- A London Heathrow worker said passengers' low confidence in baggage handling is leading to delays.
- Speaking to The Telegraph, the worker said that travelers were bringing more hand luggage.
- It was taking longer for people to board planes as a result, the worker added.
A worker at London Heathrow, one of Europe's busiest airports, said that passengers' lack of confidence in baggage handling is leading to flight delays.
The Heathrow airport worker, who spoke to The Telegraph anonymously, said travelers were bringing more hand luggage on board due to fears that baggage handlers would lose it if placed in the hold.
According to the anonymous worker, "a lack of confidence in luggage retrieval has resulted in a major increase of hand baggage being taken to the gate."
This means passengers take longer to board and baggage often needs to be moved from overhead lockers into the aircraft hold due to limited onboard space, the employee told the publication.
Travelers' fears of lost items are not unfounded, according to the worker, who claimed that passengers who do bring bags should be prepared for the possibility of not having their luggage for the entirety of their trip.
Representatives for London Heathrow did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside of normal working hours.
This is not the first time employees at the London airport have spoken out about reported luggage issues.
A baggage handler at Heathrow previously told the BBC that there was a "very slim chance" passengers' luggage would reach its destination.
The worker said baggage difficulties at the London airport were a result of staffing issues, low investment, and old technology.
A representative for London Heathrow previously told Insider that they recognized some of the baggage systems were old but had plans to replace them.
