Baggage

The clip, featuring a Qatar Airways wide-body aircraft, was filmed at Madrid–Barajas Airport in Spain. The zoomed-in footage, filmed from a terminal window, shows the ground staff member outside the plane’s rear door.

A baggage handler was caught on camera hurling luggage in scenes have left social media users divided.

The zoomed-in footage, filmed from a terminal window, shows the ground staff member outside the plane’s rear door. He can be seen catching items tossed by a colleague and flinging them on.

The clip, featuring a Qatar Airways wide-body aircraft, was filmed at Madrid–Barajas Airport in Spain. The video-taker joked: “I’ll put this bottle of wine in the suitcase, I don’t think it’ll break…”

Social media users were quick to react to the clip. “This video should reach his company so they can see how well this man works,” one said.

OPINION

Milo Boyd

READ MORE: Ryanair passenger ‘stunned’ to receive ‘worst food ever’ on flight

Raquel questioned: “Is that what we pay for checked baggage for?” While Mónica vented: “This only happens in Spain. I’ve never seen luggage treated so badly anywhere else, it’s unbelievable. Almost every time we come back from a trip, the suitcases arrive wrecked.”

Analú said: “Honestly, that’s a disgrace. I’m sure there are plenty of unemployed people who would be happy to do that job properly.”

But not everyone was convinced the baggage handler was in the wrong.

“For those who’ve never flown or even seen a plane and criticise without knowing: they’re just taking out the blankets to clean the cabin, it’s not luggage,” one commenter pointed out.

Pablo added: “Suitcases aren’t unloaded at the passenger doors.” And Nicolás concluded: “Honestly, I think he’s doing everything right – he’s very efficient at his job.”

Madrid–Barajas Airport and Qatar Airways have been approached for comment.

The incident is not the only aviation-related outrage to ruffle feathers. Declan Minogue and his wife Claire Minogue, 61, were travelling back from Faro to Dublin Airport on 21 July after seven relaxing nights in Portugal. The 63-year-old felt a bit of hunger coming on, so he decided to order the £5.90 Hot Ham and Cheese Panini from a flight attendant.

However, it was not the hunger-busting snack he had hoped for. Decland claims he was ‘stunned’ to open it up and discover just one piece of ham and the ‘tiniest bit of cheese’ with no butter. Despite polishing off the ‘bland’ sandwich that he compared to ‘something out of Oliver Twist,’ Declan claims he was forced to buy more food when he landed because he was still hungry.

Taking to social media, the dad-of-two shared a photo of the sandwich captioned ‘shocking and insulting’.

Declan who lives in Lusk, Dublin, Ireland, said: “It was the worst airplane food ever. It was a massive rip off. I was shocked when I saw it. I got it and I opened it and couldn’t believe it so I took a picture. It had two slices of ham and the tiniest bit of cheese and the cheese was like butter. There was no substance to it. I was stunned.”

Aug. 13 (UPI) — Travelers from Seoul to Atlanta soon will be able to more-quickly travel through security and perhaps make their connections more easily, thanks to a new partnership with the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced a collaboration with the Republic of Korea and aviation security authorities at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The partnership expands CBP’s International Remote Baggage Screening program, which allows passengers traveling from Incheon International Airport to enter the United States faster, a press release said.

“By leveraging advanced technology and enhancing our processes, we are driving innovation in air travel that adds an extra layer of security while streamlining the entry process for international travel,” said Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner of CBP’s Office of Field Operations Diane J. Sabatino in a statement.

The new IRBS system X-rays travelers’ luggage and transmits the scans to Atlanta so CBP can see them while the passengers are in flight. This prevents the passengers from having to re-check their bags when they land in Atlanta, which can take significant time.

But CBP can still refer a passenger and their luggage for further inspection after landing.

The program was first announced in April 2025 and began operations at the Los Angeles International Airport for flights arriving from Sydney International Airport, in Australia.

Sabatino said in April that the program will eventually roll out to other airports and countries.

Aug. 4 (UPI) — Two U.S. travelers were detained for drug smuggling last month after they were caught carrying 72 pounds of marijuana hashish in their luggage on a flight between Los Angeles and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Monday.

The couple, who were catching a connecting flight to Sao Paulo, Brazil, were selected for outbound Passenger Enforcement Rover Team exams when CBP found heavy objects wrapped in white t-shirts inside their baggage.

Officers took the couple’s passports and receipts for checked baggage to conduct a more thorough search. They found vacuum-sealed bags containing 37 pounds of marijuana hashish in one suitcase and 35 pounds in another.

CBP officers also found bags of cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy.

“These individuals believed they were going to easily slip by CBP’s watchful eye — they were wrong,” said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, Director of Field Operations at Chicago Field Office. “Unfortunately, this is a method of smuggling we continue to encounter with narcotic traffickers and there are consequences for their actions.”

