PlasticPilot.net

US Airways decided to give a bonus (100 $… woooow) to their ground staff if they reach two objectives : 60% of flights departing on time, and less than 7 miss-handling per 1000 piece of baggage.

This may sound like a good incentive, and I wish them success, but I hope they have much more ambitious objectives for their cockpit crew…

Would you board the plane if the company goal was “Not more than 7 landings out of 1000 must be fatal for passengers” ? And what about “A maximum of 7 meals served on board out of 1000 must be toxic” ? Or may be US Airway would accept that 7 passengers out of 1000 do not pay their tickets ?

To be more serious, baggage handling is kind of a nightmare, because it is not something that can be fully automatised. At some point someone must put them on trolleys, drive the trolleys to the plane, and load them.

Some baggages can be put on the wrong trolley, or fall down on the tarmac. When this happens, the only chance of the baggage owner to get it back is in the tag. Baggage tags are quite resistant - anyone who try to get rid of one knows it. As long as the tag is not lost, the baggage will be sent to the destination airport.

But if the tag is lost, the baggage will fly to Atlanta, where all lost baggages are sold in periodical auctions. The funny rule is that buyers have to buy batches of luggages, without opening them before. Sometimes they just buy dirty underwear at golden price…