Baggage Handler Gets Trapped In Cargo Hold, Flies United to Washington Dulles

by Gary Leff

A baggage handler got trapped in the cargo hold and wound up flying on yesterday afternoon’s United Express UA6060 from Charlotte to Washington Dulles

It’s not clear how the employee of G2 Secure Staff, United Express carrier Mesa’s vendor, got in the Embraer ERJ-175 or stuck — or how the airline discovered he was there. Authorities were alerted and Dulles airport fire and rescue met the aircraft on arrival.

The man refused medical treatment and didn’t have his security badge with him saying “he left his airport ID in his locker at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.”

Since he didn’t pay for a ticket, he earns no miles in United’s revenue-based program despite the 322 mile journey from Charlotte.

Perhaps he just wanted a preview of what United’s Basic Economy is going to be like.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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  1. Well stated, Gary! I think that I’ve been seated a few times in those same United “basic economy” seats on transcontinental flights! 🙁

    “Since he didn’t pay for a ticket, he earns no miles in United’s revenue-based program despite the 322 mile journey from Charlotte.
    Perhaps he just wanted a preview of what United’s Basic Economy is going to be like.”

  2. He had considerably more leg room traveling in the cargo hold than basic economy offers.
    I traveled in UAs new basic economy configured seats last month. I’m 5’9″ and sitting upright there was 3″ of space from my knees to the back of the seat in front of me. I couldn’t cross my legs without performing yoga.

  3. Technically a little better than Basic Economy since he didn’t get charged for luggage or carry-ons.

  4. UA, since basic economy come with no seat selection will oversold passengers end up in the cargo hold like this guy?

  5. @DreeN – “I traveled in UAs new basic economy configured seats” … they have new seats configured for Basic Economy?? I thought it was the same seats with only everything else (i.e. baggage, advance seat assignment, boarding, etc) changing.

  6. @a
    It’s been a while since I’ve flown UA economy (without an upgrade). I purchased their cheapest ticket, no upgrade. Eco+ had a decent amount of leg room by comparison. Are they new seats? They were to me!

  7. If UA can push back before verifying that the ground crew is not in the cargo hold, how can we expect the gate agents to handle the new Priority 5 customers with bags that need to be checked right seconds before final boarding?
    Maybe Spirit has figured this out already.

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