our heart we are not eligible for workers compensation. While some of us still may help we are not “required” to do so. I’m not going to help you with your over packed luggage that should have been checked in. Check your luggage people. Sorry not sorry.
Emily that attitude sucks. If you work for ‘free’ during those times you must be over compensated during the times the doors are shut. If you aren’t working then why don’t all the aircrew leave the plane before the passengers? To make out you are doing it out of the goodness of your heart for free is ridiculous, you are clearly contractually obligated to help with boarding and deplaning. If technically you’re paid when the...
Emily that attitude sucks. If you work for ‘free’ during those times you must be over compensated during the times the doors are shut. If you aren’t working then why don’t all the aircrew leave the plane before the passengers? To make out you are doing it out of the goodness of your heart for free is ridiculous, you are clearly contractually obligated to help with boarding and deplaning. If technically you’re paid when the door shuts, then that’s the contract your union has agreed with your employer and you accepted when joining the company. The USA allows the most stupid ridiculous labour laws, yet supposedly the richest country in the world. Don’t help if you don’t want to, but dont pretend it’s cos you’re not compensated. Sorry not sorry.
I do agree you shouldn’t be obliged to help passengers and they should be able to put their own bags in the overheads. Lots of lazy entitled people. However, as a human being, helping a very elderly gentleman is just good manners and something everyone of us who’s got a heart would do. Bravo to the flight attendant who helped Ben’s Dad.
You hit the nail in the head with your comment.
Boy, I am so tired of US FAs. Particularly, the entitled ones in international flights (particularly the ones with long turnarounds, seen by FAs as an opportunity to relax rather than work). I have experiences lots of FAs which probably started their careers flying Lockheed Constellations and make you feel as a nuisance at any opportunity. Most of them in US airlines. And in LOT, don't get me started with LOT.
Former flight attendant with a major US airline. If we injure ourself assisting a passenger with a carryon bag, the injury would not be covered by the company because it is not one of our stated duties. Additionally, if we are injured and we are not at a hub and there is no replacement flight attendant to work the flight, it would be canceled. If we are at a hub and the flight is slightly...
Former flight attendant with a major US airline. If we injure ourself assisting a passenger with a carryon bag, the injury would not be covered by the company because it is not one of our stated duties. Additionally, if we are injured and we are not at a hub and there is no replacement flight attendant to work the flight, it would be canceled. If we are at a hub and the flight is slightly delayed because they need to replace the FA then we would get a demerit point, which enough points leads to being fired.
Lastly, flight attendants do 2-4 flights a day, you can’t lift your own bag, but expect a flight attendant to do it on a plane of 180 people up to four times a day.
It could all-too-easily become an “expectation” by passengers that FAs will lift their bags, rather than the rare courtesy for people who really need it. Imagine if an entitled passenger started arguing “it’s your job to put it in the bin, not mine”, if this became normalized. I can see why FAs do not want (justifiably) to make baggage handling a regular part of their duties.
Your dad asked a female to lift his bag....? I stopped reading right there......
What came to mind for me is totally different- and has nothing to do with the weight of the bag. Pretend i got something dangerous past airport security. What better way to get leverage than while i am having an attendant lift my bag. However, if another attendant joins the scenario, i am now outnumbered and the attendants have a better chance of disarming me. I honestly think it would be good policy for there...
What came to mind for me is totally different- and has nothing to do with the weight of the bag. Pretend i got something dangerous past airport security. What better way to get leverage than while i am having an attendant lift my bag. However, if another attendant joins the scenario, i am now outnumbered and the attendants have a better chance of disarming me. I honestly think it would be good policy for there to always be 2 attendants involved in baggage assistance. Side note, like child safety, they then can confirm if i complain later that the other didn't have a chance to remove anything from my bag.
