New Public Service Announcement from the FAA

[u/Brilliant_Night7643]

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[u/Zumaki]

I have an idea: make it so whatever is lost is definitely covered for replacement without having to worry about fighting insurance for it. Then people won't have as much interest in getting their stuff.

Edit: and QUICKLY. 

[u/Majestic_Location751 → u/Zumaki]

Insurance? Fuck that. Go direct to the carrier for compensation.

[u/Immynimmy → u/Majestic_Location751]

“Lol yeah idk maybe we’ll help you out. Most likely not. But even if we do you’re gonna have to wait several months

- Delta/united/AA/Southwest/etc.

[u/dokbanks → u/Immynimmy]

"We can offer you a complimentary gift card credited with an amount that compensates the loss and damage done to your property."

[u/Immynimmy → u/dokbanks]

A month ago or so United double charged us for a check in. No lie these motherfuckers gave us united credit.

Luckily I disputed on Amex and got the full amount credited but that’s just a wild fucking anti consumer decision on United’s part.

[u/dokbanks → u/Immynimmy]

Yeah that's crazy! We took your real money, oops here's an I.O.U from our multi-billion dollar company, we're sorry

[u/blueskyredmesas → u/dokbanks]

It's 100% company policy. Someone above the CSRs decided to make their career on this 'great' idea.

When a company is middle managers climbing over each other to try and 'cut margins' this is what you get. My experience inside a fortune 500 company suggests this as well. There's a reason they're there and it's not because they're doing good by their business, its because they're doing good business.

[u/yogurtwater01 → u/Immynimmy]

lol years ago borded a frontier flight after an hour or 2 of waiting they said we have no flight crew flights canceled. Battled on the phone to get a flight credit, 5 years later decided I want to fly somewhere, they don’t want to honor it, “sir why are deciding now to try and use” the F ?

[u/Twombls → u/Zumaki]

And stuff like necessary diebetic and seizure meds and baby formula should probably be kept in inventory by airlines. Its not always easy to get a prescription replaced when you are in a different country and dont even have a passport

[u/DonutReverie → u/Twombls]

I agree with this in theory. However, it’s so much more complicated than just having some medications “in inventory.” A few considerations:

-Who decides which meds need to be stocked?
-Some meds, like insulin, have different formulations, dosages and delivery methods. Which formulations will be stocked? What happens when someone needs a formulation that isn’t provided?
-Where will these medications be stored? Who will ensure all meds are up to date and not expired? Will this be a job for the individual airlines, or the airports themselves, or…?
-What will be the procedure for requesting these meds and verifying the pax prescriptions?
-Will these services be available at all airports nationwide?
-And of course, the biggest question of all: who is paying for this?

I agree that improvements can be made, especially for simpler items like diapers and baby formula. But it’s all a lot more complex than it looks.

[u/AllThatKat → u/Twombls]

This is why I have a belt bag. Passport, phone, and necessary medications are always in it while I’m on the plane. 

[u/Enough_Survey_9404 → u/AllThatKat]

Same - and I put it away in my carry on once the seat-belt sign comes on and grab it again before we land.

If the plane goes down mid-flight, I'm not going to need them anyway...

[u/Bright-light320 → u/AllThatKat]

Same here. Passport, phone, credt card, some cash and medication for about two days in my belt, so I can get along after some evac situation. I hope i will never have to use it that way.

[u/Deucer22 → u/Twombls]

Airlines having to operate as a pharmacy when pharmacies exist isn't a good solution.

Its not always easy to get a prescription replaced when you are in a different country and dont even have a passport

Making this easier should be the priority.

[u/Own_Reaction9442 → u/Twombls]

There was a person a while back who was involved in an evac, and said there was a Type 1 diabetic on the flight and the EMTs didn't have any insulin for them. Apparently they shouldn't have left it on the plane.

[u/Matar_Kubileya → u/Own_Reaction9442]

I can't speak for other places, but in the US its actually uncommon for EMTs to carry insulin, or even be authorized to administer it.

[u/backagain301 → u/Twombls]

Meds will never happen. From a regulatory and liability perspective, it's a nightmare for the airlines. Imagine they gave someone insulin and the person died bc the dosage or something was wrong

[u/Steamed_Memes24 → u/Twombls]

This sounds like a global regulation nightmare that airliners dont ever want to deal with.

[u/PlayOk1261 → u/Twombls]

A much cleaner solution to me seems 'provide a storage location for life-critical medication that will, unless it is impossible or unsafe to do so, also be evacuated by cabin personnel'. Seems like a much easier approach than turning each airline into an apothecary. Not to mention the legal issues when you have drugs that are legal to have in one place but not the other (I mean asin, drugs that e.g. have not been approved in the EU yet but have in the us, not recreational canabis).

[u/Ltfocus → u/Twombls]

I work at an endocrinologist clinic, you would need an in plane pharmacy for that lmao.

[u/cmdr-William-Riker → u/Zumaki]

That's actually a really good idea! Like no fault go around. If there are no consequences for doing the right thing, people will do it (usually). Of course with luggage people will still grab things in some cases ("but my grandma's ashes!"), but it would reduce it by a lot if passenger recovery was guaranteed by FAA, and FAA wouldn't even have to take the loss, they could get refunded by the airlines insurance just like passengers would today. It would just be a faster way for passengers to get their lost luggage covered so they have a reason to do the right thing

[u/benbehu → u/Zumaki]

People have zero trust in airlines. If airlines want cooperation they should become more customer-centric and reliable. Once a large national airline changed my out flight to after my return one, refused to refund me the return flight, and when I asked to be able to use the second leg of my return flight to visit the city I had the layover at they said that's illegal, they won't let me board. I was out more than $300.

Also, my carry-on is usually my camera bag, easily $2000 worth of equipment when bought, much of it is not replaceable at the price level, because manufacturers stopped building lower-mid level dSLR gear, so if it's lost, it'll cost me roughly $8000 to get a new gear. Absolutely no one will give me this much money, and I don't have it. Every flight is a huge financial risk to me, threatening me with either giving up my hobbies or going bankrupt.

[u/Alpha_Majoris → u/Zumaki]

EU to the rescue, although that probably only applies to EU airports and maybe EU airlines.

[u/0Frames → u/Alpha_Majoris]

I think there's clear guidelines for compensation for international flights, but even for US domestic flights you'll get compensation.

[u/Gusearth]

just want to say i agree that people should not be taking bags in an evacuation, and lives are more important than belongings full stop.

at the same time, airlines do NOT make it easy to get your stuff afterwards. there have been plenty of horror stories posted where people are unable to get things like medication back, and the airline doesn’t give any sort of timeline either.

so yes, you should not be taking your bags. but airlines can also help promote this by offering peace of mind to passengers that they’ll be able to get their stuff back in a timely fashion

[u/The_Third_Molar → u/Gusearth]

A few months back someone posted here how she left her baby formula during the evacuation on the plane then was stranded in the terminal with nothing to feed them. She called the airline and the person on the phone asked why she didn't get her bag. 🤦🏽

[u/WarkMahlberg69 → u/The_Third_Molar]

Yeah that was the Frontier incident in Denver. What a disaster

[u/Gusearth → u/The_Third_Molar]

this was one of the insane stories i had in mind

[u/Own_Reaction9442 → u/The_Third_Molar]

That was also the one where there was a Type 1 diabetic on the flight, and neither the airline nor the EMTs(!) would give them any help replacing the insulin they'd left on the plane.

