Another travel headache: How do you feel about the luggage carousel crowding?
What is it about the luggage carousel that brings out the worst in air travelers?
Marcia Sherrill almost asked that question out loud when she landed in New York recently and watched a spectacle unfold.
“They were climbing over people and knocking into the folks in front of them when they spotted their bag,” Sherrill, a clothing designer from New York, said.
By contrast, the scene was more civil when she arrived in London a few days earlier.
“They stood back, giving all travelers access to their bags, with great courtesy,” she recalled.
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Let’s talk about luggage claim etiquette. According to numerous subject matter experts, there was a complete breakdown of decorum this summer. Remember the guy who crawled through the luggage carousel in Cleveland? And this year hasn’t been much better. Too often, it’s a rush to the claim area, followed by something close to a riot as the luggage comes off the conveyor belt.
“If air travel is a pain, then luggage is an even bigger pain,” said Kathy Palmer, a frequent air traveler and nurse from Baltimore.
Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, an etiquette and civility expert, said she’s baffled by our behavior at the luggage carousel.
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“When it comes to baggage claim, there are always a few passengers who firmly position themselves directly in front of the delivery chute, ready to grab their luggage as though it’s their only chance,” she said.
Is it ever acceptable to crowd around the luggage carousel?
In a word, no.
“Everyone should stand in such a way that everyone has a direct view of the belt and direct access to the belt without needing to push anyone aside,” said Nick Leighton, etiquette expert and host of the weekly etiquette podcast, Were You Raised By Wolves? “To achieve this, this means that everyone needs to space out around the entire circumference of the carousel as well as stand at least three feet away from the belt itself.”
Some airports even have lines on the floor at the luggage carousels to keep people back from the belt. In Japan, where there are generally no marked luggage exclusion zones, Japanese passengers give each other space. Only foreign air travelers cross the invisible line and crowd the carousel.
There’s no agreement on the exact amount of space. Karen Villano, a ticket agent for a major airline, said the minimum clearance is two feet.
“That allows travelers to step forward to grab their bag as it comes out onto the carousel,” she said. But I’ve seen the “stand back” line as far away as five feet. A minimum safe distance is at least two feet, but you should give yourself a little extra room.
Is it acceptable to ask someone else to help you with your luggage?
Your fellow passengers are not luggage porters. But some exceptions apply.
“If you need help to pull your luggage off the ramp, you can ask,” said Adeodata Czink, an etiquette consultant with Business of Manners.
Czink can’t always lift her luggage at the airport. She finds a younger passenger and then said, “That blue bag is mine – could you please help pull it down?” she said. “I have done so several times, and nobody had a problem with helping me.”
But, as Czink and other etiquette professionals said, do not treat your fellow passengers as your private luggage valets. That could push your fellow travelers over the edge.
Is it OK to touch someone else’s bag?
It depends, according to etiquette experts.
“Generally, it is expected that other people will occasionally be touching your luggage when you’re at the carousel,” said Jodi RR Smith, an etiquette expert with Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. “Clearly, they should not be taking it home with them.”
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What’s everyone missing about luggage etiquette?
So now you know not to crowd the conveyor belt, handle others’ bags only when absolutely necessary, and not to ask other passengers to be your porter. But there’s more to luggage etiquette than that.
The question no one is asking is: Why is this happening? Why do people rush to the carousel as if they only have one chance to claim their luggage? Do they think that if once is disappears into the chute, it’s gone forever? Why do they act so uncivilized in the luggage claim area?
What to do, and what you’re owed.
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We shouldn’t blame passengers for the breakdown of civility at the luggage carousel, at least not entirely. No, this is also an airline problem. And as long as airlines keep losing your bags, the carousel craziness will continue.
In the meantime, don’t check your luggage – carry it on the plane.
Luggage tips at the conveyor belt
- Track your bag: “I use an AirTag so I always know where my bag is,” said Mike Sweat, a retired geophysicist and frequent air traveler from Lansing, Mich. Knowing the location of your luggage will also reduce stress when you’re at the carousel, allowing you to wait patiently with the crowd until your bag shows up.
- Double-check your luggage before you leave: “Check the tag before walking away,” said Diane Gottsman, who runs the Protocol School of Texas. Most black bags look the same. The only distinguishing feature is often your tag. You can avoid such a mix-up by buying a bag that is not black. Any color other than black will do. And mark it with a unique name tag to help distinguish it from all the others.
- Remain calm: Be patient. If your bag doesn’t show up, keep your composure (as in, don’t climb on the conveyor belt looking for it). “Do not panic,” said Pallavi Sadekar, head of operations at travel insurance company Visitorguard.com. Instead, report your missing bag to the airline.
Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org.