In Rare Video, Airport Ground Staff Uses Sponge Board To Prevent Luggage Damage

Travelling in flights is surely convenient and saves a lot of time for passengers. One does not need to carry their heavy luggage around. But there are certain cons that come with it as well. Passengers frequently claim that their luggage is mishandled or broken by airlines. Often standing near the conveyor belt many passengers feel that the process can cause damage to their bags. In order to tackle this issue, the Varanasi airport has come up with a plan. A video of the same is doing rounds on the internet and people have varied reactions to it.

Passengers at Varanasi Airport spotted something unique at the conveyor belt. In a video posted on X (Formerly Twitter), an airport authority official was seen standing at the conveyor belt, exactly at the point luggage slides down onto the moving belt, softening the fall with a thick sponge sheet to assure the bags’ safe landing. The user who posted the clip quipped, “Great to see the luggage being taken care of at the belt.”

Since being posted on social media, the video quickly became viral, with over 160 thousand views. But netizens’ reactions were divided, with some appreciating the endeavour and others dismissing it as pointless. The majority of netizens were outraged and criticised the decision, calling into doubt the long-term usefulness and viability of such a strategy.

A user stated, “This is a pointless job and only for show lol. Baggage handlers on the other side have already done all the damage they can to these bags.” While looking at the face of the staffer, another joked, “Looks like it’s sort of a disciplinary posting for today – because he broke some rule.”

Many called it a PR stunt and that the major damage was already done. “It’s funny that people keep falling for this PR stunt from airports. From the time you check in your luggage to the time it shows up on the baggage claim, it has to pass through multiple conveyor belts and gets tossed around a lot while being loaded and unloaded from aircraft. Keeping a foam pad at the very end of the process when your luggage has taken 95 percent of all the possible hits during the journey is nothing short of making a fool out of you,” said a user while another agreed and added it was a waste of staff members as well.

A person suggested, “Poor design and waste of human resources. Create a cushion fixed with rollers to drag it with a belt. Just a little extra attachment needed. Behind the curtain they will still throw the bag in the air; it’s just to show that they care.”