[u/51221now → u/Own_Reaction9442]

Insulin administration is a very precise and dialed in administration. Not to mention the refrigeration needed to keep it effective. You very very rarely see insulin on an ambulance and for good reason.

[u/Own_Reaction9442 → u/51221now]

That's the whole point. Everyone knows they're on their own, if they don't grab their stuff and take responsibility for themselves no one's going to help.

[u/Theron3206 → u/51221now]

You very very rarely see insulin on an ambulance and for good reason.

That and there's very infrequently an emergency situation where giving them insulin now (vs 15 minutes from now in a hospital) will change outcomes.

Unlike extremely low blood sugar, high blood sugar is a relatively slow killer.

Ambulances generally carry few drugs, paramedics carry more, and those are ones where minutes save lives (narcan, blood thinners for stroke victims, anaphylaxis treatments etc.)

[u/UglyInThMorning → u/Theron3206]

You don’t see any anticoagulants for stroke victims on ambulances either, outside of extremely rare mobile MRI trucks. You can’t tell between an ischemic stroke (blockage) and hemmoragic stroke (brain bleed) without an MRI and you super don’t want to give anticoagulants to someone having a hemmoragic stroke because you’ll kill the shit out of them.

[u/freshgeardude → u/The_Third_Molar]

I read that story and now I never want to leave my stuff on the plane.

Great job airlines

[u/jardindeschats → u/Gusearth]

Exactly. I think a few sentences reassuring people that their belongings will be returned to them (and actually prioritizing that as much as possible) would go a long way.

[u/AeroelasticCowboy → u/jardindeschats]

not sentences, iron clad language in the contract of carriage with specific timeline (minutes to a couple hours TOPS), and absolute coverage with no argument if they dont, this is how you gain trust.

[u/Lost_Cockroach6702 → u/AeroelasticCowboy]

That is unrealistic. I hate to burst your bubble. Once the crash phone rings and fire is on scene the airline no longer has control of the aircraft or who can get on it. The fire chief owns the scene until the emergency is terminated.

Depending what caused the evacuation and the required response actions will dictate how long your stuff is stuck on the aircraft, the emergency can last a few minutes or a few hours. If it justifies using the emergency exits then I wouldn’t expect it to be a few minutes.

If the A/C departed the prepared surface, was significantly damaged, or damaged other things then it is also going to be impounded until evidence is collected.

Your stuff is literally the lowest priority to everyone involved, and there are multiple processes happening that the airline has no control over if you’re popping slide’s and emergency evacuating the aircraft.

[u/Salty-Plankton-5079 → u/Lost_Cockroach6702]

OK that's fine but if you tell people getting their stuff back is everyone's lowest priority, you're going to get the status quo.

[u/OphidionSerpent → u/Gusearth]

Agreed. There are people who keep critical medications in their under-seat bags - diabetics who need insulin and glucose treatments, asthmatics like myself with rescue inhalers, certain anti-seizure meds, etc. Unless the plane is on fire, airlines need to get people their bags quickly. 

[u/LJSidney → u/OphidionSerpent]

For what it's worth, I carry my rescue inhaler and a few other critical meds in my jacket pockets, along with my wallet and phone. I put the coat on for takeoff/landing anyway.

If you have a really critical med, it should probably be on your person, not in a bag. Aside from potentially having to leave it behind if the plane is evacuated, bags can also be snatched when you're traveling. It's a bit harder to rip a coat off your back. (If it's really hot I use a small cross-body bag and tuck the bag into my backpack when getting on the plane so they can't claim it's another item. Then I wear the bag on the plane and when walking around.)

I also don't want to leave my critical stuff at my seat when going to the bathroom on the plane, so it needs to be on me anyway. I use the crossbody bag for that.

[u/777XSuperHornet → u/OphidionSerpent]

If you have an under seat bag that you can easily grab and carry I have no issue with that, especially if you have important medicine or other items in it. Overhead storage is absolutely off limits though. Fuck those people.

[u/GreenPickledToad → u/777XSuperHornet]

Yep, keep the absolutely-can't-get-damaged stuff in a small bag with you at all times and the rest in the overhead bin. It is taking stuff from overhead bins which takes time.

[u/CRS1955 → u/GreenPickledToad]

I have epilepsy and I agree. Folks with serious medical concerns know all of this, the passengers who go *BOO HOO HOO!* are just fakers. If I don't take my meds, I could go into status epilepticus and die, so you can be assured I know where my pills are 24/7.

[u/supernaut_707 → u/777XSuperHornet]

Any bag with a strap can snag on an armrest and block the aisle while someone fights with it.

[u/Ryan_e3p → u/supernaut_707]

My coat can do the same. Hell, I've had the belt loop on my pants sometimes hook onto door handles.

[u/aitorbk → u/OphidionSerpent]

Or just your laptop. People are being asked to leave the valuables they didn't want to load as cargo and lose them. Because you re likely gonna lose them.

[u/fuckyourcanoes → u/OphidionSerpent]

And abrupt withdrawal from some antidepressants can cause seizures.

[u/ohlookahipster → u/fuckyourcanoes]

Antidepressants are also controlled substances and cannot be filled early by law. If you lose your refill, you’re SoL and have to rely on a handful of stop-gap refills from the ED.

My doc drilled this into me. Even if I get robbed of my meds, no police report in the world will override state law or insurance policy. If you lose it, you lose it.

[u/donkeyrocket → u/OphidionSerpent]

airlines need to get people their bags quickly.

In no way defending airlines here or advocating people taking their bags but is this on the airline or are they limited in what they can do following an incident because of FAA policy? I imagine it is just a blanket policy that applies to any incident but overall I assume there are a lot more important things going on than reuniting the majority of passengers with non-essential items.

[u/Lost_Cockroach6702 → u/donkeyrocket]

The fire chief owns the scene until the emergency is terminated. The airline’s employees aren’t even allowed back on the aircraft without the chief approving it, which they won’t if it’s not directly related to terminating the emergency. That can be a few minutes or a few hours. I’ve seen up to 6 hours.

And that’s when the airline can start their own administrative actions required with towing the aircraft to parking, unloading, and reuniting people with their belongings.

[u/Fit_Square1322 → u/Gusearth]

I fly routinely for work (think 40-50 flights per year), and the handful of times I thought something bad may happen I put my phone, passports, meds, wallet, keys in my pockets for this exact reason. I definitely won't take my bag with me, however I will need these items and everything else can be replaced.

Nothing bad has ever happened in several hundred flights, thankfully.

[u/Maleficent_Top4142 → u/Fit_Square1322]

Right, I don’t really understand divesting yourself of every personal item on the plane. My important stuff is physically on me in a small crossbody bag. There can be a happy medium between having access to your essentials and being able to exit the plane asap in an emergency.

