I think the issue is more complicated. Although I do agree with the root problem, that airlines are allowed to charge for checking one bag. I would totally support a federal law that requires airlines to check one bag for free. Period.
Of the rest, there are different motivations. One group simply needs (or wants) to fly as cheaply as possible, so the $50 charge for a bag motivates to use carry-on. For them, they could use the free gate-check option when it's presented. That's what I do when destination time or connections are not a problem (see below.) This doesn't help with security though.
You mentioned the short connection and those who fear losing their bags. The "don't worry because of 24-hour delivery" option is only valid if you're actually staying at your final airline destination. If you're traveling from there by car or train, it becomes way more difficult to reconnect. Personal experience with this one.
Another group does carry-on because they are rushing through the day, ususally for business. Having to wait for a checked bag can add an hour to ones destination. Sometimes this is not at all convenient. When this was me, I would pack a very small under-the-seat pack, to be sure that the airline wouldn't force me to check it.
Finally, there's the terrible class system. Those who get on the plane first can bring their bags. Those at the end of the line might be forced to check, and believe me, I've seen cabins with only half the bins full, and the attendents declare "NO MORE BAGS" and force everyone in the second half of the boarding to check. It's insulting and maddening. I've written letters. It clearly underlines which class of person you are, the ones who get treated with some particle of respect, and those who are just flying cattle. I've taken to paying for priority seating just for this reason. I hate having to get on the plane early, but it's worth it if I need to bring my bag. Fixing the problem with money.
I wasn't aware of the point of flight-attendents only getting "paid" starting from when the doors close. This might explain the half-bin experience. It also explains some times when you rush to get seated, then the pilot announces that we're too early and have to sit at the gate for another 30 before we can depart. Ugh. But at least the flight-attendents are getting paid for that time.
These are all totally valid points. I just think that many more people could check their bags than currently do. And I agree completely about the class system. It is such an icky feeling to have to watch other people push ahead of us, just because they (or their employer) have more money. The worst for me is deplaning. We on-the-ball people in economy may be ready to get off, and we are physically held back so that the cake-eaters in business class can deplane before the hoi polloi. It’s an awful feeling to be put in our place like that, after we have spent hundreds of dollars for our tickets.
I prize our freedom but boy do I wish more of us westerners would voluntarily submit ourselves to orderly and considerate group behavior in public/crowded situations.
I agree! It’s a prisoner’s dilemma–type situation. We are incentivized to grab an advantage at everyone else’s expense, which actually makes things slower for everyone, including us. Whereas if we all cooperated and followed the rules, we would all benefit.
I HATE people who recline. I have long legs that barely fit in a coach space as it is. Plus, by design, everything I need is on or under the seat — my TV, my tray, my carry-on. All of that becomes more difficult to use or access when the person in front decides to lean back.
I NEVER check bags if I can help it — which means I only do so on international flights for longer trips. And wouldn’t you know it, on my way to New Zealand a few years ago, my bag was mislaid. We were leaving the next morning on a driving trip, and it took three days for it to catch up with us on the other end of the North Island. Checked bags also get roughed up, and so do their contents (and if you want to avoid having your stuff destroyed, you have to get a hard-sided suitcase, which then potentially destroys the rest of your trip).
Perhaps I should have prefaced this by noting that I travel with a backpack. I am always bemused by flight attendants referring to all luggage as “roller bags,” because I’ve never owned one of said items, and have no intention of getting one. I attempt to move through public transit spaces (airports, train stations, etc.) with minimal disruption to myself and others by packing light, carrying my possessions close to my body, taking up minimal space, and not needing to utilise any of the systems or people set up to help others manage their stuff.
I’m admittedly coming at this from a somewhat more selfish perspective than you are (I don’t want to depend on other people because I don’t trust them?), but the underlying philosophy of self-reliance is another way of making a minimal impact on the people around me, which addresses one of your fundamental points. If everyone just did SOMETHING to minimise their footprint (pack lighter, check bags, know the rules), it would be an improvement. And it’s probably good to keep in mind that people who are irritating us may have done something we can’t see…
What a bummer on your New Zealand trip! And I love your idea that we could all think of one or two things we could change to minimize our footprint when we travel. That principle applies in so many situations! We don’t have to be perfect, but in most cases there is at least one thing we can do to show more consideration for other people, even if it is just taking a backpack as carry-on instead of a big wheeled suitcase.
