Smarte Cartes join the ‘wall of entitlement’ at the baggage claim

by Jason Barger on May 6, 2009

I continue to be fascinated by the “human wall of entitlement” at the baggage claim. You know, the wall that arriving passengers form as they rush the baggage carousel, press their shins against the cold metal, and form a blockade with their bodies so that nobody can actually see the passing bags. They jockey back and forth, claiming their space, and in search of their bag.

Well, there seems to be an evolution in this mayhem that is only making the wall even stronger. If you thought the wall was virtually impenetrable before, look what’s happening. As witnessed last week coming through customs in JFK in New York, I watched a couple not only stake their spot in the wall, but bring two Smarte Cartes in for reinforcements.

The couple (probably in their early 40s) strategically placed a Smarte Carte on both sides of their bodies so that the two of them were easily taking up nine feet of real estate around the carousel. The hundreds of other arriving passengers were forced to not only try to break through their human shield, but their metal bars. They had successfully secured themselves nearly four times the space of the average traveler.

And for their efforts? They were still frantic and looked miserable. They probably received their bags an average of 54 seconds ahead of others. And, they made it even more difficult for others in the process.

Join me in the literal and metaphorical movement to Step Back from the Baggage Claim in the world and bring more grateful and compassionate actions to the small moments of everyday life. Each one of us shares in the creation of those environments. Let’s weaken the wall!

Plus, there’s probably a smarter use for our cartes anyway.

Jason Barger is author of Step Back from the Baggage Claim: Change the World, Start at the Airport.

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Tagged as: baggage claim, Jason Barger, smarte carte, Step back from the baggage claim

  • Ann, CTC

    People can be so freakin’ annoying… Probably the same couple that took up two overhead bins in the first row by placing their oversized carryons sideways, even though their seats were in the back…

  • Jason

    I understand the getting to the front for some people — business class, first class, elite, etc whose bags come off (or supposedly) first. But to see the rush of people to crowd the baggage claim is rough. Numerous times I have had to watch my bags circle by without being able to grab them while a non-elite, economy class pax waits and waits for their to be delivered.

    I hate to stereotype, but it seems that certain groups are worse than others. NEVER and I mean NEVER try to deal with an Air India flight or any of the Chinese airlines and expect to get your bags without having to push, scream and kick your way through. I mean, I completely understand that it is part of their culture to push, cut, jump, etc, but still, show some respect for the country you are in.

  • Matthew B

    When I am at the baggage carousel, I have noticed that the types mentioned in this story gather closest to the spot where the bags first appear on the carousel. My strategy is to wander to the opposite end where there is plenty of space. My bags will appear in front of me eventually, maybe sixty seconds after they actually get on the carousel.

    Before I bought brightly colored luggage, occasionally people would take my luggage off the carousel thinking it was theirs, but when they discovered their error, instead of putting it back on the carousel, they’d abandon it.

    There is no etiquette in this country when it comes to luggage.

  • someone

    I completely understand people crowding the baggage carousel looking for their bag. One time as I was waiting, I saw someone on the other side pick MY bag up off the carousel. I could tell it was my bag because I had put many bright sparkly stickers all over it, there’s no other bag like it anywhere. There is no way he would have picked it up by mistake. I had to run over there, not easy to do in a crowd, all the while yelling that was my bag. So no, I will not step back from the baggage claim.

  • SirWired

    Ann, even worse than the people that put up their carry-ons sideways are the ones that put their coats and laptop bags in the overhead, even when the attendant has specifically stated that it is a full flight and requests that folks NOT do that.

    SirWired

  • Naoyuki

    I think most of this nonsense, either in the plane or at the airport is caused by those people who have never flown before and are totally overwhelmed by the process (we call them “newbies”). In addition I frequently encounter individuals who have flown before but are still overwhelmed by the process (we call them “permanent newbies” since we can’t find a more polite way to call them otherwise). Whenever I fly out of or into BUF (where most of the passengers are newbies, both temporary or permenent), I see too many people who look like deer in the front of headlights, trying (and utterly failing) to comprehend the whole process of air travel, and becoming a burden to the rest of the passengers. One solution is to have flights just for that group of people (“newbie flights”), complete with airline-approved Fisher-Price luggages. Maybe the airlines can charge more for extra amount of patience it requires to fly them to their destinations in one piece.

  • baasbaas

    I step back and wait until the frenzy has become a bit more manageable. I have unique bags……..I stick on neon colored duck tape on black bags and write my last name with thick black magic marker on the tape.. Lighter bags, I use a thick magic marker to write my last name on several sides of the bag. I do try to have my carry-on minimal so it will fit under the seat in front of me. If the airlines would enforce the size of cayy-on, there would be room for the carry-ons in the overhead bins!

  • Willa Kubasta

    Amen!

  • Jim

    I usually station myself at the exit end of the carousel and leave room behind me for my bags as I get them. I watch the incoming luggage like a hawk to make sure no one accidentally snags my bags, and I’ll help those near me who can’t handle the weight of their own luggage.

    I think it’s dumb to crowd the first part of the carousel, unless you have nondescript luggage. Which is probably the lesson here: use unique bags. My ancient, leather American Tourister bags might be heavy but they don’t look like yours.

  • Amy

    I am usually pretty spacially aware – I don’t stop in the middle of walkways, I step back from the carousel to let others see down the line. What gets me is the morons that come and stand right in front of me with their knees to the carousel, to the point where not even I can see what is going on, and their bags are nowhere to be found! And when I say “excuse me” so I can get my bag, they play deaf. At that point, you deserve being knocked by my bag because I gave you ample opportunity to get out of the way. You are not the priority you would like to think you are.

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