I have always travelled light. And lately, being what airlines euphemistically term a ‘frequent flyer’, I have made it even lighter. I have a trusted Samsonite made to cabin baggage specifications which I dump my clothes and papers in, stretch the laptop bag across its handle and I am ready to go. Saves me a lot of time after alighting.
In the past few months, I have travelled on every single airline available in India, and have never been asked to check in my bag, except for three times. And I realise that it is the same airline – Kingfisher – every time.
The tone is the same – polite, turning politely threatening. “Sir, it is my advice to you Sir. It is better for you Sir”, “Sir, I shall put a priority tag Sir”, “Sir, you will have to keep it in front of your seat, and you will be uncomfortable Sir”, “Sir, I am trying to help you Sir, the cabin crew will keep it in the hold while you are boarding Sir”.
Once, when I agreed because they put a priority tag, my bag was almost the last to come out!
What I found most interesting was that all the three times, they gave me different reasons for wanting to check in my bag.
The first time, the person said that the flight was full, and there may be no space in the luggage bin.
The second time, she said that the flight was small and my bag would not fit!
But I think the reason I got just now takes the cake!
I am told that the flight is completely full and the bag would be too heavy, and the cabin crew might offload it!
Huh!!!
Too heavy for me to carry, but okay to put it in the hold?
I am awaiting boarding, as I write this, and eager to know how they will accommodate this ‘heavy’ bag.
In the past few months, I have travelled on every single airline available in India, and have never been asked to check in my bag, except for three times. And I realise that it is the same airline – Kingfisher – every time.
The tone is the same – polite, turning politely threatening. “Sir, it is my advice to you Sir. It is better for you Sir”, “Sir, I shall put a priority tag Sir”, “Sir, you will have to keep it in front of your seat, and you will be uncomfortable Sir”, “Sir, I am trying to help you Sir, the cabin crew will keep it in the hold while you are boarding Sir”.
Once, when I agreed because they put a priority tag, my bag was almost the last to come out!
What I found most interesting was that all the three times, they gave me different reasons for wanting to check in my bag.
The first time, the person said that the flight was full, and there may be no space in the luggage bin.
The second time, she said that the flight was small and my bag would not fit!
But I think the reason I got just now takes the cake!
I am told that the flight is completely full and the bag would be too heavy, and the cabin crew might offload it!
Huh!!!
Too heavy for me to carry, but okay to put it in the hold?
I am awaiting boarding, as I write this, and eager to know how they will accommodate this ‘heavy’ bag.
I'd posted a comment from my BB after boarding, which has not been published - I wonder why?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, no one from the crew stopped me, and there was enough space for my bag - and more - in the flight.
Find it funny why the ground staff do it.
Btw, the one about the small aircraft - that excuse was genuine. However, there was another case in that flight altogether! That's for another time