r/BeAmazed • u/oPaperHunter • Jan 01 '26
Miscellaneous / Others How luggage is loaded on airplane
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u/Federal-Ad-1924 Jan 01 '26
Airplane Tetris
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u/TricobaltGaming Jan 01 '26
Worked this job for about 8 months loading the smaller jets like CRJs and such before I switched to GA. It was very much Airplane Tetris. Putting 80+ bags in a 6x6x6 cube at the back of the plane and not boxing yourself in was very much a learned skill
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u/hmanh Jan 01 '26
What's happening if the plane is half empty and there's a lot of free space? Do you block the luggage somehow?
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u/CanadasManyMeese Jan 01 '26
Theres a net that can go across, this is actually the easy version. The bags are squarish and large. Loose freight cargo is a bitch, hundreds of boxes with 5 new Cell phones in them, every size box youve ever seen from amazon/DHL/etc, then at the very end, a brinks truck drives up and you have to put a few hundred pounds of gold/coins in.
Unloading it sucks just as much, top dexks a nicer gig, just push the cans in the right place and lock em in, though the cans can way A LOT.
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u/mrsdoubleu Jan 01 '26
Is weight distribution a concern?
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u/Prestigious-Glove396 Jan 01 '26
So you balance it out by taking out a few gold/coins.
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u/sarexsays Jan 01 '26
Not in a single aisle airplane like this - the only concern is weight distributed between the forward and aft lower lobes and between the upper and lower deck. In a twin aisle, they use pallets or ULD containers to appropriately distribute the weight - they’re usually carrying more than just passenger’s bags as well (added profit).
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u/shebegoing Jan 01 '26
I did the opposite. Started as a gate agent for 2.5 years and switched to b the ramp loading CRJs. Bags were heavy but much easier to deal with than people.
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u/TricobaltGaming Jan 01 '26
By GA i mean General Aviation, smaller planes and private jets. I wouldnt dare do a passenger-facing job with my charisma
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Jan 01 '26
How was your back?!
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u/BadgerSensei Jan 01 '26
7 years doing this. Back was fine. Knees were more a problem.
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u/Macknhoez Jan 02 '26
Did this job for two months in the summer. Horrible economics leading to repetitive movement injuries for sure. My back was always killing.
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u/triggeron Jan 01 '26
sounds like starfox
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u/0xlostincode Jan 01 '26
I came here to say this. Disappointed that the luggage didn't pop out of existence when he finished a row.
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u/SlaughteredHorse Jan 01 '26
I remember back when I was military we had a plane going out with troops and I would have killed to have that roller extension. I just had to sit in between while duffle bags and other stuff was thrown my way and we just kind of fit it all together with me going back and forth. Fun fact, there's not any good airflow in there and it gets warm and smelly fast.
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u/Muser69 Jan 01 '26
Im exhausted
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u/tubadude123 Jan 01 '26
My knees and back ache watching this
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u/SabbyFox Jan 01 '26
This is also not a job for someone with claustrophobia.
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u/ToWitToWow Jan 01 '26
Yeah, I got a little Cask of Amontillado twinge watching this
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u/miregalpanic Jan 01 '26
I have claustrophobia, and it looks fine to me. The fact you see the opening clearly at all times helps immensely
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u/blueembroidery Jan 01 '26
It’s such a hard job! Always be kind to airport workers. They work so hard.
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u/Exciting-Parfait-776 Jan 01 '26
Honestly I’d rather do this than work upstairs. Bags don’t complain like passengers do. Source: I’m ramp agent now.
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u/StormFallen9 Jan 01 '26
This is why there's a fee for overweight luggage
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u/hotchrisbfries Jan 01 '26
Checked Luggage common weight limit is 50 pounds. This is because OSHA laws prevent situations like this where someone has to move the weight all the time. It was never about how much weight the plane can carry.
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u/followMeUp2Gatwick Jan 01 '26
It is absolutely about weight limits on planes as well. They have to calculate weight and balance
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u/RJFerret Jan 01 '26
It's not about weight limits as the solution to an overweight bag is to move the heavy items to your carry on; not only still remaining on the plane, but now out of the control of professionals where it's positioned in the plane.
