American Airlines Baggage Has Issues

Photo courtesy Mike Xinnachs / WCBS 880; image artwork by mattmolnar.

Today's a worse-than-usual day to fly American; it’s being reported that the airline’s baggage system is “not functioning” at JFK. Flights were being delayed earlier this morning while workers struggled to fix the unspecified malfunction, but finally the airline just said the hell with it and resumed flights without checked luggage on board. This also means the TSA is manually screening bags. AA has told passengers they can wait for other flights if they don't want to travel without their bags. It's also unclear whether passengers will still be charged the checked bag fee.

UPDATE: The American Airlines situation at JFK still seems to be a mess, with about 25 flights delayed due to a computer "glitch" in the software that controls the baggage sorting conveyor belt. As of 1 p.m., delays were ranging from an hour to an hour and a half, according to Reuters. In the meantime, one Gothamist reader took the time to vent with the image above.

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By John Del Signore in News on July 30, 2008 3:51 PM

Comments [rss]

rarelement

16 and 17 - love it.

NannyState

"Thank you for choosing AAeroflot"

Novanglus

Best "fail" evar. w00t.

JenChungsBaby

Used to be that AA would have real live people around who even if they weren't sorting the bags by hand could step in and do so in a crisis. But now they've fired those people and probably have nobody at JFK who really understands how the baggage system works and they have to bring in a computer consultant from Silicon Valley to fix the thing.

TK

OK, that graphic is excellent!

Think2wice

The person who invents Teleportation will be like unto a Messiah.

Jen Chung

Wait a minute-- a conveyor belt brought the system down? Huh.

Kojak

I agree Amtrak is a great way to get across country if you have the time to kill. Driving is not so bad either, but either way through the midwest can be mind numbingly boring.

Squard

Glad to see the money they charge for checking each bag is going to good use

cherrycoke

Yeah, it only takes 34 hours of non-stop driving, versus a few hours on the plane. It's $350 dollars in gas, plus hotels and food, just to get there. Plus another $350, 34 hours, etc to get back.

Why wouldn't you just hop in the car in that case?

Steven

Anything outside of the continental United States obviously you need to put up with flying. This article was about a flight to Utah, which can be done by Amtrak or a nice drive.

Kojak

Steven could you send me the schedule for the next Amtrak train to Bermuda? I can't seem to find it online.

Steven

Another reason to avoid flying. Train or driving is the best way to go.

Politburo

What missile defense system?

nomnomnom

I think their contingency plan is to ship stuff out via UPS Ground or FedEx Ground.

Jen Chung

First Metrocard machine, then the JFK baggage system...next, the missile defense system!

dev

has no one in this country heard of a CONTINGENCY PLAN???

jesus christ.

fucking morons are running things.

Kojak

Whoops. Their baggage handling system must be running Windows.

Terminal 5 in Heathrow had the same problems with their system when it opened and it was a disaster. American better get it back up and running quick.