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Old May 17, 2008 | 9:49 am
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Philoj
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: AA - Executive Platinum HHonors - Diamond
Posts: 250
About luggage handling

Two things that have always mystified me about how luggage handlers load the aircraft:
1) Rollaboards go wheels up. This is absolutely intentional, and I don't get it at all. Is there some part of the bag on the back that they have found catches a lot? It seems to me that the front of bags would catch more. The problem for the passenger here is that the backs of rollaboards are reinforced, while the fronts aren't (and I used to put fragiles closer to the front until I observed this)

2) The "swing and slam" method of loading the conveyor. Seriously, this just looks malicious. I've moved lots of heavy stuff (most notably dozens of bags of sand, cement, and mulch) - the most efficient way to move them is to throw them in a smooth motion. Barring that, the next most efficient way is to lift and drop, which is actually pretty gentle on the cargo. The "swing and slam" is most definitely inventing work, which is released as the force of the slam. Either the baggage handlers are using loading as an aerobic workout, or they just like mangling bags. What am I missing?

(Of course, swing & slam coupled with "face down" just makes the whole situation even worse)
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