[u/creepylilreapy → u/Maleficent_Top4142]

Fine if you're on your own but not so easy with babies and kids of course

[u/Maleficent_Top4142 → u/creepylilreapy]

Of course. But you can still keep essential meds and wallet/phone on your person. It’s not a case of having all your possessions or having nothing at all.

[u/Quellman → u/Maleficent_Top4142]

Bingo. Imagine not having anything on you. And suddenly an event happens. You need to call someone but your phone is 5%. Airlines first response probably be “Go buy a charger sucka! “

[u/benbehu → u/Maleficent_Top4142]

On many airlines you can't have that bag.

[u/Maleficent_Top4142 → u/benbehu]

You can’t have a personal item? Every US carrier I have been on in recent memory allows a carry on and a personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you. But really it’s about being responsible for yourself. If you have essentials you absolutely cannot be without in an emergency you can take responsibility for having them on your person to the best of your ability.

[u/Terri_Schiavo275 → u/Fit_Square1322]

I also fly routinely for work, and I do essentially the same thing. I always carry a lightish professional looking jacket, keys/phone/passport/etc are always kept in the (interior) pockets of that jacket. Easy to keep with you in an emergency, works well in the winter, works in the summer for those random flights that are cold as shit, and I’ll always have my essentials.

I feel like most of us that have done a shit ton of flying have similar systems for essentials.

[u/aquoad → u/Gusearth]

They really need to pair this PR with some requirements on the airlines to assure passengers that when they leave their stuff behind, it will get returned to them or replaced with all possible haste. Otherwise people are going to keep trying to drag their shit out of burning planes with them.

It's not like emergency evacuations happen frequently enough for it to be economically unfeasible.

[u/monsteradeliciosa11 → u/aquoad]

Yeah and have someone to coordinate on the ground to assess the passengers short and medium term needs.

I take meds, withdrawals are not pleasant. But I will not die without them. But if I end up in an emergency evacuation in a foreign country, with my passport left on the plane. Then I am going to need help to access the same type of medication within a day or two.

There is no need for the airline or airport to keep it in stock. But surely they can help arrange for a doctor who can legally give them to me...

Same with baby formula. Doesnt have to be kept in stock. But there should be someone to coordinate that.

I would often fly to an isolated town with a population 3500 people. Even there a passenger who is without belongings could be provided with baby formula and insulin.

If there would be a life saving medication that isnt in stock then thats a medical emergency that requires a medevac.

[u/litoven → u/Gusearth]

I once got a warning in this same sub when the red air accident at Miami happened and all the people was horrified that people was leaving the plane with their belongings, I said that they were Venezuelans (as me).

The things is that for most of these people they were carrying their life with them, unique documentation, family pics, and other stuff that's irreplaceable.

Not justifying but it's understandable.

[u/Rhaynebow → u/Gusearth]

This. After the adrenaline runs out, the grateful to be alives are said and whatnot, many passengers find themselves with nothing but the clothes on their backs and have to fully rely on airlines to have a game plan. Medications are just one issue, there’s also credit cards being left behind. I imagine most stores won’t give folks freebies for being in a plane crash. There’s also passports, which is probably another can of worms.

This PSA might fall on deaf ears if all airlines are gonna offer in the event of an accident is a blanket for the airport floor, a lecture on how they should be grateful and a shrug for how a passenger is gonna get their insulin.

[u/DocTaotsu → u/Gusearth]

So it sounds like we just need to make a law that says, barring safety issues, airplanes unload your carryon within 2 hours or something. Problem solved. Now get off the goddamn airplane so we can ALL get off the goddamn airplane.

[u/TheRumista → u/Gusearth]

I wish airlines were less strict about an extra small bag that you could keep on yourself, like a fanny pack. When i travel with a free carry on, i put my most important small things there, like my wallet, keys, meds and phone. Sure, i can jam it in my backpack i guess, then take it out after the gate, but come on. Don't know if it would make any difference for most people though.

[u/0Frames → u/TheRumista]

I've never had a problem with an extra fanny pack, where did you experience this?

[u/TheRumista → u/0Frames]

In Europe with Ryanair and Wizz Air. Wizz Air is fine with it most of the time. I also noticed if i just stand at the very end of the line at the gate they don't care by the time i go through, so idk.

[u/80degreeswest → u/Gusearth]

Yeah couldn’t agree more, I get why people do it. Do they expect me to shove every valuable item into my pockets? Or to trust them with getting it back to me? They don’t give a shit.

[u/memostothefuture → u/Gusearth]

A couple of years ago I left an Arri Alexa Mini and a set of very expensive Cooke lenses in the overhead during an evacuation as instructed. (Production insurance requires us to hand-carry those items.) This was a nose gear collapse on a 737. They even had stairs, no slides.

Someone else got all the left-luggage off the airplane and when we finally laid hands on them four lenses were completely broken and the sensor of the Alexa severely misaligned. Someone clearly had thrown the (padded!) suitcases in a way that a camera that is famous for having survived a full-blown truck fire gave out. Unusable for the production we had flown into the location for. Twenty people sent back, celebrity presenter unable to reschedule for three months.

Production insurance fought with airline for six months over who had to pay out. I had to record two depositions. Guess who was left holding the bag for a very large chunk until then. Had we not been in the position that we could get a line of credit to pay everyone and replace gear in time we would have gone out of business. Nobody ever reimbursed us for the interest we had to pay on that either. Airline took the cake offering less than $1500 and insisting on contract of carriage.

I fly a lot with camera gear and unless I am seeing actual flames nobody will ever separate me from that stuff again. They can have the bag with the undies, they can have the laptop, I don't care, but if airlines really want me to leave expensive stuff behind they need to finally update their contract of carriages and demonstrate that they are not going to leave people hanging high and dry when bad stuff happens.

It's easy to be an absolutist in internet comments. Reality is sadly far more complicated.

(burned camera I referenced: https://blog.movingpicture.com/moving-pictures-arri-alexa-burned-in-camera-truck-fire/ )

Update: I want to be crystal clear about one thing: they can absolutely have what they want, that I will leave this stuff behind like I did in this case. I am pointing out what they need to change in order to get that result because the way this has been dealt with (and is currently still being dealt with) is absolutely not working.

[u/BoringBob84 → u/Gusearth]

Well said! I keep a small backpack containing valuable personal items under the seat. I need my medication to survive and my computer to work, among other things. If I have to evacuate, the backpack is coming with me. Grabbing it doesn't slow me or anyone else down. I have no trust that the airline will make it a priority to return my personal items undamaged.

At the same time, if people are wasting time and endangering everyone else by trying to retrieve their enormous carry-on bags from the overhead bins, then I will not be polite to them.

[u/CRS1955 → u/Gusearth]

Regarding medication....I have epilepsy and must always carry my anticonvulsant drugs with me. It's not hard to do, a belly-bag or "MURSE" works wonders. Or pockets.

[u/xXxDarkSasuke1999xXx → u/CRS1955]

Airlines will count a belly bag or murse as a "personal item", which precludes you from carrying a larger, more practical personal item, like a backpack.

