Assistance Requested To Watch Luggage

March 8, 2010

in Luggage Stories

The loudspeaker announces the security warning clearly, “Do not leave your luggage with anyone else…” Yet, inevitably, someone always asks me to watch their luggage for them while they go… wherever. Once, while waiting for a connecting international flight, this lovely older person asked me to watch her one piece of carry-on luggage while she went to the restroom. Again, I apologized, and said “no.” It was obvious to me that she could have carried it with her without any problems.

This traveler insisted she wasn’t a terrorist or anything and that her luggage did not contain anything to worry about. I informed her that it wasn’t about me not knowing who SHE was, but rather SHE should worry about who I WAS. I painted the scenario in which while she was gone (and if I were unscrupulous), I could put anything into her luggage and she would end up getting blamed for it.

She then turned to the person on the other side of her and asked exactly the same favor. When that person also said no, she announced we were all rude and huffed her way through the whole ensuing flight.

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Clare March 8, 2010 at 7:59 pm

I think you and the other person did the correct thing by refusing to watch her luggage. If anything she was the one being rude, not you or the other person.

Reply

madachode March 9, 2010 at 5:36 am

Why didn't you agree the 2nd time then called security to alert them of an unattended bag after the hag left?

Reply

Thi Halpern January 2, 2013 at 2:04 pm

Times have indeed changed! In the 80s and 90s, I don't think anyone would think anything of asking someone to watch their luggage for them. Now post 2001, it's a whole different thing. It's just too bad.

Reply

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