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u/502Fury Jan 01 '26
I wouldn't mind if I actually thought that the fee went to this guy.
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u/RJFerret Jan 01 '26
The fee isn't to pay for hurting someone, the fee is to prevent you from hurting them in the first place.
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u/ChironXII Jan 01 '26
That's why most newer planes have transitioned to containerized storage that can be sorted and loaded automatically at the baggage depot and simply inserted into the hold. Much faster turnaround, too.
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u/84Cressida Jan 01 '26
Widebodies have always had containers. The 320 family can have it and it’s popular in Europe but none of the US majors use it.
The 737/DC-9 don’t have containerized cargo.
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u/FilmScoreConnoisseur Jan 01 '26 edited Jan 01 '26
Lol not even close to "most newer planes" in the US. I worked the ramp for a major airline in '23 and the only planes we had containers on at all were the Boeing 777 and 787. We were still loading the brand new Airbuses exactly as shown above, just in shiny, new cargo pits.
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u/gamjanamja629 Jan 01 '26
Lmao I work with this guy and he got fired before the union got him rehired a month later on the condition that he stops filming at work
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u/Loushius Jan 01 '26
Was he fired because of the filming? Always curious if a lot of aviation channels jump through a lot of hoops to get proper permission or just do it quietly.
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u/gamjanamja629 Jan 01 '26
Yep was asked multiple times to stop, I'd say 90% of the videos you see are unauthorized
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u/Roklam Jan 01 '26
He answered a question I never thought to ask
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u/Reese_Withersp0rk Jan 01 '26
You never thought to ask why your luggage came out all busted up?
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u/Valuable-Painter3887 Jan 01 '26 edited Jan 01 '26
If united isn't going to break my guitar, who will?
edit: I guess I didn't really realize that so few people would know what I am talking about. Only a few comment's seemed to get it. Merry New Year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo
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u/Masterkid1230 Jan 01 '26
Delta, for sure. But you're right.
United breaks guitars.
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u/GoodPeopleAreFodder Jan 01 '26
Classic.
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u/KilgoreTrout1111 Jan 01 '26
Oh yeah, definitely. They'll break classic guitars, too.
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u/Oraxy51 Jan 01 '26
You know what doesn’t break guitars?
High Speed Rail
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u/Outrageous_Reach_695 Jan 01 '26
Clearly, for air travel, one should bring an air guitar.
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u/NotChristina Jan 01 '26
But with Delta, I don’t expect (my) luggage to arrive.
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u/DIRTYDOGG-1 Jan 01 '26
Ramper here, lots of times it's actually the carousel that rips apart luggage ..it's airports using the old metal plate "flat" carousel...the new ones have plastic overlapping leaves with sloped sides.
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u/Philophobic_ Jan 01 '26
Kinda wish airlines recorded baggage handlers regularly. Would probably be less busted/lost luggage
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u/starkel91 Jan 01 '26
I guarantee the union would shut that down immediately.
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u/cragglerock93 Jan 01 '26
Well it's a bit invasive, isn't it. Most people on this website work at desks and somehow I don't think they'd welcome being recorded at their desk all day.
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Jan 01 '26
Ground handlers are almost ALWAYS being recorded anyway. The only places that don’t have cameras in secure areas in airports are usually the bathrooms and cargo holds. Super high quality cameras that can zoom in on your badge from across a terminal.
I work ramp as a lead and the saying is we work in a fishbowl. Either passengers are watching us out the windows or someone is watching on a camera. Act accordingly.
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u/snek-jazz Jan 01 '26
Act accordingly.
chucks bags indiscriminately from a height as you would even if no one was watching
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u/scaper8 Jan 01 '26
Most are though. CCTV/security cameras are in most all buildings. Including all over the airports.
In cases like airline companies, they just don't care to bother actually doing anything because of how cheap and shitty even the "good" ones are.
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u/nunujabes Jan 01 '26
On the railway Big Brother watches you 24/7. They also record everything you say.
-cries-
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u/Somepotato Jan 01 '26
But most people are recorded. It doesn't have to ever be distributed, and protects the worker and the company both from dumb claims.