Last month, CBP officers seized 60,470 pounds of drugs at ports of entry into and out of the United States by air, sea and land.

A travel expert has advised people heading off on holiday to use a handy tool to check their luggage amid Ryanair’s plans to pay staff to check for oversized bags

Holidaymakers worried about being stung by hefty excess baggage fees at the airport have been advised to carry out a vital check using two “trustworthy” items. A travel expert issued the guidance following news that Ryanair is thinking about increasing bonuses for staff who catch passengers with overweight bags.

The subject of extra fees has been a sore spot for money-conscious travellers in recent years given different airlines have different allowances. And recent comments by Michael O’Leary, the airline’s CEO, will do little to calm the nerves of those flying off on their summer holidays.

To avoid getting stung by such fees, Paul Stewart, the founder of travel company MyBaggage, suggested people check their luggage’s weight at home using two simple items instead of using the facilities at the airport.

“Investing in a trustworthy luggage scale and measuring tape is the best course of action,” he said. “Check your bags at home rather than at the airport. In order to account for scale differences between your home scale and the airline’s equipment, I always advise packing a little under the weight limit.”

The travel guru added: “If at all possible, opt for soft-sided luggage rather than hard cases because the former are more accommodating if you have to fit them into sizers. Consider wearing your heaviest shoes and jacket while travelling rather than packing them, and pack your heaviest items in your carry-on rather than checked luggage.”

Luggage scales can be bought for as little as £5.99 on Amazon and avoid the risk of being fined £70.

In addition to weighing your luggage at home, Paul also suggested the time-honoured tradition of reading up each airline’s policies as they can vary between carriers and routes, reports Bristol Live. He said: “Document the size and weight of your luggage at home as proof in case of any disagreements.”

Stewart’s advice came after O’Leary discussed the possibility of improving incentives for staff in an attempt to relieve the pressure of excess baggage on his airline.

In an interview with RTE’s Morning Ireland, the low-cost carrier’s CEO said: “We are happy to incentivise our [staff] with a share of those excess baggage fees, which we think will decline over the coming year or two. It is about €1.50 [£1.30] per bag – and we’re thinking of increasing it, so we eliminate it.”

At present, airline employees earn around £1.30 per item for flagging oversized bags, which is capped at £70 per month.

“We’re flying largely full flights, about half the passengers can bring two bags and the other half can only bring one – because that’s all that fits in the plane. We’re already struggling with that amount of baggage,” he shared.

Ryanair current permits each traveller to take one small personal item aboard, which must slot beneath the seat, weigh no more than 10kg and conform to measurements of 40cm x 20cm x 25cm.

Passengers who opt for the priority boarding service at additional expense can bring the same sized item, plus a 10kg case (55cm x 40cm x 20cm), which goes in the overhead compartment. This upgrade also grants flyers first access to the aircraft via the priority boarding lane at departure gates.

If crew members determine a traveller’s luggage fails to comply with its rules, passengers could be fined £70.

However, the Ryanair CEO’s bonus comments alarmed Stewart, who argued this strategy was merely “the tip of the iceberg” and feared other budget carriers would soon jump on the bandwagon.

“When airline management implements bonuses for spotting baggage abuses, staff enforcement will obviously become more stringent,” he said. “As for Ryanair, I think this is just the tip of the iceberg. Once other low-cost airlines realise the potential for profit, they will most likely follow suit.

“Instead of giving passengers the benefit of the doubt, staff are now actively seeking out reasons to impose fees, and the definition of ‘suitable baggage’ is getting more and more restrictive. Travellers must now pack and measure much more precisely as a result of this change.”

Flying with just a small personal bag can be a struggle when it comes to packing light, but a flight attendant has shared a handy hack that could help avoid extra fees

Excess luggage charges can quickly escalate, turning a dream getaway into a costly nightmare. Keen to keep my Poland trip this month on the cheap, I flew with no-frills carrier Ryanair and stuck to the complimentary baggage allowance – just a small personal item.

The challenge arises when you’re keen to bring home souvenirs, on top of having a compact cross-body bag. Flight attendant Miguel Muñoz previously shared with Express.co.uk a nifty loophole, noting that “duty-free bags don’t count as carry-on baggage” and are usually overlooked by gate staff. This tip has even been echoed by thrifty TikTokers, so I was eager to try it out.

Miguel outlined the trick: “If you have something that doesn’t fit in your suitcase or you want to bring an extra bag on board, here’s the trick.

“All you have to do is carry a duty-free bag. Or ask for one at the duty-free shop, and you can place whatever you want in the shopping bag.”

Boarding the plane with my bulging duty-free bag had me anxious, but to my relief, the crew waved me through without a hitch.

With Ryanair’s baggage fees stretching from £12 to £59.99, avoiding that extra charge felt like a victory.

This trick was a lifesaver for the extra bag and jacket that I couldn’t squeeze into my main luggage.

