RAAng

Plus, factor in the fact that unless one is a very frequent flyer, just stepping into an airport with the intent to fly out of it causes a certain amount of neurodegeneration, what with signs placed in no relation to what the signs reference, vague and lengthy directions when asking a staffer where something is, or, in the alternative, pointing into the bowels of a giant terminal with the instruction, "Over there." Being barked at constantly by TSA, sometimes with orders that contradict obvious signage. All added to the "hurry the hell up" vibe that pervades. One must enter with quite a bit of neurocognitive reserve just to reach ones seat still able to think at all. I'm 60 and still firing on all cylinders, but I can foresee the day when I am still well able to travel but can't negotiate the airport.

Gig103

We have the inconsiderate folks who jam their bag into the first available space to thank for that one. "No, go ahead 24E, use the space over row 14, nobody in that row will have issues playing upstream-salmon to find their bag when the CC moves it to row 20!" .... said nobody ever.

EuropeanPete

I really hope Mr. AA Platinum is under the impression that BA Gold is one level down the pecking order from him...

IanFromHKG

When my late mother-in-law came to visit us at a point where her (still early) dementia was starting to cause issues, we ensured we had a taxi driver who would take her to check-in, disabled assistance to get her to lounge and gate, and gave her a number of cards to show to staff and cabin crew explaining her difficulties (she had primary progressive aphasia which made it difficult for her to find the right words, particularly in novel or stressful situations). She had great flights with everyone being very helpful, but I can imagine that without that support she would have found it very difficult particularly given how difficult it was for her to express herself verbally.

Pascoe

The issue I think comes when someone for whatever reason (often either undiagnosed or somewhat in denial) simply hasn't had a chance to get that well prepared. Your mother in law was clearly lucky she had you and your family around her thinking about such preparations...

I remember my mum's last trip to Spain with my Stepdad, as he described it to me. Sounded like the travel parts were quite hard work...

FEMW

Also the elderly generation most likely did not fly as much as we do nowadays. If they did, there wasn't the same security protocols and stresses. Nowadays if an elderly person is flying on their own - it's most likely to visit family. As my own mother has dementia and in a care home - I'll start looking out to help them a bit more.

OT - I work for a large local authority and we are now master-planning for the next 15 years for an increase in Alzheimers/Dementia and that more care homes will be required. Well done GlasgowCyclops - I'll make sure you get first dibs on our new homes

drphun

I don't get why people are like this. Even a selfish person should still want to help the elderly person because that plane isn't moving until their bags are stowed and they are seated. Similarly, I will get up and help someone put their bag in the overhead if they seem to be having difficulty, because, among other reasons, helping them is better than having the bag dropped on my head.

snaxmuppet

What cheeses me off is that I always stick to the size rules yet many people just bring two large bits of luggage where the 2nd one is clearly not going to fit under the seat in front and so they just put both bags in the overheads taking up the space for two.

Why the gate staff don't stop these abusers at the gate I have no idea. I have never seen anyone pulled up for having two full-sized carry-ons. If there is anything good about the low-cost airlines is that their pricing policies mean they do police carry on baggage more. I wish BA would.

RG1X

Vaguely related to the elderly lady story. I was leaving a BA flight from the back of CW (towards the front door) and I noticed that a lady in 1st was clearly struggling with something in the locker but everyone just pushed past her.

Took me less than 15 seconds to offer to help, grab her foldable walking stick which was stuck at the back of the overhead, give her a big smile and be on my way.

People are w*nk*rs.

orbitmic

Well, I tried to play bag police - sort of - yesterday but without much effect. I was boarding my very packed European flight with a large C cabin of 12 rows. I had changed my plan and the best I could get was 6C (I'm normally a window guy). Arriving at the same time as me down the stairs (I was walking) was a 70-ish year old lady so I stopped to let her go in front of me with a smile. She did without even looking at me let alone thanking me but who cares.

She similarly ignored the smiling welcome of the CSM at the door and took her large brown duffle bag above row 1. She did not sit there though so I thought she might have a seat a few rows further back. When reaching my row (6) she still hadn't sat so as there was no one before me, I looked with curiosity. She continued all the way down to row 27 or 28 and sat there. I thus decided to approach the crew member waiting by the emergency exit row 11 as it was slightly easier than walking back to row 1 and told her that I was surprised that the lady who had just sat in row 27 had left her large cabin size bag above row 1 and that I was worried that the people coming to sit in row 1 (who hadn't arrived yet in a C cabin increasingly full of bags) would find it hard to find room for their bag, so she might wish to ask the lady if she could bring her bag closer to her, or alternatively feel free to move it to the right cabin - at least - should passengers in row 1 and 2 have no room for their bags left.

She looked at me blankly, and a few minutes later, when the row 1 people finally arrived, they had to walk back to rows 11 or 12 to find room for their bags.

So yes, I know, overhead space does not "belong" to anyone specifically, but still, I find it extremely selfish that someone sat at the very end of the plane would put her things above row 1. I have many family members around that age so always have some level of sympathy for how things that are easy when one is younger become harder at that age, such as lugging hand luggage about, but ultimately, there is no reason to visit this on other passengers, and even assuming that she was on a HBO fare which I am not convinced by, BA had sent messages to everyone (C pax included!) to say that we could check bags for free given the flight was very busy.

I personally wish the crew member would have gone to talk to her and proposed to move her bag, or even done it forcibly when it became clear that the people who couldn't keep bags in front of them in row 1 would not have space for their hand luggage for at least 10 rows.

Dover2Golf

I like the way Swiss and Aegean keep the business class bins closed during boarding which seems to stop Y passengers dumping their bags before moving back. It's so easy to do and effective.

nufnuf77

I didn't think you find yourself anywhere near row 20 usually!

RG1X

Last few BA flights I took (CE to / from INV) did the same.

DeathSlam

This could actually work (it does in other industries and situations). There are a lot of extremely helpful very frequent flyers on BA. BA don't know who they are but the cabin crew do. If they could be given a badge like a prefect or a deputy it might actually be helpful in situations like the OPs. I humbly suggest "BA Assist". Cabin crew notice a pax helping out in a calm and polite manner and vote for them. 5 votes and you get your shiny badge.

London1649