bramsole

We are in our 60's and both have had back surgery in to last two years. We always carryon our luggage, usually weighing 20-25 pounds. My husband is concerned he can't lift the luggage overhead and feels we should check our bags.
Obviously, I'm opposed to this.
Will the stewardess help lift our bags or should we check them. Your call. Thanks.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

First of all, it's flight attendant, not stewardess. But whatever they are called, they are under no obligation to lift your bags. In fact, because of the risk of injury in lifting someone else's heavy bag, they may be prohibited from lifting it. The way I see it, if you're going to carry on bags, you are completely responsible for getting them completely on and off the plane. If you're unable to do that, you should check the bags.

Kathie

Right, the flight attendants are not supposed to lift your bags. I agree with your husband - check your bags.

MmePerdu

"Obviously, I'm opposed to this." ???

Opposed to being thoughtful and sensible? I don't understand the refusal to check bags, especially when there's obviously a good reason to do it, as in this case. I can lift my bag into the overhead, but why would I when there's a perfectly reliable system in place to handle the bag for me. I might add that boarding a plane would be almost pleasant except for all the people loading big heavy bags into the bins, even supposedly allowably big.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Well, the reluctance is: 1) paying for checking bags; 2) concerns that bags will be lost; and, 3) needing to spend time waiting at baggage claim. I get that, but then a passenger needs to take complete responsibility for schlepping their things on and off the plane.

Bedar

We always. check our bags. None has ever been lost.

bramsole

Thank you for your timely replies.
I should have prefaced by saying, we have always lifted our own luggage and I certainly think I can do so again. Mine as well as his.
We are flying from B'ham to Detroit with only 45 minutes to make our connection. We are leaving CDG for one night stays around Normandy. With that short of a time frame, I fear our luggage won't make it to the plane in Detroit. Yes, I am counting on my luggage not making it to the plane. I'm usually very optimistic, but I just have a bad feeling.
That means I must repack my luggage at home and hope my luggage catches up with us sometime before we come back home. Trust me, it has happened before.
As for the term stewardess, I have three friends, two still fly and that's what they refer to themselves. They all fly Delta, if that's any reason?
As for going to the carousel and wasting our time, we have only done it once, and the luggage was a noshow.
I'm happy to check bags flying back. I guess this is going to be an argument between the husband and myself as to what we can do. It's a one time lift.
As for being thoughtful and sensible, I am both. I generally help anyone that needs and extra push with their luggage and help pull it out if necessary. To me, being sensible means to keep my luggage close. Thanks again, FYI I wasn't asking for someone to lift my bag while I stand by, just make be give an extra shove. Thanks again for your Info.

MmePerdu

Jeff, all marginally valid, but still not good enough reasons for me, compared with the benefits, and especially in the OP's circumstances.

How is checking a bag any different than anything else we do to make travel a bit easier on ourselves? If the services we need are there, why not use them?

MmePerdu

You should have scheduled your flights better then. I'm sure you'll have a reason why you couldn't have, but it remains, not a smart thing to do, checked bags or no checked bags.

I think this is a case of looking for validation for a course of action you intend to pursue, whatever the answers. The checked bags may be the least of your concerns.

janisj

I am very short so while I can lift my carry on (I also do carry on only) to the overheads on a smaller plane like a 737 -- I simply can't reach them in most jumbos. I will step up on the seat and start to lift it up and other passengers almost always come to do it for me -- I never have to ask ask (the very few times no one has helped I can easily lift it from standing on the seat)

I have no visible disability (except being so darned short ) . . . But in your case if there isn't an obvious disability and being a man others might be less likely to jump up to help. So my suggestion -- does your husband use a cane? If so others will surely help. If not, What I'd to is in my sweetest voice ask the nearest man who is still in the aisle doing his own bag >>My husband just had back surgery, could you please help him lift our bags?<< No need to mention anything about yourself -- most guys 'assume' women can't do it ourselves (Not being sexist - that is just what happens)

IME people are more than willing to help since it gets you out of the aisle quicker.

And no - flight attendants probably won't do it - not their job and they are busy.

Don't overfill your bag -- 20-ish lbs, 25 lbs max and you shouldn't have a problem.

MmePerdu

"...standing on the seat" ???

suze

If you can't lift your own bags, I would check them.

The flight attendant may or may not be willing & able to lift them for you. You could try to count on the "kindness of strangers" and hope someone else will hoist them for you I guess.

suze

I see that one 45 min. connection as a larger problem for you.

janisj

>>"...standing on the seat" ???<<

Yes - and the question is?

And I definitely agree w/ suze your 45 minutes is the bigger issue.

(and no, I wasn't suggesting the OP/DH stand on the seat - I was just explaining that I have carry-on issues too. Which most of the responders apparently don't . . .)

bramsole

Suze,
Overseas are supposed to have a minimum of one hour for a connection. That being said, we booked with Delta out of Atlanta and they moved us over to Air France from Detroit. Boo! No choice.

MmePerdue.. Now you see the problem. We have called and asked nicely, but no go. This flight has been booked for months. We are at their mercy, no upgrades on Air France, nada.

I am with Janisj on this one. We are not large people, just your average size traveler. I do see "flight attendants" helping out occasionally and my bag is only 22 pounds.

I would like to throw myself on the mercy of some nice, tall , young handsome men behind me wanting to get to their seats. We are fit except for the back issues and I consider mine repaired, whereas the man in my life doesn't want to re-injure his. Please don't let him get old on me!

I guess we will have to wait and see. The argument will wage on until we board in Birmingham.
I think everyone should do what they want and I'll carry mine and he can check his.... That does still leave me waiting at the carousel, but at least my bag will be with me.
Does this means we will be traveling in a group with our luggage outside the door at 6:30 a.m.? Please God, not yet.

suze

<<Does this means we will be traveling in a group with our luggage outside the door at 6:30 a.m.? Please God, not yet.>>

Not necessarily. But next trip I would plan for more adequate connecting times and checking your suitcase (of course keeping the most important things in one small true carry-on that you can easily handle on your own). Or at least that's how I have chosen to handle it.

And yes, sometimes I do stand on the seat to put something in the overhead bin. I've got no choice since I'm short and could not reach it otherwise.

MmePerdu

In my experience, when your flights are changed against your will, you have the option of saying no, not acceptable, and having them re-booked on flights with connection times that work for you. I suggest you speak to the airline with whom you originally booked and see what they can do for you. Stress your limitations, even expand upon them for purposes of getting more time between flights and I suspect you'll get some help. Don't take no for an answer, if you get it, and go up the chain until someone helps. This situation is completely unacceptable and should be remedied by the airline. I think it will be and be firm until it is.

joethekay

OP, Are you flying from Birmingham AL BHM airport on Delta to DTW?
If so you are on a regional jet, a CRJ200, and you will most likely have to gate check your bag anyway as the overhead storage is limited to small bags such as laptop bags and or handbags.

cary999

Do flight attendants have an obligation to help the obviously handicapped with overhead bin items/luggage, e.g. only one arm, blind, etc?

regards - tom

MmePerdu

The problem here is clearly the fights, not the issue of help with luggage. But I suspect the "obviously handicapped" check their big bags and get help with carry-on items when they board ahead of the rest of us. In this case, while the OP might claim disability and early boarding, after knowing the full story, it seems that none of it will help, the flights should be changed.