Wet luggage on arrival

[SueD]

Hi, I checked in my suitcase after a weekend in Sydney for the evening flight back up to Brisbane on Monday evening (QF544 via a 737). The flight was delayed and at the time there was heavy rain. I collected my luggage from the carousel in Brisbane to find it and all the contents absolutely soaked - not just wet - it seemed like somebody had picked it up and dunked it in a swimming pool. I immediately tried to find a staff member but the airport seemed to be deserted downstairs so left for the drive back to the Gold Coast. I have emailed Qantas who have just said that, basically, they don't know why (they said their staff are sometimes told to leave the area for safety reasons - seriously, because it is raining?) and thanked me for "bringing it to their attention". I feel as though somebody has been very slack in leaving my suitcase out for a long time and are now rubbing salt into the wound by saying they don't really care! (Although they did offer to pay any dry cleaning I had to have done!) Anybody else had similar experiences and, if so, was it resolved any differently?

 

[markis10]

Staff have to leave because of lightning, it was a storm after all behind that rain.

 

[SueD]

Thank you - I didn't realise there was lightning with it; just saw the rain. Must be very open in the luggage area for everything in the case to get that wet - will have to try and find a water-proof suitcase for future use - or better yet carry it aboard.

 

[markis10]

Thank you - I didn't realise there was lightning with it; just saw the rain. Must be very open in the luggage area for everything in the case to get that wet - will have to try and find a water-proof suitcase for future use - or better yet carry it aboard.

There was quite a few storm cells around, this was the warning at 7.30

 

[Pushka]

Yes, there was certainly a drenching and it makes sense for staff to have to leave if there is lightening. Once the trolleys get wet then any cases on the botton are going to be sitting in water. Absorbing it nicely.

 

[markis10]

Being a 737 the bags will get wet coming off the plane as they do one by one.

 

[Pushka]

It's just one of the hazards that comes with travel. I think Q were pretty good to offer dry cleaning.

 

[SueD]

Hi - Sorry, I wasn't clear enough. The rain was in Sydney - I was lucky and didn't get into any rain on arrival until I was in the car and driving back to the GC on the southern side of the Gateway Bridge. But I will learn from this and either wrap my suitcase or carry it aboard. (My friend travelling with me was very lucky and her luggage arrived nice and dry). As I said, I will have to put that down to "experience".

 

[RooFlyer]

A question for info (I'm not contesting the current modus operandi).

Its pretty well established that ground staff have to seek adequate shelter when there is lightning about. Airports would monitor weather probably as close as anyone, so storm cells would be tracked pretty closely (unless they suddenly form right adjacent to the airport).

Would it be reasonable or operationally possible for ground staff to be given, say, a 5 minute (or so) 'pre evac' warning during which time they could do their best to make baggage etc, in the open, secure? (eg by driving the unloaded bags back under cover) Of course some times sudden onset would make it not possible, but generally?

Or maybe it happens now and the OP's experience is one of the 'didn't work' cases? (But being soaked right through seems pretty extreme.)

 

[markis10]

It would be highly unlikely any 5 minute warning would be possible, generally its situation or ops normal until the storm crosses the nominated boundary, at which time its tools down and seek cover. In Sydney its very obvious when its tools down, the place lights up with rotating amber beacons everywhere

 

[RooFlyer]

It would be highly unlikely any 5 minute warning would be possible, generally its situation or ops normal until the storm crosses the nominated boundary, at which time its tools down and seek cover. In Sydney its very obvious when its tools down, the place lights up with rotating amber beacons everywhere

How about a period 5 mins or so before it crosses the nominated boundary? Not saying its going to be exact, or possible every time, but as the storms are tracked pretty closely, one would think a 'pre 'nominated boundary' ' mark might be able to be established.

It would of course shorten the window of normal ops by that amount of time, which would be a downside for airlines. As a pax, personally I don't like being on the tarmac on the margin of these stoppages (ie just scraping in a take-off before storm closure!)

Going a bit OT, hoping OK, up your alley, markis10: Thinking about it some more, are ground crew really in the situation of:

Normal ops ...... then .... STOP, EVACUATE ! I would hope that they do get some official warning that an evac will be likely in X minutes, but carry on normal until alerted.

Also, who calls the evac/closure - ATC; met centre in the airport; or other? And does it then go through the airlines or whichever authority is controlling the ground crew, or does it come direct via radio / beacons from whoever makes the decision?

Who makes the call at regional airports, where there may not be ATC or the more sophisticated weather radar / equipment?

 

[markis10]

How about a period 5 mins or so before it crosses the nominated boundary? Not saying its going to be exact, or possible every time, but as the storms are tracked pretty closely, one would think a 'pre 'nominated boundary' ' mark might be able to be established.

It would of course shorten the window of normal ops by that amount of time, which would be a downside for airlines. As a pax, personally I don't like being on the tarmac on the margin of these stoppages (ie just scraping in a take-off before storm closure!)

