Passenger Gets Off Transcon with ZERO Bags. Normal?
Dec 1, 2012 | 2:59 pm
#1
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Passenger Gets Off Transcon with ZERO Bags. Normal?
I was on the redeye from PDX - EWR last month, seat 1A. After pulling away from the gate (maybe 10 meters) the plane stoped and there is a commotion in the back: Passenger won't sit down.
He walks to the front of the plane and declares that he is too claustrophobic to make the flight. The plane returns to the gate and the passenger departs.
He departed with NO carryon and they did not pull a bag from the hold. I asked the FA if he had a checked bag and she said, "I don't know but this is a domestic flight and all bags are screened so we're getting out of here."
Has the "Bag cannot go without it's owner" rule been repealed? Is it odd that they didn't check for a carry-on bag?
(Interestingly enough the guy actually WAS of Middle Eastern appearance with a Wahhabi-style beard--it continued through to the neck--though trimmed shorter than normal for that style.)
He walks to the front of the plane and declares that he is too claustrophobic to make the flight. The plane returns to the gate and the passenger departs.
He departed with NO carryon and they did not pull a bag from the hold. I asked the FA if he had a checked bag and she said, "I don't know but this is a domestic flight and all bags are screened so we're getting out of here."
Has the "Bag cannot go without it's owner" rule been repealed? Is it odd that they didn't check for a carry-on bag?
(Interestingly enough the guy actually WAS of Middle Eastern appearance with a Wahhabi-style beard--it continued through to the neck--though trimmed shorter than normal for that style.)
Dec 1, 2012 | 3:02 pm
#2
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The FA was correct - on domestic flights, no requirement to pull bags if the passenger doesn't fly.
On international flights, I believe that bags must be pulled even though all checked bags are screened.
On international flights, I believe that bags must be pulled even though all checked bags are screened.
Dec 1, 2012 | 3:08 pm
#4
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Dec 1, 2012 | 3:38 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 473
I was on the redeye from PDX - EWR last month, seat 1A. After pulling away from the gate (maybe 10 meters) the plane stoped and there is a commotion in the back: Passenger won't sit down.
He walks to the front of the plane and declares that he is too claustrophobic to make the flight. The plane returns to the gate and the passenger departs.
He departed with NO carryon and they did not pull a bag from the hold. I asked the FA if he had a checked bag and she said, "I don't know but this is a domestic flight and all bags are screened so we're getting out of here."
Has the "Bag cannot go without it's owner" rule been repealed? Is it odd that they didn't check for a carry-on bag?
(Interestingly enough the guy actually WAS of Middle Eastern appearance with a Wahhabi-style beard--it continued through to the neck--though trimmed shorter than normal for that style.)
He walks to the front of the plane and declares that he is too claustrophobic to make the flight. The plane returns to the gate and the passenger departs.
He departed with NO carryon and they did not pull a bag from the hold. I asked the FA if he had a checked bag and she said, "I don't know but this is a domestic flight and all bags are screened so we're getting out of here."
Has the "Bag cannot go without it's owner" rule been repealed? Is it odd that they didn't check for a carry-on bag?
(Interestingly enough the guy actually WAS of Middle Eastern appearance with a Wahhabi-style beard--it continued through to the neck--though trimmed shorter than normal for that style.)
Nice profiling btw. Work for TSA do you?
Dec 1, 2012 | 4:27 pm
#7
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I know lots of people who travel with no carry on baggage. And how do you know they didn't pull his bag? For that matter, maybe he didn't have ANY luggage. People do travel with nothing, you know.
Dec 1, 2012 | 4:30 pm
#8
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Bag with the passenger went away years ago for domestic flights, though it comes up here pretty much on a weekly basis.
It's not unusual for somebody not to have any luggage. They may just want to go to sleep and don't need a bag of toys to get there, don't want the hassles with security, etc.
It may not be the majority of people, but I would not consider it unusual.
It's not unusual for somebody not to have any luggage. They may just want to go to sleep and don't need a bag of toys to get there, don't want the hassles with security, etc.
It may not be the majority of people, but I would not consider it unusual.
Dec 1, 2012 | 4:50 pm
#9
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Passengers that are so claustrophobic that they can't fly are making transcontinental flights with no baggage at all.... because they are heading back to their NYC apartments for the weekend perhaps?
Dec 1, 2012 | 6:07 pm
#12
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So apparently, my bag WILL fly without having me on board since I have received the luggage up to five days after arriving.
Dec 1, 2012 | 8:07 pm
#13
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I fly transpac and transatl without checked bags all the time, and often a very small carry on. Not sure why that is in issue?
Dec 1, 2012 | 8:47 pm
#14
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But I too would find it odd if someone who routinely shuttles between two residences, someone experienced enough to travel transpac with only a small carry-on, or someone with enough FF miles to bother with a MR is too claustrophobic to fly, and only discovers that fact once on board the aircraft. (NB: Not "suspicious", not "dangerous", just "odd.")
Dec 1, 2012 | 9:07 pm
#15
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And then there's this thing called a Mileage Run.
But I too would find it odd if someone who routinely shuttles between two residences, someone experienced enough to travel transpac with only a small carry-on, or someone with enough FF miles to bother with a MR is too claustrophobic to fly, and only discovers that fact once on board the aircraft. (NB: Not "suspicious", not "dangerous", just "odd.")
But I too would find it odd if someone who routinely shuttles between two residences, someone experienced enough to travel transpac with only a small carry-on, or someone with enough FF miles to bother with a MR is too claustrophobic to fly, and only discovers that fact once on board the aircraft. (NB: Not "suspicious", not "dangerous", just "odd.")
It's only the second time I have ever seen anyone deplaned after the flight had pulled away from the gate. (The other time was on the liquid bomber day on a flight from London, and those two guys--who met the same physical description--were forcibly deplaned by MI5 agents in flak jackets.)