Travelling by air is often an unavoidable necessity. One has to be also prepared for any eventuality. Take the case of the missing Malaysian plane that is yet to be located despite intense efforts over several years. It is possible that if anything could wrong it will go wrong, that could in turn derail your flight plans. For me, what will be particularly worrisome is a tiring midnight flight with long delays and poor on-board service, thanks to the new ‘budget’ airlines where comfort and service are often elusive.
I keep my fingers crossed when there is a trans-shipment, involving the transfer of baggage from one flight to another. I can never be sure if my baggage would be put on the same flight I take. Sometimes the baggage arrives in a battered condition due to rough loading and unloading and while stacking them in the aircraft’s hold.
On a particular flight, I got off the plane and went straight to the baggage claim area, thankful that I had landed safely though with a minor delay. Again, a long wait at baggage-handling frustrated my plan to reach home early. As soon as the baggage carousel started moving, there was a mad rush to grab one’s luggage off the moving belt. It was impossible to go near it due to the rush of passengers elbowing one another to be near the belt. Fortunately, there was no malfunctioning of the carousel, that could have delayed the baggage clearance.
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I watched the scene patiently from a distance, as I couldn’t approach the belt. I was relieved that my baggage had at last arrived; I could see it distinctly even from that distance. But my joy turned into despair and consternation as I noticed a hefty gentleman taking it off the belt and moving towards the exit. I hastened to reach the person who was walking away briskly with my precious luggage.
“Excuse me, sir,” I called out loudly to attract his attention. He turned around and gave me a nasty look. “What do you want?” he barked. I spoke slowly but politely: “Sir, the bag you are carrying is mine. I think there is a mistake. Please give it back to me and go find your own bag.”
He was livid with anger. “How dare you tell me that I am carrying your bag? I know this is mine. In fact, it seems you are trying to grab mine. Please go back and find your own bag, which might still be there on the belt,” was the statement of the man in a hurry.
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I was getting desperate and wanted to go home with my bag as soon as possible. I used my trump card. “Sir, spare me a minute. I will use my key to open the bag which you are carrying... I can assure you that my bag contains nothing of value. On the contrary, your bag might contain something more valuable.”
The man was now confused. He started looking at the bag more closely and carefully. At last he realised that he had made a mistake. He put down the bag without a word and walked purposefully towards the baggage carousel. It was too much to expect him to say ‘sorry’. However, I was happy to be re-united with my bag as I walked towards the exit.
“Was there no baggage check at the exit by comparing the tags?” asked my friend when I narrated the harrowing story. “Sometimes, but you can never be sure. You have to be watchful that’s all,” I replied.
Better to be careful than be sorry, I realised and I patted myself for being alert. It was a close call, though, which could have made matters difficult with both of us handling the wrong bags.
I realised then why frequent and smart air passengers take steps to tie a ribbon or something that would stand out among bags that look so similar.
There is another problem that air passengers are often subjected to. It is unfortunate that sometimes bags are pilfered to extract valuable stuff, and getting any relief from the airline takes plenty of time and energy. Those who are aware of such hazards take care not to put any valuable item in check-in baggage. But who can stop baggage-handlers from trying their luck by opening / slashing passengers’ baggage in search of valuables?
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