Bags are heavier now as new fees kick in

Hello;
IM back with the latest news from the airline employee world.

Here's what you have yet to hear from the general public or mainstream media as yet,
Since the airlines "spokespeople" ie. spin doctors, have yet to address it in official statements.

Baggage has not only become more heavy on average, but is giving rise to rampers muscle strain and back aches.

As I told you over seven months ago, charging a fee for shipping a checked bag was a positive ( a good thing for passengers) and I stand by my words, charging a fee for checked baggage will always discourage people who wish to "over do it " and bring everything but the kitchen sink, but as a result there would be fewer incidents of luggage damage ( not as much junk in the trunk to fall on top of your fragile items) and an increase in the number of on-time departures, since nearly 20% of planes leave the gate late because we loaders haven't completed our chore.

Where I will disagree with my industry is with a secondary $25 fee, ( the idea of $15 bux for a first checked bag is cool ) this is cause for passengers to stuff as much into that first bag as possible to avoid checking a second one.

Wherefore the average piece of luggage we lifted was 20-30 pounds in the opening months of this year, we now find luggage weighing 40-50 pound (maximum allowed without incurring heavy fees) we were hired from advertisements that read " must be able to lift up to 40-50 lbs
so when you start bringing us 40-50 pound bags and heavier, they are forcing us to a breaking point.

If something isn't done about this, the airline may find themselves spending as much time fighting OJI ( on job injury) claims as they are spending trying to figure a way out of the fuel crises.

Furthermore, passengers will get used to the first bag fee, after all it took most people several months to get used to the idea that their family members, relatives et. could not go -all the way to their gate to say goodbye - as we did in the pre 9/11 days of flying.
But this idea of a separate charge for each piece??? hmm could be a bugger in the long run.


That's my opinion, from the Tarmac.

Randy Lamas America's # 1 Baggage Handler