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Congressman Wants Airline Carry-On Rules Enforced
Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 12:45 PM on 08.25.09 |
->> "Rep. Dan Lipinski wants Congress to rule carry-on size
By Charisse Jones, USA TODAY
Tired of overhead bins stuffed to the point of bursting, some frequent fliers say they would welcome a strictly enforced limit on the size of carry-ons that is being proposed in Congress. Legislation proposed by Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., would set a federal standard for the maximum size of bags a passenger can carry on board — a decision currently left to each airline."
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-08-24-carry-ons-luggage-airline... |
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Ed Coombs, Photographer
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Available upon | NY | | Posted: 12:48 PM on 08.25.09 |
->> This should fly through Congress and onto the president's desk for signature since they have resolved all the serious issues that the country faces....
Jeeez.... |
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Chris Russick, Photographer, Assistant
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St. Petersburg | FL | USA | Posted: 1:06 PM on 08.25.09 |
->> If they're going to enforce this rule, the airlines need to not charge for checked luggage, create rules governing the over sale of seats to generate more revenue, provide some better assurances or safeguards so that valuables will not be stolen from checked baggage and address the rules that leave passengers stranded on runways for hours.
Albeit a bit biased, I think they need to have strict exclusions for media, parents of infants, handicapped, etc.. |
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Eileen Blass, Photographer
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xxxxx | xx | USA | Posted: 1:06 PM on 08.25.09 |
| ->> I would rather see Congress rule that airlines can't charge ridiculous fees to passengers who want to check their bags. Doesn't that sound better? |
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Preston Mack, Photographer
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Orlando | FL | USA | Posted: 1:25 PM on 08.25.09 |
| ->> I have my Think Tank International Roller. It fits fine up there! |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 1:43 PM on 08.25.09 |
->> Bert,
There are many problems with Rep. Dan Lipinski's concepts and I'm almost certain that Ben who writes USA Today's Today In The Sky would agree.
There is a maximum allowable size for carry-on baggage in the United States. This maximum allowable size really the doing of the Dept of Homeland Security when they created an x-ray belt template.
The problem with airline carry-on is most airlines do not have a defined size for 'personal item' thus rather than an airline allowing for one carry on & one personal item (often referred to as "1+1" passengers end up flying with two carry on bags.
Additionally most passengers place their items in the overhead rather than one in the overhead and one by their feet.
Additionally what would occur if a bag size standard was created? How would this impact foreign carriers in the United States? There are defined sizes and weights in some other places in the world, but again it comes down to airlines enforcing it, since the UK/BAA (primarily BAA backed) sizing templates was left up to the airlines.
I created a definitive list of airlines and their carry on allowances at the end of June which you can view here
http://BagSize.notlong.com
From this you can view the carry on limits, both dimensions and linear size, as well as weight limits, for 68 major airlines around the world.
Some highlights would be JetBlue that has two different carry onsizes for their Airbus & Embraer aircraft. Qatar Airways which allows for 19.68″x14.56″x9.84″ (44.08 linear inches) or 111.96cm. AirTran allows for "55-linear inches of any reasonable dimensions"
Some airlines, such as Air Canada define the dimensions of a carry on, but that is rare.
Back in 2007 I wrote about the extremes of carry on allowances with the baggage template created by the former reincarnation of Pan Am here
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2007/06/03/4-june-2007-just-wh.../
(it is worth a look, it is almost comical)
It should also be noted that since the baggage fees have been in place, thieves working their skills in flight seem to have increased. I detailed how in-flight thieves work here:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2009/08/06/in-flight-theft-how.../
...but anyway, the Congressman should focus on a viable passengers bill of rights rather than carry on baggage. Airlines, even in financial crisis, have powerful lobbiests and they do do stand together on certain issues. The freedom to offer ways to set themselves apart, within FAA regulations, is one of them. This is how Southwest Airlines and Virgin America allow for 50 linear incheas of carry on while most others only allow 45 linear inches of carry on (AirTran allows 55 linear inches...and Alaksa allows for 51 linear inches).
This is a Congressman is trying to get press time on an issue that will go no where.
Happy Flying!