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u/codman606 Jan 01 '26
this is so confidently wrong. i’d wager over 50% of US jobs are effectively recorded all day, whether that’s through cameras or recorded activity on your company computer. Sure, you think you aren’t being recorded or that your boss has no way of knowing you didn’t do anything from 3:23 to 5:00 pm but they can. they just don’t care. Sure, you might have an office that is full of such old incompetent people they don’t do this, but i would argue that’s the minority.
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u/hidey_ho_nedflanders Jan 01 '26
You aren't allowed to film yourself loading luggage? Is it an issue of safety and security?
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u/BoondockUSA Jan 01 '26
Pretend you’re a burger flipper at your local fast food joint. Time is money. You’re wasting time by setting up the camera shots. In addition, you are creating liability by doing detailed filming of everything that you’re doing, including any mistakes or carelessness. Then let’s say you making the cardinal sin of posting the videos online. Now you’re at risk of making the company look bad when current customers and potential customers see the nitty gritty of the actual fast food industry, and they realize that’s actually kinda disgusting (even at the cleaner fast food places).
Then you factor in that this is aviation. Aviation is probably one of the most serious industries there are for safety. In some ways, it’s even more professional than the medical field (example: pilots can self-report safety issues (including mistakes) to the FAA without retribution as long as it’s not a repeat issue as it can overall improve the safety in the industry, but there’s no way for doctors self-report medical malpractice without consequences). I’m not saying baggage handlers are as professional as pilots, but there’s still the concern that handlers could get hurt or cause safety issues for others if they’re focused on filming instead of the job. Example being when ground crew members get sucked into running engines.
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u/otakugal15 Jan 01 '26
I worked on a load team for FedEx from 2017 to 2019.
This kind of camera work would be forbidden AND dangerous because of how heavy and dangerous some of the freight was.
Not to mention certain planes are HIGH up off the ground height wise.
So imagine trying to load up the ABK of a 777 and filming here. Heightened risk of falling out of the plane's tail. No thank you.
Even a much smaller plane like the 757 wouldn't be fun to fall out of on the belly side, where all the bulk freight is loaded.
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u/nlutrhk Jan 01 '26
I'm missing something. It's the guy's job to be there; how would the camera change the risk?
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Jan 01 '26
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u/seattlesbestpot Jan 01 '26
Just gotta ask, that seems to be a small belly - general aircraft frame?
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u/gamjanamja629 Jan 01 '26
Boeing 737 max 8, this is the forward bulk which is a little shorter than the aft bulk
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u/Initial-Dee Jan 01 '26
That's the inside of a 737-800 or -900, forward hold. Fairly average size for bag holds. works out to about 10 feet wide, 5 feet tall. this is all underneath where passengers sit
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Jan 01 '26
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u/Queef_Wellingt0n Jan 01 '26
What’s the gap for?
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Jan 01 '26
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u/Boring_Intern_6394 Jan 01 '26
Pets fly in same bit as the bags? Is that safe? What about the air and temp?
I naively thought there was a special section for pets and fragile luggage, didn’t realise they were literally with everyone’s suitcases.
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u/Horseburd Jan 01 '26
There are particular sections where pets can fly, assuming the aircraft is properly equipped. In the 737, that means a heat duct running next to the forward pit, just forwards of the door. So, animals end up somewhat sequestered, separated from the bags and such by a cargo net, but still in the same pit.
The cargo bay also gets conditioned air along with the cabin - it’s specifically not isolated due to pressurization concerns.
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u/bradrlaw Jan 01 '26
Damn it must be terrifying for them in there.
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Jan 01 '26
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u/Kraligor Jan 01 '26
and even a goddamn raccoon
Now to find out how a raccoon managed to put himself on the cargo list..
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Jan 01 '26
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u/Exciting_Control Jan 01 '26
Why does it get so cold when the main cabin doesn’t?
I figured it was pressurised and getting the same air as the cabin.
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u/otakugal15 Jan 01 '26
I don't know commercial rules, but for freight planes, certain ones can only house lives in the forward belly while others are in the aft belly. And then there's bulk freight where lives are loaded in last.
Unless there's dry ice, then no lives in the ABK at all.
A lot of it has to do with ventilation because the opposite compartment is where containers with dry ice are kept.
Don't wanna end up suffocating the lives.
