The self loading process
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radeng wrote:
My few "lost" bag episodes when flying with United have been caused by ground staff in Honolulu trying to cram me on an earlier Aloha flight than that booked, with the result that my bag turns up a couple of hours later on the flight it was scheduled to be on......
On the other hand, I had an excellent experience with them when I was flying Lufthansa from Munich to LHR and transferring to a United flight to Chicago (yes, I know there's a direct, but there were reasons). 2 hrs delay due to snow in Munich left me 25 mins T2-T3 in LHR, but not only did UA have a car waiting to take me to the aircraft steps, they'd upgraded me to business class AND MY LUGGAGE MADE IT, too. Full marks for an enhanced SLF experience!
Cheers,
Magnus
United/United Express. 13 flights, 11 lost bags
On the other hand, I had an excellent experience with them when I was flying Lufthansa from Munich to LHR and transferring to a United flight to Chicago (yes, I know there's a direct, but there were reasons). 2 hrs delay due to snow in Munich left me 25 mins T2-T3 in LHR, but not only did UA have a car waiting to take me to the aircraft steps, they'd upgraded me to business class AND MY LUGGAGE MADE IT, too. Full marks for an enhanced SLF experience!
Cheers,
Magnus
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Once had to call the assistance of CC when passenger in front insisted on placing their rather large bag under their own seat (the one in front of me) and not the one in front of them as they had nowhere to put their feet and got more than heated when I asked them to remove.
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All,
The simple life :-)
Before boarding (check-in, shopping & when sitting in lounge)
1) If possible, dump as much at check-in as posssible.
2) Go though security
3) Visit newsagent and buy sufficient reading material/drinks/sweets for flight
4) Get cashier to place items in carrier bag
5) When sitting bored in lounge, place any addtional items you'll need in-flight, such as a sweater, in the carrier bag.
6) Board when seat row called
On the plane: -
Everything you should need is in the carrier bag
1) Greet cabin crew politely
2) Walk to correct seat row
3) Walk into row (This is easier if the plane is still not fully boarded) Aisle now free for other pax
4) Place carrier bag on seat (+ any other bags eg laptop)
5) Remove coat. Place coat, laptop etc in overhead luggage bin
6) Lift carrier bag
7) Move to correct seat in row.
8) Sit down, buckle up and stow contents of carrier in seat back pocket.
9) Laugh at "sheep" in aisle screwing up boarding process
I'm 6ft + and even in economy, steps 1) to 9) on the plane take 25-30 seconds max, all whilst keeping the aisle clear.
On arrival....
1) Luggage in hold
2) When aircraft stops at gate - ignore "life or death" feeling that requires you to immediately move to aisle. Continue to read book.
3) When aisle finally starts to move, monitor flow.
4) When flow has reached resaonable walking pace, repeat items 3) to 8) above under "On the plane" in reverse order.
5) Walk down aisle
6) Say goodbye to crew.
7) Walk to baggage reclaim and collect bags (Waiting time reduced by up to 50%)
Sorry, rather tongue in cheek, but it works for me and is a great stress reducer.
Regards,
Shuttlebus
The simple life :-)
Before boarding (check-in, shopping & when sitting in lounge)
1) If possible, dump as much at check-in as posssible.
2) Go though security
3) Visit newsagent and buy sufficient reading material/drinks/sweets for flight
4) Get cashier to place items in carrier bag
5) When sitting bored in lounge, place any addtional items you'll need in-flight, such as a sweater, in the carrier bag.
6) Board when seat row called
On the plane: -
Everything you should need is in the carrier bag
1) Greet cabin crew politely
2) Walk to correct seat row
3) Walk into row (This is easier if the plane is still not fully boarded) Aisle now free for other pax
4) Place carrier bag on seat (+ any other bags eg laptop)
5) Remove coat. Place coat, laptop etc in overhead luggage bin
6) Lift carrier bag
7) Move to correct seat in row.
8) Sit down, buckle up and stow contents of carrier in seat back pocket.
9) Laugh at "sheep" in aisle screwing up boarding process
I'm 6ft + and even in economy, steps 1) to 9) on the plane take 25-30 seconds max, all whilst keeping the aisle clear.
On arrival....
1) Luggage in hold
2) When aircraft stops at gate - ignore "life or death" feeling that requires you to immediately move to aisle. Continue to read book.
3) When aisle finally starts to move, monitor flow.
4) When flow has reached resaonable walking pace, repeat items 3) to 8) above under "On the plane" in reverse order.
5) Walk down aisle
6) Say goodbye to crew.
7) Walk to baggage reclaim and collect bags (Waiting time reduced by up to 50%)
Sorry, rather tongue in cheek, but it works for me and is a great stress reducer.
