01.07.2008

2 x 20 better than 1 x 40

Pack your suitcase with care

Charter season is coming up, and some people don't mind paying a little extra to pack more things for their trip. But when we ‛travel heavy’, it affects the airport staff who make sure that our suitcases get on the flight. Danish labour union 3F has started a campaign in collaboration with the handling companies at Copenhagen Airport and the Danish Prevention Fund. The campaign is designed to remind us to pack our suitcases carefully, keeping in mind the people who have to handle them. CPH is backing the campaign.

If you travel light, you can easily stay within the 20 kilos passengers on charter flights are typically allowed. Or are you the cautious type who packs too many shoes, a hair dryer, ham and salami for sandwiches and a couple of bottles of aquavit, just in case things turn out to be a bit too exotic where you're going? If you are, the 3F union and the airport handling companies would like to appeal to you with their campaign: Think of the people who have to carry your suitcase – pack less!

It's like struggling with your suitcase under a dining table
The airport’s baggage hall, where suitcases and bags are sorted for the various flights, has different kinds of lifting gear and other equipment to help the baggage staff, but when loading and unloading an aircraft, staff must work in narrow spaces and uncomfortable positions that make it extra difficult to handle the heavy suitcases. ‘The interior of an aircraft hold makes it impossible for people to stand up while they work there, so they can't follow the guidelines for healthy lifting. Try moving your heavy suitcase around underneath your dining table: that will give you a good idea of the way our colleagues have to work when they load and unload aircraft,’ said Lars Brogaard of the local 3F office and project manager for the campaign. Work is being done to develop a conveyor belt which can move baggage all the way into position in the body of the aircraft, a so-called ‛ramp snake’. ‘A lot of good work is being put into the project, but it is a difficult task, and we are far from having solved it. For this reason, we want to use the campaign as another way of minimising the problem,’ he said.

Two weighing 20 better than one weighing 40
The simple message of the campaign is: 'Pack less in your suitcase!' During the summer in particular, when many people are travelling on charter trips, there is great strain on baggage staff. But what can you do if you actually do need to bring more than the normal 20 kilos and are prepared to pay for the extra weight and also want to help the people who are going to handle your suitcase? ‘We suggest that passengers should pack in more than one unit instead of packing one huge suitcase. Two suitcases of 20 kilos each are better than one weighing 40,’ said Brogaard.

Competitors join forces in the campaign
The handling companies at Copenhagen Airport, who are normally in intense competition with each other, have decided to join forces for the campaign, which is supported by 3F and the Prevention Fund. Their support makes it possible to spread the word via ads on busses and taxis and at various events. The campaign was run at this year’s travel fair, and later in the year, a large simulator will be set up in the Town Hall Square in Copenhagen so people can see for themselves what it is like to pack the hold of an aircraft.

The campaign will run in the Greater Copenhagen area until the end of 2009.