[HN Gopher] Airlines call in psychologists to stop passengers ri...
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       Airlines call in psychologists to stop passengers risking their
       lives for bags
        
       Author : pseudolus
       Score  : 7 points
       Date   : 2025-12-27 22:23 UTC (37 minutes ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.telegraph.co.uk)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.telegraph.co.uk)
        
       | pseudolus wrote:
       | https://archive.is/2so4c
        
       | Lammy wrote:
       | > it hasn't resulted in deaths
        
         | avemg wrote:
         | Do we need to wait for a tragedy before we do something? Good
         | on the airlines and regulators for recognizing a burgeoning
         | problem and taking action before (hopefully) it leads to
         | unnecessary deaths.
        
       | hlieberman wrote:
       | If there is an aircraft evacuation and someone is getting their
       | bag out of the carry-on, the proper response is punching them in
       | the face and throwing them onto the ground so people can step
       | over (or on) them.
       | 
       | With seat pitches so tight these days, the idea that an
       | evacuation can be done by unprepared people in 90 seconds is a
       | pipedream, even before taking into consideration people trying to
       | get their luggage.
        
       | immibis wrote:
       | Is it not simple? Tell the passengers they'll be able to get
       | their bags back during an emergency. Don't just say "leave your
       | bags" - say "leave your bags, you'll get them back later". After
       | drilling into passengers nonstop to never leave their bags
       | unattended is it any surprise passengers don't leave their bags
       | unattended? No, it isn't.
        
         | mmooss wrote:
         | Lives are at stake; it doesn't matter if you get your bags back
         | and that isn't hard to understand. Also, if the plane is on
         | fire, you're probably not getting them back.
         | 
         | > After drilling into passengers nonstop to never leave their
         | bags unattended is it any surprise passengers don't leave their
         | bags unattended?
         | 
         | That's while going to your flight in an airport. I don't think
         | anyone confuses the situations.
        
       | Natfan wrote:
       | it doesn't surprise me in the least that Japanese passengers are
       | the most likely to be safe, and USAmericans are the least likely
        
       | andy99 wrote:
       | > Japanese passengers "are going to get out of the aircraft," Mr
       | Careen said, while travellers in North America appear most likely
       | to delay evacuating to retrieve their belongings.
       | 
       | I'd speculate that Japanese passengers expect to promptly get
       | their stuff back while North Americans know they are effectively
       | throwing it in the garbage, and so are more tempted to grab a few
       | things.
       | 
       | I don't think people should grab their bags in an emergency, but
       | it's amazing to me that airlines act like they can't even
       | understand why people do. It feels like common sense about a low
       | trust society, and airlines do nothing whatsoever to engender
       | trust otherwise.
        
         | mmooss wrote:
         | > Japanese passengers expect to promptly get their stuff back
         | while North Americans know they are effectively throwing it in
         | the garbage
         | 
         | If the plane has crashed and people are fleeing for their
         | lives, I doubt people expect to get their bags back.
        
         | whimsicalism wrote:
         | i would bet you they would still not grab bags even if they had
         | no credible reason to think they would get it back.a
         | significant minority of Americans are quite
         | selfish/individualistic
        
         | danpalmer wrote:
         | Very much agree. I would have no expectation of getting
         | anything back, and people travel with some of their most
         | important items: passports, visas, credit cards, laptops,
         | phones.
         | 
         | Unless I actually think I'm going to die, i.e. if it feels like
         | it's more cautionary, I'd be very tempted to grab my
         | essentials.
         | 
         | Trust is absolutely the thing that needs to be built. Trust
         | that I'm going to be taken care of, trust that I'm not going to
         | have visa issues without any ID, trust that I'm going to be
         | compensated, fast, if I don't get my expensive possessions
         | back.
        
           | mmooss wrote:
           | If you want trust, in any situation, it starts with you: Be
           | trustworthy; lead others and set an example.
           | 
           | > Unless I actually think I'm going to die ...
           | 
           | I think those are the situations they are talking about.
        
       | mmooss wrote:
       | Aren't they risking everyone else's lives by blocking the aisle?
       | It could be made a serious crime - it's easy to see who keeps
       | their bags.
       | 
       | Lock the overheads? Maybe that will cause delay if people who
       | keep trying.
       | 
       | Also, the same people probably take their under-seat bags. I
       | wonder if that causes delay - maybe it takes up space in the
       | aisle, which would seem to be a bottleneck.
        
         | exabrial wrote:
         | Agree, If you're caught running with a bag from a plane (as
         | we've seen on video): zero eligibility for "survivor benefits",
         | $50,000 fine for endangerment, plus 100% liability for any
         | injuries of those behind you.
        
       | exabrial wrote:
       | You have something like 45s-90s to get off an airplane and sprint
       | for your life, I've heard. (If anyone has a source, post it).
       | Keep your phone, passport, and your keys in your pockets, and
       | your shoes on your feet during taxi, takeoff, landing. Do not
       | wear flip flops on airlines (you can't run in them) and they
       | provide zero fire protection if you have to run across flaming
       | ground. Everything is replaceable.
       | 
       | I hope it never comes to it, but I would absolutely "move" a
       | person towards the exit, if needed, if they stopped to get their
       | bag, only to save the lives of everyone else.
        
         | mmooss wrote:
         | I think the article says the goal is evacuation in 90 seconds
         | with half the exits available, but that it hasn't been achieved
         | yet.
        
       | teeray wrote:
       | Put some kind of deadbolt in there that seals the overhead
       | compartments if the pilot declares an evacuation.
        
       | mmooss wrote:
       | Does anyone know what the research says? I found a few things,
       | but I don't know if they represent the consensus, etc. Maybe it's
       | in airline regulations somewhere?
       | 
       | For example,
       | 
       | https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/DCA00SS002....
       | 
       | https://trid.trb.org/View/2570651
       | 
       | https://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/aer...
        
       | bombcar wrote:
       | Just Joker it - two flights to each destination, but your bags
       | are on the other flight.
       | 
       | Nobody's risking their life for someone else's bag.
        
       | crmd wrote:
       | I'm not a fan of nanny-state policies, but I would support a law
       | that imposes grave consequences for airline passengers found to
       | be in possession of personal baggage following an evacuation.
       | 
       | Because seconds count and lives are on the line, passengers
       | should be trained to treat baggage as if it is radioactive during
       | an evacuation.
        
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       (page generated 2025-12-27 23:01 UTC)