Air Canada - Shame on you !

[yermanee]

Watch this video of 2 handlers throwing bags 20 Ft down into a container :

Yermanee

[Tywais]

Well it did look like they put padding down in the container to cushion the fall.

[hanno]

Not sure how this is related to Thailand, but first of all the baggage handlers are not hired by Air Canada and secondly I have seen that all over the world.

[Bkungbank]

The fault not the employee as this a very tiring job by lifting 20-30 Kg bags every times, they should have belt to lift and reload baggage .

[stevenl]

The fault not the employee as this a very tiring job by lifting 20-30 Kg bags every times, they should have belt to lift and reload baggage .

So? I'm sure they were not hired to drop the luggage but to load and unload.

[craigt3365]

I use to tell my wife to pack bags in case of a 2m fall. I'll have to upgrade those instructions! 555555

[bkkjames]

airlines handle baggage now? once it leaves the checkin, it belongs to the airport staff - so blame the right people <deleted>

[slipperylobster]

guess i will not be hiding my cat in the luggage anymore

[VocalNeal]

I had a bag run over by the baggage train! Had tire marks and everything!

[yermanee]

airlines handle baggage now? once it leaves the checkin, it belongs to the airport staff - so blame the right people <deleted>

If your baggage gets damaged or lost who compensates you, the airline or the airport ?

As soon as your baggage leaves check-in it becomes part of the agreement between you and the airline according to their general conditions.

That the airline has subcontracted the handling is of no consequence to this agreement.

I don't know what expletive you used because it's <deleted> but I'm sure it's not very nice, but I'm not holding my breath waiting for your apology.

Yermanee

[Torrens54]

Yep, happens everywhere and just hope the culprits get the BOOT!

[Ricardo]

airlines handle baggage now? once it leaves the checkin, it belongs to the airport staff - so blame the right people <deleted>

It's fairly common that, at their main hub, an airline will be the one which operates the ground-handling operation, for themselves & other airlines. In a really-major hub-airport, there may three or four ground-handling companies, to choose from.

So it's possible that, here in Toronto, Air Canada is the employer of these wayward baggage-handlers, who perhaps haven't been provided with the correct equipment to carry-out the task of loading the bags safely & efficiently ?

I'd hope that, presented with this embarrassing video-clip, Air Canada would make strong representations to whoever does their baggage-handling, to do it right or lose their business ! The airline remains responsible, to the passengers who use them, for ensuring the quality of their sub-contractors IMO.

[ToddWeston]

They were in fact employees & have been suspended.

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/air-canada-to-fire-workers-after-video-showed-baggage-tossing/article18075563/?service=mobile

I hope this week when their garbage is collected the garbageman tosses the bin at their front window.

[Issangeorge]

Those bags were treated way better than if they had been checked. You should see the abuse a baggage sorting machine gives to bags, way worse than been gently dropped 3 metres onto generally soft sided bags. The handler should have used a belt, but I can tell you working in that environment for over 30 years, a belt isn't always available, so the handler has three choices, 1 / delay the flight, until a belt can be found,. 2 / Risk grave injury to himself by carrying the bags down the narrow steep small tread bridge stairs, which would also probably have led to a delay, or 3 / doing what he did. With the way management is always pushing for on time departures, he really only had one choice. It would be interesting to know how many baggage damage reports resulted from that incident. My guess is none.

Yes Air Canada should be ashamed, but the shame is they did not come out and apologize, and explain why the employees did what they di, to get the flight out on time. They should explain that it was far to dangerous for the employees to carry 20 plus bags down the stairs, and that a belt was not available. They should explain that the employees considered the risk of damage to the bags compared to the problems created by a delayed departure and the employees decided that the risk of damaged bags would be minimal, and the problems due to a delayed departure great. So the employees made a decision to gently drop the bags and get the flight out on time. Air Canada should say that they will do everything they can to prevent this situation from developing in the future, by either making sure a belt is available or attaching some sort of chute to the bridge. Dont blame the employees, they have to try to make the system work and made a decision to do that. Personally I think they made the right one.

[SantiSuk]

airlines handle baggage now? once it leaves the checkin, it belongs to the airport staff - so blame the right people <deleted>

Another candidate for the unnecessarily gratuitously hostile response award on ThaiV.

The field is large.

[bkkjames]

airlines handle baggage now? once it leaves the checkin, it belongs to the airport staff - so blame the right people <deleted>

Another candidate for the unnecessarily gratuitously hostile response award on ThaiV.

The field is large.

I guess that means I lose a star for that deleted f.f.s lol

[geriatrickid]

Air Canada apologized on youtube where the video was posted. It issued a public apology and apologized on its FB.

They were indeed Air Canada personnel.

Baggage handlers were suspended and then terminated.

Union is appealing.

FYI Airport personnel handle the interior baggage sorting and delivery system. Airline personnel load the airplane and overflow carryons.

[bkkjames]

Air Canada apologized on youtube where the video was posted. It issued a public apology and apologized on its FB.

They were indeed Air Canada personnel.

Baggage handlers were suspended and then terminated.

Union is appealing.

well then I take back everything I said apologize to the esteemed members of this thread:)

Now for AC - burn them!!! lol

[SantiSuk]

OK - definitely out of contention

[khaosai]

Hi,

The root cause goes right back to the check in procedure. The bags have obviously been taken off the passengers prior to boarding as deemed to large or heavy for the over head storage onboard.

Still no excuse for dropping the bags from that height tho, but give the staff the proper tools to deal with these issues if they arise.

[haveaniceday]

In fact, these are not checked in luggage, it is carry on baggage that did not fit in the overhead lockers as they were full.

So you put your laptop, camera etc into your carry on so you can look after them, Air Canada has a disclaimer that they are not responsible for any damage to camera gear by the way) and then tell you that you can not take on your carry (not your fault) then they throw it down 20 feet.

A Good reason to boy-cott Air Canada.

[Ricardo]

If they were carry-on bags, then they're light enough to walk down the steps with a couple, and not risk deliberately damaging the bags/contents.