It’s often been said that there are two kinds of luggage: carry on and lost. Add a third kind to the mix… damaged.
When you check a bag your things may get stolen. Employees may hide drugs in your luggage. Gate checked bags turn into gate tossed bags. Apparently this is an actual game that Alaska Airlines baggage handlers play.
I avoid checking bags whenever possible because I don’t trust United’s baggage handlers not to get caught in the cargo hold and I don’t want my bags there anyway since British Airways has had to ask staff to stop urinating in the cargo holds.
So it’s not at all surprising to see video surface of Menzies Aviation contract baggage handlers playing toss the luggage off a easyJet flight at London’s Luton airport.
Luggage handlers at London Luton Airport have been caught on film hurling suitcases from an easyJet plane like rubbish bags onto a waiting truck. …
They are seen hurling the cases, carrying precious souvenirs and gifts, onto the back of the truck.
Some of them even crash, seemingly unnoticed, onto the runway below.
A simple search reveals video of similar incidents at Luton in 2010, 2014, and 2015.
Here’s the singer from Puddle of Mudd riding the baggage carousel in Denver.
These are all excellent reasons not to check bags… my reason is that I’m time sensitive. We normally take long weekend trips due to my wife’s limited vacation days, so we don’t want to waste 30+ minutes waiting at baggage claim and even more wasted time waiting to check our bags.
What I especially love about the handlers hurling luggage is that most airlines actually charge you significant money for the privilege of having your personal property abused. The airline featured in the video (easyJet) charges $50 for the first checked bag in economy.
I have to carry medical equipment with me, of course, I always put in carry-on, but sometimes, due to no room in overheads, they want to gate check or check to your final destination. This doesn’t work for me at all. If lost, I am really screwed. If people would just put their personal bag and jackets! under the seat like instructed, there wouldn’t be an issue.