Lost in Transportation | Airlines’ luggage reconciliation gets smarter

Victor DaRosa stands under a scorching afternoon sun, loading bags onto a jet heading to Detroit.
As each suitcase climbs up the conveyor belt into the plane, a small computer verifies that it actually belongs on that flight. If one bag didn’t, a red light would flash and the belt would stop until somebody acknowledges the mistake and reroutes the luggage.
This is the future of baggage handling. Delta Air Lines is investing USD50 million to soothe one of air travel’s biggest headaches: lost and delayed luggage.
Delta carried nearly 120 million checked suitcases last year, collecting $25 in fees, each way, for most domestic bags. For that price, fliers expect their suitcase to be waiting on the carousel when they arrive. Delta already has one of the airline industry’s best luggage handling records — just 1 out of every 500 bags failed to arrive on time — but hopes that by deploying a RFID, or radio-frequency identification, tracking system globally it can improve further.

* Movies: Southside With You

* Books: Hot Start by David Freed

* Music: Six String Stories by Joanna Connor

* Wine: The Hanseatic Claret

* Food & drink: No-tipping trend now at more restaurants, with mixed results

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Extra 2623 – Lost in Transportation | Airlines’ luggage reconciliation gets smarter