Goldilocks & The Three Chairs

Yesterday was supposed to be an easy 619am-333pm One-Day trip.  Which it was since the loads were light....but we weren't short on the crazies.

An older gentleman boarded the flight early and informed me that he just had back surgery so he would not be able to lift his bag into the overhead bin.  For those of my readers who are not flight crew, let me explain to you why this annoys us.  If you cannot lift your bag- check it. Do not assume that we can lift it if you can't.  Because we won't- we are not allowed.  The #1 Flight Attendant injury last year at my airline was Turbulence related- #2 was shoulder & back injuries related to Flight Attendants lifting heavy passenger bags.  Our manual states that we are to "Assist" and not do the lifting ourselves.  This issue was covered in depth by our airline's Director of Safety in Recurrent Training.  We do not lift the bags ourselves- period. the end.  If we get injured during boarding in an outstation- there is nobody to replace us & the flight cancels.

I offered to the man that we check his bag to baggage claim at no additional cost so that nobody would have to lift it except for those people who's job it was to handle bags on the ramp.  He insisted it stay with him on the plane. So I informed him that we would be able to help him, but we would not be able to fully lift the bag into the bin ourselves.  He seemed dissatisfied and shocked at my response so I informed him that even if I were able to lift his bag- that flight attendants are not allowed to lift them since we could get injured in the process, causing our passengers to have a delayed or canceled flight. He seemed to understand and was okay with us assisting, so I called back to the Galley Flight Attendant (who is a whole blog post for another day) and informed him of the situation.

Tobias (not his real name- he was Mark for the next flight and called me Penny & Domineeka the last flight...yeah told you he was a post altogether) anyways.....Tobias approached him and asked how he could help assist with his bag stowage. Tobias is a big guy, so AchingBackMan said "Oh thank you. If you could put my bag up there, that would be great! I just had back surgery and am not allowed to lift anything." Um no. Tobias responded "Back surgery? I know all about that. I helped a woman with her bag last summer and spend my summer vacation in bed instead of with my family in St. Croix because I pulled my back out.  My company didn't cover it either.  We can either check your bag since you are not able to lift anything, or I can assist you by lifting one end while you lift the other."

Bag was stowed....no problems.....until we were in the air. We were going about our service.  Seatbelt sign was on & the Captain informed everyone it'd be on for another 15 minutes because of anticipated rough air.  AchingBackMan was up and standing in the front of the cabin.  I figured because of his back he was standing, but we couldn't have him standing up front near the flight deck AND we're required to inform them about the seatbelt sign so I had to approach him & ask him to take a seat.  Well apparently this man was not only not allowed to lift anything, he was also required to stand and move around every 15minutes too.  Well sir, you have stood & moved- The seatbelt sign is on for your safety and I am required to ask you to take a seat until the seatbelt sign is off.  At that time it will be safe for you to move around. I do ask though that you stand towards the back, since it makes people nervous to have someone that close to the flight deck.

Seatbelt sign turned off.....BackMan stood up again at the front of the aisle.  Again, I approached him and politely reminded him that he could not stand in the front of the cabin near the flight deck because it makes people nervous.  He came to the back and sat down in an empty row.  30 minutes later (wait....i thought he was supposed to stand every 15 mins!) he stood up and took a seat in another empty row.  Before landing he stood up and found another empty row to sit in. Tobias dubbed him "Goldilocks"  because he was trying to find a seat that was "just right"....newsflash- they're all the same!

Odd. Just odd.  What is it with people not wanting to check their bags for free?! I find it interesting that Southwest's marketing is so focused on "Bags fly Free" when every other airline will check a carry-on bag for free too....yet people fight tooth & nail during boarding to keep it on the plane.  Seems to me that Spirit's Carry-on Fee makes more & more sense everyday.  See older post....

Other fun thing- Newby Kindle user asked me if I could ask passengers to help her learn to turn it off.  She said "I don't want to be one of those people who pretends to follow the rule by closing the cover and stowing it. I really want to follow the rules and turn it off, but I don't know how." I made a PA asking for Kindle assistance and we had a quick Kindle Lesson in Row 3. How educational for all of us!