You bring it? You Sling it!

Posted in A Day in the Life of a Flight Attendant, Travel Tips | 10 comments

I know I’ve written about carry-on bags before. In fact, I write about them a lot. But the recent news of Spirit Airlines’ new carryon fee and an article by ABC News is making me write about them again.

First, let me say that I think that I’m the only person for the carry-on bag fee.  I think that charging for carry-on bags is genius and whoever thought of it needs a pay raise (or as much of one as a “ultra-low-cost-carrier can afford). Now, before you jump me, hear me out. While I am for the fee because it’ll speed up boarding, reduce flight attendant injuries lifting bags, guarantee that you won’t have to “gate check bags” and stop the constant monitoring of the bins I think the fee should be charged only if checking bags remains free.

Seriously, who goes on vacation without luggage, especially to the destinations that Spirit flies to, and travelers without luggage are also deemed a “security risk” because it looks weird that they aren’t traveling with anything. The carry-on bag fee should be a fee-of-convenience.  You’re paying for the ability to bring your bag on the aircraft and walk off the plane, with all of your belongings, when the flight terminates. That’s worth $30.

For those travelers who aren’t in a rush (do they exist?), they can check their bags, for free, still keeping the boarding process moving since they aren’t bringing baggage for the overhead bins onto the aircraft.

I think the industry currently has it backwards, charging for checked bags but not carry-ons. Look at what they’ve created. Passengers are now cramming more and more into their carry-ons because they don’t want to pay the $20 to check a bag. They pack so much into them that they, themselves, can’t lift them into the overheads. They then turn to the Flight Attendant’s and ask them to put the bag into the overhead for them.

Flight Attendant’s are not on board to put baggage into the overhead bins for you. This is seems to be a very big misconception in the United States and possibly globally. In fact, most airlines don’t want their flight attendant’s to lift bags because they become a liability. Additionally, a lot of flight attendants are too afraid to lift bags for you. If we become injured lifting your luggage and are out of work on disability/workers compensation, we only receive a percentage of our pay until we return to work. Further, the percentage, in the United States, is based upon your airlines base or “guaranteed” hours for the month. My previous three airlines all had the “guarantee” hours set at 70. On disability, we would receive roughly 60% of that,  or 42 hours of pay. So, if my base rate of pay is $20/hr and I flew 70 hours for the month(which not many people do, we usually fly more) I would be paid $1400 (this isn’t including working purser, per diem, etc). If I was on disability, because of lifting a passengers bag, I’d be paid $840. Losing $560 for lifting a bag is not worth it in my book.

There is an exception though. I, of course, would lift bags and place them into the overhead for a disabled passenger or an elderly passenger. That goes without question. ABC News ran a story about a disabled woman with a spinal injury who posted a blog post about her experience on United Airlines. She claims that she asked the Flight Attendant in economy to help her with her luggage and explained her disability. This Flight Attendant responded with “If I helped everyone do that all day then MY back would be killing me by the end of the day!” Wrong answer in my book. After reading this woman’s blog post its obvious she came on board in a wheel chair, and needed assistance. I would have been happy to help her get settled into her seat and ensure she was okay.

Now, if a regular, healthy, person walks on board and asks me to put their bag up. I will respond with: “Sure I will assist you. Once you initially lift the bag, I will then assist you with placing it into the bin.” That is what my airline tells us to say. The initial lift is what causes the most injury to flight attendants. If the passenger is annoyed with that response, or refuses to make the initial lift, I’ll offer to check the bag to his/her final destination, free of charge.

In the end, if you bring it, be prepared to ‘sling’ it into the overhead bins yourself. With the cost of living rising and flight attendant’s salaries remaining where they are disability and workers compensation doesn’t us enough money to live if we’re injured lifting your luggage.


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  • http://pleasethankyoustewardess.blogspot.com Jenn

    I Loved Loved Loved this post!! I agree with you every step of the way!

    Great Job BobbyLaurie! Keep it up!

  • http://nukediver-myjourneys.blogspot.com/ Nancy

    I don’t know how many passengers vs how many flight attendants read your blog, but I am pointing all of my friends and fellow passengers to this post, since I get so tired of hearing them whine about how their bag is to too heavy to lift and complain about how the flight attendant didn’t want to lift it, blah blah blah. I am convinced that when people board a plane, their courtesy and common sense remain on the ground.