Regards,
Shuttlebus
Something in the unloading process always puzzles me, and that's the people who stop in the aisle to let others out from a seat row. OK, so they think they're being polite, but in actual fact, they're being damned rude to all the people behind them that are being held up.
Further, applying a bit of queuing theory tells you that it's the slowest way to empty the aircraft.
But, as they say in Yorkshire, 'There's nowt so queer as folk'. And to paraphrase Thomas Carlyle, 'the world is full of men, mostly fools'.
Further, applying a bit of queuing theory tells you that it's the slowest way to empty the aircraft.
But, as they say in Yorkshire, 'There's nowt so queer as folk'. And to paraphrase Thomas Carlyle, 'the world is full of men, mostly fools'.
Paxing All Over The World
I am posting a short quote and a link to the full article by someone who travels a considerable amount, I have met Professor Peter Cochrane (formely head of BT Labs) and he is a very decent, no nonsense guy. The extract relates to the 'To Check or Not To Check a Bag' debate but I suggest that you link and read the whole article for a view on how an experienced 'road warrior' does it. As far as I am aware, he always travels in Biz, due to the nature of his work and that he is ofen working during the flight.
This is from one of his regular reports on Silicon.com
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
... travelling with a customer who doesn't get out much! We arrived at London Heathrow for a two-week trip, me with my small roll-on case which fits in the overhead, plus my computer bag. He arrived with two cases plus a huge computer case full of goodness knows what.
Years of travel have taught me never to check a bag into the hold of an aircraft. The probability of loss varies from about one in 60 to one in 1000 depending on the carrier. And sure enough, on this multi-hop trip my colleague lost a bag. Worse, at every airport, and there were nine on this trip, we had a protracted check-in, and a long wait at baggage claim. So when we got to the taxi rank there was always a long line. When I am on my own I'm through an airport like a knife through butter - no waiting in line, no bag loss, no baggage claim and mostly no taxi delays. All told I reckon we lost about a full working day by this mechanism alone!
Years of travel have taught me never to check a bag into the hold of an aircraft. The probability of loss varies from about one in 60 to one in 1000 depending on the carrier. And sure enough, on this multi-hop trip my colleague lost a bag. Worse, at every airport, and there were nine on this trip, we had a protracted check-in, and a long wait at baggage claim. So when we got to the taxi rank there was always a long line. When I am on my own I'm through an airport like a knife through butter - no waiting in line, no bag loss, no baggage claim and mostly no taxi delays. All told I reckon we lost about a full working day by this mechanism alone!
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
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maybe this is about how much/little we take with us on a trip.
I'm sometimes staggered by the amount of stuff people think of as essential.
Travel lite......
My basics are:
clean shirt and underwear for every day away ( and you can take the same ones away and get 'em laundered)
a different tie (sorry but we all need a little indulgence)
the minimum toiletries
AND most important of all - almost no paper a small Notebook with data saved onto memory stick or CD is most of what you need. Why do people still travel with so much paper / lever arch files and associated paraphanalia?
The reaction to me is usually 'where's the rest of your luggage?' but the result is worth it. No lost bags ever and express track through the airports.
The wait for your bags at a luggage belt is one of the worst experiences in worldly existence and only to be endured by people who are emigrating or are on extended trips of more than a week or two.
I'm sometimes staggered by the amount of stuff people think of as essential.
Travel lite......
My basics are:
clean shirt and underwear for every day away ( and you can take the same ones away and get 'em laundered)
a different tie (sorry but we all need a little indulgence)
the minimum toiletries
AND most important of all - almost no paper a small Notebook with data saved onto memory stick or CD is most of what you need. Why do people still travel with so much paper / lever arch files and associated paraphanalia?
The reaction to me is usually 'where's the rest of your luggage?' but the result is worth it. No lost bags ever and express track through the airports.
The wait for your bags at a luggage belt is one of the worst experiences in worldly existence and only to be endured by people who are emigrating or are on extended trips of more than a week or two.
None but a blockhead
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It's hard to dump the habit of taking too much. I'm up to three days away in one carry-on, but still can't break the week away extra bag.
However, the down side is that security/customs at either end gets very suspicious if it thinks you're not carrying enough baggage for your trip. The biggest sin is looking different, after all.
(I've solved the 'extra tie' conundrum by never wearing one. Constricts the flow of blood to the head, y'know, and I've always been suspicious of any social convention that requires a noose around the neck)
R
However, the down side is that security/customs at either end gets very suspicious if it thinks you're not carrying enough baggage for your trip. The biggest sin is looking different, after all.
(I've solved the 'extra tie' conundrum by never wearing one. Constricts the flow of blood to the head, y'know, and I've always been suspicious of any social convention that requires a noose around the neck)
R
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SLF
Now you've mentioned it, I did get taken apart by Customs at an Eastern European airport recently probably, I'm guessing, because I marched through the baggage reclaim area with far too smug an attitude!