I say this as an individual who is physcially disabled but people often miss it
I am a flight attendant. We were warned about checking the weight of a bag before lifting it and only assisting if needed. We are one of the airlines that still do not pay the flight attendants for boarding. The reasoning is, any injury helping during boarding is not on paid time, so does not qualify for workman's comp, making all medical care and unpaid time off from an injury helping our own responsibility and...
I am a flight attendant. We were warned about checking the weight of a bag before lifting it and only assisting if needed. We are one of the airlines that still do not pay the flight attendants for boarding. The reasoning is, any injury helping during boarding is not on paid time, so does not qualify for workman's comp, making all medical care and unpaid time off from an injury helping our own responsibility and not the airline. Fair wages and treatment under our laws that allow airlines to not pay during hours I am required to be there and perform duties would be a start.
Its the 'me me me' thought of American laziness and greed.
As a longtime Traveller I can honestly say "If you cannot lift it, no one else should have to do it for you....you check it". PERIOD. The same people that cannot Lift it are the same that Pull it down after landing. I am NOT a Luggage Handler and nor should anyone assume 'that nice Man will help me', No I won't. In today's world simple pleasantries have gone out the window and many are...
As a longtime Traveller I can honestly say "If you cannot lift it, no one else should have to do it for you....you check it". PERIOD. The same people that cannot Lift it are the same that Pull it down after landing. I am NOT a Luggage Handler and nor should anyone assume 'that nice Man will help me', No I won't. In today's world simple pleasantries have gone out the window and many are ONLY nice when they want or expect something from someone else. Sorry. I refuse to engage in your Game. You BRING IT, You Sling it and I am not budging. Elderly in wheelchairs that need assistance same thing.........if you cannot handle your luggage why do you think someone else should do it for you? I see lots of BS travelling and I have no issue pointing out nonsense when I see it.
If you need help - then check your bag. Airlines provide baggage service. My understanding FA are not allowed or required to assist with bags. That is what I always hear. Usually another passenger will help.
You can likely check the bag at the gate and the don't charge.
If YOU can’t lift your own bag as a passenger, why do you think I, as a flight attendant, should/could lift your 50 lb. bag!!
US airlines have created this problem by charging exorbitant checked baggage fees
Amen!
This goes back to the saying that in US airlines, attendants are just for safety not for service. It's all the reason why the state of the airlines in the US are what they are, low margins, made mileage programs their money maker. They've forgetten what flying is all about.
There are two sides to this. I remember on my last ever flight on a BA 747, I lucked out and had a great crew in Club World. As we were deplaning in Seattle, I heard an American lady demand the flight attendant take her bag down. The flight attendant responded "sure, in just a moment miss". I, being a 6'4 young guy, offered to help the lady with her bag instead. She responded with a smug, "she can do it".
Are you sure that wasn't a VS "Uppah Class" flight ?
... lol
Lmao
Another reminder that we have the worst crew in the world in the United States. Next time they ask for a raise, they should be invited to resign and airlines can hire young, eager air hostesses.
If young Americans don't want the job, this is a use for H1B visas we can all get behind!
... Just as long as the new recruits are all 'hostESSEs" and no 'hosts' !! And in a gesture of compassion, the aggrieved flight attendants can be offered a ramp-rat.bag smasher position option instead of a sacking !
.. lol
Air hostesses? Where have you been since 1980? Are you going to pay their salaries when they're injured and out of work due to bag-induced injuries?
The US also has the worst airline management too, one who.put asinine extortion fees on checked bags, removed meals at mealtimes, and understaffs flights.
Us airports are full of restaurants and you are welcome to bring your food , plus refreshments are Available for sale on flights over 2hours and 30 minutes .
As an able bodied male I am more than happy, and often do proactively, lift and bring down bags for my fellow travelers, especially if it seems it may be difficult for them to do so either due to others blocking the aisle, age, mobility, etc. Just as I am more than happy to hold the door for people or give up my seat on a train - at this point in my life I...
