Yes!

Domestically, we haul our own bags.

Outside of the US they are generally hauled upstairs by the local ramp/vendor. In some places we drop our bags off in the pax terminal to get screened while we clear immigration, and then our bags meet us on the plane while we preflight. Someplaces we take them to the plane with us, but they are carried in a baggage cart and then hauled up by the local muscle. There are a few variances, (ie. in SYD, when Menzies took over our ramp operation the hauling of our bags by the locals went away - something about health risk to them yada yada.) but this is generally how it is done.

It seems its mostly logistical in nature, with some thought to international bags being larger and heavier and many intl pilots tending being more senior and older (and larger ad heavier? :rolleyes: ). Crew stairs and heavy bags have been a HUGE drain on sick leave and disability accounts at FedEx.

But as far as FedEx going out and hiring Boy Fridays to haul bags, no!

When I go down the stairs in NRT after 13 hours in the Tube of Pain, you ought to hear my knees popping and snapping - and that's without carrying anything....

If your question is "Does FedEx hire people specifically to carry our bags", the answer is NO. If your question is "Does someone carry your bags up and down the aircraft stairs", the answer is YES at most international ramps. The folks that provide this nice service for us are fellow FedEx employees, who also load and unload the freight. As someone stated, the purpose of this service is so that we don't inadvertently do a 2&1/2 back flip with a pike, on the stairs and delay the flight. It's not because they (the Company) love us. Interestingly enough, this service isn't provided in the lower 48. I guess they (the Company) are willing to take that delay if we were to slip and fall and are not able to operate the trip. Hope that answers your question.

It's very cool to see a little, 90 pound oriental guy, grab the two big, international 14-day suitcases and just walk up or down the stairs like he's carrying a loaf of bread under each arm. Those guys are in shape!