    I also am in agreement with you about carry-on fees, although I’m not sure that the airlines will give up their money-maker checked bag fees. I’ve gotten around this by switching my credit card to a Continental MasterCard that waives bag fees and gets me in the President’s Club when I use it to book a ticket. Fortunately, living 12 miles from EWR means I almost always fly Continental. I can’t tell you the last time I had to pay to check a bag.

    I think a lot of the issue boils down to education. So many passengers just don’t realize that flight attendants are there for our safety, not for fulfilling our every whim. And so many passengers need a crash course in how and what to pack. I guess the bottom line is that we can always dream, and while we’re dreaming, continue to educate people one at a time.

  • http://toes-in-the-sky@blogspot.com Susan

    I agree with you 100%!

    I am a flight attendant with a low cost carrier, and I think that the carryons have gotten out of control. I’ve had large framed artwork, fragile items, an African fertility stick (no joke), a desktop computer…I could go on and on.

    When I am the A flight attendant, and passengers are upset that the line to their seat is all backed up, I very nicely state that it’s due to all the carryon luggage that everyone is bringing on the plane! I especially enjoy those passengers who are seated in the back of the aircraft, but place their bags up front. They get a tap on the shoulder, and are told, “Aren’t you forgetting something?” I’ve actually had men tell me, “It doesn’t matter where I put my bag!” Oh, I’m sorry sir. I forgot that it’s all about YOU.

  • Bobby

    Susan, I agree! I think the carry-ons have gotten out of control. Working a flight intra-California I had to get check 32 bags. 32. It’s ridiculous! I also make people seated in the bag move their bags.. especially if I’m the “A” too! ;)

  • Bobby

    Nancy,
    Aww thanks for the referring traffic! ;) The phrase used to be that passengers “check their brain with their luggage” but now that they are carrying their luggage on theres no excuse! haha!

    Thanks for the comment! ;)

  • http://flyingbachelorette.blogspot.com Flying Bachelorette

    Amen! I fully support the Carry-On Fee….it is a convenience, just like paying extra to change your seat last minute, paying extra for more leg room, paying for a cocktail, paying to board first. (i personally would throw in pre-boarding as part of the amenity of being able to have bin space)

    As it stands now…..those people who do not have to check their bags at the gate during boarding are the lucky ones….those who were fortunate enough to get their bags to fit on the plane. And they didn’t have to pay for it.

    Sooo yeah…first checked bag free….carry on charge!

  • http://www.jetsetbetty.com Tara

    You are preaching to the choir my fellow flight friend. Remember when all liquids were banned? Boarding/deplaning were a SNAP! 10 minutes.. tops. No one dropped anything on anyone’s head, bent their spine in half or compromised the integrity of the OHB by jamming their crap in! Utopia.
    Start a petition. I’ll sign it.

    Of course the rampers may freak out a bit….

  • hjt84

    VERY good points here!

    You brought it on, you put it up.

    I’m 5’4″, slim build. Why oh why Mr 6 ft and heavy build should i put YOUR bag in the over head bin? Sure if it was the regulation 6kg i MIGHT help you, but it’s not is it? It’s 15kg and your too lazy to do it, and you seem to think cabin crew are there to serve your every whim. I’ll help you check it in by all means…

    My experience with carry on (or hand luggage as we call it this side of the pond…and that means the UK….not China where i live right now!) is that it’s not business men that annoy me, it’s people who use it as an extension of their checked in luggage because they’re too tight to pay excess baggage or don’t have the forsight to send it by other means.

    I was grounded for 6 months and worked at check in – it’s horrific. They fight a losing battle. So many people would say they’re only hand luggage is a small handbag, then turn up to the gate with a huge roll on.

    Airlines should ban them or have a more stringent policy that is properly adhered to!! Because hand luggage is a bloody nightmare!

  • http://www.hitherandthither.net Aron

    I’m into the fee–the push to bring carry on bags when it started costing to check bags was really annoying. Now I have to stress about getting overhead space everytime I fly. Either charge carry-on and checked, or don’t charge at all.

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