As an able bodied male I am more than happy, and often do proactively, lift and bring down bags for my fellow travelers, especially if it seems it may be difficult for them to do so either due to others blocking the aisle, age, mobility, etc. Just as I am more than happy to hold the door for people or give up my seat on a train - at this point in my life I am able to help, so I do... And I hope when I get to the stage in my life that any of these tasks get to be more difficult others are willing to help me too.
That said, there is a difference between something being hard, and others helping out to make it easier, and something being impossible. The difference between expecting help vs being grateful for it even if you could do it yourself (with varying amounts of difficulty). If you 100% can't lift your bag, then you should probably check it, just because at that point you would be expecting help.
I would also think the same should go for FA's. If you can help, great. If you can't for any reason, then just say "I'm sorry I can't assist" but don't blame some policy and make an excuse
Bottom line is FA are lazy. If there's anything in company policy, it is likely that the FA union forced it on there.
The better way would be to help with luggage but assess if it is too heavy. If it is too heavy when lifting it from the floor to a height of 1 inch, then the FA can rightfully decline.
I would only helped if asked. But too much is being asked about the FA's. Outside of the elderly or disabled, if you can't lift your own luggage you should reconsider what is in it. Pretend it doesn't have wheels or what would you do if the wheels broke.
The easy answer is to start enforcing size and weight limits of carryons to begin with.....they do it around the world....should start here.
I'm the..."you pack it....you haul it" mantra.....otherwise check it. It isnt an ADA thing; you just arent able to move the luggage you packed....so why put that burden and risk on someone else including FAs and other passengers.
I of course will make some very minor exceptions of help for...
The easy answer is to start enforcing size and weight limits of carryons to begin with.....they do it around the world....should start here.
I'm the..."you pack it....you haul it" mantra.....otherwise check it. It isnt an ADA thing; you just arent able to move the luggage you packed....so why put that burden and risk on someone else including FAs and other passengers.
I of course will make some very minor exceptions of help for senior or disabled people; but thier carryons should also be under the weight limit too.....
Recently, I did see a senior just put her bag in another row and said to the FA to put it into the bin (this was YVR to SFO, F class)...the FA refused. Rightfully so with the arrogance of the passenger. She should have checked it; the FA did say he would roll it to the jetway to be tagged to bag claim....she protested....i lifted it up and it was a ton of bricks...i lifted it a few cauteous inches first to check heaviness and said check it ...its way too heavy.....i stared at the passenger...that packing is not acceptable...you packed it you haul it.....she wasnt amused it was checked but no other passenger would touch it after i said it was way too heavy even for me (i play hockey three times a week and scuba dive...so i know heavy things).
The big thing here is that you cant put your travel needs on to someone else....
So Isaac - your solution is to enforce use of the carry-on sizers that are about 30% of the dimensions of what actually fits in the overhead bin?
The same sizers that at least three airline CEOs have privately admitted are designed to maximize luggage check-in revenues?
I’ve seen FAs insist they are not allowed to help people with their bags and the they go and rearrange the bins moving every bag.
It is certainly annoying when they say they can’t help and then tell other passengers to help!
Never an issue on SQ, NH or other premium airlines.
Some people have alluded to this, but I don't think the trade-off has been explicitly mentioned: As an (admittedly able-bodied) U.S. based traveler, I will definitely take the trade off of flight attendants not helping me with my carry on in order to keep the no weight limit for carry ons, especially compared to the 15-20 pound limit that seems common on non-U.S. carriers (and that is enforced to varying degrees).
90 pound Asian flight attendants cheerfully and proactively help those in need while fat, lazy American heffalump flight attendants play on their phones and cite some fake union prohibition.
Cmon now, it’s entirely unreasonable to expect a septuagenarian or octogenarian flight attendant to life anything heavier than their sunglasses. They rely, after all, on exit-row pax to let everyone out in an emergency, so they don’t even have to manhandle an exit plug.
This is due to the influence of Confucianism in East Asian cultures.
Flight attendants in the US are paid a pittance compared to what Asian flight attendants make for the local COL.
So if they were paid more they'd help?
