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

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:40:28 +0000

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.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:49:05 +0000

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.

By: Willa Kubasta

Willa Kubasta — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:59:25 +0000

Amen!

By: baasbaas

baasbaas — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:24:59 +0000

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!

By: Naoyuki

Naoyuki — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:13:40 +0000

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.

By: SirWired

SirWired — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:10:00 +0000

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

By: someone

someone — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:48:05 +0000

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.

By: Matthew B

Matthew B — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:37:17 +0000

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.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:12:34 +0000

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.

By: Ann, CTC

Ann, CTC — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:50:38 +0000

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…