FYI: Travellers may want to bookmark http://bagsize.notlong.com |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 1:52 PM on 08.25.09 |
->> "I think they need to have strict exclusions for media, parents of infants,"
No and nope
Media/Photo allowances of a 3rd bag and pre-boarding are a courtesy from the airline. In fact many airlines now have strict rules that specifically state they will not allow a 3rd bag on for photo equipment, despite the DHS/TSA stating it is allowed. New wording in this allowance says "subject to your airlines approval."
Certain airlines do not have preboarding for families ad children. Handicapped get preboarding, but only due to liability issues of someone getting injured during boarding.
I wrote about the changes in the TSA's language back in February here
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2009/02/02/updated-tsa-carry-o.../
Happy Flying! |
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Mike Carlson, Photographer
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Bayonet Point | FL | USA | Posted: 2:09 PM on 08.25.09 |
->> "I have my Think Tank International Roller. It fits fine up there!"
While it's true that some bags, like the TT Int'l Roller do fit size-wise, there is always the possibility that new regulations can also contain weight restrictions, as they do in most of the rest of the world.
And, another difficulty is inconsistency. I flew internationally, with my gear-filled TT Roller being fine for the flight within the US, and on an American carrier over to Switzerland, but when I went to board the Swiss flight I was told that my roller was too heavy, and that I'd have to check it. After some discussion about it being glass/camera equipment, they said I could purchase a second bag or use plastic bags and carry on a second bag so that each one of those met the weight limit.
I agree, however, that much of this carry-on madness that's exploding is certainly tied to the inane baggage fee policies. |
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Michael Moriatis, Photographer
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Santa Barbara | CA | USA | Posted: 2:13 PM on 08.25.09 |
->> Another instance of Government (busy-bodied Dem) butting in where they should just keep out.
Don't think just because you have the Think Tank International Roller you are golden. When leaving LAX i was told before going through security that I would have to check my roller in. I just turned around and went through a different line and made it past the person. When leaving Maine I had to check the roller in.
So it's hit and miss with that bag. Good Luck. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 2:32 PM on 08.25.09 |
->> Michael,
No one can turn your bag around for a force-check prior to security with two exceptions
1) Your bag does not fit through X-ray screener
2) You're flying an airline that does baggage weigh in and your bag is over weight.
Airline revenue enforcers have no authority to enforce anything prior to security and I believe they have been removed from all airports and only briefly existed in one terminal at LAX.
When leaving Maine was your first flight a regional jet or turbo prop? Then you left the bag stair-side which is not the same as 'checked' baggage. Please clarify.
Happy Flying! |
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Max Lashin, Photographer, Assistant
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Fort Lauderdale | FL | United States | Posted: 2:51 PM on 08.25.09 |
| ->> In other news we have a 9 trillion dollar deficit... |
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Armando Solares, Photographer
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Englewood | FL | USA | Posted: 2:54 PM on 08.25.09 |
->> Do you know what I hate the most when I travel? - It has nothing to do with bags, it has to do with the inconsiderate people that fill up the overhead bins, with their jackets and coats. Many a time I've heard the flight attendants say, "please do not place your coats, jackets, in the overhead bins until all the passengers are on board."
A guy got angry with me because I called the flight attendant and I asked her to move the guy's coat.
Coats take up a lot room.
And by the way Think Tank Airport International fits in the overhead bins just fine.
A- |
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John Howley, Photographer
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Circleville | OH | USA | Posted: 4:36 PM on 08.25.09 |
->> I bought a Think Tank roller a year or so ago and the first trip I took with it was on a regional jet so they had to check it at the gate. Oh well. It's still a great bag.
And while I don't pretend to know all the specifics regarding carry-on rules and regulations, I would agree that some people seem to go way overboard with what they are carrying on. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 7:02 PM on 08.25.09 |
| ->> Fish, I don't wanna argue with you but it is my experience (as limited as it might be compared to a frequent traveler such as yourself) but the ABSOLUTE worse thing you can do is start arguing with some dumbass TSA agent about your bag. I have personally witnessed a couple of disasters in the past years since 9/11. All you're asking for is trouble....maybe I read your post wrong but unless you have time to sit in the TSA security office for a couple of hours and miss your flight the best thing to do is make sure you are in compliance BEFORE you get in the lines. just MHO. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 7:55 PM on 08.25.09 |
->> Chuck,
The TSA as a matter of rule does not block carry on bags based on size, unless it does not fit in the TSA template. The TSA will not turn back a bag.