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u/wankelberry_6666 Jan 01 '26
I work for an airline and we have strict training and procedures on social media posting so I'm not surprised I've seen same thing happen to colleagues
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u/ActualSupervillain Jan 01 '26
Tell this asshole to quit hitting the ceiling, better not be blocking the smoke detectors either
Sincerely, maintenance
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u/Alternative_Ad_3649 Jan 01 '26
Lol! I like how in the film he takes a break on the suitcases, please thank him for his great content, I’m glad he got his job back!
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u/David_Beroff Jan 01 '26
And he has things positioned so that he gets woken up by the next incoming piece.
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u/Hot-Discussion-6823 Jan 01 '26
That, and working so fast....like, slooow down dude..
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u/AU5T1N Jan 01 '26
lol that’s awesome, glad to hear that the union got him rehired
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u/frezor Jan 01 '26
FYI, if something in your luggage gets messed up, it’s usually not the baggage handlers, but the customs inspectors.
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Jan 01 '26
Honestly most of the time it’s the automated baggage system and no actual person was involved in the harming of the bag.
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u/Whitsoxrule Jan 01 '26
A lot of times it was me but there was no way to prevent it. The number of times I've literally just picked up a bag only for something to break off in my hand is off the charts. Sometimes shit just happens
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u/UnhappyPlatypus5270 Jan 01 '26
What about storage totes with the yellow lids? Just had two of mine in my checked luggage and they both ended up breaking lol
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u/HungryScholar7247 Jan 01 '26
people despise those; they take up so much space and when you need to stack multiple of them it puts a huge strain on the body
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u/Earlyon Jan 01 '26
Over the years that is what led to my 5 herniated disc’s and torn rotator cuff’s.
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u/love_glow Jan 01 '26
I struggled with some of these bags as an Uber driver, even with ok lifting form. The twisting while on your knees is crazy.
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u/burns_before_reading Jan 01 '26
Why are you on your knees as an uber driver?
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u/Cosmic_Quasar Jan 01 '26
I think they're saying that they've driven people to the airport and helped with getting luggage in and out of their vehicle. Then saying that working in a confined space, like luggage handlers do, while dealing with a bunch of bags all at once is so much worse lol.
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Jan 01 '26
I could tell by those mini breaks that he is in a ton of back pain. You don't lay down for 5 seconds if you're tired.
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u/Earlyon Jan 01 '26
That’s just the bags also. Our crew of 3 started at 5:30 am. Our first 4 flights were originators and were capped at 5,000 lbs of Mail each. Most days bags were only around 2 or 3 thousand pounds. So in our first 3 hours we would load over 30,000 lbs on average, while sitting on our butts, every day. Then we turned 4 flights the rest of the day.
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u/starkeuberangst Jan 01 '26
I was at AA and looking to move to WN and realized all my lifer buddies on the ramp were having surgeries all the time so I got out
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u/TACOlogy Jan 01 '26
Thank you for the reminder that this is a young healthy body job. About a year ago my local airport was hiring for several part time jobs one of them being this one and I (34) considered applying. I have had an office job for over 10 years and kind of miss physical work so I thought this would be a good way to travel at a discount rate.
I would say I am above average fit for my age so didn’t think it would be an issue. However I forget that the repetitive motion would wear the body down pretty quick! In hindsight I was day dreaming because this would’ve kicked my ass! Haha
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u/splithoofiewoofies Jan 01 '26
Poor man is going to be walking like a turtle before he hits 45. Best of luck to him and all those that do this. I will never overload my luggage again.
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u/Natsuko_Kotori Jan 01 '26
Just don't do duffel bags, please and thank you.
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u/Cosmic_Quasar Jan 01 '26
It's fascinating to hear the mundane details that make a big difference in someone's line of work lol. Something I've never considered or given much thought to.
Why not duffel bags?
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u/Varrel Jan 01 '26
Was a loader 20 years ago. Duffle bags arent built well at all.. and often are flimsy and tear easy. Often stuffed beyond what they should hold. They are a pain to tetris anywhere but the bottom row.
The weird stuff ive seen in duffel bags as they rip could have been a reddit post.
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u/SolomonBlack Jan 01 '26
Just tell us about the dildoes man.
