Only What You Carry With You

The airline industry looks to be in a slump at the moment and if the news out of JFK yesterday is any indication, it isn't going to get better any time soon. Apparently around 4:45 yesterday morning, the computers in the baggage handling areas of JFK malfunctioned and the device that scans the luggage tags on checked luggage ended up failing and so bags were no longer being automatically routed to the appropriate planes they needed to go to. The airport reacted immediately and brought in extra crews to handle the heavy volume of traffic that comes through JFK but even then, the surge didn't work. The system was quickly overwhelmed and in no time, the plane delays began to increase.

In order to reduce the ire of passengers already ticked off about having to pay for having their bags checked in, the American Airlines (who was most directly affected by the computer problems) began to send off planes without all the baggage loaded. Now there's a novel idea. Charge people for their bags, then send them off without them. Sure the bags may arrive in a day or two but is that enough to reduce the frustration and anger that many passengers feel given the fact that their flights are being delayed, they are being subject to more and more scrutiny by security prior to boarding and now there's a greater chance that their bags won't even arrive with them? Now I know that the industry has literally exploded over the past few decades but as far as I know, airports didn't always have automated systems to help with baggage handling. Back in the old days it was all done by hand, isn't that why the luggage tags have airline information on it?

Now I should point out that getting upset with the people at the ticketing desk or at the gate isn't going to do anything good for you. They are not purposely withholding your bags nor are they responsible for sorting and loading them so when I see passengers going off on these poor employees, I feel sympathy for them. Still, they are the closest persons available to hold accountable so most passengers tend to take their anger out on them. Still, you can't blame them. I mean here we are paying more and more for less service and we're still suffering through an industry that had become quite decent in recent years; at least prior to 9/11 that is.

Perhaps it was the complacency that stemmed from years of terrorist free travel that made everyone think of taking a plane to be the contemporary equivalent of taking the bus. It was so easy for anyone to walk up and board a plane with a minimal of trouble that it wasn't surprising that many people came to rely on the industry so much. Now in the face of greater demand and rising costs, it's difficult for the industry that grew with leaps and bounds to keep pace with the tide that prosperity has brought it. Why are we doing the things we're doing? Why are we paying for these things and not getting anything in return such as on time service with a better than likely chance of getting your bags with you at the end of your journey?