A number of airlines at one point had hired private "revenue enforcement officers." These officers popped up at dozens of airports, one of which was RDU. Typically these Revenue Enforcers wore shirts with burgundy vests, similar in style to TSA uniforms. They were disbanded for a variety of reasons, one of which was that they wore uniforms very similar to TSA agents.
I wrote about photographers encountering Rev-Enforce-Agents back in January here:
Stopped From Bringing Carry-On Baggage Through Security : Who Are These Guards Telling You Your Carry-On Bag Is Not Allowed?
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2009/01/05/stopped-from-bringi.../ |
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Mike Brice, Photographer
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Ogden | UT | USA | Posted: 5:04 PM on 08.29.09 |
->> I fly every week, sometimes twice a week, and I wish they would enforce carry-on rules.
I am so tired of trying to get on my plane with my regulation gear behind the business person with two roller bags and a laptop case, or the person leaving Vegas (I connect through there a lot) with a roller bag, a laptop bag and two shopping bags. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 5:18 PM on 08.29.09 |
->> Mike,
For some reason shopping bags are rarely considered carry on. Having spent a year connecting through LAS 2 or 3 times a week you should note that for some reason certain terminals enforce the shopping bag rule more than others.
I have however encountered an airline with a strict 1-carry on rule at one point. To get around this problem I walked into the Harrods shop in the terminal, asked for a big shopping bag and tossed a fully loaded Domke F-805 bag into the shopping bag. No one at the gate blinked that I had a huge bag from Harrods with me. Had my F-805 been out on my shoulder I would have been stopped. |
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Mike Brice, Photographer
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Ogden | UT | USA | Posted: 5:59 PM on 08.29.09 |
| ->> I may stash a shopping bag in my carry-on gear for times that I have to resort to looking like a tourist. |
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Greg Francis, Photographer
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 12:26 AM on 08.30.09 |
->> I flew two weeks ago. I booked my flights thru Priceline.com for Delta. No where was it disclosed there was a $20 fee for the first checked bag. I didn't know till I was at the airport @ 6am and checking my bag and they conveniently offer a credit card reader at the check-in kiosk.
Later that day I was behind a flyer boarding a plane in Chicago with three luggage bags. No one said a word.
Then coming home, again, $20 for first checked bag on Delta. Flight was slightly delayed leaving gate due to thunderstorms, but the bigger problem that delayed the flight was the overheads were full, stewardesses were trying to find room for carry-ons, which delayed the flight another 25 mins.
I missed my transfer in Atlanta, and Delta had to put me up in a hotel for the night. The root of me missing my flight were too many carry-ons by passengers not wanting to pay the $20 checked bag fee, and I bet the hotel cost Delta $30-$100 to put me up for the night.
So Delta gets their $20 per passenger, but in the long run, passengers miss transfers due to crowded overhead bins and put travelers in a hotel at the airlines expense.
Where is the common sense with the airlines, specifically Delta. |
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Jerry Lai, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Chicago | IL | USA | Posted: 2:00 AM on 08.30.09 |
| ->> The airlines have it backwards. Not quite sure how they would pull it off, but they should be charging for carry ons, and checked bags should be free. |
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Israel Shirk, Photographer, Assistant
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McCall | ID | US | Posted: 2:56 AM on 08.30.09 |
->> Well, turns out I'm *that guy* they make rules like this for...
Last week I was one of the last ones onto a full flight from Charlotte to Denver... Had to move someone else's (somewhat light) backpack to make room for my camera bag in the overhead. Definitely dropped it on this wonderful sweet woman's head.
At least it wasn't mine... would've probably been a real problem otherwise! Darn jet lag... |
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Angel Valentin, Photographer
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RIO GRANDE | PR | Puerto Rico | Posted: 9:05 AM on 08.30.09 |
->> ->> This should fly through Congress and onto the president's desk for signature since they have resolved all the serious issues that the country faces....
