Anyone ever had their checked luggage get rained on?

[Carrie in AZ]

Yes, in Houston at Hobby after our cruise on the Wonder out of Galveston. There was a lightening warning for the Southwest Airlines ramp agents and they had to head for cover and safety and all luggage was left out in the pouring rain. Our contents were pretty wet when we got home and opened up our luggage. An immediate call to SW resulted in compensation as it had been well documented that luggage on our flight was affected by a severe storm. We were happy with the outcome but luckily it happened on the back end instead of the start of our trip.

 

[finest14]

Getting them wet is an easy solution; being dumped in the ocean maybe not so much.

But nothing beats flying from Honolulu to Maui to discover dozens of pieces of luggage coming through the carousel with some sort of grease on them and stinking of fish. Turns out someone shipped a fish, but did not wrap it properly. One poor family had all their luggage soaked by the leak, and they were travelling with a baby. The wife was so distraught. Somehow, we were one of the lucky ones and our luggage was saved.

Earlier this year I flew from Kona to Honolulu. Midflight, the cabin crew start emptying a few overheads and moving passengers. Turns out, a passenger had a cooler of fish in the overhead and it leaked all over the bin and began dripping on passengers. I missed it by a few rows!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Earlier this year I flew from Kona to Honolulu. Midflight, the cabin crew start emptying a few overheads and moving passengers. Turns out, a passenger had a cooler of fish in the overhead and it leaked all over the bin and began dripping on passengers. I missed it by a few rows!

EWWWW...

Here's a thought - maybe they should monitor what people are carrying on more closely?

 

[RedSox68]

EWWWW...

Here's a thought - maybe they should monitor what people are carrying on more closely?

Exactly -- how are these people getting by with this and yet they will check you on how many carry-ons you bring onboard

 

[PrincessShmoo]

and yet they will check you on how many carry-ons you bring onboard

It's been my experience that even that doesn't happen. We were on a flight recently that I saw several people (women mostly) who exceeded the "one carry on and one personal item" requirement/suggestion. One lady had (besides her rolling "carry on") a purse, a lap top case, a large beach bag type of bag as well as a small cross body bag. Did anyone say anything to her - nope.

And those rolling carry on bags are not much smaller than an actual suitcase. I really hate sitting in my seat and having someone hoist their overly large carry on into the bin over my head.

 

[RedSox68]

It's been my experience that even that doesn't happen. We were on a flight recently that I saw several people (women mostly) who exceeded the "one carry on and one personal item" requirement/suggestion. One lady had (besides her rolling "carry on") a purse, a lap top case, a large beach bag type of bag as well as a small cross body bag. Did anyone say anything to her - nope.

And those rolling carry on bags are not much smaller than an actual suitcase. I really hate sitting in my seat and having someone hoist their overly large carry on into the bin over my head.

Boy, it's scary having someone leaning over you to get their obviously oversize luggage in the overhead bin. Some of the stuff I have seen people be allowed to board with (including large black garbage bags) is beyond explanation. And yet I have been stopped twice because they thought my carry on was too big (it did, however, fit in the box they provide). And some of these new duffle bags people are bringing are NOT mean to be carry-ons -- they take up a whole bin by themselves!

With all the problems on flights lately with employees fighting with passengers about space and attitude, and employees turning a blind eye to what people are trying to cram into more than once space and passengers fighting over it, you'd think they would turn the rule around and allow one checked bag so this mess would stop!

 

[Heatherdbby]

Earlier this year I flew from Kona to Honolulu. Midflight, the cabin crew start emptying a few overheads and moving passengers. Turns out, a passenger had a cooler of fish in the overhead and it leaked all over the bin and began dripping on passengers. I missed it by a few rows!

Sooo you can bring a cooler of dead fish.... but, I can't bring juice or milk for my toddler...
I had a TSA take away his muffin that he was currently eating because it was open. this was right before his second birthday.

 

[RedSox68]

Sooo you can bring a cooler of dead fish.... but, I can't bring juice or milk for my toddler...
I had a TSA take away his muffin that he was currently eating because it was open. this was right before his second birthday.

