Airport shock: Sir, you've committed a federal offence

HELPING a fellow passenger threatened to descend into a nightmare for a shocked Sunshine Coast traveller. Did you know this law existed?

A reader says he was told that it was a federal offence to help someone on board with their luggage. Picture: Bev Lacey

I AM writing to inform of an incident that happened recently to my wife and I on a flight to Melbourne.

We were near the boarding desk when a young girl with a baby in her arms asked the staff at the desk if someone could help her on the plane with her luggage.

The female staff member said she did not think so.

My wife spoke to the young girl with the baby and found out that she was in the row ahead of us and offered to help, which she accepted.

My wife told the staff member we would help and she acknowledged what my wife said.

We boarded the plane and about 10 minutes into the flight the chief stewardess asked me if I had helped someone on board with their luggage and I replied yes.

The chief stewardess said she was in consultation with the captain as I had committed a federal offence as you are not allowed to do this.

Some time later she came back and said that it had been sorted.

Later during the flight I asked if I was allowed to help her off with the luggage, so she went and consulted the captain, returning to say yes I could do this.

The reason for this letter is to make this law more widely known as I have since spoken to 50 people and not one person had ever heard of this law.

Maybe signage in airports or advertising is needed.

DON DINGEY

Nambour

Originally published as Airport shock: Sir, you've committed a federal offence