Saturday, May 10, 2025
  • Share your story
  • About
  • Contact
Economy FootPrint
  • Home
  • News & Politics
  • Opinion
  • Finance & Economy
  • Aviation
  • Editorial
  • Transport & Blue Economy
  • Features | Analysis
  • Health | Environment
Economy FootPrint
Home Aviation

HOLIDAY TRAVELS: THE RISK OF EXCESS LUGGAGE ON FLIGHTS

EconomyFoot Print by EconomyFoot Print
December 17, 2024
in Aviation, Opinion
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Imo-owo Mbede

Christmas is here again! The season of exorbitant flight fares, yet, bustling airports, packed flights, and, of course, extra luggage. From foodstuffs to gifts for family, friends and loved ones, at home and abroad, the airports are choked not just with passengers but also with their countless suitcases and boxes. And herein lies the issue: those suitcases could be a big problem for your safety.

Last January, during a chat with an airline personnel, I learned something that shook me. The personnel narrated how a pilot had complained about difficulty landing a flight because the aircraft was too heavy (even after some passengers’ luggage had been left behind to be transported on later flights).

Of course, this excessive weight stemmed from the airline’s eagerness to rake in additional revenue from passengers’ excess luggage. The pilot reportedly threatened that he would not fly again under such risky conditions.

While ticket racketeering, holiday surcharges, and the practice of rescheduling tickets of some passengers to accommodate higher-paying customers often make headlines, the danger of overloaded planes is an issue we don’t talk about nearly enough.

This risk remains largely unknown to, or even ignored by the public. Paying for excess luggage seems a minor inconvenience that only hurts the pockets. However, excess weight from excess luggage compromises the plane’s performance, particularly during takeoff and landing. The margin for error is slim, and the consequences can be dire.

My dear brothers and sisters, as you pack your bags this Christmas, ask yourself: Do I really need to carry all of this stuff on the flight? Prioritise essentials and explore cost-effective alternatives for shipping bulk items.  It’s a small sacrifice for a safer flight for everyone.

Our dear airline operators, the festive season often means heightened demand and increased opportunities for profit, but safety should always come first. Ignoring minimum safety standards like weight limits for extra revenue is a dangerous gamble.

Passenger trust is earned through a commitment to safety, not by pushing the limits of operational capacity for financial gain. Compliance with the relevant safety protocols is essential to the safety of lives and will yield far more value than short-term excess baggage revenue.

Together, let us do the right thing to ensure everyone travels safely during this festive period and beyond.

Merry Christmas and safe travels, everyone!

By Imo-owo Mbede, a public affairs analyst writes from Abuja..

Related posts

NCAA SANCTIONS KENYAN AIRWAYS OVER CONSUMER PROTECTION-RELATED INFRACTIONS

May 9, 2025
Kogi Professionals Network Commends Bold Legislative Action on Environmental Pollution by Miners

Okura State: A Just and Compelling Case

May 5, 2025
Previous Post

Defense Headquarters Says No Foreign Military Base In Nigeria

Next Post

Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy To Implement Modern Audit Techniques To Eliminate Waste – Minister

Next Post

Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy To Implement Modern Audit Techniques To Eliminate Waste - Minister

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECOMMENDED NEWS

President Tinubu seeks approval for $800m loan from World Bank

2 years ago

Norrenberger Champions Financial Security for Senior Citizens at its Retirement Planning Seminar

2 years ago

NSIB Act 2022: NSIB Holds Consultative Meeting with Stakeholders 

2 years ago

BIPC To Dangote: Respect Court Judgement, Stop Defrauding Benue

3 months ago

FOLLOW US

  • 86.2k Followers

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • Aviation
  • Brands
  • Crime
  • Editorial
  • Features | Analysis
  • Finance | Insurance | Pension
  • Health | Environment
  • Industry | Trade | Commerce
  • International
  • Interview | Profile
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Small Business
  • Sports
  • Top News
  • Transport & Blue Economy
  • Uncategorized

BROWSE BY TOPICS

2023 Benue Budget Abuja-Kaduna Rail Access Corporation Access pension airports concession Aviation Ayu Benue Budget Benue Community Buhari Business CBN Central Bank Dana Air Economy FGPL Herdsmen Herdsmen attacks insecurity insurance Maritime Min of Transport MSMEs NAICOM NCAA Nigeria Nigeria -Cameroon Border Post Nigeria Air NRac Onne Port ooh Orrom Ortom PDP PenCom pension Railway Sambo Jaji Transcorp Transcorp Group Transcorp Hotels Plc UBA Ukohol Wike Wildon Ideva

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • Aviation
  • Brands
  • Crime
  • Editorial
  • Features | Analysis
  • Finance | Insurance | Pension
  • Health | Environment
  • Industry | Trade | Commerce
  • International
  • Interview | Profile
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Small Business
  • Sports
  • Top News
  • Transport & Blue Economy
  • Uncategorized

Economy Footprint

The EconomyFootprint is published by Ideas Tent Communications Ltd®. All Rights Reserved.

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • Troops Arrest Gunrunners, Recover Arms, Ammunition In Kaduna State
  • IMF Managing Director Georgieva Says Rising Geopolitical Risks Weigh on Asset Prices
  • Badaru Commends Security Efforts On Illela – Sokoto- Badagry Super Highway

Category

  • Aviation
  • Brands
  • Crime
  • Editorial
  • Features | Analysis
  • Finance | Insurance | Pension
  • Health | Environment
  • Industry | Trade | Commerce
  • International
  • Interview | Profile
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Small Business
  • Sports
  • Top News
  • Transport & Blue Economy
  • Uncategorized

Recent News

Troops Arrest Gunrunners, Recover Arms, Ammunition In Kaduna State

Troops Arrest Gunrunners, Recover Arms, Ammunition In Kaduna State

May 9, 2025
IMF Managing Director Georgieva Says Rising Geopolitical Risks Weigh on Asset Prices

IMF Managing Director Georgieva Says Rising Geopolitical Risks Weigh on Asset Prices

May 9, 2025
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion