Airlines May Be Forced to Pay Up for Damaged Luggage ~ DOT Update

Luggage Being Thrown on the Belt. Filmed

Alaska Airline employees were filmed hurling customer suitcases onto a concrete road at San Jose International airport in an apparent contest to see who could throw a heavy piece of luggage the farthest.

The airline has since apologized for the incident but it’s just the latest in a series of incidents where carrier employees have been caught mishandling customer bags.

But now, as millions of Americans entrust luggage carefully packed with gifts and trinkets to baggage personnel during the busy holiday travel, the Department of Transportation has a stern warning for airlines that try to skip out on reimbursing customers whose checked baggage was damaged while in transit.

The DOT issued a notice to airlines after recent airport inspections “uncovered the fact that certain airlines routinely exclude liability for damage to specific parts of checked baggage.” Under current federal law, carriers are responsible for reimbursing damage incurred to handles, zippers, wheels and other exterior parts of luggage left in their care.

But the investigation found that airline baggage policies of several carriers state they won’t reimburse passengers for any damage incurred –which is a direct violation of the law. In Sept., the federal agency investigated incidents among airlines at 16 different foreign and international airports and found that “certain airlines may be refusing to accept reports of such damage"– meaning that customers who complained were simply turned away.

U.S. airlines are also required to make sure that gate agents and other employees that deal directly with customers are up to date on the new rules regarding damaged luggage and do not turn away travelers who try to file complaints with the carrier.

Airlines have until Jan. 9, 2016 to review and, if necessary, revise their checked baggage liability policies or else face possible fines and enforcement action from the Department’s Aviation Enforcement Office.

Source ~ Fox News & Yahoo Travel

Aviation Word of the Day - Fallback Carousel

Fallback Carousel

Hi Friends, Aviation word of the Day - Fallback Carousel. Can you think of this word being taught to you while doing your Aviation courses?
It was a word I came across during ORAT ( Operation Readiness and Transfer ) after the Terminal at Indira Gandhi International Airport was built in New Delhi. I was intrigued with the many upgrades that were incorporated during the build up.
The busiest and the biggest Airport in India.

As you may know that many Upgrades and break through Innovations are happening in the Aviation industry.

It is important that I share the Importance and Fucnstions of the Fallback Carousel. As you know that airport has become so much convienet for Travellers by Air. Today you can check-in at an airport at your own convienence and around the clock (24hrs). In this case a passenger checks-in early, drops off his baggage at the airport, goes into a meeting and comes back to the airport at D-60Mins for the flight. In this case his baggage is handled / Sorted by the BHS (Baggage Handling System) through the various Bar Code scanners the BHS is fitted with. The Bag is then sorted / held on an isolated Sorter / Carousel but not released till the flight is assigned to a baggage carousel. Once the carousel is assigned the bag is automatically picked up and sent to the assigned carousel. As most you might own Iphones nowadays which has the Icloud application. Such is the Innovation you find at an Airport. The Fallback Carousel is used for Early check-in, late Check-in, Tag Less, Un Tag, Open, No Read and Transfer baggage.
     

   Source - IGI Airport

                        

Apron or Ramp - The Most Intriguing Place to work On for a New Entrant in an Airport

Aircraft Turnaround - A very well Orchestrated, Planned and Time bound activity And very interesting

As a child my I wanted to be a fighter pilot if not then a doctor. But it was not to be as the saying goes " Destiny is Etched ". It is very rare where you get to do the what you chose to do. For me it was way back in December,1994 after I was recruited at Jet Airways that a certain part of dream was realised and since it has always been a very intriguing and fascinating journey.

The aviation industry especially the Airline has always been a dream place for a young new entrant to start his/her career. As it has been for me over the years since the year 1994. Having joined the Airline absolutely with no education on the subject Aviation, it was like Latin and Greek to me in the beginning. Have come across many an individual and have asked why he/she wants to join the airline, the response is, it is very " Glamorous ". The word glamour is associated with an airline is because the very moment you enter into an airport you see Smartly groomed and Coloured Attired of the Airline. The grooming of the airline agents are such that they are No Less than Glamorous models. You are taught every procedure and process of work before you are allowed to handle specific work allocations. 