Now you've mentioned it, I did get taken apart by Customs at an Eastern European airport recently probably, I'm guessing, because I marched through the baggage reclaim area with far too smug an attitude!
Paxing All Over The World
"Too smug an attitude"??? Wot, a PPRuNer?? 
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
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I can agree with the comment about not taking enough luggage on a trip causing suspicion – usually going to / into the USA. Three days’ worth of clothes + laptop in a rucksack several years ago caused me to get stopped at Atlanta customs by a very rude guy demanding I go back and collect my “other” bag from the carousel.
Anyway, the points made are very valid. Checking in bags is a pain. My business trips usually involve daily flights and any delay blows the schedule away… so the maximum I can take in the cabin helps no end. For example, last week I got up in Zurich, flew to Munich to see a customer and then flew on to Vienna on a different airline a few hours later. What would have happened if my bag hadn’t got to Germany? Whose responsibility would it have to reunite me with it in Austria (or wherever I'd moved on to by the time they found it)?
That said, it’s also a pain lugging the stuff around everywhere and then looking for space. The last people called to the flight are the C/J classes and gold/silver card holders – the latter, by definition, being the most frequent travellers who are probably doing this for a living rather than the occasional ones who are off to a stag night in Prague or week in Shagaluf. [A generalisation, but you see what I’m getting at]. I had to laugh a couple of weeks ago when I watched a Y class passenger on BMI from Belfast stuff his small wardrobe above row 3 and proceed down to row 53 (or wherever he was down the back). A stewardess proceeded to pull it all out again, chase after him and made him find space nearer his own seat – while saying something about security checks and the need to have pax near their own luggage.
The Lufthansa small shuttle planes using their “gate delivery” system is the absolutely perfect method in my view. You know the bag’s going to get on the same aircraft as you and you don’t have to wait a fortnight while the bags come out at the other end.
For anyone who still thinks that checking bags is a good idea, this is an actual PA my wife & I heard from GVA-LHR several years ago. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Captain. You will be pleased to know that we made another on-time departure for our flight to London today. Unfortunately, to get away on time, we had to leave many of your bags behind. I hope this won’t inconvenience you too much”. OK, so Swiss Airlines went bust shortly afterwards, but it taught me a lesson!
Anyway, the points made are very valid. Checking in bags is a pain. My business trips usually involve daily flights and any delay blows the schedule away… so the maximum I can take in the cabin helps no end. For example, last week I got up in Zurich, flew to Munich to see a customer and then flew on to Vienna on a different airline a few hours later. What would have happened if my bag hadn’t got to Germany? Whose responsibility would it have to reunite me with it in Austria (or wherever I'd moved on to by the time they found it)?
That said, it’s also a pain lugging the stuff around everywhere and then looking for space. The last people called to the flight are the C/J classes and gold/silver card holders – the latter, by definition, being the most frequent travellers who are probably doing this for a living rather than the occasional ones who are off to a stag night in Prague or week in Shagaluf. [A generalisation, but you see what I’m getting at]. I had to laugh a couple of weeks ago when I watched a Y class passenger on BMI from Belfast stuff his small wardrobe above row 3 and proceed down to row 53 (or wherever he was down the back). A stewardess proceeded to pull it all out again, chase after him and made him find space nearer his own seat – while saying something about security checks and the need to have pax near their own luggage.
The Lufthansa small shuttle planes using their “gate delivery” system is the absolutely perfect method in my view. You know the bag’s going to get on the same aircraft as you and you don’t have to wait a fortnight while the bags come out at the other end.
For anyone who still thinks that checking bags is a good idea, this is an actual PA my wife & I heard from GVA-LHR several years ago. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Captain. You will be pleased to know that we made another on-time departure for our flight to London today. Unfortunately, to get away on time, we had to leave many of your bags behind. I hope this won’t inconvenience you too much”. OK, so Swiss Airlines went bust shortly afterwards, but it taught me a lesson!
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Since this thread was about the Self Loading Process, AND looking for ideas to improve it/speed it up, I wondered why, when you get on a plane, the seat belts are folded on the seats meaning you have to unfold them again. May only take a few seconds but multiply by 150 times.
It's also a complete pain.
Any crew out there that can expalin why it's done?
Defies logic IMHO.
Regards
VHF
It's also a complete pain.
Any crew out there that can expalin why it's done?
Defies logic IMHO.
Regards
VHF
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..er.. but left crumbs all over the seat? but that's surely not the point. It's the waste of time and inconvenience a) to the flight crew that have to cross em in the first place and b) to the pax that promptly uncross them again.
Daft really.
Daft really.
Paxing All Over The World
At a guess: It also makes a check that all belts are present and correct. They might be damaged, missing or soiled. It doesn't take a second to flick them to one side as you prepare to sit down.