Ditto Ed. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 9:54 AM on 08.30.09 |
| ->> >> I flew two weeks ago. I booked my flights thru Priceline.com for Delta. No where was it disclosed there was a $20 fee for the first checked bag. I didn't know till I was at the airport @ 6am and checking my bag and they conveniently offer a credit card reader at the check-in kiosk. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 9:57 AM on 08.30.09 |
->> "I flew two weeks ago. I booked my flights thru Priceline.com for Delta. No where was it disclosed there was a $20 fee for the first checked bag. I didn't know till I was at the airport @ 6am and checking my bag and they conveniently offer a credit card reader at the check-in kiosk."
Greg,
Most online booking sites, including Priceline, suggest that travellers check with their airline regarding baggage fees and associated fees. With airline baggage fees having appeared in the news extensively over the past year it is hard to not know there are baggage fees.
Many airlines are currently increasing baggage fees and instituting new baggage fees for international travel. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 10:02 AM on 08.30.09 |
->> " The airlines have it backwards. Not quite sure how they would pull it off, but they should be charging for carry ons, and checked bags should be free."
Jerry,
Carry on baggage costs airlines virtually nothing, while checked bags require baggage loaders, fuel for baggage loaders, ramp agents to load the planes...and checked baggage takes up valuable space that the airline can be using to sell for high-yield cargo shipping. Airline cargo is big business and generally offers a higher cost-benefit to airlines than passengers.
Checked baggage tends to weigh more than carry-on, so the total weight requires more fuel burn and if an airline if going to burn more fuel they'd rather be moving high yield air cargo point to point.
Charging for checked baggage makes far more sense financially than charging for carry on baggage.
The metrics of checked baggage/cargo operating costs are what allow cargo airlines to find planes such as the DC-10 & MD-11 profitable, while passenger airlines tend to not find the MD-11 airframes as profitable to operate. |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 10:02 AM on 08.30.09 |
->> "Another instance of Government (busy-bodied Dem) butting in where they should just keep out"
Oh for 's sake. You mean more "busy bodied" than all those Republicans that want to tell a woman what to do with her own body?
This is not a Democratic/Republican thing. This is a bad idea thing. |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 10:09 AM on 08.30.09 |
->> "In other news we have a 9 trillion dollar deficit..."
One trillion having been spent on the (never-should-have-been-started) Iraq War with another few trillion having been spent because of inadequate over-site of the financial industry by deregulation-happy legislators and Presidents... |
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Greg Francis, Photographer
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 10:18 AM on 08.30.09 |
->> -----With airline baggage fees having appeared in the news extensively over the past year it is hard to not know there are baggage fees.-----
When shopping for a good price on airline travel via any website, the first checked bag fee should be disclosed as part of the total cost.
Most travelers fly with at least one checked bag, with the exception of business travelers who spend less than 36 hours at their destination. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 10:28 AM on 08.30.09 |
->> Greg,
You booked your flight through a 3rd party online travel aggregator. Third party booking sites are not required to disclose ancillary revenue fees to passengers, this is why in the TOS you click off that you've read before you pay, it is stated you should contact the airline directly for complete details.
In fact over the past year statistically most flyers are no longer flying with checked baggage. I have statistics on the rapid decline of checked baggage on my site if you search for it.
Some online booking agents, such as Orbitz, disclose checked baggage fees on their site. Orbitz's is listed here:
http://www.orbitz.com/blog/2008/06/new-checked-baggage-fee-guide-on-orbitz/ |
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Jeff Martin, Photographer
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wellington | OH | usa | Posted: 2:25 PM on 08.30.09 |
| ->> I'm with the Congressman. I don't mind carry on bags that are small enough to fit under the seat; however the full size suitcases banging their way down the isle and jamming the overheads need to go. |
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Philip Johnson, Photographer
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Garland | TX | USA | Posted: 3:45 PM on 08.30.09 |
| ->> While I don't like some of the bags people bring onto planes it is not the Governments responsibility to make a law for this. This should be left to the airlines to police. This countries politician should have more important things to debate then the size of luggage on an aircraft. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 4:39 PM on 08.30.09 |
->> "One trillion having been spent on the (never-should-have-been-started) Iraq War with another few trillion having been spent because of inadequate over-site of the financial industry by deregulation-happy legislators and Presidents..."