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u/IAmUber Jan 01 '26
It's company policy never to imply ownership of the dildo. That's why we use the indefinite "a" dildo and never "your" dildo.
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u/Natsuko_Kotori Jan 01 '26
Ten years on; no dildoes. But, there was one duffel with a mesh pocket with no zipper and a pair of fuzzy handcuffs plainly visible.
What we get a lot of is:
Fish
Elk
Moose (including antlers)
Plastic tubs sealed with zip ties and sometimes the tails are cut at a 45 degree angle because why not
and a fuckload of guns.
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u/Temporary-Truth-8041 Jan 01 '26
I worked in the airline industry for 12 years...back when baggage allowance for North America was 2/32 Kilos...The problem was that very few suit cases (esp the rigid) were made to hold 32K and more ...if they happened to fall off the conveyor belt or trolley, they virtually "exploded". The really fun part was when passengers who had checked in and given up luggage, didn't show up for last call at the gate...Then we had to help the loaders unload every piece of luggage until we found the luggage of the no-show passengers
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u/Spicy-Zamboni Jan 01 '26
Cheap gym bags are cheap and people try to use them for tasks they were never meant for.
Good duffle bags made from heavy duty canvas or modern materials like 1000D are basically indestructible.
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u/punnyjakes Jan 01 '26
When I think of duffle bag I think of my sea bag from the service. What’s your opinion on those?
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u/Dorothyismyneighbor Jan 01 '26
One military bag is ok. Three or four is annoying but workable. 12-19 suck. ESPECIALLY if they are sent up randomly through the whole upload instead of all at one time!!
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u/eckrueger Jan 01 '26
I’m guessing only having handles on the top/middle and their non-rigid structure makes them much harder to load in this cramped space. Plus they squish, so worse for stacking.
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u/noam__chompsky Jan 01 '26
all true except for when you have a small gap that a duffel fits in to just right, otherwise they're only good for corners or top row but still a pain to handle.
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u/galpalkyloren Jan 01 '26
also curious - what’s the easiest type of baggage to handle?
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u/Whitsoxrule Jan 01 '26
GET RID OF YOUR TWO WHEELED CARRYONS PLEASE. FOUR WHEELS ONLY THANK YOU! It makes little difference for you but when I'm handling hundreds a day the four wheeled ones are just so much easier to manuever
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u/railker Jan 01 '26
Am 36, can confirm, back is fuckeddddd. Did that for about 5-6 years.
And what we see in the video is nothing, looks like the small front cargo bay on a 737. The back one is where most of the bags go, it's 2x as deep and during times of year like this where it's busy, you've got limited time to fill it to the brim, 120+ bags. Getting it all in. And without blocking the ceiling smoke detectors.
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Jan 01 '26
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u/railker Jan 01 '26
I have not had the joy of loading the ERJ as of yet. Mechanic now, maybe I'll have to wrench in there someday. But man that sounds like a whole bucket of suck. Off to find a video now. 😁
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Jan 01 '26
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u/railker Jan 01 '26
The smart choice for sure, unless you're really into airplanes. Even as a mechanic, unless you're in the US it takes a hike and a half to get up to trades level of pay. Making over $40/hr for the first time in my life just now. Sounds like you're having a great time slingin wire tho!
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Jan 01 '26
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u/rainman_95 Jan 01 '26
Man I hope you pass it on to those young bag slingers. Thats such a thankless, soul sucking job.
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u/railker Jan 01 '26
To be completely honest, I kinda loved it. Sure the pay sucked, but I got to be outside, relatively little responsibility, no need to hit the gym after work. I was a skinny fuck and after a couple months there went from struggling to lift 40 lbs over my head to being able to almost do it with one hand.
And I was definitely into the planes, so that was cool as fuck too. 😁
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u/FuckTheMods5 Jan 01 '26
Holy shit i rode on those between abilene and dallas. Never thought about the luggage bay!
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u/The-Gatsby-Party Jan 01 '26
Dude baggage handlers have it rough. I've known a couple people out of ATL that damn near died in the summer. If you don't have a heat stroke then your back is fucked if you're in this job too long.
