Programs: Delta Platinum Elite, KLM Flying Blue Lifetime Platinum Elite
Posts: 13
What gets me going...
OK I lost it recently with AF at ATL. I wanted to check in one bag which, as it turned out, was 6 pounds over the weight limit (I am Lifetime Platinum Elite on Flying Blue and Platinum Medaillon on Delta). The check in agent informed me that I needed to take the 6 pounds off but could check that in a second bag (which I happened to have, but was planning to take as hand luggage because it contained all Xmas presents).
Anyway, AF manager shows, and she also says there is no other way then to check two bags. And then she and I agreed that this is probably the most stupid rule known to man kind. I was still traveling with the same amount of weight stowed in the belly of the plane. There were no cost implications as I can check three bags for free due to status, but insisting she did. AF gave me a very large plastic carrier bag for my xmas presents and I checked the two bags. Can someone, anyone, explain me the logic of that?
Another example: Delta once enforced the "one carry-on and one personal item" rule. I had a computer bag, an empty (!!!) garment bag rolled up, and a small overnight bag (the size of an old fashioned doctor/GP bag). According to the LGA gate agent this counted as three items and I should check one. I ended up stuffing the empty garment bag in my overnight bag and again... even though I was still carrying the same amount of luggage, in the world of the gate agent all was well with the world again.
Here is another. Boarded a flight from Paris to Manchester on CSA, flying either an Airbus 319 or 320. Not a small plane. It is Saturday morning early, and business class contains two passengers, one being me. Can you believe that they booked me seated next to the only other Business Class passenger? So when the door closes, I move across to the other side, only to be told to go back to my seat by the FA "because of weight distribution for take off". I told her that if me moving from one side of the aisle to the other was going to cause an Airbus to crash, I wanted off the plane and I would fly another airline. She decided I could stay where I was...
One final example: arriving in ATL from Mexico City at 10PM in the international terminal E. I approach passport control. The hall is empty and I am the first one off the plane and into the hall. The artificial maze to form lines at busy times are empty, and one side is open. I proceed to the first booth, passing through the opened space. "Sir... SIR!!!" One of those TSA power-trippers starts shouting at me. "YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH HERE SIR!!!", pointing at the maze. "But it was open", I said. "That was a mistake sir" the guy says. "How am I supposed to know?" I ask, "and besides, there is nobody in line". Clearly the wrong answer, as he said "Do you want to be arrested?". I did not want to be arrested, and sure enough, he made me walk around and through the maze, only to end up where we had had our little argument. The border patrol agent who had seen all this, rolled his eyes when I approached him and said "I think we should call it a day".
My conclusion is that what gets me going is usually a situation where we all know that something is utter nonsense or completely illogical, but we enforce (or try to enforce) anyway.
Programs: AA Gold, UA Premier, CO, HH Silver, Marriott Rewards (Special!), SPG
Posts: 339
I was picking up my bag from gate check on an American Eagle flight, and a woman grabbed my hand and screamed at me, "THAT'S MY BAG." First, don't touch me. Ever. Unless I know you. Then, don't touch me. Second, don't scream at me, especially when you are wrong.
It was my bag.
Her bag was an entirely different shade of pink.
On another note, I get irritated with passengers who board the plane with more than two bags that would never fit in a bin. I realize someone should stop them before they get on the plane, but really -- you know your bag isn't going to fit. Please do not hit me with your oversize bags, refuse to apologize, and then get mad when the flight attendants try and take your bags, further holding up the boarding line. Get a regulation carry on or check your bag. If you hate to check your bag (like me), pack light and get a regulation carry on.
And, say you're sorry when you knock the crap out of someone with it.
I've only pulled the "Ugly American" in me out once, a few years ago in CGK when my bag arrived on the conveyor belt with the lock broken and stuff missing inside, and no one from the airline (MH) or airport seemed to care. Based on that and many other experiences in Asia, I can second the notion that in Asia, losing your temper gets you absolutely nowhere. Absolutely. Nowhere.
In terms of fellow passengers, my sister was on a flight once, DL 77L ATL-PVG with new touchscreen PTVs. Whoever thought touchscreen PTVs in seatbacks in Y seats was a good idea needs to sit in such a seat for 16 hours. Someone across the aisle from her had a guy behind him poking at the screen (playing an action game) throughout the night until he finally exploded, turning around and screaming, "Stop it! You're killing me here!". The poking stopped for 5 minutes, and then restarted. Pretty funny to hear the story, but I'm sure it wasn't fun at the time.
AF gave me a very large plastic carrier bag for my xmas presents and I checked the two bags. Can someone, anyone, explain me the logic of that?
While I agree that all the other stories were bizarre, this one at least makes sense: the porters are supposed to only carry a certain weight, so it does indeed make a difference whether you check one overweight bag or two smaller ones.