Oh, another practical suggestion: I think half the reason people crowd the boarding line at American airports is that there isn’t good signage, there isn’t enough room, and the boarding announcements are garbled and difficult to understand. Narita (and presumably some other airports) have actual sign posts, marked with the boarding zone on them, so that people have somewhere to go to line up for their group — as opposed to just having to hang out someplace else (in a packed and overflowing gate) and then magically appear at the gangway when their number is called. It would markedly improve matters if all mid-to-large airports adopted these. Southwest’s line-up posts also work well!
Excellent point! Airports are so crowded that a lot of the chaos is well-intentioned people making an honest attempt to figure out what is going on. It would also help if the loudspeakers worked better--it’s often really difficult to understand what the gate agents are saying, or whether the announcement is for your flight or for some other flight.
People lining up anxiously at the gate is what gets to me. When I've flown in Europe and Africa, no one does this. No one. I dislike the gate lining up because it makes me anxious--that's on me, and I understand that people want to get their bags in overhead bins, and I also dislike that there are so many gradations of payment that buy increasing amounts of airline privilege. Still, I wish people would sit and wait until their group is called. I can feel my cortisol levels rising when a huge crowd huddles around the gate, even if I've checked my bag. The anxiety is contagious. Analyzing the behavior would be the basis of an interesting psychology experiment. Or maybe not--maybe people just can't afford to pay an extra $50 to check their bags and/or don't want to gate check it so they get anxious about getting on the plane. The bottom line is that airlines in the U.S. need to be more heavily regulated. As with so many industries these days, they focus on profits to the exclusion of all but the most cursory kinds of kindness.
Such an insightful comment! Yes, anxiety is contagious, in any situation, but it’s especially acute in airports. Do anything we as individuals do to keep it from escalating will help. And I agree that the airlines need to be better regulated. As just one example, in Europe airlines must compensate passengers (a lot--like $600) if a flight is more than half an hour late. This provides a major incentive for airlines not to be late, and they almost never are (not counting weather delays). We need rules like this, that make it more expensive for the airlines to treat passengers badly than they save by the bad treatment.
Yes, Mari! For our Africa trip we missed a whole day in South Africa due to United postponing our flight. And we got no recompense for that, none, plus we had to pay for the hotel we never stayed in, etc. You buy a ticket to get you to a certain place on a certain date and time. If the airlines don't deliver there should be a penalty.
I think the issue is more complicated. Although I do agree with the root problem, that airlines are allowed to charge for checking one bag. I would totally support a federal law that requires airlines to check one bag for free. Period.
Of the rest, there are different motivations. One group simply needs (or wants) to fly as cheaply as possible, so the $50 charge for a bag motivates to use carry-on. For them, they could use the free gate-check option when it's presented. That's what I do when destination time or connections are not a problem (see below.) This doesn't help with security though.
You mentioned the short connection and those who fear losing their bags. The "don't worry because of 24-hour delivery" option is only valid if you're actually staying at your final airline destination. If you're traveling from there by car or train, it becomes way more difficult to reconnect. Personal experience with this one.
Another group does carry-on because they are rushing through the day, ususally for business. Having to wait for a checked bag can add an hour to ones destination. Sometimes this is not at all convenient. When this was me, I would pack a very small under-the-seat pack, to be sure that the airline wouldn't force me to check it.
Finally, there's the terrible class system. Those who get on the plane first can bring their bags. Those at the end of the line might be forced to check, and believe me, I've seen cabins with only half the bins full, and the attendents declare "NO MORE BAGS" and force everyone in the second half of the boarding to check. It's insulting and maddening. I've written letters. It clearly underlines which class of person you are, the ones who get treated with some particle of respect, and those who are just flying cattle. I've taken to paying for priority seating just for this reason. I hate having to get on the plane early, but it's worth it if I need to bring my bag. Fixing the problem with money.
I wasn't aware of the point of flight-attendents only getting "paid" starting from when the doors close. This might explain the half-bin experience. It also explains some times when you rush to get seated, then the pilot announces that we're too early and have to sit at the gate for another 30 before we can depart. Ugh. But at least the flight-attendents are getting paid for that time.
These are all totally valid points. I just think that many more people could check their bags than currently do. And I agree completely about the class system. It is such an icky feeling to have to watch other people push ahead of us, just because they (or their employer) have more money. The worst for me is deplaning. We on-the-ball people in economy may be ready to get off, and we are physically held back so that the cake-eaters in business class can deplane before the hoi polloi. It’s an awful feeling to be put in our place like that, after we have spent hundreds of dollars for our tickets.
Hahaha the hey buddy guide is hilarious.
I prize our freedom but boy do I wish more of us westerners would voluntarily submit ourselves to orderly and considerate group behavior in public/crowded situations.