In East Asian cultures, Confucianism wields great influence in daily lives so they must assist and respect older folks, who do not normally pack heavy carry-on. Aggression, confrontation and absence of respect are foreign concepts to them.
I got tbh, I’m super over - usually - female passengers with oversized weighty bags asking me (male) for help. Don’t drag your lifetime collection of stuff on a plane and then hassle people to do your heavy lifting for you. Check the darn bag. Blows my mind they would ask flight attendants to do the weight lifting for them. Multiply that by multiple passengers and multiple flight and you have an occupational health issue on your hands. Plain selfish behaviour.
@Ben, now you have the answer to the question you asked me the other day about why it's important to not stray too far from the IATA suggestion... and it's an answer that seems to be confirmed by FAs, lawyers, and other people familiar with the devastation that a 20kg can cause when falling on someone.
The lack of sensible weight restrictions for carry-on is probably the main reason US airline staff aren't keen...
@Ben, now you have the answer to the question you asked me the other day about why it's important to not stray too far from the IATA suggestion... and it's an answer that seems to be confirmed by FAs, lawyers, and other people familiar with the devastation that a 20kg can cause when falling on someone.
The lack of sensible weight restrictions for carry-on is probably the main reason US airline staff aren't keen on touching anyone's hand luggage. Can you really blame them?
Apologies for the lack of clarity - the IATA suggestion (which is definitely not binding) is for airlines to enforce a 7kg limit for each piece of hand luggage.
If you bring it, you sling it
At my airline, we are to ask another passenger to assist that passenger asking for assistance.
Many flight attendants are injured with shoulder injuries, so lifting passengers bags into the overhead bin can result in an on the job injury and being denied workers compensation.
Let's face it, todays bags are much larger and heavier than in the past.
It NEVER results in a denial of workers’ compensation. NEVER. That’s flight attendant galley talk myth.
What a 'nice' company ... Expecting their customers to do work they deem too risky for their own staff, all motivated by $$$, of course ! Next they'll be soliciting pax to pour drinks & sling meals .... and offer 1 Sky Peso in appreciation !
My opinion is that in most instances, passengers should not have more carry on luggage than they can personally handle. I realize that there are exceptions such as senior citizens, first class etc., but they too should realize that it is CARRY ON luggage
I think it’s only common courtesy, if you can’t lift your bag yourself, you should check it and not make it someone else’s problem.
I chalk it up to flight attendant laziness.
When I see a senior or disabled person struggling with their bag in overhead bin I always help. It's absolutely the right thing to do. That said, I'm with most readers' comments that "if you pack it, you lift it" theme. So many entitled pax will assume someone will help them lift their "way too big, way too heavy, should have been checked bag" into the overhead bin. And by no means am I trying...
When I see a senior or disabled person struggling with their bag in overhead bin I always help. It's absolutely the right thing to do. That said, I'm with most readers' comments that "if you pack it, you lift it" theme. So many entitled pax will assume someone will help them lift their "way too big, way too heavy, should have been checked bag" into the overhead bin. And by no means am I trying to sound sexist, but women who assume men will be "chivalrous" and lift their "way too big, way too heavy, should have been checked bag" for them? Answer is no, if it's too heavy for you? Then check your bag!!!
not only a thing in the US. Here in Europe, KLM FAs are notorious for never wanting to help with cabin luggage (otherwise they are lovely though)
I am a flight attendant and I’ve had 2 shoulder surgeries all from lifting 1 bag that was like bricks. I was young and wanting to help. I was out for a year and made what workers compensation insurance paid me, far less than what I would make as a working flight attendant full-time. In fact, I qualified for food stamps, I was making so little. My family lived in an airport that was served...
I am a flight attendant and I’ve had 2 shoulder surgeries all from lifting 1 bag that was like bricks. I was young and wanting to help. I was out for a year and made what workers compensation insurance paid me, far less than what I would make as a working flight attendant full-time. In fact, I qualified for food stamps, I was making so little. My family lived in an airport that was served by another airline, I had to either connect to see them or buy a ticket…I was not eligible for other airline travel while out on OJI. You can check it if you can’t lift it.