Jim,
I thought this wasn't a Democratic/Republican thing???
Then, why keep this going??
This is a STUUUUUUUPID idea, by a Stupid Legislator, PERIOD!!!
It's OUR Job to contact our Congresspeople and get rid f this stupid law!!
Y |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 4:40 PM on 08.30.09 |
->> Jeff,
The max allowable sized, based on overhead compartments is 51 linear inches; however most aircraft can only accomodate up to 50 linear inches, this is why the standard size limit tends to be 45 linear inches (some go to 46 linear inches when converting to metric, similar to 3oz or 100ml with TSA allowances)
These bags are far smaller than a full-size suit case. A Think Tank Airport Security is 45 linear inches. |
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Jeff Martin, Photographer
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wellington | OH | usa | Posted: 8:29 PM on 08.30.09 |
| ->> Steven, I know the legal sizes. Whenever I fly, there are folks who completely ignore them and most airlines don't enforce the limits. I routinely see full size suitcases carried on. Unless it's me. I've been told my infant son constituted my one carry on item. I had a ticket for him. |
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Jeff Martin, Photographer
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wellington | OH | usa | Posted: 8:34 PM on 08.30.09 |
->> Yamil, most of these regulations have their origins in a safety related reason. If the plane has a rough landing/crash and needs to be evacuated, all that freakin luggage (that should have been checked) laying in the isles makes it hard to move thru the cabin.
The stupid legislator thing knows no party bounds. |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 1:26 AM on 08.31.09 |
| ->> The world is a better place with Fisch telling us how to get there... and I'm not being sarcastic. His stuff has helped me immensely in getting to Austria! |
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Jack Howard, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Central Jersey | NJ | USA | Posted: 10:08 AM on 08.31.09 |
| ->> One of the funniest things I've seen on a flight was a few days before New Years 2009 as a couple tried repeatedly to stuff a large, perfectly SPHERICAL, oversized Christmas ornament into an overhead bin. No matter how they rotated it, it was still perfectly spherical, and thus wouldn't fit. But man, were they persistent. |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 10:16 AM on 08.31.09 |
->> "I thought this wasn't a Democratic/Republican thing???"
You're correct. I, however, will not let some lame BS throw-away line that has no connection to reality to go unanswered. Overly polite liberals have let the right-wing get away with murder.
"This is a STUUUUUUUPID idea, by a Stupid Legislator, PERIOD!!!"
I've already written to my Senators and Congressman disagreeing with Congressman Lipinski's idea. Others should do likewise.
Hint: Personal anecdotes in your letters to a Congressman or Senator makes them pay a bit more attention as they then know it isn't a form letter. |
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Nigel Farrow, Photographer
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Suffolk | UK | United Kingdom | Posted: 6:46 AM on 09.01.09 |
->> Just spent a flight sitting next to Shamu the whale.
He was about two to three foot long and belonged to a little girl flying home after a visit to Disneyland. Her father couldn't believe he had been able to walk onto the flight with it. Nor could the crew when they realised ! Shamu spent the whole flight with his tail on the floor so "little girl" could sleep leaning on his head. I really must buy a compact camera !
Maybe Canon and Nikon could bring out "cuddly" versions of their equipment !
Seriously, couldn't media organisation such as the NPPA in the US, the NUJ in Britain and so forth pressure airlines together to review baggage allowances for photographers internationally. After all checking equipment is technically against the terms of carraige if you check the small print.
Fish will know better but isn't there an international association of airlines they could discuss this with ?
I have a 20 hour flight next week onto which I am tacking a 10 hour train journey as I cannot get my required equipment to the event safely any other way as BA don't fly to the nearest airport and freighting isn't viable. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 8:43 AM on 09.01.09 |
| ->> until the airlines change their liability rules for checked camera equipment, I will continue to do whatever necessary to keep my gear with me. Having had two cameras damaged two years ago in my "carry on" which I was forced to check, although a supervisor watch the bag dropped 20 feet off a conveyor belt they shrugged their shoulders and wished me "good luck" with my claim. Which btw we never received a penny because of their "policy". |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 9:41 AM on 09.01.09 |
->> "
Fish will know better but isn't there an international association of airlines they could discuss this with ? "
Nigel,
It would most likely be the IATA and they really don't care. There are groups with far more lobbying power and the IATA lets airlines decide their own competitive baggage policies for both carry on and checked baggage.
