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Lost luggage rates rise after new carry-on rules
FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Published on: 10/05/06
The number of bags lost or delayed by airlines climbed to a daily average of 14,089 in August, and a Delta Connection carrier had the highest rate, according to government reports.
It was the worst month for baggage-handling industrywide since a one-time meltdown in December 2004, largely due to problems at US Airways.
For every 1,000 passengers in August, 8.08 bags were reported lost or delayed, up from both July's rate of 6.5 and the August 2005 rate of 6.4.
The figures are in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report.
Trouble with checked bags was partly the result of a ban on liquids and gels in carryon luggage after an alleged plot to bomb U.S.-bound jetliners was foiled in Britain.
Passengers who normally carried their luggage began checking it to avoid having their toiletries confiscated by security screeners.
"The increased number of bags being checked resulted in more mishandlings," said David Castelveter, spokesman for the airline trade group Air Transport Association.
The ban was lifted six weeks later after officials decided small amounts of liquids and gels could be carried aboard airplanes if they were put in a quart-size plastic bag.
But the trend is for more bags to be lost, stolen, mishandled or damaged. The number of mishandled bags was 23 percent higher in 2005 than in 2004.
Kevin Mitchell, president of the Business Travel Coalition, blamed short staffing and strapped baggage-handling systems.
"I don't think anyone is surprised," Mitchell said.
Atlanta's top two airlines, Delta and AirTran, both said they saw heavier checked luggage volume when the tighter carry-on limits took effect. The carriers said they planned to adjust staffing.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport doesn't monitor wait times for luggage, but anecdotal reports suggest it ranges widely depending on the time of day and day of the week, as well as flight circumstances.
One of Hartsfield-Jackson's biggest operators, Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines, has had chronic baggage handling problems for more than a year.
Atlantic Southeast had by far the highest rate of lost bags per 1,000 passengers in August, the latest in a string of last-place performances. Its rate was 21.56. Delta was 13th in that category for August, with a rate of 9.0, while AirTran was 9th with a rate of 6.99.
Atlantic Southeast also had the worst on-time rate for the third straight month, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's monthly report.
It came last among 20 ranked carriers, with just 58.1 percent of its flights arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, vs. 57.3 percent in July. Its 12-month rank was 18th.
Delta's rate of on-time arrivals dipped to 76 percent from 77 percent in July. It ranked 10th, down from 7th in July. For the 12 months ended in August, it ranked 7th.
AirTran, Delta's archrival in the Atlanta market, had an August on-time rate of 72.3 percent and ranked 16th for the month, down from 8th in July, when it had a rate of 75.6 percent. AirTran's 12-month rank was 10th.
The industry average for August was 75.8 percent, slightly under the 12-month average of 77 percent.
Well no kidding what did they think would happen that all the bags would actually make it to their destination with increased volume. I said in a thread a while back when the new rules came out that the airlines baggage deals would increase dramatically and cost the airlines more money.....
FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Published on: 10/05/06
The number of bags lost or delayed by airlines climbed to a daily average of 14,089 in August, and a Delta Connection carrier had the highest rate, according to government reports.
It was the worst month for baggage-handling industrywide since a one-time meltdown in December 2004, largely due to problems at US Airways.
For every 1,000 passengers in August, 8.08 bags were reported lost or delayed, up from both July's rate of 6.5 and the August 2005 rate of 6.4.
The figures are in the U.S. Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report.
Trouble with checked bags was partly the result of a ban on liquids and gels in carryon luggage after an alleged plot to bomb U.S.-bound jetliners was foiled in Britain.
Passengers who normally carried their luggage began checking it to avoid having their toiletries confiscated by security screeners.
"The increased number of bags being checked resulted in more mishandlings," said David Castelveter, spokesman for the airline trade group Air Transport Association.
The ban was lifted six weeks later after officials decided small amounts of liquids and gels could be carried aboard airplanes if they were put in a quart-size plastic bag.
But the trend is for more bags to be lost, stolen, mishandled or damaged. The number of mishandled bags was 23 percent higher in 2005 than in 2004.
Kevin Mitchell, president of the Business Travel Coalition, blamed short staffing and strapped baggage-handling systems.
"I don't think anyone is surprised," Mitchell said.
Atlanta's top two airlines, Delta and AirTran, both said they saw heavier checked luggage volume when the tighter carry-on limits took effect. The carriers said they planned to adjust staffing.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport doesn't monitor wait times for luggage, but anecdotal reports suggest it ranges widely depending on the time of day and day of the week, as well as flight circumstances.
One of Hartsfield-Jackson's biggest operators, Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines, has had chronic baggage handling problems for more than a year.
Atlantic Southeast had by far the highest rate of lost bags per 1,000 passengers in August, the latest in a string of last-place performances. Its rate was 21.56. Delta was 13th in that category for August, with a rate of 9.0, while AirTran was 9th with a rate of 6.99.
Atlantic Southeast also had the worst on-time rate for the third straight month, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's monthly report.
It came last among 20 ranked carriers, with just 58.1 percent of its flights arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, vs. 57.3 percent in July. Its 12-month rank was 18th.
Delta's rate of on-time arrivals dipped to 76 percent from 77 percent in July. It ranked 10th, down from 7th in July. For the 12 months ended in August, it ranked 7th.
AirTran, Delta's archrival in the Atlanta market, had an August on-time rate of 72.3 percent and ranked 16th for the month, down from 8th in July, when it had a rate of 75.6 percent. AirTran's 12-month rank was 10th.
The industry average for August was 75.8 percent, slightly under the 12-month average of 77 percent.
Well no kidding what did they think would happen that all the bags would actually make it to their destination with increased volume. I said in a thread a while back when the new rules came out that the airlines baggage deals would increase dramatically and cost the airlines more money.....