I agree! It’s a prisoner’s dilemma–type situation. We are incentivized to grab an advantage at everyone else’s expense, which actually makes things slower for everyone, including us. Whereas if we all cooperated and followed the rules, we would all benefit.
I HATE people who recline. I have long legs that barely fit in a coach space as it is. Plus, by design, everything I need is on or under the seat — my TV, my tray, my carry-on. All of that becomes more difficult to use or access when the person in front decides to lean back.
Oh, I should clarify that I never recline, ever. And I am tall too!
I NEVER check bags if I can help it — which means I only do so on international flights for longer trips. And wouldn’t you know it, on my way to New Zealand a few years ago, my bag was mislaid. We were leaving the next morning on a driving trip, and it took three days for it to catch up with us on the other end of the North Island. Checked bags also get roughed up, and so do their contents (and if you want to avoid having your stuff destroyed, you have to get a hard-sided suitcase, which then potentially destroys the rest of your trip).
Perhaps I should have prefaced this by noting that I travel with a backpack. I am always bemused by flight attendants referring to all luggage as “roller bags,” because I’ve never owned one of said items, and have no intention of getting one. I attempt to move through public transit spaces (airports, train stations, etc.) with minimal disruption to myself and others by packing light, carrying my possessions close to my body, taking up minimal space, and not needing to utilise any of the systems or people set up to help others manage their stuff.
I’m admittedly coming at this from a somewhat more selfish perspective than you are (I don’t want to depend on other people because I don’t trust them?), but the underlying philosophy of self-reliance is another way of making a minimal impact on the people around me, which addresses one of your fundamental points. If everyone just did SOMETHING to minimise their footprint (pack lighter, check bags, know the rules), it would be an improvement. And it’s probably good to keep in mind that people who are irritating us may have done something we can’t see…
What a bummer on your New Zealand trip! And I love your idea that we could all think of one or two things we could change to minimize our footprint when we travel. That principle applies in so many situations! We don’t have to be perfect, but in most cases there is at least one thing we can do to show more consideration for other people, even if it is just taking a backpack as carry-on instead of a big wheeled suitcase.
The hair over the seat!
I know! So icky! And I feel qualified to judge, because I have long hair and would NEVER do that!
Oh, another practical suggestion: I think half the reason people crowd the boarding line at American airports is that there isn’t good signage, there isn’t enough room, and the boarding announcements are garbled and difficult to understand. Narita (and presumably some other airports) have actual sign posts, marked with the boarding zone on them, so that people have somewhere to go to line up for their group — as opposed to just having to hang out someplace else (in a packed and overflowing gate) and then magically appear at the gangway when their number is called. It would markedly improve matters if all mid-to-large airports adopted these. Southwest’s line-up posts also work well!
Excellent point! Airports are so crowded that a lot of the chaos is well-intentioned people making an honest attempt to figure out what is going on. It would also help if the loudspeakers worked better--it’s often really difficult to understand what the gate agents are saying, or whether the announcement is for your flight or for some other flight.
People lining up anxiously at the gate is what gets to me. When I've flown in Europe and Africa, no one does this. No one. I dislike the gate lining up because it makes me anxious--that's on me, and I understand that people want to get their bags in overhead bins, and I also dislike that there are so many gradations of payment that buy increasing amounts of airline privilege. Still, I wish people would sit and wait until their group is called. I can feel my cortisol levels rising when a huge crowd huddles around the gate, even if I've checked my bag. The anxiety is contagious. Analyzing the behavior would be the basis of an interesting psychology experiment. Or maybe not--maybe people just can't afford to pay an extra $50 to check their bags and/or don't want to gate check it so they get anxious about getting on the plane. The bottom line is that airlines in the U.S. need to be more heavily regulated. As with so many industries these days, they focus on profits to the exclusion of all but the most cursory kinds of kindness.
Such an insightful comment! Yes, anxiety is contagious, in any situation, but it’s especially acute in airports. Do anything we as individuals do to keep it from escalating will help. And I agree that the airlines need to be better regulated. As just one example, in Europe airlines must compensate passengers (a lot--like $600) if a flight is more than half an hour late. This provides a major incentive for airlines not to be late, and they almost never are (not counting weather delays). We need rules like this, that make it more expensive for the airlines to treat passengers badly than they save by the bad treatment.
Yes, Mari! For our Africa trip we missed a whole day in South Africa due to United postponing our flight. And we got no recompense for that, none, plus we had to pay for the hotel we never stayed in, etc. You buy a ticket to get you to a certain place on a certain date and time. If the airlines don't deliver there should be a penalty.