YEP -- those 2-year-olds can be a definite threat on a plane. My poor daughter is always getting picked to be searched! She is the most unassuming and scrawny person in the crowd, and it never fails that they pick her!

 

[Heatherdbby]

YEP -- those 2-year-olds can be a definite threat on a plane. My poor daughter is always getting picked to be searched! She is the most unassuming and scrawny person in the crowd, and it never fails that they pick her!

Can they legally pick that young? I mean I am guessing probably so because then the real threat would use children for their evil plans, but, for real. Its a kid eating breakfast on a 5:30AM flight..
and when we flew back, they picked me for the search, and he took off running away so I took off, and we had a great time with a line of TSA chasing me chase the toddler through San Antonio.

 

[suedon70]

With all the problems on flights lately with employees fighting with passengers about space and attitude, and employees turning a blind eye to what people are trying to cram into more than once space and passengers fighting over it, you'd think they would turn the rule around and allow one checked bag so this mess would stop!

YES! Ever since most airlines started charging for checked bags many people are now abusing the "one carry-on and one personal item" and bringing onboard two good-sized carry-ons each to avoid the fee. If airlines would just get rid of the stupid fee then there wouldn't be issues with full overhead bins.

 

[RedSox68]

YES! Ever since most airlines started charging for checked bags many people are now abusing the "one carry-on and one personal item" and bringing onboard two good-sized carry-ons each to avoid the fee. If airlines would just get rid of the stupid fee then there wouldn't be issues with full overhead bins.

They make plenty of money as it is. I can see charging for a second bag, and heck I'll even pay for any snacks onboard, but please give us a break. They're not even attempting to make people check oversize or multiple bags at the gate!

 

[RedSox68]

What gripes my goat -- is when I book three seats on a flight -- there is a bin over our seats with our seats numbers on it. A good standard would be that that bin should only be for people in those three seats. I have boarded and had to go halfway down the plane to find a place to put my carry-on because our overhead bin is already full -- which means I don't have eyes on when we land and everyone is grabbing luggage! And for all that is sacred, stop filling up the overhead bins with giant winter coats!

 

[Shanti]

...and clothes soaked?

I was reading a packing tips list, and it said to pack a garbage bag on top of your clothes, in case of rain at the cruise port.

I know the checked luggage sits in big bins for awhile until it gets loaded...but don't they cover them with tarps if it starts raining heavily?

Never had this problem. I doubt it's an issue to worry about as airlines do this every day in all kinds of weather. A fluke could always happen but very unlikely.

 

[Shanti]

With all the problems on flights lately with employees fighting with passengers about space and attitude, and employees turning a blind eye to what people are trying to cram into more than once space and passengers fighting over it, you'd think they would turn the rule around and allow one checked bag so this mess would stop!

The corporate honchos who design & profit from the fees are not the ones who have to deal with the mess. That's why nothing improves.

 

[elvispursley]

I'll just add that when I used to play violin, I flew occasionally with it. I never had a problem placing it the overhead bin until I nearly missed a connecting flight. The connecting flight held the plan for me and when I came onboard with this very expensive instrument, they had the gaul to tell me the overheads were taken and I'd have to "check that". Over my dead body was this instrument (which was a family heirloom passed down from my great-great-great grandfather) going to go underneath with the regular baggage. I explained that I had a delicate instrument and thankfully, another flight attendant took it and placed it in the first-class coat closet. But come on--any one of those behemoth cases could've come down and been checked. I was ready to wait for a different flight if there hadn't been a solution found!

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Yes, and was compensated $250 by Southwest for it. Our suitcases sat in the rain, not covered at MCO one year. Everything was dripping wet. Fortunately it was for our leg home, not there.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Our suitcases sat in the rain, not covered at MCO one year.

Wow. They were in the rain for a REALLY long time.

 

[DisneyHelen]

We were on another cruise line and saw suitcases fall into the sea at Boston! Needless to say some people were not very happy.Shoes in the suitcase were ruined.