I deal with various people at the IATA and I have discussed it at length with significant people within the TSA/DHS in the US; been in contact with the BAA who operates multiple airports in the UKl had an hour long phone conversation with some execs at BA not that long ago (with another conf call with BA scheduled in 2 weeks) ; chat with some higher ups at a few airlines in the US and I always bring up the photo gear issue. It simply isn't on their radar. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 9:49 AM on 09.01.09 |
->> Chuck,
When your bag is 'force checked' either as checked baggage or as valet-check you can get compensation. It often involves knowing where to look in the airline's contract of carriage and small claims court (or standard court). I recently helped a wedding photog successfully sue American Airlines following theft from her valet-checked bag due to loop holes in AA's contract of carriage. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 9:54 AM on 09.01.09 |
->> "There are groups with far more lobbying power and the IATA lets airlines decide their own competitive baggage policies for both carry on and checked baggage. "
Just to clarify, the IATA carries considerable weight, we as photogs lack the lobbying power. Even if the NPPA, ASMP and others banded together, we'd still lack the lobbying power when compared to other groups who have far more vital issues, such as safety standards, maximum flight hours, mechanical oversight & regulatory issues, security, airport slot allotment, anti-trust laws, etc etc etc. |
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Nigel Farrow, Photographer
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Suffolk | UK | United Kingdom | Posted: 2:47 PM on 09.01.09 |
->> --> Fish
Out of fairness to them BA are the only airline over here going to my required destinationss who allows the extra bag for a laptop, thus allowing for an Airport International as carry on in which I at least can stow my camera gear. The problem, and the one for me next week, is that their code share partners don't honour those allowances. For my part the need to take a laptop causes the difficulties.
"...we as photogs lack the lobbying power."
Which is why I suggested the banding together of various photographers groups worldwide and together presenting a request for assistance to IATA. I doubt photographers are the only group who have this issue though I am guessing that many of the others are not at times put in the position of checking equipment which is easily resaleable. Something like an additional laptop bag allowance is permitted on the presentation of an authorised membership card would be a step forward. |
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Jack Howard, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Central Jersey | NJ | USA | Posted: 3:14 PM on 09.01.09 |
->> Let's start enforcing many other things on flights as well:
1: Get out of your seat using the arm rests of your seat to hoist your girth to a bipedal position. No more of this bear-hugging the back of my seat while I'm napping to yoink yourself up and out of your chair.
2: No food items involving any oceanic ingredients of any sort whatsoever shall be permitted on flights. I'm sorry, but some of these souplike things sold in various airport cafes involving fish-ish things are simply vile in an enclosed space.
3: After the third time a child traveling with a parent kicks the back of your chair with no reprimand from said parent, you may challenge the parent to an aisle-sumo contest for primacy in the pecking order of your geo-adjacent pack. And then you may reprimand said kicker child to your heart's content.
4: Inflight movies and television programs should be fluffy and inconsequential. Bugs Bunny cartoons are always good. Iron Chef America is usually ok, except when squid or octopus or large amounts of butchering are involved. Newer seasons of Meerkat Manor are pushing the bounds of acceptability. Sorry, but "Most Dangerous Catch" and "Deep Impact" aren't really all that conducive to relaxed and stress-free travel.
5: As anyone who has ever traveled one leg of a journey in first class and the next in coach, the caste system is alive and well within the airline industry, and woe, the fates be fickle and evil creatures. It should be a rule that flight attendants and gate trolls treat all passengers with equal respect and courtesy.
One can dream, can't one? |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 6:42 PM on 09.01.09 |
->> Nigel,
The IATA (International Air Transport Ass'n) is not a governing body, it has significant impact and powers over airlines. Start with the fact that most airline codes and airport codes as we commonly use them, are IATA codes.