While this method did work wonders for me, a few folks have mentioned that airline staff requested a look inside their bags.

To sidestep this, if you’ve made any duty-free purchases, place them on top. Also, always ensure your airline permits carrying duty-free items onboard in this manner.

Having triumphed with this hack, I’m eager to test out the neck pillow packing hack. This essentially involves replacing the pillow stuffing with small clothing items.

However, it’s worth noting that some travellers have been caught out using this hack, with a few even being denied boarding.

A baggage handler has shared the ‘worst’ types of suitcases to take on a plane – and those that are more likely to get to your destination unscathed

A baggage handler has named the “worst” types of luggage to use when jetting off abroad, and also revealed which are more likely to arrive in one piece. With a plethora of suitcase options out there, picking the perfect travel companion can be quite the conundrum.

Thankfully, social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit have become goldmines for savvy travel advice, with airport staff dishing out their best-kept secrets to ensure your belongings stay intact during transit. On Reddit, a user by the name of Adam, who works as a baggage handler, opened up the floor for any burning questions.

A curious traveller inquired: “Any tips for avoiding baggage being lost or destroyed? And best/worst types of suitcases/bags?”

Adam’s top tip for dodging misplaced bags was simple: name tags. He pointed out that many bags look the same and often end up on the same flight, saying: “We see a lot of bags that look exactly identical to one another going on the same flight.”

He suggested personalising your luggage with a tag bearing your name and address, making it easy to identify as yours. Other recommendations included distinctive straps wrapped around the bag, reports the Express.

For those keen to keep their cases from harm, he recommended opting for luggage that boasts “four good wheels, with soft lining on the inside and a hard outer shell.”

When another user quizzed, “Why do you hate my bag?” Adam had a clear response: “Is your bag one with a dodgy wheel? One with no wheels at all? One with no proper handholds? Those are some of the bags I really, really hate.”

A curious traveller posed the question: “Hard case bags or cloth bags? Which is better?” To which the airline employee replied: “If you don’t mind your stuff being compressed, then soft case will do you fine, these tend to be more space efficient in the hold.”

The airport worker shared some savvy tips for safeguarding breakables while flying, advising: “If you have anything kinda fragile, you want a hard case to keep that stuff protected.”

When quizzed about the best and worst types of luggage to use, Adam revealed: “Some of the worst bags to buy are the ones which have no wheels.”

He explained the logistics behind the scenes at his airline: “In my airline, none of our holds are bin loaded, so we have to manually stack the bags inside each hold, and they can get fairly long. If your bag has at least 2 high quality wheels, then it allows us to roll them down the hold quickly, making it easier for us.”

Adam highlighted the importance of efficiency, noting: “Otherwise, we have to throw the bags in order to keep to the scheduled times.”

He confessed his pet peeve when it comes to luggage: “My absolute least favourite bags are the ones that have 4 wheels, but one of them is seized up, so we try to roll it down, but it just falls over after moving 6 inches.”

Burglars no longer case streets, instead they scroll through social media and send fake friend requests to gain access to private posts, which could leave you at risk

When you’re away on holiday, it’s incredibly tempting to share updates with everyone back home. However, that innocent photo of your hotel room or boarding pass could potentially cost you thousands if you’re not cautious.

According to Forum Insurance, posting real-time social media updates might invalidate your home insurance should you fall victim to burglary whilst away. This stems from “reasonable care” provisions included in numerous policies, reports the Express.

Insurance companies may contend that publicly announcing your home is empty constitutes negligence.

Niraj Mamtora, Director and Home Insurance Expert at Forum Insurance, explained that criminals have become far more sophisticated nowadays.

He stated: “Burglars aren’t just casing streets anymore, they’re scrolling through Instagram stories and Facebook timelines.

“With this in mind, insurers expect policyholders to take reasonable care to protect their property, and that now includes being cautious about what you share online.”

“For example, posting ‘Off to Greece for two weeks!’ could be considered negligence under policy terms, similar to leaving doors unlocked.”

Even sharing within private groups offers no protection, he warned: “Screenshots can circulate, and insurers may argue you didn’t sufficiently limit audience access.

“Many insurers include clauses requiring policyholders to ‘take care to prevent loss.’

If you publicly broadcast your holiday plans, insurers could argue you breached this duty. Always assume anything shared online, even privately, could be seen by criminals.”

Niraj warns that even innocent-looking posts can alert criminals: “They often monitor public profiles or send fake friend requests to gain access to private posts.

“Even something as simple as tagging yourself at the airport or sharing a boarding pass photo can give criminals a clear window of opportunity.”

To protect yourself from criminals while on holiday, there are several precautions you can take.

Niraj advises checking your insurance policy for clauses like “reasonable care” or “unforced entry”, and suggests waiting until you’re back home before posting holiday snaps.

It’s also wise to set your social media accounts to private, regularly review your friends list, and decline friend requests from people you don’t know.