Gadling

We’ve been getting some great, albeit mostly angry, comments regarding a recent post on Gadling which discusses the worsening trend in lost airline luggage.

Over 100 kindred souls have chimed in with their horror stories of missing, stolen, or otherwise mutilated baggage.

One comment, however, stands out and we thought we’d share it with you.

The author, who has identified himself only as “J” is not one of the complainers, but is rather a Baggage Handler–the target of so many of the above-mentioned people. J’s short list of great suggestions and revealing insights is well worth a few moments of your time. Read it through and you will experience less hassle next time you travel. Or, at the very least, less pissed off when the hassles do occur.

Thanks J!

Gadling,

I am one of those ramp agents for nearly a decade, better known to the public as “baggage handlers” and let me make a few observations:

1) Avoid packing anything either very valuable or required medically.
Mistakes happen from misrouted bags to bags falling from the belt loader at plane side to the to the tarmac below (which can be over a 10 foot fall).

2) Theft does happen (refer to my first point), but much of the time, bags do open and contents fall out. If I know which bag (and keep in mind they are stacked in a pile), then I will place it back into the bag. If I don’t know, then to company lost and found, unless it is some lose change then it is my lucky day.

3) Give us enough time to make your flight. After the TSA screens the bag, and you are already late getting to the airport, we are at times stopping the aircraft on the push back, opening the cargo door, just to get those very late bags on a flight.

4) Most people do not understand how many hands touch a bag before it gets to its final destination. From the ticket counter person, the TSA inspector, to the guy loading the bag room cart, to driver delivering to the gate, to the load planner placing it on the belt loader, to the two guys loading the plane, to the guys downloading the plane, to the transfer runner delivering the bags to the connecting flight (assuming there is a connection required) to the second load planner, to the second set of loaders, to the final destination of down loaders, and finally, to the local runners (assuming no customs inspectors). That’s 14 people handling every bag and some want a “tracking mechanism with every person that handles the bag?” Prepare for longer connection times and longer check in times. Ever try to electronically scan, carry and stack a 50 pound bag at the same time? We aren’t equipped with third hands.

5) Philly does suck. Support laws that allow bad airline employees to be fired without the endless appeals of labor unions, as lazy employees are nearly impossible to eliminate otherwise.

According to new Federal Regs, if you were thinking about taking a Caribbean cruise or Mexican vacation this winter, you should check in with the State Department site and see what they heck is going on with passport regulations. One day, you need your blue book, the next day, you don’t. The confusion goes on.

Historically, U.S. citizens have only needed a birth certificate and driver’s license to travel to Mexico and most Caribbean countries. For many years all you needed was a drivers license. I got nailed at the Canadian border a few months ago because I needed a passport.

Then in April 2005, the federal government announced new, stricter requirements as part of its efforts to strengthen border security, and things got a lot more complicated. The main point is that all travelers, which includes home-bound U.S. citizens, now would need a passport to enter the U.S. from those places starting in January 2007. Then the tourism industries got pissed off and the government seemed to back away. But where are we now? I honestly am not sure. I’ve read a couple of pieces about the effort and I honestly am not sure what’s required. Anyone else know?

I’ve moaned and complained far too many times on Gadling about horrible airplane seats. And now it seems, someone has finally listened: Virgin Atlantic plans to reveal comfier seats in their economy section within the year.

Now, what does this mean exactly?

According to an article in Fast Company, Virgin has invested $25 million to reengineer their seats. A team of designers went to town on the old, stiff design and have come up with some very nice modifications that include an adjustable lumbar support, movable headrest, adjustable seat back, and a handful of other amenities. I was particularly impressed with the inflatable airbags tucked into each S-shaped chair frame that allows passengers to adjust the back support to their liking.

And what about the leg room?

The $25 million investment unfortunately wasn’t able to provide a few more inches for us tall, leggy folk. Damn! I’m still impressed, nonetheless, and am looking forward to giving the new seats a try next time I fly over the pond.