A new campaign against travellers who cram too many things into their carry-on luggage is gaining traction on Twitter.
The social-media campaign, #CarryOnShame, was started by Spud Hilton, a reporter from US website SFGate.com.
Hilton is asking travellers at the airport (past security) to look for examples of “carry-on shame”, take pictures or videos of the excess cabin luggage and post them on Instagram, Twitter and Vine.
This is not about people carrying a duty-free bag with their handbag. It’s travellers taking a piece of luggage that’s bulging at the seams or a backpack in place of a purse.
Checking luggage at the gate slows down boarding, Hilton says, causes flight delays, rows and increases theft from gate-checked bags (because this is where most people store their valuables).
It’s the airlines, he says, that need to take the lead in changing habits. That’s why you’ll see the airport and the airline in Tweets and posts.
Here’s a selection of tweets:
@SpudHilton Almost too easy to spot #CarryOnShame at #LAX pic.twitter.com/6qx8jiwOcy
— Alice Wertz (@AlicesTake) June 8, 2014
Witnessed a tantrum bc she wasn’t allowed to bring on 3 bags. Happened too fast for a photo #CarryonShame #Tampa #AmericanAir @SpudHilton — Lindsay Martin (@Lindsay86) June 11, 2014
The #carryonshame campaign reminds me of a #newyorker cover I found recently. @newscomauHQ @SpudHilton pic.twitter.com/z3zZwG888G
— Steve Hui (@iFLYflat) June 11, 2014
RT @SpudHilton: “personal item”? @VirginAmerica #CarryonShame pic.twitter.com/N52r9QhM0F – These are the people that caused carryon fees 🙁
— James Craven (@CravenTravels) May 20, 2014