Yeah.....right.
And, sadly, there are (or were until latest contracts ?) airlines (and other corporations) who compensate their employees at such substandard rates that the staff is eligible for taxpayer subsidized food benefits! !
I am sympathetic to both sides. If someone is not capable of lifiting their own bag they should check it.
FAs should help those within reason who ask.
Both can be true.
You only get one chance to injure your back.
After that it often is never the same regardless of the amount of rehab or treatment.
As one senior to another, when your father and I were younger, overhead bags were generally much smaller and lighter than the steamer trunks some passengers bring on board today.
It is inconvenient, but I follow the "if you pack it you lift it" adage. And yes that means each year I force myself to bring ever less onboard.
As a FA, here is my point of view.
For context, I fly for a brazilian airline, and brazilian airlines and regulations take a lot of things from our american counterparts, and all three major Brazilian airlines basically have the same point of view... mostly.
We have strict Labor Safety regulations - which should protect the workers' health from work environment-related hazards, and among those regulations is the prohibition to lift passenger's luggage....
As a FA, here is my point of view.
For context, I fly for a brazilian airline, and brazilian airlines and regulations take a lot of things from our american counterparts, and all three major Brazilian airlines basically have the same point of view... mostly.
We have strict Labor Safety regulations - which should protect the workers' health from work environment-related hazards, and among those regulations is the prohibition to lift passenger's luggage. That's because lifting multiple bags a day can lead to long term injuries and disabilities, plus it is the union's understanding that lifting luggage is not within FA's duties and therefore the airlines are not liable for any accidents and injures that might come from it.
Literally on my first day of training we have a talk from the Labour Safety department of my airline and the guys were very direct: we are not allowed to carry any luggage while onboard.
But these are the regulations... the reality is different. Even though we are technically not allowed to carry customer's bags, management at my airline encourages us to do it in certain occasions, particularly if its for helping a senior, or a woman with a toddler, which i think is fair enough. Although the airline, a few months ago ordered us to rearrange bags during flight in order to keep passengers' belongings close to where they are seated so that deplaning occurs faster and ground times are shorter. Of course the union protested this and the procedure was dropped.
I, personally, don't usually refuse to help a passenger with their bags, unless they are clearly able to do so by themselves (which is often not the case) but I agree that if one's bag is too heavy for them to lift into the bins, than they must check it.
There is another major airline here in my country that goes even further: The terms and conditions that the passenger must agree upon purchase clearly states that a carry on luggage is defined (among size and weight restrictions) as "the bag ... that the passenger is able to store in the overhead bins without help of flight attendants", and they even made headlines on social media a few years ago when a passenger called their flight attendants' "lack of empathy in not helping a pregnant woman [her] " to carry her bag into the bin and the airline's oficial profile responded to the post stating clearly (although politely) that FAs are not allowed to carry customers luggage and that she should have checked hers.
Also, I think it is important to say for context that brazilian law does not allow to charge for carry on luggage, and, even though weight, dimension and number of items limitations are clear, most often than not these rules are not enforced by airlines during boarding. Plus, brazilians usually refuse to pay the fee for bringing checked bags (which, in fairness, sometimes are outrageous) so many people bring onboard way more luggage than what is allowed, and almost 100% of the time over the 10kg limit... so its not like we are asked to help with just a light bag per passenger...
AA seems to be the “worst” followed by UA in their FA’s refusing to help even if the passenger is disabled. My personal experience
I'm a bit conflicted about this because my mother is a senior too and whenever she visits me (always has to take 2 flights, longest one is about ~6 hrs) we speak on the phone and go over everything she's planning to carry with her on board. By the end of our call we have minimized her hand items to the very essentials she might need with her (usually her purse with docs, medication, cash,...
