Good customer service is essential in all industries, particularly in airlines. However, there are limits to customer service, especially when unnecessary safety risks are involved. For flight attendants, one such limitation is lifting passengers’ luggage into the overhead compartments. First and foremost, it is not the job of flight attendants to stow passenger luggage in the overhead bins. Second, airlines actually restrict flight attendants from lifting passengers’ luggage into the bins to avoid potential injuries.
Flight attendants are encouraged to assist specific passengers, such as those with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women, injured individuals, and those who cannot reach the overhead compartments. However, they are not responsible for lifting overweight carry-on luggage.
Flight attendants are responsible for the safety and security of all passengers on board. This requires them to be physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared to respond to any emergency. Therefore, they are restricted from performing tasks that could jeopardize their health. In other words, passenger safety takes precedence over handling personal luggage.
This policy is not unique to a few airlines; it is a standard practice across almost all airlines worldwide. Flight attendants are either restricted in assisting with luggage or are completely prohibited from doing so under any circumstances. If your luggage is too big or heavy to fit in the overhead bin, it should be checked in.
The Repetitive Strain of Lifting Luggage
Let’s break down why flight attendants should not be required to lift passenger luggage. Some passengers argue that it is the flight attendants’ job to stow their luggage. If that were the case, flight attendants would be expected to lift 15 lbs (7 kg) of luggage 500 times a week. By law, one flight attendant can oversee up to 50 passengers. If lifting luggage were part of their duties, this would translate to lifting 15 lbs 50 times per flight. For two sectors or one round trip, that means lifting 15 lbs 100 times a day. Some flight attendants fly four sectors or two round trips in a day, which would mean lifting 15 lbs 200 times. Over the course of a five-day workweek, that could result in lifting 500 to 1,000 times.
Moreover, flight attendants do this without wearing any back or shoulder support, which could lead to long-term health issues that might prevent them from fulfilling their primary duty: ensuring passenger safety. The airline must prioritize passenger safety over their personal belongings.
There are numerous reports of flight attendants suffering from back and shoulder injuries due to lifting passenger luggage into overhead bins.
Passenger Responsibility
Passengers are responsible for their own hand-carry luggage, including securing it in the overhead compartments. If you cannot lift it, you should check it in. There have been cases where passengers blamed flight attendants for damages to their luggage after it was handled. Furthermore, flight attendants are not responsible for lifting overweight luggage into the overhead compartments. For example, Cebu Pacific enforces a strict policy where passengers can carry a maximum of 7 kg as hand luggage.
However, some airlines do not weigh passengers’ hand-carry luggage, leading passengers to bring overweight items on board and then expect flight attendants to stow them. It may be time for airlines to implement stricter measures to ensure passengers adhere to hand-carry weight limits.
As the saying goes, “If you pack it, you stack it.” Unless you are a person with a disability, elderly, injured, pregnant, or physically unable to lift your luggage, it is not the responsibility of flight attendants to stow it in the overhead compartment. Flight attendants may assist those who are physically unable, but able-bodied passengers are responsible for their own luggage.
While flight attendants work in the service industry, there are boundaries to what is expected of them. Lastly, it’s important to remember that service industry workers are not personal servants. Purchasing a plane ticket does not entitle anyone to mistreat those who are there to serve.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