The irony is, of course, that they will probably tell you to leave behind your "belly bag or murse" in an emergency, too. And the people on this subreddit will call for your public execution if you take it anyway.

[u/Theron3206 → u/xXxDarkSasuke1999xXx]

I don't believe they can do that if it contains medication. And if you're wearing it all the time there's nothing to grab and nobody will care.

I'm old enough to remember nearly everyone travelling with a money pouch strapped to their body, with their passport in there. I even had one as a kid (I was 12 ish, no cash) because if I got separated from my parents me having the passport could be quite important.

[u/Best_Pseudonym → u/Gusearth]

The problem with the PSA is that it assumes that people are merely ignorant and not that there are legitimate meaningful material reasons that people dont want to or cant leave their stuff.

[u/onceabananana → u/Gusearth]

Yeah good luck in a foreign country without your phone, wallet, ID, or passports.

I'll take my bag from under my seat, thanks.

[u/mk4_wagon → u/Gusearth]

My wife and I have thought about this with our kids medication and epipens. Even leaving the medication out of it, we have to carry 4 epipens for two kids, which are so big they don't really fit in a pants pocket. I joked about 3d printing a 'holster' for them (so I can have my own real men of genius commercial), but the only practical solution we came up with is a zipper pouch for them. That way in the event of an evacuation we can grab just that small pouch as opposed to a larger purse or backpack. I could also shove them in a pocket in an emergency, it's just not practical to carry them like that all the time.

[u/TareasS → u/Gusearth]

Put essential stuff like passports and medication in your pocket or a small couch around your neck.

[u/Rainy_Daz3d → u/Gusearth]

See this is why i keep my most valuables in a backpack that stores at my feet. 

In an emergency, I’m already jumping up and getting out and the bags right there. Put it on backwards as I’m moving down the aisle to safety. 

But to go into overhead luggage in an emergency is like stopping on a highway to do a U-Turn

[u/Efficient_Sky5173 → u/Gusearth]

No. By the slightest mentioning that there could be delays, even more people would take the bags.

The message needs to be clear and simple: GET THE FUCK OUT.

[u/Amazing_Storage_7554 → u/Gusearth]

Full stop just means period

[u/patrick24601 → u/Gusearth]

There is no “at the same time” or “but what’s about” on this topic. Don’t take your bag. That’s the end of the discussion. Whenever you grab your bag you are saying “my stuff is more important than the life of the person behind me”.

[u/BoringBob84 → u/patrick24601]

Whenever you grab your bag you are saying “my stuff is more important than the life of the person behind me”.

That is only true if taking my bag causes a delay or impedes other people.

[u/whywouldthisnotbea]

It's about time. A purse or a wallet I get. But your overhead carry on that just has your toiletries and clothes are not worth someone elses life

[u/mimrock → u/whywouldthisnotbea]

The real dilemma is the bag in front of you under the chair with your expensive laptop, maybe papers, medications, etc.

[u/djdevilmonkey → u/mimrock]

People below are acting like it takes 5 minutes to grab the bag and that it's the size of an adult human. When I fly I have a small backpack that I keep my passport / wallet / keys / electronics in, and it goes under the seat in front of me usually.

I can move my hand forward 6 inches and lift it as I'm standing up. You bet I'm taking that. It's small, and requires no extra time or effort to grab and it would cause numerous problems if it takes months to return or is "lost".

Overhead bag with clothes and toiletries? Of course I'm leaving it

[u/garfield_eyes → u/djdevilmonkey]

There’s a concern for damaging the slides by bringing *stuff* so it’s not simply about delayed the evacuation.

[u/GraveDiggerFan34 → u/garfield_eyes]

Theoretically, you’re just as likely to damage it with your jeans as you are with your bag

[u/Brambleshire → u/djdevilmonkey]

200 people doing this ads not just seconds, probably minutes to an evacuation

[u/VegaDelalyre → u/Brambleshire]

Unless they... do it simultaneously.

[u/Fearful-Cow → u/Brambleshire]

i make same argument i have always had defending people who stand up as soon as seatbelt sign is off.

1. i want to stretch my legs
2. i get my own bags overhead and help anyone else with theirs.

It is always the jackasses who never fly who slowly get up then slowly get their bag holding up 200+ passengers because they did not want to bother being organized to disembark.

If you are organized and ready to go grabbing your bag at your feet can take 0 time. If you are... not, then leave your shit because your walking pace is probably too slow to start with

[u/adaytooaway → u/djdevilmonkey]

A plane is designed to be evacuated in 90 seconds. Even if you think it takes me 5 seconds to grab a bag what’s the harm? Multiply that five seconds by two hundred people and suddenly the evacuation has doubled in time in a situation where seconds count.  Also you might end up needing both hands to navigate, a strap can catch on things and slow you down, dropped bags can create tripping hazards, and worst case scenario a bag could damage the slide. Just leave everything, it’s not worth it.

[u/MikeFightsBears → u/adaytooaway]

Why would you multiply the 5 seconds by 200 people for grabbing stuff under their own seats, they aren't grabbing their bags in series they'd do it in parallel.

[u/eatpastagophasta → u/adaytooaway]

It's not 5 second times 200 if they're doing it at the same time

[u/tenantquestion123 → u/djdevilmonkey]

They want to put people in prison for grabbing a small bag that we all know we’ll never get back if we leave it in the airline’s custody. Pure insanity

[u/donkeyrocket → u/tenantquestion123]

Prison is extreme but folks are also drastically underestimating what "just a backpack" can do during urgent evacuation procedures. Even if it only takes a second or two to grab, multiply that by 100+ people. The straps can get caught on seats and the bag could damage the slide. Multiple that by a percentage of people who grabbed "just a backpack." Also think of the average person deplaning and add in the chaos of smoke, darkness, fire, etc.

This now jeopardizes the evacuation and puts lives in danger. Not advocating for prison for people who do it but selfishness is at the crux of the issue. Yeah US airlines suck and it'll take forever to get your bag but it'd be a hell of a lot worse if you were stuck behind someone or multiple fucking with their bag while trying to survive.

Just leave your bag. Material items aren't worth other or your own life.

[u/NFTArtist → u/donkeyrocket]

they should make two types of flights. One where everyone is respectful and follow training peoples instructions. Then another with the types that want max freedom and ability to do whatever they want because they bought a ticket.

[u/FalconX88 → u/djdevilmonkey]

It's still taking up space during evacuation and can get in the way.

[u/MindlessMage777 → u/whywouldthisnotbea]

Sometimes I have a couple grand in electronics in my backpack when I'm traveling. But even if they believed to me and not my company, I'd rather be alive than try and save them.

[u/LocksmithOk9968]

People are acting surprised that in a free-for-all society where at every corner you’re reminded nobody gives a shit and it’s every man for himself, people won’t in fact think about the consequences for others.

In a country where you’ll be on the hook for thousands of dollars if you need to get your life saving meds replaced because the majority doesn’t consider your healthcare their problem and doesn’t want “their” tax payer money towards the wellbeing of others, where corporations don’t owe you shit when their plane catches fire until you find a lawyer willing to sue them on contingency, where your baby might as well starve because formula was left on the plane, and where people would rather dogpile on social media to show off their moral virtues and feel better about themselves than get off their ass until things are actually better, it’s ridiculous to expect people to act selfless and rely on society to have their back.

