Changing the Way Airlines Handle Baggage

by Richard A. Altomare

Since the tragic events of 9/11, the airline industry, and its customers, have endured a great deal of pain and inconvenience.

Today, many people still dread going to the airport. Long lines for baggage check-in await everyone, even those not carrying baggage-and can come with an emotional and financial cost.

Detailed searches of passengers' baggage can leave people feeling violated.

Plus, it's estimated that waiting in line for baggage check-in and claim is costing the airline passengers $50 billion per year, due to lost productivity. But airlines will generate billions of dollars in new revenue by handling bags from passengers who still want to bring them in.

The situation is still plagued with numerous problems. People, government, industry and society overall stand to benefit greatly by reforming the current structure for baggage handling.

How do we solve this problem? By enhancing air, train and bus security, and homeland security. That means changing the way luggage is handled.

Rather than having to take the baggage through the check-in points, passengers planning an upcoming trip will use a new procedure for shipping their luggage in advance. Their luggage will be shipped to reach their destination in time for their arrival. In addition, the passengers will still have an opportunity to take the baggage to the airports with them at a premium price.

The proposed solution would operate in the following manner:

• Separate the baggage from its passengers and encourage travelers to ship their bags prior to the departure date. This will provide for the bags to be transported in a similar manner as the 5 billion parcels shipped yearly by businesses and consumers.
• Allow the USPS along with parcel carriers UPS, FedEx and Airborne to handle baggage that is currently handled by the airline industry.

This proposal will achieve the following objectives:

• Increase security for the traveling public and encourage more travel.
• Aid the Homeland Security Agency finances by reducing costs.
• Speed up the movements of passengers and baggage handling in terminals.
• Create new jobs in the private sector, particularly in the transport and travel industries.
• Generate billions of dollars for airlines for handling baggage that is still brought to the airports for premium service.
• Turn a challenge into a solution envied by our world partners.

The proposed decline in passenger baggage handled by airlines would reduce the prospect of infiltration of terrorist devices onboard planes and hence reduce the possibility of terrorist attacks.

This solution stands to generate substantial benefits for the federal government, airlines and the traveling public.

Mr. Altomare is Chairman of Universal Express, Inc. (OTCC BB: USXP) a provider of an array of logistics and air courier services to the private postal industry.

Courtesy of NAPSnet