“My mother once got on a flight a few weeks after an abdominal operation. She wouldn’t have flown at all except that my brother was seriously ill and she wanted to be with him. She had a small carry on that she could carry but her operation meant she couldn’t have lifted her arms above her shoulders so she couldn’t lift her bag into the overhead. She asked three people to help her. The first one blanked her, the second one demanded to know why she couldn’t do it herself (she didn’t reply because her hysterectomy is none of anyone else’s business) and the third one used a profanity. By this point it was causing a blockage in the aisle and the FA starting yelling down the plane at her. My mother was visibly upset when she got off the flight.”
Should People Who Cannot Lift Their Luggage Not Travel?
That experience was shared by FlyerTalk member roberino and poses an interesting conundrum: if a passenger is unable to lift their belongings either to or from the overhead storage compartments — due to medical issues, frailty, advanced age, or simply because he or she is short — should they even consider traveling at all?
That question has sparked a debate amongst members of FlyerTalk, as some of them feel that if they are unable to handle their belongings on their own, they probably should not even be traveling; while others believe that denying assistance to a fellow passenger in need is rude and inexcusable.
Some FlyerTalk members surmised that some passengers may actually expect passengers to assist them every time they travel; and that expectation can be off-putting to fellow passengers. No one should travel with the expectation that fellow passengers will be of assistance, as many people would consider that inconsiderate.
British Airways is one of the airlines which states the following as a requirement pertaining to the allowance of carrying luggage aboard the airplane: “You must be able to lift your bags into the overhead locker by yourself.”
The obvious solution is if the person is unable to lift his or her luggage, then he or she should check it — and they should also place their valuables, medications, and other important belongings in a bag which he or she is able to carry aboard the airplane — but they are most likely attempting to avoid paying for checking their bags because they do not want to spend the money…
…but of course, they will still have to find a way to haul their luggage to the origination airport and from the destination airport. Fortunately, myriad ways are available to them.
Summary
If you are not able to access the discussion on FlyerTalk, the reason is because a moderator moved the discussion from a public forum to a private forum — but that does not render the topic any less relevant.
If someone needs assistance with his or her belongings, I will usually be more than happy to offer it with a smile — as long as I am being treated civilly and with respect. In some obvious cases, I may even offer to assist before the person has a chance to ask. Blurting out a “Hey, get my bag for me!” will more than likely result in me ignoring that person — especially if the person acts like he or she is entitled and expects fellow passengers to jump at their commands.
The words “please” and “thank you” should be expressed genuinely — and not in a perfunctory manner — when someone offers assistance.
As I have espoused for years here at The Gate, being civil and respectful to other people will usually go far in ensuring that a pleasant travel experience will be enjoyed by as many people as possible, as there is usually no reason to be rude. This experience is no exception, in my opinion — to and from all individuals who are involved.
Photograph ©2016 by Brian Cohen.