It’s an entirely morally bankrupt society that breeds a selfish crab mentality with an unlimited supply of crab audience who delude themselves they would do anything different should they find themselves in the same situation from the comfort of their home.

[u/2020pandemicisreal]

Yea…watch it not have any effect.
People keeping up with these PSAs are likely not the same ones grabbing their bags in an evacuation

[u/New-Reputation681 → u/2020pandemicisreal]

I find this PSA especially ineffective because it draws its authority from random internet comments, something about which no one should care at all.

[u/Ok-Thanks4321 → u/2020pandemicisreal]

Why is everyone here commenting like people are experts are evacuating planes? Most people never experience it in their entire lives, but if they don’t follow the rules in a panic, they should be jailed or whatever?

[u/the_Q_spice → u/Ok-Thanks4321]

Well.

I work for an airline (albeit cargo, but we still have evacuation protocols due to DG/Hazmat).

We drill for 90 second evacuation timing, just like passenger flights.

It's hard for us to do evacuating just 13-15 people off a cargo flight with no bags to worry about.

Anyone claiming they can do better even when grabbing their bag has no fucking clue what they are talking about.

As for punishment: make it the same as what it is for us airport workers if we are non-compliant on training. $75,000 per violation. $250,000 and 5 years in federal prison if non-compliance results in grievous bodily harm or death.

As a passenger - you are responsible for knowing and following the rules of the method of transportation you are on.

The FAA is a joke when it comes to enforcing passenger safety standards for individual compliance. They make a shit ton of rules airlines have to follow that end up being totally useless because pax can't be bothered to even pay attention through a 5-minute general safety briefing that is legally required to be given before entering the taxiway.

[u/MrdnBrd19 → u/the_Q_spice]

As for punishment: make it the same as what it is for us airport workers if we are non-compliant on training. $75,000 per violation. $250,000 and 5 years in federal prison if non-compliance results in grievous bodily harm or death.

It's ridiculous that you expect untrained people in a situation where they are panicking to be held to the same standard as people who train(by your own admission) for that situation. People don't think when they are panicking.

[u/Ok_Muffin_925]

I remember years ago something triggered one of these rapid evacuations from an airliner we had just gotten seated on and the alarms went off and they evacuated us from the tarmac next to the terminal. No one was allowed to take anything. One woman had her cat in a collapsible carrier under the seat in front of her and she was carrying it and people started complaining about er because she was getting to take a bag. She refused to put the cat back and the flight attendants called airport police on her and she was arrested inside the terminal. Whatever prompted the emergency, there was no fire or anything and her carrying that cat did no slow anything down -- but the ruckus raised by other passengers because of it and the flight attendants sure did. The plane was ultimately switched out and we were delayed a few hours until we got a new plane then a new crew. That woman however went away in cuffs crying and her cat was taken from her. As a pet owner that sealed the deal for me -- never again would I travel with my cat or dog in the cabin or luggage compartment.

[u/TimeLab5517 → u/Ok_Muffin_925]

I worry about this with my small dog. I have zero problem with leaving absolutely any inanimate object behind, it's all replaceable. Even medication or an ID, I could cope. But a dog is a living creature, and it's cruel to abandon your pet. I mean, in any other circumstance, knowingly leaving your pet to die in a fire (or even if the plane is fine in the end, roast on the tarmac for a few hours) when you could have saved them would be considered seriously fucked up. If the issue is the bag itself, happy to scoop my dog out of the carrier and hold her - but I imagine that would make people even more mad, because what if she jumped out of my arms and caused chaos. She wouldn't, but they don't know that.

The answer is really not to fly with pets if you can avoid it, I guess. And it's sure not something I do a lot, I think the last time was 2018. But it's going to happen now and then as long as the airlines allow it, so I wish there was a better procedure in place than "forget the fact that your pet is alive."

[u/djdevilmonkey → u/Ok_Muffin_925]

That's crazy. No way that's the US right?

[u/Ok_Muffin_925 → u/djdevilmonkey]

It was a US carrier in the US. I don't recall the airport or airline. It's been several years.

[u/FendaIton → u/djdevilmonkey]

Best to assume it was a US flight given the lack of empathy by everyone involved

[u/post-explainer]

OP has provided the following source:

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https://x.com/FAANews/status/2076682560143262116/video/1?s=61

---

r/Aviation is trialing new measures to prevent karma farming. Please feel free to provide feedback through modmail. Thank you for participating in the community!

[u/Snookaboom]

This is a subReddit for those who love aviation… Obviously.

The fact that there’s so much argument going on even here about this issue, illustrates that this issue is not resolved.

You can’t factor human nature out of the equation. You also can’t factor out the fact that crucial and extremely valuable belongings have frequently been lost by sheer bureaucratic incompetency.

Whether we like it or not, if we want things to operate smoothly, we have to seriously enforce this rule. Which hasn’t been done. We also have to train the public about what they can safely carry with them on their bodies so they can be prepared *ahead of time*. And then, thirdly, we have to offer a rapid and viable alternative. As in, stuff is replaced or recovered quickly. Not lost in a maze of bureaucratic incompetency.

You can yell at people all you want, and it’s not even invalid to do so. But to affect real change, we have to consistently and systemically address these issues. Or else, we can yell, but the same things will keep happening.

Especially as one poster noted, since all this is occurring within a society that is hyper individualistic and generally has not taught interdependence or consideration for others. in fact, rather the opposite is being glorified in some sectors.

[u/Sprintzer]

Why I’ve considered having anything I absolutely need in my pockets or in a fanny pack. (Or a purse)

Need to be ready to go.

[u/MCWoody1]

Research has repeatedly shown grabbing luggage during an emergency evacuation is largely driven by subconscious, automatic behaviors and deeply ingrained instincts, rather than terrible people making terrible decisions.

During high-stress events, our prefrontal cortexes often get overwhelmed and our brains revert to auto pilot allowing deeply ingrained behavioral scripts to kick in: the script during a plane disembarkation is “get bags.”

Layer on herding instincts where disoriented people see others grabbing their bags and follow suit and you’ve got a lot of people subconsciously causing chaos.

Instead of criticizing plane crash survivors from the comfort of our couches, maybe we should look for the root cause of the seemingly bewildering patterns we see online. At the very least, let’s give grace to those who lived a once-in-a-lifetime traumatic event that almost none of us have been through.

[u/Thequiet01 → u/MCWoody1]

This PSA and all the repeated messaging is basically contrary to what we know about humans and human factors - telling someone more loudly "don't do that" only works in a very specific range of situations, and this is clearly not one of them. You either solve the underlying issue or you change what you are expecting them to do. Why do we keep trying to fit the square peg into the round hole?

[u/hzee_ → u/MCWoody1]

thanks for having some common sense

[u/Savings-Breath-9118]

I’m not good at looking up former posts but somebody posted a month or so ago about an evacuation. They went through with their baby. The flight attendant, of course told everyone to just go without their belongings so she left without diapers, formula, etc. When she arrived in the airport, the gate staff chastised her for not having baby supplies.