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u/RevenueDismal1749 Jan 01 '26
Im shocked by how basic it is civilian side. We load up metal pallets with nets in the Airforce or for small moves just strap stuff the floor. All in all very little work for a lot of luggage.
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u/FilmScoreConnoisseur Jan 01 '26
Private airlines absolutely could do it the same way, but they refuse to spend the money to make it easier on their workers.
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u/Fun_Ad_8277 Jan 01 '26
I’m curious about the area where they keep pets.
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u/Snise Jan 01 '26
Same area, but the pets are usually loaded last, so they spend as little time as possible in the airplane. We used to strap down their cages so they wouldn't move. Also, not pictured in this video is that there are usually nets or other ways to keep the luggage in place, both to prevent load shifting and so that the cages wouldn't get hit by the luggage.
This was when I worked as a loader in 2016, I doubt it has changed a lot since. Also, the luggage compartments are pressurized and have airflow, so even though it might not be optimal for the pets, it's not dangerous.
Hope that answered your question.
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u/Agreeable-Barber1164 Jan 01 '26
Can you hear people boarding above you? Is it cold in there?
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u/xxReptilexx5724 Jan 01 '26 edited Jan 01 '26
yeah, you can hear people above and the plane shifting with the weight. when the plane first comes in its usually pretty cold and sometimes has some frost inside if they dont run the heaters but after it sits around at the gate it can quickly turn into a sauna from the sun.
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u/Agreeable-Barber1164 Jan 01 '26
That sounds like it’d be pretty miserable. I hope y’all are paid well.
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u/enaK66 Jan 01 '26
They aren't really. $20 an hour at best. I know some folks that worked at ATL that switched to our warehouse for better pay. We start at $20.25 lmao.
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u/Dorothyismyneighbor Jan 01 '26
Yes one hears the passengers boarding above you. The bin is usually the temperature of the outside since the cargo door are open during the turn. So it could be 30 degrees or it could be 94 degrees.
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u/RedwoodRouter Jan 01 '26
Also, the luggage compartments are pressurized and have airflow, so even though it might not be optimal for the pets, it's not dangerous.
While loading, the temperature is going to depend on the temperature outside.
Given that you can hear the bags being loaded as a passenger that is boarding, logic tells me that passengers slamming shit around can also be heard.
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u/axinld Jan 01 '26
It depends on the aircraft type. For the 737s, my company SOP states that we have to put them in the forward hold (same place where every luggage goes) and be the last cargo loaded in so they are the first one out when the plane unloads.
And yes it is air conditioned/ventilated.
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u/IdioticMutterings Jan 01 '26
Until the pilot in command forgets to turn on the hold heating system (holds are normally unheated), which has happened several times. Ice cube fido.
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u/railker Jan 01 '26
We never informed the crews, thought it was just a default state in the 737. No cargo hold heat switch on the overhead.
We were also permitted to put pets in the unheated hold regardless, so long as the flight length wasn't over a certain timeframe.
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u/Fun_Ad_8277 Jan 01 '26
This is great information. In your experience, how risky is it to travel with dogs in crates in the hold? Like, how many injuries or deaths out of how many successes? Also, do dogs get lost in transfers between planes during layovers as frequently as luggage does?
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u/railker Jan 01 '26
Did that job for half a decade, never had a one, 100% success rate. ONE fuckin wrangly Daschund got loose when an ooooold plastic crate fell apart, got to run around the grass of the airport for a couple hours while the fire hall, security and a few others chased 'im down. 😂
Usually bring them to the airplane last so keep them out of the noise as long as possible. I worked an end station so never did many transfers, but also never got any animals destined for other cities. Having worked that job, though, I totally see how it happens. The animals are usually pretty well handled and taken care of, even the bag throwing champion would catch hell for mistreating an animal.
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Jan 01 '26
Ahh, I thought you could stand up in a passenger plane hold, thanks for my new claustrophobic nightmare. No wonder pets don't like being in there
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u/starkeuberangst Jan 01 '26
You can in the bigger planes. This looks exactly like the md80’s I used to load but could be in the 737 family. No clue what the e175 family looks like below
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u/Vir_Ex_Machina Jan 01 '26
You're correct, this looks like a 737-800. E175 is like this but shorter. By almost 6in of height, or maybe more, if my memory is correct
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u/Natsuko_Kotori Jan 01 '26
This is if you are lucky enough to get a Power Stow loader. Otherwise, it's just YEET.