Going a bit OT, hoping OK, up your alley, markis10: Thinking about it some more, are ground crew really in the situation of:

Normal ops ...... then .... STOP, EVACUATE ! I would hope that they do get some official warning that an evac will be likely in X minutes, but carry on normal until alerted.

Also, who calls the evac/closure - ATC; met centre in the airport; or other? And does it then go through the airlines or whichever authority is controlling the ground crew, or does it come direct via radio / beacons from whoever makes the decision?

Who makes the call at regional airports, where there may not be ATC or the more sophisticated weather radar / equipment?

The airport makes the call and they are given warning:
A white strobe light (visual) with a 15 second repeating (audible) alarm indicates the storm is 10 nautical miles away and signals you to prepare to implement your company procedures.
A blue strobe light and continuous alarm signals the storm is 5 nautical miles away and you should now implement your company’s storm procedures.
When the visual and audible signals have ceased, this is an indication that the storm has passed.


Storms can be erratic in both their velocity be it speed or direction and are hard to predict, I suspect most companies policies are to continue normal work but keep in mind how to get to a safe place and then get to a safe place, passenger belongings and equipment are secondary in concern unless they become a hazard.

 

[Pushka]

Given the bureau don't always get storms right I think that airports do the best they can.

 

[THE TRIMMER]

Flew in from Brisbane last Monday around 6.30 pm same thing bags sopping wet,on luggage carousel.When questioned staff answer it,s raining.

 

[ashleyn]

Hi - Sorry, I wasn't clear enough. The rain was in Sydney - I was lucky and didn't get into any rain on arrival until I was in the car and driving back to the GC on the southern side of the Gateway Bridge. But I will learn from this and either wrap my suitcase or carry it aboard. (My friend travelling with me was very lucky and her luggage arrived nice and dry). As I said, I will have to put that down to "experience".

Sue, in my experience with these sorts of events, it's probably no-one's fault but you shouldn't be out of pocket either. I would get your items cleaned or whatever then write a factual letter to QF explaining the situation, include the receipts and claim that money back. I think you might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Would it be reasonable or operationally possible for ground staff to be given, say, a 5 minute (or so) 'pre evac' warning during which time they could do their best to make baggage etc, in the open, secure? (eg by driving the unloaded bags back under cover) Of course some times sudden onset would make it not possible, but generally?

Basically your warning that you may have to evacuate the tarmac is once you're on a 10nm warning, so under those circumstances you're always mindful that it could go to a 5nm warning at any moment so you would try to expedite any activity.

How about a period 5 mins or so before it crosses the nominated boundary? Not saying its going to be exact, or possible every time, but as the storms are tracked pretty closely, one would think a 'pre 'nominated boundary' ' mark might be able to be established.

It would of course shorten the window of normal ops by that amount of time, which would be a downside for airlines. As a pax, personally I don't like being on the tarmac on the margin of these stoppages (ie just scraping in a take-off before storm closure!)

The one thing you don't want to be doing is to be looking for a fail to board pax when you're on a 10nm warning because if it suddenly goes to to 5nm & you're still missing that pax you're not going anywhere until it's lifted.

 

[AstroDamo]

Was there on Monday and can assure you it wasn't just a little rain.

I was on we arrived at the terminal in BNE but were unable to get to the gate, due to the tarmac being evacuated, there was a heavy lightning show and that night the airport was struck and blacked out completely. The Tarmac was evacuated for approximately 30 minutes and during this time the runway was also closed.

 

[Mattg]

This has happened to me before. We flew SYD-AKL with QF and when the bags came off the carousel in Auckland they were drenched. It wasn't even raining in Auckland but pouring in Sydney when we left. Another passenger claimed that the suitcases were left sitting out in the pouring rain with no cover or anything while they loaded them into the hold.

 

[funnymummy]

the same thing happened to my luggage previously in SYD. right to the bottom of the case the contents were absolutely saturated- I was able to obtain a resolution from QF - it still amazes me that this can occur when I see that luggage carriages have covers rolled up at the end and not put over the cases in weather that has the potential to turn wet - it rains in OZ, some places more regularly than others - I haven't heard reports that in the snow season in US & Europe everyone's luggage gets water damage so maybe QF need to see what they do elsewhere

 

[Mattg]

the same thing happened to my luggage previously in SYD. right to the bottom of the case the contents were absolutely saturated- I was able to obtain a resolution from QF - it still amazes me that this can occur when I see that luggage carriages have covers rolled up at the end and not put over the cases in weather that has the potential to turn wet - it rains in OZ, some places more regularly than others - I haven't heard reports that in the snow season in US & Europe everyone's luggage gets water damage so maybe QF need to see what they do elsewhere

I think you're onto something. These situations would be easily resolved in the future if they simply put a cover of some sort on luggage in the rain.