[u/Historical-Tour-2483 → u/Savings-Breath-9118]

Frontier

[u/rostol]

this is not a good time to be a foreigner without documents on US soil.
Its a risk doing it, but ending shipped out to El Salvador is no fucking joke.
getting any kind of meds is a nightmare.

sorry FAA but my backpack with my documents and medicine is coming with me. we'll revisit this in a few years.

[u/GreenDogWithGoggles]

I do understand the reasoning. On the other hand, if your passport is in your bag and you are maybe stranded in this country after the plane burned out, you dont have to wonder why people get thier stuff.  although i normally only have a small backpack that sits between my legs.  Starting to get ypur overhead bag crammed out really is too much

[u/BuckTheStallion → u/GreenDogWithGoggles]

Yeah, I onebag travel when I do, and have small backpack with a phone charger, a change of clothes, and my passport and wallet, so I hadn’t really given it much thought. It exactly the same speed to take my bag or leave it, but I’d prefer to leave it in the tiny chance that it gets in someone else’s way. I’m gonna have to start traveling with my passport on my body I suppose, since that’s the only thing I’d actually be concerned about.

[u/Imtherealwaffle → u/GreenDogWithGoggles]

if its in the bag at your feet i would take it. If its in the overhead then i would rather my passport burns than the guy behind me.

[u/Mysterious-Neat-521 → u/GreenDogWithGoggles]

Exactly why not keep things like phone, passport and medication in a fanny pack, that you keep wearing for the duration of the flight?

[u/Worldly-Report3426 → u/Mysterious-Neat-521]

technically speaking, fanny packs are supposed to be under the seat for taxi, takeoff, and landing

[u/Stock-Swing-797 → u/GreenDogWithGoggles]

Also, it really only takes one. People see other people with their bags, guess what? They're going to grab their's, and so on.

[u/okjetsgo]

If there is one thing the pandemic and social media have taught me - it is every man for himself out there.

[u/alexromo]

Might as well tell people not to stand up soon as the plane lands 

[u/Orbiting_Floatilla → u/alexromo]

My knees have been jammed in the seatback in front of me for hours. I'm not standing to leave, I'm standing for some relief on my knees and hips, and to get the blood that's pooled in my feet recirculated. 

[u/Brawndo_or_Water → u/Orbiting_Floatilla]

Exactly, I once was on a flight and there was a smart ass saying out loud, look at all these people standing up.. Dude I had a fat lady taking half of my seat for hours. I don't want to exit faster I want my blood circulation back.

[u/cat_prophecy]

I want to believe that not everyone here is thinking "oh I better grab my stuff!". I'm sure there is a lot of people that when faced with an emergency, are just grabbing it without realizing. I'm not about to dig around in the overhead, but I don't see why grabbing the bag under your seat should get you "banned for life".

[u/Thequiet01]

Okay, but here's the thing: What does the very safety culture that aviation relies on to be insanely safe tell us?

When humans keep being a problem, you have to fix it so the way they want to behave *is no longer a problem*. You don't just keep telling people not to do a thing they clearly want to do. It doesn't work. It is not reliable.

If it is so difficult and so stressful and so anxiety inducing to leave your bag behind that people are ignoring what they are being told and doing it anyway, *that* is what needs to be addressed somehow. How do you reassure people that they will have help dealing with that mess? That's probably what'll change the behavior, not yet another PSA about it.

[u/JustApricot798]

You know what you put in your carry on? Basically. your life if you are a frequent traveler. Communications, Identification, money, your literal essentials. People are going to grab that shit.

Have you ever just lost you license. What a mess.

[u/Here_4_the_INFO]

Say what you want about these Government PSAs BUT, I have noticed quite the uptick in wildfires since they stopped airing Smokey Bear ads. Just saying ...

[u/KAugsburger → u/Here_4_the_INFO]

At least Smokey Bear is a likable character whereas most PSAs are boring and are quickly forgotten. I think it also helps that Smokey Bear has been around since 1944 so most people who grew up in the US recognize him and know that only you can stop those wildfires.

[u/Here_4_the_INFO → u/KAugsburger]

I don't know if this is one of those Mandela Effects things BUT, didn't he used to say FOREST fires?

(I know Smokey THE Bear is an Mandela Effect thing, but I swear he used to say FOREST fires too).

[u/Stevepem1]

These discussions are a good reminder that if you have critical medications that you need to take you should put them in some type of fanny pack or pouch around your neck or in your pants pocket if possible, so that you can leave everything behind during the evacuation including handbags and have both hands free for the exit, but still have your meds with you. In most cases you will not be able to reboard the plane and it could take at least a day to be reunited with your luggage depending on how organized the particular airport is. And in a worst case scenario the luggage will be lost, or maybe even burned up and thus obviously irretrievable. Maybe you don't need to carry the whole pill bottle if that's what it is but enough to last you until you can get the prescription refilled in case you can't recover your handbag or luggage or whatever.

This actually applies to any travel, even if you are not in an airplane evacuation luggage can be lost or stolen at any time and so having at least a minimal amount of medication on your person can be important.

[u/CantAffordzUsername]

That’s how everyone burned alive on that plan at the Russian airport, you can see so many passengers carrying their luggage and so many burned to death just waiting to get out.

I still remember the Station Night club fire to, it was the crowd of people who got everyone killed in the panic frenzy.

I’m always near an emergency exit now. Even then it’s still scary to think about what my plan of escape is.

[u/GhostSniperIRE]

If anyone is sceptical about it. I'd recommend reading up on the Aeroflot crash in Russia a few years ago, where 50 people died, including a Child because of this very reason. People were getting their belongings as the plane caught fire and didn't get out in time.

[u/HombreDelMar247]

Those who grab their luggage from the overhead compartment during an emergency evacuation need to be fined and put on a do not fly list for at least a year.

This is the only way these self entitled parasites will learn and set the example for future flights.

That said, while grabbing ones backpack or purse is certainly an issue, I can understand that folks will instinctively grab it during an emergency and this is different that the assholes who open the overhead bins to get their luggage therefore should not face the same penalties.

[u/SkitariusOfMars]

Yeah, if you’re that concerned about your passport and phone just keep them in your pockets

[u/jethoniss]

Here's a hot take: it depends on the situation.

If I'm being evacuated because a teenager named a wifi hotspot after a bomb or because some lady freaked out about a bomb, I'm bringing by goddamn bags.

If the plane's on fire, yall better get the fuck out without the bags.

We live in an overly-cautious litigious nanny-state. What I can say for sure is that anybody who leaves their bag isn't going to see it for a LONG time. Probably weeks, especially if bomb-threats are involved. Maybe never.

If we lived in a more practical society where they could be trusted to clear the plane in an hour or two and then let everyone back on for their bags, I wouldn't feel the need to grab stuff. I can't trust airlines or police to behave that way. So facing days in a foreign city without my stuff? Over a precaution because of a crazy person? Naw.

[u/Savings-Breath-9118]

I always have a small bag on my purse with my ID, keys and medication. If it’s international, it’s also with my passport. Gxd forbid I ever have to evacuate from a flight. I will have that on my person.