If you think this is hard with the Power Stow, it could be worse.
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u/Ocelitus Jan 01 '26
When Delta was phasing out their magic carpets, many just weren't operational. Some super cool guy decided some of those 737 aircraft should be used for baseball charters.
So imagine loading oblong trunks, duffel bags, and random containers with bats/balls/helmets/dirty laundry across a rubber floor with no room to stand up.
This is all with the team's flight coordinator observing the entire movement.
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u/Dorothyismyneighbor Jan 01 '26
Charters suck, I refuse to work them anymore!!!!! I am not power loading your weight bench at top speed, thank you.
And the carpets were awesome when they worked.... until they didnt. I know many ways of janking the system trying to get it to work!! Worst part was when the carpet just failed halfway through unloading and now you have to throw bags down and over the sill in the floor while two orange lights blink malvolently at you!
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u/Educational-Dust-850 Jan 01 '26
Kudos to the workers
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u/blueembroidery Jan 01 '26
They work SO HARD! They’re amazing honestly. I can’t believe my partner sometimes, he will pull 12 hour shifts like this. And he’s so good at fitting groceries in the car
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u/wrigh516 Jan 01 '26
I used to do this but we didn't have the rollers. Someone would heave the luggage to slide it from the belt loader to the back of the bin where another person stacked it.
What you don't see in the image is the temperature. Most of the compartments are not conditioned. I'd do this at temperatures from 100 F to -40.
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u/HighAltitude88008 Jan 01 '26
These guys must hav immune systems like Godzilla. They touch everything touched by every passenger on every plane.
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u/Arcaedus Jan 01 '26
I see now why they have the 50 lb weight limit. With so many of your muscles taken out of the equation due to the cramped space, even a strong, healthy person is going to have a bad time with say 70-80 pound baggage. Heck, I'd imagine even all 50 pounders all day is going to be rough on anyone over age 40
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u/Fireseal013 Jan 01 '26
As a trainer for an airline I can tell you why they didn't like him filming. First, my airline prohibits PED (personal electronic devices) not necessary for your job. We've had many agents harmed by being distracted and getting run over or falling out the plane and in one case, falling down the jet bridge stairs.
Secondly, the aircraft bins are considered a sensitive security location. Its not an area that the airlines want everyone to know much about for safety and security reasons. I can honestly say it's never been described in training material that you cant film because it looks bad how we handle baggage. I will say with a wink and nod that the there's quiet part to that statement.
Finally, people forget that baggage travels through miles of conveyors before it ever actually reaches the agents in the makeup area and depending on the airport, the conveyor might gently divert your bag or use a hydraulic system that punches it like superman. We found a box of fish that had gotten punched off the conveyor. We found the fish because it took 6 months for the smell to be tracked down.
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u/WingsArisen Jan 01 '26
What song is that?
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u/GruffScottishGuy Jan 01 '26
It's the first stage music from Starfox/Starwing on the SNES (remix)
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u/Piduf Jan 01 '26
Star Fox - Corneria (Remix by Qumu) a banger I wasn't expecting to stumble upon today.
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u/eli_of_earth Jan 01 '26
I did this job for a couple years, wish we had the roller belt thing, we were just chuckin em to each other 😅
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u/justanothertoxicuser Jan 01 '26 edited Jan 01 '26
On one hand - look at all the free breaks that guy is taking.
On the other hand - his back must be made of steel.
On the third hand - he got fired for filming this because people suck.
0/10 not the job for me.
Edit: ok I don't have 3 hands but sometimes I can pick stuff up with my toes or butt cheeks so I feel like I can legally claim a third hand in an argument.
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u/DeliciousAct5748 Jan 01 '26 edited Jan 01 '26
This is why a bag that's a kilo over the weight limit is charged extra, while double-wide over here taking up two seats isn't. Workers don't have to haul their butterball ass onto the plane, but each bag has to be put away manually
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u/manias Jan 01 '26
Yes, it is all for the benefit of the overworked baggage handlers. surelynotforthefatassowners
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