I learnt a valuable lesson yesterday

[Foreigner]

Yesterday's CNS-SYD I had 6D issued but at boarding gate I was asked if I wanted 13C, emergency exit row. I accepted that and good for leg room but the lesson I learned was to avoid exit rows...the seat does not recline.

 

[Pushka]

Perfect storm maybe. A quick call over the air might have helped especially when valuables are found. One day those seat pockets will be see through too. Although probably different issue to what happened here. I would have had a very difficult flight.

Our EA has been telling us for the last two weeks that Mars is in retrograde.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Yesterday's CNS-SYD I had 6D issued but at boarding gate I was asked if I wanted 13C, emergency exit row. I accepted that and good for leg room but the lesson I learned was to avoid exit rows...the seat does not recline.

The seats do recline but are locked for takeoff, let the crew member know to unlock it.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Maybe on longer flights, buy a "comfort package" where you practically buy the seat next to you when booking the flight.
Personally I do the 2 drops before getting to the airport, and then in the QP do many of the small ones, taking along my measly possessions to the loo, so on the actual plane flight, no need to go to the plane loo. Very tiny meals days before my flights to AKL/CHC have worked well too.
Love my on plane window seatings.

 

[Jaryd]

Maybe on longer flights, buy a "comfort package" where you practically buy the seat next to you when booking the flight.
Personally I do the 2 drops before getting to the airport, and then in the QP do many of the small ones, taking along my measly possessions to the loo, so on the actual plane flight, no need to go to the plane loo. Very tiny meals days before my flights to AKL/CHC have worked well too.
Love my on plane window seatings.

I'm establishing that I have an extremely small bladder compared to others on AFF!! I cannot remember a no-toilet flight (except MEL-CBR-SYD-CBR)

 

[Steady]

Maybe on longer flights, buy a "comfort package" where you practically buy the seat next to you when booking the flight.
Personally I do the 2 drops before getting to the airport, and then in the QP do many of the small ones, taking along my measly possessions to the loo, so on the actual plane flight, no need to go to the plane loo. Very tiny meals days before my flights to AKL/CHC have worked well too.
Love my on plane window seatings.

Now that's dedication AP! Changing your diet days before your flights to get the most time possible next to your window.

 

[Foreigner]

I'm establishing that I have an extremely small bladder compared to others on AFF!! I cannot remember a no-toilet flight (except MEL-CBR-SYD-CBR)

Here's hoping we don't lose bladder control as we get older.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Before pax board there is a security check of lockers. Manager is responsible for this.
If the manager had done this properly they would know it was not a left over item. Either way manager is at fault.

Also what about common sense by ground crew? Say it was left over from previously flight - they would look at contents to see who it belonged to. Not hard to search bag tag or ID to see who it belongs to and their last sector. This would match to current flight.

Manager & QF process failed you...

 

[Foreigner]

Before pax board there is a security check of lockers. Manager is responsible for this.
If the manager had done this properly they would know it was not a left over item. Either way manager is at fault.

Also what about common sense by ground crew? Say it was left over from previously flight - they would look at contents to see who it belonged to. Not hard to search bag tag or ID to see who it belongs to and their last sector. This would match to current flight.

Manager & QF process failed you...

So, there's no lesson learnt by OP.

 

[mannej]

Before pax board there is a security check of lockers. Manager is responsible for this.
If the manager had done this properly they would know it was not a left over item. Either way manager is at fault.

Also what about common sense by ground crew? Say it was left over from previously flight - they would look at contents to see who it belonged to. Not hard to search bag tag or ID to see who it belongs to and their last sector. This would match to current flight.

Manager & QF process failed you...

So, there's no lesson learnt by OP.

I disagree. Sorry but I don't think that all responsibility of this situation can be absolved from the OP.

You mention that the security check is of the lockers, however the item wasn't left there.

 

[elbarto]

I think the real lesson here is to go to the toilet before boarding or hold it in until after take off.

 

[RooFlyer]

I disagree. Sorry but I don't think that all responsibility of this situation can be absolved from the OP.

<snip>.

Disagree. I think a key thing in this saga is that the laptop was in his own seat pocket and apparently, small enough not to be obvious; also that there was other stuff of his at the seat. Again, I wouldn't leave my laptop unattended anywhere, but on a plane, at your own seat, and concealed to some extent I think its reasonable for the OP to expect that no-one else will go poking there and then hand over stuff when its obvious, from the other still at the seat, that the seat is occupied.