I'm a bit conflicted about this because my mother is a senior too and whenever she visits me (always has to take 2 flights, longest one is about ~6 hrs) we speak on the phone and go over everything she's planning to carry with her on board. By the end of our call we have minimized her hand items to the very essentials she might need with her (usually her purse with docs, medication, cash, and maybe a light coat). Everything else always goes in her checked baggage, and we always pay for checked baggage even if it ends up being what would normally be considered a light carry-on.
I've witnessed couples with three babies and 5 or more heavy carry-ons, asking everybody around to handle their luggage for them, seniors with such heavy carry-ons that would hurt anyone just by trying to lift them a little bit, etc etc, and usually the justification for that appears to be not wanting to pay for checked baggage or not wanting to wait at the carousel. There are understandable exceptions/needs of course.
I'm mindful that personal circumstances may vary, but I do believe that people should not bring any piece of carry-on luggage if they can't safely handle it by themselves throughout the entirety of their trip.
@Ben I think you're missing a large piece of this puzzle. FAs aren't entitled to worker's compensation if they are injured while lifting a passenger's bag if it is not explicitly a responsibility listed by their company. Airlines try to write these responsibilities to be vague so that FAs will do it but then when an FA gets injured the insurance company will say it is out of the scope of their responsibilities (because the...
@Ben I think you're missing a large piece of this puzzle. FAs aren't entitled to worker's compensation if they are injured while lifting a passenger's bag if it is not explicitly a responsibility listed by their company. Airlines try to write these responsibilities to be vague so that FAs will do it but then when an FA gets injured the insurance company will say it is out of the scope of their responsibilities (because the airline didn't want to pay to cover it). FAs are paid hourly so without worker's compensation they are screwed if they can't work so why would they take a risk because their company doesn't want to pay more for their worker's compensation? It's not because they are lazy or don't want to help people - it is for self-preservation.
I don't know if that's right. If you're a nurse the joke is that if you get hurt pretend you get hurt at home as you can go out on short and long term disability which is way more generous than workman's comp which is a whole different thing. I think you're confused and this disability and workman's comp is the same thing.
Check it if you or someone in your traveling party can’t get it into the overhead bin. Other passengers or the FA may do it as a courtesy but don’t go in with the expectation someone will do your heavy lifting for you. I know that sounds “mean” but I even make my kid ensure she can’t lift whatever she packs into the overhead herself.
+1!
You mentioned “it’s what they get paid to do”. I think the biggest issue is some carries don’t start geing paid until the doors are closed. So they actually aren’t being paid to help put bags in the overhead.
Takes a special breed of jerk to not help an older person with their bags
and many are employed as flight attendants
Obviously someone of you guys have never dealt with workers compensation in the event of injury. It’s the post painful, soul sucking process as an employee. Claims are routinely denied, or dragged out process and you can be out for 6 months or more with limited to no pay. You pack it, you sling it. More than happy to assist you with your bag but I’m not doing it for you.
Well then you should claim fake injuries in an attempt to defraud your company.
As a lawyer who has represented airlines, it’s more common than you think for bags to fall out of bins and strike passengers. I’ve defended a lot lawsuits over the years where the blame was placed on the FA for allegedly placing or moving the bags. Airlines in the US have a “common carrier” duty of care, so those cases are harder to defend. I wouldn’t be surprised if that drove company policy.
Many FA's (American) are so lazy! I took a flight from PWM to DFW - one quick rink service - and they were "playing their games" on their phone. Delta and United FA"s are so much more attentive and WORKING to help you.
FA here. There is no longer weight limits on carry on bags in the US, which means that carry on bags can be heavier than a checked bag.
I’ve had personal experience with workers comp and was denied and told that I should’ve asked another passenger for help or gate checked it.
Like the article said our responsibility is to assist, which includes placing it under the seat, however with the carry on...
FA here. There is no longer weight limits on carry on bags in the US, which means that carry on bags can be heavier than a checked bag.