For example, if you see "LHR" chances are you know it is London Heathrow... an IATA code. If you happen to see the airport code "EGLL" chances are you have no idea this is also the official airport code for Heathrow, however it is the ICAO code. ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) is extremely important and influential to airlines as well, and lobbying through the ICAO has the same limits as the IATA, they wield considerable power, more so than the US Gov't on the global playing field, however they don't mettle in 'minor affairs' such as baggage.
Standard carry-on sizing won't happen. It cannot be enforced because then the US Gov't would be enforcing carry-on limits of foreign carriers operating in the US. Additionally airport security and boarding times would be extended due to carry on baggage checks.
These baggage checks would then further airport delays. Some delays are already extensive due to infrastructure & staffing (often infrastructure). With aircraft already burning fuel on the ground, who eats the baggage size monitoring costs and the associated delay costs of ramp time, fuel, crew time, delayed aircraft waiting to push/pull for other aircraft delayed due to template baggage checks?
The concept of airline revenue enforcement is already a problem with the TSA, as matching names to boarding passes is technically airline revenue enforcement rather than security.
Now...lets factor in the cost of the templates at each gate. Who pays for that? They need to be standardized, even though many airlines have standard sizes, they do not have standard templates (which I wrote about here 22/01/2009 – Airline Carry-On Baggage Templates : Does Anyone Measure Them? http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2009/01/22/airline-carry-on-ba.../)
Given the current state of airline & airport delays, the compounded staffing and infrastructure issues already in place; the cost of aircraft fuel burn that would be increased; the costs of owning/operating APUs for aircraft at gates that would be increased (since airlines/airports are often to short sighted to the long term cost saving benefits & environmental impact of integrated electrical APUs vs diesel ones they operate from the ramp) and the ripple impact of delays at the start of the day due to carry on baggage checks that would roll through the day, as well as other significant cost and implementation costs...
...creating a standardized carry on baggage system that would be implemented by the Fed. Gov't and enforced by airlines is simply foolish. It sounds good in a sound bite. In reality using quick math it could potentially add as much $5,000+ in costs to a single Boeing 777-300/A340-600 flight, plus the confusion of baggage allowances when enforcing foreign airlines.
Look at the wide disparity in carry on sizes of carry on bags I created for 68 airlines around the world here: http://bagsize.notlong.com Many airlines may have the same linear size, but when you factor the individual dimensions they vary widely (I still think everyone should go check out the carry-on size allowance for Qatar Airways on that chart, it'll blow your mind) |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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102 Yards From The Beach | CT | | Posted: 7:00 PM on 09.01.09 |
->> Dear Anonymous Yutz who just read my previous detailed post in record time...
...I appreciate your sentiment that I am a 'sell out' and that I am 'selling out photographers to be government shill.' Please note that I do not work for the government in any way shape or form (well I do pay taxes). Yes, my blog is one of the very few non-Gov't resources listed on the TSA's Blog as a resource for travellers, this however is not because I am a gov't shill, I am just a very good airline industry journalist. Using your logic I am also working for Aviation Week, CFO Magazine, Forbes, MSNBC, ABC News and quite a few other major news outlets who quote me and/or frequently reference me.
I don't plan on being the bearer of bad news, I am simply stating a different angle to this whole thread. I can offer a perspective here that most others cannot. While I have an opinion on this, my comments are based on my research of this topic, which I started months before a Congressmen stepped up and suggested it to to the floor...I also accurately, and publicly, predicted a number of major industry trends ahead of anyone else including predicting Emirates removing the A380 aircraft from NYC/JFK by summer and sending it to Toronto (I predicted this 2 months before Emirates even began researching it)...so I'm not just jumping in here to listen to myself babble.
...I am sorry that I have angered you, whoever you are, since I temporarily left my full-time career as a photographer to take my significant knowledge if a complex industry and create a consulting business catering to the industry we are discussing. If you read my blog you'll note I still often write about topics of significant interest to photos and topics that apply only to photogs.
If you have the ability to read the above post so quickly and send me a nasty spam e-mail that quickly you may consider a new career...possibly as an admin assistant, you seem to have the skills for it!
Happy Flying!
-Fish
(CAN YOU PEOPLE STOP SENDING USELESS ANONYMOUS EMAILS? IF YOU DISAGREE MAKE A COMPELLING ARGUMENT BASED ON FACTS!) |
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