Once the item was in the crew member's hands, the crew member should have taken reasonable steps to ensure that it was in fact the previous seat occupants' and no-one on the current flight before handing them off the plane. Such reasonable steps I suggest would have been:

* See if there is any name in the items. I see there were credit cards, so there was a name to be checked against the current manifest (but maybe there are airline rules about poking about in people's kit);

* Approach the person in the seat where the items came from before handing them out of the aircraft. Remember they were in the seat next to the person who handed them in, so the crew member didn't know whether the seat was occupied or not.

* Make a PA announcement. "We've had some personal items handed in .. please check your seat pockets and surroundings to see if you are missing anything.."

 

[Foreigner]

I disagree. Sorry but I don't think that all responsibility of this situation can be absolved from the OP.

You mention that the security check is of the lockers, however the item wasn't left there.

I've just returned from my beach and there's a sign there which I think applies equally to airplane, lounge, hotel room and home and work:

Do not leave valuables unattended

 

[Pushka]

I've just returned from my beach and there's a sign there which I think applies equally to airplane, lounge, hotel room and home and work:

Do not leave valuables unattended

So if needing to visit the loo on a plane you are suggesting we lug the pc, phone and wallet as well? That isn't going to work, is it?

 

[Foreigner]

So if needing to visit the loo on a plane you are suggesting we lug the pc, phone and wallet as well? That isn't going to work, is it?

One can sprinkle a bit of common sense with that.

 

[mannej]

Disagree. I think a key thing in this saga is that the laptop was in his own seat pocket and apparently, small enough not to be obvious; also that there was other stuff of his at the seat. Again, I wouldn't leave my laptop unattended anywhere, but on a plane, at your own seat, and concealed to some extent I think its reasonable for the OP to expect that no-one else will go poking there and then hand over stuff when its obvious, from the other still at the seat, that the seat is occupied.

Once the item was in the crew member's hands, the crew member should have taken reasonable steps to ensure that it was in fact the previous seat occupants' and no-one on the current flight before handing them off the plane. Such reasonable steps I suggest would have been:

* See if there is any name in the items. I see there were credit cards, so there was a name to be checked against the current manifest (but maybe there are airline rules about poking about in people's kit);

* Approach the person in the seat where the items came from before handing them out of the aircraft. Remember they were in the seat next to the person who handed them in, so the crew member didn't know whether the seat was occupied or not.

* Make a PA announcement. "We've had some personal items handed in .. please check your seat pockets and surroundings to see if you are missing anything.."

I am sorry but we are going to have to agree to disagree here. The OP left his valuables unattended here. That is the only fact we know for sure. The rest is here-say as to what may or may not have happened.

For all we know the crew in question may have taken reasonable steps to ascertain the identity of the contents here, but perhaps time was of the essence so in order to prevent a delay, the decision was made to offload the laptop.

I am not stating that it wasn't the crew or the seat buddy's fault, however I am stating that the OP perhaps may have to shoulder some of the blame here for leaving the valuables unattended.

To suggest no lesson learnt is wrong IMHO.

 

[Pushka]

I've just returned from my beach and there's a sign there which I think applies equally to airplane, lounge, hotel room and home and work:

Do not leave valuables unattended

So if needing to visit the loo on a plane you are suggesting we lug the pc, phone and wallet as well? That isn't going to work, is it?

One can sprinkle a bit of common sense with that.

Now I am confused.

 

[medhead]

To suggest no lesson learnt is wrong IMHO.

The OP has already clearly stated they've learnt a lesson. This is debating what was the lesson to be learned.

Just to add to the complications, besides the CSM security check cleaners also get on the plane to do their thing as well.

 

[Jaryd]

The OP has already clearly stated they've learnt a lesson. This is debating what was the lesson to be learned.

Just to add to the complications, besides the CSM security check cleaners also get on the plane to do their thing as well.

Exactly. Not saying I wasn't at fault, but it would have been nice if the guy in 4E/crew had:

A) asked 4F if anyone was already sitting there, or if it was his; (4F wasn't aware that 4E had taken my stuff, and 4E admitted that he should have asked 4F before taking to crew)

B) told me as soon as I sat back down again that he had given some things to the crew (given that I already had possessions there). My boarding pass was left in the seat pocket btw - Mr 4E didn't take that.

C) my business card is in a window on l the front of my folio. I wish that they had checked to see if I was on board. Or called my mobile.

Again, I'm not absolved of fault in this instance. Definitely won't happen again.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Jaryd, imagine if you were in QFs rows 1/2/3, I am sure the premium cabin FA would have been more "welcoming" in knowing if seats are occupied or not.
Actually come to think it, it was lax of the FA to not know a seat is occupied.
I think, for once, we can lay blame equally 33.33%.