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Last week, while lining up for a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, I witnessed a scene that left me thinking. A female passenger was in a heated dispute with airport staff over her 7.5-kilogram carry-on suitcase.

According to regulations, passengers are only allowed a maximum of 7 kilograms of hand luggage. Since her bag was overweight, the staff asked her to place it with her checked baggage, but she refused.

“It is only half a kilo, why not be flexible? You are making things too difficult for customers,” she said angrily.

The argument dragged on for nearly 10 minutes. The staff, calm and patient, kept repeating the rules while the passenger reasoned that other airlines are more lenient and that “being so rigid annoys customers.” Those in line behind her grew restless and curious onlookers turned their heads. The usually quiet security area suddenly felt tense.

Watching the exchange, I could understand her frustration. Nobody wants extra fees or inconvenience. To many, an additional 0.5 kilograms seems trivial, easy to dismiss as “just a little over.” But air travel is not like everyday life.

I recalled a principle often mentioned in aviation: every number is carefully calculated. The 7-kilogram limit is not arbitrary; it is tied to weight balance, cabin safety and overhead storage capacity. If each of the hundreds of passengers on a flight brought an extra half-kilo, the total added weight would no longer be negligible.

Moreover, heavier bags also clog up cabin space, making them harder to stow and delaying boarding. Worse, they can pose real danger if they fall during turbulence.

Some might argue: “Be flexible, it is not that serious.” But where would the line be drawn? If 7.5 kilograms is tolerated today, why not 8 or 9 tomorrow? And if one passenger is let off while another is penalized, fairness is lost. Rules are meant to be applied equally.

In the end, the woman still had to check in her bag, but not before wasting time, getting upset and souring her trip. The staff, meanwhile, endured a scolding and public stares while patiently sticking to the rules.

That small incident made me reflect. Why do we expect others to follow rules yet find it difficult to do so ourselves? In many countries, baggage limits are strictly enforced and even the slightest excess can come with a hefty fee. But in Vietnam, many passengers see “flexibility” as the norm.

Civility is not always about big gestures. It begins with respecting the simplest of rules. A fair society relies on rules being followed, just as safe, convenient flights depend on all passengers complying with regulations.

Half a kilogram may feel insignificant to one traveler, but respecting the limit matters the entire flight. On a plane, the safety of hundreds can sometimes boil down to details that may seem minor.

As I later sat on the flight, I kept recalling the woman’s angry stare and the weary patience of the staff. I told myself that if my own carry-on were ever overweight, even by half a kilo, I would check it in without protest, not out of fear of fines, but out of respect for a shared principle that protects us all.

*The opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.