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?
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.