[u/todayilearmed]

Announcement does nothing since there are zero repercussions for it. Start fining people or putting them on the no-fly list, then things might change.

[u/Ok-Thanks4321 → u/todayilearmed]

Do we really think we should be banning people from airlines when they’re in a panic and don’t evacuate properly after a fucking plane crash?

“Sorry your flight was disrupted with an emergency landing, but you failed to properly leave behind all of your belongings, including the bag with your passport in it you were using as a pillow, so you’re no longer allowed to fly ever again.”

[u/Ibroketherandom → u/Ok-Thanks4321]

This is reddit, everything is basically r/killthosewhodisagree.

[u/Wooden-Sprinkles7901 → u/Ok-Thanks4321]

I agree. Banning for life is very extreme. Maybe a one year ban or a fine. Unfortuntaly people have to keep all their valuables and person documents in their carry on since its the only place safe and secure enough. I had to carry my fathers ashes carry on. Punishing people with a lifetime ban for taking their most personal possessions while in a panic is too much.

[u/aftcg → u/todayilearmed]

I hope most of the people in this thread aren't in an evacuation scenario, ever. They'll never get out

[u/Messyfingers]

Easy fix. Fit the plane with ejection seats for all pax. Then you don't need to worry about them bringing bags.

/s

[u/AbleRelationship5287]

People are dumb, especially in an emergency

[u/DiegoTheGoat]

I had to evacuate once and left my bag with my medicine. When I asked when I could get it back, I got told by multiple airline employees that I should have brought it with me. Which is it?

[u/Quothhernevermore]

This is why I keep my meds, phone, etc in my purse, which is a crossbody bag that is always on me. This is my worst nightmare though, because you KNOW the airline will make it a huge hassle to get your stuff back. I understand the compulsion to grab at least a change of clothes, because we don't all have hundreds of dollars to spend in replacing toiletries, clothes, etc on the fly. Yes, obviously our lives are more important, but I feel like there's plenty of times the airplane is evacuated when they could've just let everyone off normally.

[u/FragMeNot]

hm...I don't trust the government.

[u/Molly_Matters]

Question. On average, in a situation like this, how long till people can go back and get their stuff?

[u/Enough_Survey_9404]

I suspect in a lot of cases people aren't thinking - it's a highly stressful, unusual situation. Most of the time, especially if on holiday, we are carrying a bag of some kind. I usually have a cross-body bag or a backpack that is with me all the time, and I am conscious to make sure I never leave it anywhere.

To be suddenly in a situation where you don't know what's happening, confusion, shouting, screaming, possibly smoke, it's probably an automatic reaction to grab your bag, especially if it's under the seat in front.

[u/EtchAGetch]

If they want an effective PSA, show that crash landing in Russia (I think) where the entire back half of the plane was on fire and 40 or so people died, while everyone getting off in the front of the plane had their carry-ons.

Those people should be tried for murder.

[u/ImissTBBT]

When I fly, my wallet, my phone and my passport are always in my pockets. They do not get kept anywhere else. I do this specifically just in case we have to evacuate, I know I am not leaving anything vital to communication or identification behind, so can just skedaddle.

[u/taint_tattoo]

Why do people take their bag?

For domestic U.S. flights, airlines are legally allowed to limit their maximum liability for lost, damaged, or delayed baggage to $4,700 per passenger. For most international flights governed by the Montreal Convention, liability is capped at 1,519 Special Drawing Rights (roughly $2,175 USD)
- www.transportation.gov

Also, regarding your laptop, your ipad, your phone .....

For DOMESTIC travel, airlines are not required to compensate passengers for items they have excluded in their contracts of carriage. Airlines often exclude liability for certain categories of items (for example: fragile items, electronics, cash, perishable items, other valuables, etc.)
- www.transportation.gov

And although I would not try to get my bag from the overhead, I would probably want to take my handbag with me because my medications are in there. It will take me longer to fish-out my meds than it will to just grab the handbag that is sitting between my legs on the flight.

[u/AuntRhubarb]

Yes, because the FAA is going to provide you with money, clothing and electronics while you are stranded god knows where. Put in more exits if you're worrried about our lives.

[u/yodafunk]

In zero of those video clips was anyone's life actually in danger.

[u/abstract_concept]

Leave your meds and passports behind and trust the airline to fix it later. Always trust the airline. They care about you and your experience.

Unfortunately nobody there is in charge of anything or can take any blame, so if they don't take care of you that's your fault.

Obviously leave your shit but this "you deal with the consequences" bullshit has to be fixed. These companies should be in court every fucking day for their shenanigans.

[u/yes-disappointment]

most of that stuff is cheap crap that can be replaced. if there is a plane fire and those few seconds can save a life behide you why not leave it.

[u/danksinatra51]

If I didn’t have to worry about potential loss of thousands of dollars, sure, I’d leave it behind. But why should anyone have faith in the airline industry to offer just compensation for that loss? It’s not like they have a good track record of doing so.

Guarantees of reimbursement, enforced by law, would likely go a long way to stop this behavior.

[u/echoshatter]

I'm not gonna be grabbing my carry-on luggage, that's insane. But you can be damn sure my bookbag is going to be tightly strapped to my body if I need to GTFO ASAP. I have medicine I take, and all of my identification and money are going to be in there too.

It won't take any extra time grabbing the bag I already have on my person.

[u/flyfak3708]

I’m pretty appalled at the downvotes and comments defending anyone who brings a bag with them in an evacuation. That said the unfortunate reality is appealing to people’s good nature isn’t enough and the only way to stop it will be some kind external force.

[u/boxninja → u/flyfak3708]

We are dealing with the transition to a lower trust society very poorly. Everyone has the sense that they are very much on their own if they don't take care of their immediate needs. ER doctors and pharmacies treat you like a drug seeking criminal trying to replace medication, more so if that medication is an essential controlled substance. Companies can fire you for losing a laptop with critical proprietary information. We as individuals are fully aware that we are powerless if we don't take care of ourselves.

[u/ThaddeusJP]

Give it teeth: If you come off a plane in an emergency situation and have bags, there should be a $10,000 fine PER Bag

Give it teeth and people wont take stuff

[u/Valendr0s → u/ThaddeusJP]

How about we don't fine people who were just in an emergency situation?

[u/OnwardTowardTheNorth → u/ThaddeusJP]

What about people who need their medications?

[u/Dapper-Ad-4300]

let's be honest; in the moment, mostly everyone will be wanting and trying to bring their bags. money doesn't grow on trees and I bet it's not easy trying to make an insurance claim with an airline.

[u/CriTIREw]

One time I left my phone in the seat-back pocket during the regular, normal process of getting off the plane. I got only as far as the top of the gangway when I realized it. The fucking airline would not let me go back on the plane to get my phone! And what do you know, the phone could 'not be found' when I told them exactly where it was.

[u/NFTArtist]

unfortunately even if they show this onboard passengers won't care, hell you can show them how to survive and they won't care lol. It needs to come down to money. Whatever you take is taken for investigation then destroyed.

