Occasionally when flying, getting luggage in the plane’s overhard locker is not always as simple, with many wondering why there are no cabin crew coming to assist when in this predicament.
A flight attendant has now shared the ‘real reasons’ why cabin crew do not lift bags into the overhead lockers for passengers.
Kat Kamalani, who has served as a flight attendant for six years, took to TikTok to offer her pearls of wisdom on the subject.
Kamalani offered the real reason for the flight attendant’s unwillingness to help with this particular job function, addressing her one million followers on the social media platform.
“Crazy fact…everyone thinks it’s flight attendant’s job to lift your luggage into the bins, but it’s not,” she began the video.
The secret why flight attendants can’t help passengers with this request all comes down to pay, and safety, Kamalani later reveals.
“If we get hurt, we don’t have workers’ [compensation] because we’re not on the clock yet.
“Actually, our airline, and a ton of other airlines, tell you do not do this because you get so many injuries with it. And you’re not even covered.”
She added how most airlines advise its members not to help customers with heavy luggage in case of injury, due to insurers not covering medical bills.
The TikTok user also revealed that flight attendants don’t get paid until all passengers are on board and the plane doors are shut.
This means when it comes to loading luggage into overhead lockers, flight attendants are not technically being paid at that moment.
When it came to passengers lifting potentially heavy bags overhead to put them in the locker, Kamalani had a tip.
She advised her followers to test how much they are comfortable lifting above their heads to make sure they do not risk injury on a flight by attempting to shift a weight that is too heavy for them.
The user continued that if you struggle to lift heavy weights, that it is easily rectified as you can always swap items for a smaller bag, which can be easily stored under your seat, she reassured her listeners.
One user reiterated her claims, writing: “I’m a flight attendant and no, not all of us will help assist because that’s still lifting/holding half of the bag that could injure your back.”
Another added: “As someone who is 5ft, it’s more of a height issue than a weight one. Especially with the new planes and updated bins!”
With one writing: “’I just ask a man to do it?? What else are they for.”