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Most travellers prefer to pack bags themselves
When you check in for a flight, an airline staff member will often pose the question: "Did you pack your bag yourself?"
- By Daniel Bardsley, Mohammad Shamseddine, Fuad Ali, Staff Reporters
- Published: 00:00 January 28, 2007
- "If it's my husband or another member of the family packing, then I don't mind if they pack my things for me," says Dina Sultan.
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Dubai: When you check in for a flight, an airline staff member will often pose the question: "Did you pack your bag yourself?"
It's just as well they do these checks, because you can never be sure what might be hidden inside your luggage if someone else has packed it for you.
Just take the case of the Indian businessman detained earlier this month at Dubai International Airport.
Nusli Wadia was questioned for three hours after a pistol and 30 cartridges were discovered in his baggage.
A spokesman for Wadia said the weapon had been mistakenly packed by a member of his house staff.
In a Gulf News online poll, a large majority of respondents - 82 per cent - said they prepared their own luggage before a flight, while 18 per cent said someone else packed their bags for them.
City Talk spoke to residents of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah to find out whether they would ever trust anyone enough to let them pack their bags for them.
Andrew Nethercott, an engineer from the United Kingdom, said he always packs for himself when travelling. "I think you should always do the packing, it's not safe to let anyone else packs your bag for you," he said.
Mohammad Kaddourah, 30, a salesman from Palestine, said he preferred packing his bags rather than letting someone else do it for him.
"It's not about being safe, but imagine someone packs your bag and when you reach your destination you find out that one or more things you need were not packed. I prefer that I pack my own bag," he said.
Dina Sultan, 26, from Syria, said she does not mind if someone else packs her bag for her.
"Although I prefer that I pack my own bag, if it's my husband or another member of the family packing, then I don't mind," she said.
Ebrahim Mohammad Quwayes, 26, from Egypt, who manages a car rental shop, said: "I would not trust or let just anybody pack my bags, it will have to be someone very close to me, like an immediate family member or a really close friend."
Indian accountant Rajeeth Kumar, 29, said he only allows close relatives to pack his luggage for him. "Last June my uncle packed for me - there were too many things and alone I couldn't handle it. I trust him," he said.
Filipina sales executive Donna Barlet, 23, said she would not allow anyone to pack her bags for her.
"I should be the one who does it, as I am responsible for whatever is in it. Even if I have maids in my house, I won't allow them [to pack my bags]. I am married and I won't allow even my husband to put things in my luggage," she said.
Indian salesman Sathyan Narayan, 24, is prepared to let other people sort out his luggage for him.
"If I am going to my country, then some of my friends will do the packing for me. If I trust them, then no problem," he said.
Iraqi office assistant Haider Saleh Mahdi, 27, said it was sometimes a good idea to get help when packing for a trip.
"Of course I would trust members of my family to help pack my luggage, because we grew up with the same mentality and I understand them fully so I can trust they will only do what's good for me.
"I would allow a friend to pack my luggage, but not any friend. It will only be a very close friend who I can trust fully and sometimes a friend can be closer and dearer than a brother," he said.
Ramadan Mohammad Sayed, 29, an Egyptian real estate agent, said he would only trust close family members or a very close friend who he lived with to prepare his luggage.
"There are some matters that you may rely on friends for, but in such an important matter as this I would not trust a friend who I have just a good superficial relationship with.
"Having said all that, in the present circumstances, packing your own luggage would be safest, that way you'll be sure about what's exactly in your possessions," he said.
Irish developer Patrick Judge, 52, said he does not let anyone else come near his bags when they are being packed.
"Nobody does anything for me. It's unsafe," he said.
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