The Apron in other words the Ramp the procedure and process of work is very demanding but very satisfying. Every activity that happens during the Turnaround of an Aircraft there's a lot planning that goes into it. From the moment you are allocated as a Ramp agent or Turnaround Coordinator. First you acquire the information of the Arrival & Turnaround flight details such as Flt No, A/c Registration No, Name of the Captain, ETA / ETD, Incoming Passenger, Baggage, Cargo and P.O. Mail, Special loads, Passengers with special needs, MAAS, Wheel Chair (WCHR) passengers etc. Once all details are available you have to prioritise your activity. You then brief the respective departments/agencies about the plan of action.

This needs to be done before you come on the Ramp. On the ramp, as a Ramp agent you are to check every equipment for it serviceability/Un-serviceability. At no point there should be any equipment that is Not Ramp Worthy. All these checks are carried out at least 60Mins prior to the landing of the Aircraft. You also have to ensure all equipment's are positioned before the arrival of the aircraft. The positioning of Catering high lifts, Water cart, Toilet cart, The LDL's/UDL's (Lower Deck loader), Tow Truck & Tow bar, Electric Baggage Tractors, Fire Extinguisher bottle, Wheel Chairs, Baggage Loader, Passenger Step Ladders, Passenger Coaches, Baggage Trolleys, Outbound Cargo / Baggage and the Manpower to handle the Turnaround of an aircraft.

Every activity that happens in and around needs a lot of communication and coordination, without which the purpose to Turnaround an Aircraft is defeated. Every work process inside the aircraft and on Ramp is done as per the clock, It is also known as Precision Time Schedule (PTS). To have a perfect Turnaround an immense amount Briefing, Coordination, Communication, Calculation and Meticulous planning is involved. But I would never rule out the factor of Alertness and Time Management, on the ramp if you are Not Alert you will loose sight and control of the situation. This could lead to an accident, injury, delay, grounding of an aircraft due to negligence. Safety and Security is of the utmost Priority for the Red Cap (Supervisor) while he orchestrates the activity in and around the aircraft.  It is one such activity that needs proper coordination, communication and planning and decisions need to be made in split seconds.

The most satisfying feeling you get when an aircraft depart or rather pushed back on the dot (STD - Schedule Time of Departure) or Before the Schedule Time. 

Abbreviations:

a)   LDL - Lower Deck Loader
b)   UDL - Upper Deck Loader
c)   PTS - Precision Time Schedule
d)   BFL - Baggage Freight Loader
e)   TC - Toilet Cart
f)   WC - Water Cart
g)  ToC - Turnaround Coordinator
h)  EBT - Electric Baggage Tractor
i)   PBT - Push Back Tractor
j)   WCH - Wheel Chair
k)  PSL - Passenger Step Ladder
l)   PC - Passenger Coach
m) BT - Baggage Trolley
n)  ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival
o)  STA - Schedule Time of Arrival
p)  ETD - Estimated Time of Departure
q)  STD - Schedule Time of Departure.

          

Aviation Word Of The Day - Carousel

A Carousel is a rotating platform from where all outgoing and passengers arriving can access their baggage.

A  carousel can be found at the arrivals hall area in the passenger terminal.Bags are conveyed by the carousel through the scanner to the baggage makeup area where the bags are loaded into containers then onward into the lower deck of the aircraft.

Baggage flow on the carousel should be timely.If it's too slow,passengers will be kept waiting for the arrival of their bags which will  cause delays.Conversely, if its too fast,the bags will pile up and passengers will have a hard time tracing their bags.

Aviation Term Of The Day - Baggage Allowance

First let's look at what baggage means,before adding  the allowance component.Baggage is simply any luggage,cases,and bags you take with you when travelling-your personal bellongings.

There are two types of baggage.

1)Checked baggage

2)Unchecked baggage

Checked baggage is usually the bigger of the two which is loaded into the lower deck of the aircraft.Whereas unchecked baggage, also known as "carry on" refers to small bags of limited size and weight that passengers are allowed to take with the  into the passenger seating area.This means you'll be in possession of the bag during the flight.

It is clear now that every passenger onboard a flight  is entitled to carry some baggage.However,this doesn't mean you can carry anything and everything.Here's where the Allowance bit comes in.Baggage allowance is the weight of baggage each air passenger is allowed to take for free.

Of course,you can pack beyond the limit,if only you're willing to pay extra charges.Each air carrier(airline) determines this allowance.

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