I’ve had personal experience with workers comp and was denied and told that I should’ve asked another passenger for help or gate checked it.
Like the article said our responsibility is to assist, which includes placing it under the seat, however with the carry on bag sizes and seats that are getting tighter by the day it almost never fits. So if no other passenger is willing and able to assist, we will assist them in checking it.
The official line in my airline is we are able to assist in finding space, we have a very generous hand luggage allowance in the terms and conditions with a statement that the passenger must be able to lift and stow the bag themselves, if a manager sees us lifting a bag we will get written up, we are able to move it to a wardrobe with floor access or check it in, however 99%...
The official line in my airline is we are able to assist in finding space, we have a very generous hand luggage allowance in the terms and conditions with a statement that the passenger must be able to lift and stow the bag themselves, if a manager sees us lifting a bag we will get written up, we are able to move it to a wardrobe with floor access or check it in, however 99% of my colleagues will assist a senior or person needing it as long as there are no management crew on board
I don' know if it affects the FAs' behavior, but most American carriers don't have a weight limit on carry-on when the rest of the world mostly do.
Some Asian carriers are really strict about carry-on weight and do enforce it. Cathay, for example, allows only 7kg(15lb) for carry-on and personal item combined.
It should be less of a burden for the FAs to assist with lifting carry-ons when there's a weight limit and when it's enforced.
Cathay may have a defined limit, but never seen them enforcing it. Never seen a scale or even the size measure at their gates. European carriers are more notorious about size dimensions and weight checks, not just budget airlines but also so called full-service ones (whatever that means, as they usually provide no service on the European legs).
I took 8 AirAsia flights late last year. I have never seen airline crew meticulously measure and weigh carryon before. Two single female fliers lightened their carryon to meet the requirements that they almost missed the flight.
At least for American domestic flights, I think part of the problem comes down carry-on size. Americans generally just seem to pack MASSIVE carry-on bags that honestly should have been checked. I also think domestic US narrowbodies may also have much larger overhead bins than equivalent narrowbodies overseas, but I haven't actually measured to see, which could explain why Americans get away with bringing such large bags on the plane. As an example, I watched...
At least for American domestic flights, I think part of the problem comes down carry-on size. Americans generally just seem to pack MASSIVE carry-on bags that honestly should have been checked. I also think domestic US narrowbodies may also have much larger overhead bins than equivalent narrowbodies overseas, but I haven't actually measured to see, which could explain why Americans get away with bringing such large bags on the plane. As an example, I watched my dad and stepmom do this when I took the family on a 3 week Italy/Spain trip last year. Their carry-ons were both packed to the gills, and while they fit fine on the international leg on a 777, my dad's bag only barely fit into the overhead on the KLM 737 to Rome and my stepmom had to gate check her bag because it wouldn't fit at all.
And ironically overhead bins are only getting larger, so this problem is not going to go away for the foreseeable future.
Agreed. AS a non-American, I'm always shocked when I visit the USA at the size of carry-on. People seem to have this idea of going away with 2 weeks worth of clothes and then having it as carry-on. People seem to take pride in "I never check luggage."
Why is this? I don't think it's just checked luggage fees, as these exist elsewhere in the world. Is it that US airlines don't try to enforce any rules around the dimensions or weight of carry-on luggage?
Because most flight attendants are either fat or old, and nearly all are lazy and entitled.
While I am far from siding the FAs, I really think that the principle “if you cannot lift it, check it” is the way to go.
That being said, assisting customers (in finding the space etc). should be automatic.
+1!
My wife is a flight attendant and will gladly help a senior or disabled person with their bags, but if you are able-bodied, you need to handle it yourself.
I think part of the problem is that too many people bring oversized carry-ons and then expect the flight attendants to try to shoe horn them into overhead bins not designed for the bags. They end up in a no-win situation, and lifting multiple bags on multiple flights can lead to fatigue and injury.
How does your "wife" judge who is disabled or not? Also, a US f/a doing anything "gladly" is false.