Carry-on Issue Becomes Crisis as Busiest Travel Season Approaches.NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1998--As airlines begin putting Plexiglas cutouts in front of airport X-ray machines Noun 1. X-ray machine - an apparatus that provides a source of X rays apparatus, setup - equipment designed to serve a specific function fluoroscope, roentgenoscope - an X-ray machine that combines an X-ray source and a fluorescent screen to enable direct to ensure carry-on bags are small enough to fit under passenger seats or in overhead bins, increased delays and consumer dissatisfaction is likely to grow. "The airlines' use of this 'template' is an illogical response to the carry-on crisis. The attempt is to standardize stan·dard·ize v. 1. To cause to conform to a standard. 2. To evaluate by comparing with a standard. not only the size, but also the shape of a bag that will be accepted onto the aircraft as a piece of carry-on," says Anne DeCicco, president of the Luggage and Leather Goods Manufacturers of America (LLGMA), the trade association representing the luggage industry. Forcing airline passengers to return to the ticket counter and check luggage that doesn't fit through the Plexiglas cutout cut·out n. 1. Something cut out or intended to be cut out from something else. 2. Electricity A device that interrupts, bypasses, or disconnects a circuit or circuit element. 3. at security check points will likely make this year's holiday travel season even more stressful. Use of these Plexiglas cutouts fails to address the fact that carry-on bags may come in different shapes and sizes and still meet the airlines' maximum acceptable sizes of 45-51 inches. "While the use of templates may be a solution for oversized o·ver·size n. 1. A size that is larger than usual. 2. An oversize article or object. adj. o·ver·size also o·ver·sized Larger in size than usual or necessary. and inappropriate baggage not reaching the aircraft at boarding time, it is another example of the airlines' unwillingness to address the root cause of the carry-on problem. Travelers want to carry-on their baggage because they have a basic distrust of baggage handling systems A Baggage Handling System (BHS) is a type of conveyor system installed in airports that transports checked luggage from ticket counters to areas where the bags can be loaded onto airplanes. . "Travelers do not believe their baggage will arrive at the same destination at the same time undamaged. You can't have a solution unless you address the cause of the problem," DeCicco said. For the past six months, in response to the airlines' crackdown on carry-on luggage, manufacturers and retailers have introduced smaller products into the market. Although consumers purchased pieces with linear measurements meeting the airlines maximum size requirement, it is now possible that those new smaller pieces will not be accepted as carry-ons because of their shape. 1998 U.S. Transportation Department figures show the airlines mishandled more luggage between March and August than they did before the crackdown on carry-on bags began. "Passengers don't carry their baggage on-board On board usually means to be traveling on some vehicle. For example, Baby On Board. Compare with overboard. Metaphorically, the term on-board is often used to refer to some piece of technology that is integrated in a moving vehicle, for example: LLGMA is urging the airlines to address air passenger concerns including: lost and damaged luggage, the time required for checking baggage, and the timeliness of baggage delivery to baggage claim Noun 1. baggage claim - an area in an airport where arriving passengers can collect the luggage that has been carried in the hold of the aircraft area - a part of a structure having some specific characteristic or function; "the spacious cooking area provided areas at passenger destination points. Please call Ken Robinson The following individuals are named Ken Robinson:
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