[epena]

My father-in-law passed away on Tuesday 3/28. I immediately booked a flight to El Paso, stopping in Phoenix (no plane change). Upon Boasrding the airplane, (mind you I don't fly), I noticed that the over head storage was too high for me, I'm 4'8. I told the flight attendant that I may need help putting the bag up and her response was "YOU SHUGGED IT, YOU STORE IT". Somewhat surprised but numb with emotion about my father-in-law, I put my bag over my head pivotted on my toe and pushed my bag up and popped my knee. My reaction was "Ouch" but I continued to sit through my flight. Although feeling a soreness, it wasn't until I got off the plane in El Paso that I felt pain. With hopes that it would go away and with all the stress I was going through I didn't go to the doctor. I did however call the airline on 4/6 and after literally 20 attempts, filed a complaint which I'm sure is going nowhere. In fact I was told that it's not the attendants "job" to help me. I work in a hospital and if water is on the floor it's not my "job" to clean it up, BUT, it is my responsibility to make sure no one gets hurt!! I went to the doctor this week and am told that I have to wear a leg brace for one month, walk with a cane and hope that I don't have a tear in my miniscus! I'm furious that you allow you flight attendants to treat customers that way. Not to mention the mess SW made in my bank account for the booking errors and cancellations that were made.

[cortney]

first off, im sorry to hear about your loss.
yes, flight attendants are there for your safety. however they are not required to help you or stow your carry ons for you. flight attendants are not covered with workmans comp in the event of an injury while helping passengers with their carry ons...which is BS in my opinion. did the flight attendant have to have an attitude with you..no thats never ok. but most flight attendant unions (i know mine) tells us we are not required to help or stow any passenger carry ons its for our safety. im always willing to help a passenger however they also need to help me with their stuff. im not going to pick up somebody elses bag by myself and take a risk at getting hurt, they could have checked it if they cant lift it. it is a flight attendants job to make sure nobody gets hurt while on the plane and that everybody is ok, but they also need to make sure that they are ok and not taking a risk at getting hurt

[bilingual]

I agree, dont travel with bags you cannot handle yourself, this is your own responsibility.

[azstar]

Travelling under your circumstances is stressful, at best, as you mentioned. Having said that, as a frequent traveler myself, I see too many passengers carrying baggage that they simply cannot lift in the overhead bin. If the aisle is jammed with boarding passengers and one flight attendant is in the back,and the other at the front door, they cannot help even if they want to. (Some union contracts prohibit flight attendants from doing this). If there is a 90 lb elderly person in front of you, and/or the same behind you, who is going to lift your bag if you can't do it?