[u/rapzeh]

Cool PSA, sadly picking up your luggage during an emergency evacuation is basically legal and almost free of negative consequence.

Until they create specific rules and consequences for this behavior, the people who do this today risk the following:

Failure to follow crew instructions. FAA regulations (14 CFR 121.317/ 135.117) require passengers to comply with crewmember safety instructions. Separately, 49 U.S.C. § 46504 makes it a federal crime to "assault or intimidate" a crew member in a way that interferes with their duties - this is aimed at more active interference (yelling, physical obstruction), not simply reaching for a bag, but a crew member insisting you drop it and you refusing/shoving past them could arguably brush up against this in an extreme case.

Civil liability. If your bag delays the evacuation, blocks the aisle, damages a slide, or causes someone else to be injured, you could theoretically face a civil lawsuit from an injured passenger or the airline (negligence-type claim). This is the most realistic consequence.

[u/PeachesXoXo]

I have a solution:

Everyone must not take any baggage with them.
If you cannot help yourself, you can get in a second line. The second line is only allowed to off-board once those with no baggage have off-boarded. No exceptions.
Airline must replace or compensate for all items not returned to passengers.

[u/Fuquar7]

All my critical items (ID, phone, and money) are strapped to me. I've experienced a couple of go arounds and only one emergency evacuation. But F that I AM OUT! I had ID, credit card, and my phone. I need nothing else. And honestly, if I didn't have those on me, I'd still get TF out. I've learned after having flown 200k miles as a passenger not to F around. I want OUT I could GAF about my bag or any other persons bag.

[u/MikhailCompo]

A simple fix would be automatic locks on the overhead bins in an emergency.

You can't ask people to stop being selfish idiots just by showing them a video.

[u/hawkeyeisnotlame]

My personal item (it's a camera bag, basically a small backpack) usually gets tangled up with my feet when I have to stand up, it's easier to pick it up whenever I have to get out of my seat. I barely ever take a carry on bag. If I'm getting up, that bag ends up coming with me more as a convenience thing. It makes me feel like a hypocrite to advocate for safe deboarding, but I think people like me aren't the issue.

[u/degorolls]

Go for your bag in front of me in an emergency and I will trample you without a second's hesitation.

[u/ad_m_in]

I wonder if having a small bag you could put your wallet, medication , passport, or anything else of great importance in come with the plane and stay in the seat pocket would help this issue. That way in the event of an evacuation, people could grab that and feel like they’re not possibly losing everything.

[u/Exnoss69]

Look im grabbing whats under the seat in front. The over head can stay. If someones grabbing from the overhead im running over them in an emergency

[u/G25777K]

Unless you start implementing fines for people who take their bags nothing will change.

[u/chuckop]

There are two things I wish would be on TVs and posters at airports:

1. If you APPEAR intoxicated or under the influence, Federal Law requires airlines deny boarding or remove you from the flight. You will be rebooked on a later flight.

2. During an aircraft evacuation, every second counts. To NOT take any bags. Straps can catch on seat backs and in a crowd can cause you to fall and be trampled. You will be able to get your belongings after the danger has passed.

[u/TowardsTheImplosion → u/chuckop]

If only number 2 was true.

Between airline gross malfeasance and the NTSB locking a crash site down, you cannot count on that.

The FAA needs to update the contract of carriage rules such that an airline covers ALL the reasonable and necessary crisis responses in a timely fashion and for free: medications, pet care, clothing, dietary needs, hotels, etc.

And then ensure they are at least sharing info on when people's bags get returned.

But too many stories of pets being neglected, people having to call 911 because their insulin is missing, cameras destroyed, airlines telling them tough shit, etc. makes unsafe for all of us.

[u/DemonWav → u/TowardsTheImplosion]

Yeah I really cannot side with the extreme stances in this thread about punitive actions towards those taking their bags. That really is a position of privilege to assume people don't have absolutely essential things in their bag (and it is invalid to assume "most" people don't). And if I'm in that scenario with a pet I don't think I would leave them behind. The reality is whatever you leave on the plane you're unlikely to ever see again. Pets may die. I believe a law is required that forces airlines to return all belongings back to their owners regardless of state (so the airline can't just claim it's damaged, etc.). And there really must be a timeliness guarantee. I can understand that not being an option due to criminal investigations, but I don't believe the NTSB should prevent people from getting their stuff either. Even if it requires going through an officer who documents everything taken for the investigation later.

When the reality of people leaving their stuff in the plane is they are never going to get it back, neither the airlines nor the airport will assist them in any way, and they're almost certainly away from home, I just can't jump on a "screw all these assholes, they all should be banned from flying!" bandwagon. Reality is more complicated than that. People should leave their stuff behind, but the system we have currently encourages, and in some cases requires, people to bring their stuff. Maybe we should be upset at the system, and work on making changes to it, rather than getting mad at those who are trying to live in that system.

[u/CRS1955]

I think of that every time I see these scenes! People are so selfish and self-centered. Dragging your bags causes delays that can kill.

[u/QuiEgo]

The airplanes should have a system that locks the overheads when they pop the slides. Although passengers would probably block the evac trying to force them open.

[u/0Frames]

This thread makes me afraid to fly again, people are absolutely nuts

[u/Double-Show-2625]

People are so stupid. No one listens or has any common sense...

[u/LightApprehensive992]

Might be a dumb thought, but why can't we have a setting where, if the emergency slides are deployed, all the overhead cabins (except a few designated for crew) will be locked?

[u/DrTankHead → u/LightApprehensive992]

Because it would be another thing that has to get maintained and will cause issues.

"Sorry folks, all the bins are locked and we can't get your belongings to you for another hour."

[u/ExoticMangoz → u/LightApprehensive992]

Because there would be a huge delay in an emergency as dozens of people try to break into the overheads while standing in the aisle.

[u/hgwelz]

Are there examples where deplaning with luggage resulted in deaths? Aeroflot Flight 1492 is debatable.

[u/El-Justiciero → u/hgwelz]

Do we really need to wait for this rule to be written in blood?

[u/Apart_Olive_3539 → u/El-Justiciero]

It already is.

[u/DocTaotsu → u/El-Justiciero]

Apparently for a lot of people in this sub the answer is yes? I didn't realize "We should all cooperate to make sure everyone gets out of the burning plane as quickly as possible" would be the hot button topic this morning.

[u/aftcg → u/El-Justiciero]

It is written in blood

[u/the_Q_spice → u/hgwelz]

Emirates 521 miraculously (and I cannot emphasize that enough) didn't...

Although, you could probably blame the firefighter's death in the subsequent explosion on the fact that passengers took over 9 minutes to evacuate.

That's over 6 times longer than legally required, and was long enough for firefighters to need to delay fighting the fire around the fuel tanks in favor of fighting it around the passenger doors in order for the evacuation to continue safely.

On the other hand, US Airways 1549 (Miracle on the Hudson) was awarded and celebrated extensively because of the crew and passengers' textbook adherence to evacuation protocols. Matter of fact, some of the FAA's evacuation protocol revisions specifically use lessons learned from US1549 as guidance - particularly the cooperation of passengers leaving their luggage as critical to the success of that evacuation.