For Immediate Release!
November 6, 2002
ACTE: Neither Airlines Nor Government Wants To Be Left
Holding The Bag
With the next critical phase of airport security to kick in on January 1, the
Association of Corporate Travel Executives is questioning the effectiveness
-- and increased potential for liability -- of the equipment and methods to
be employed at airports around the country.
"It appears that additional airport security measures slated to take effect
in less than two months will require a high percentage of checked bags to be
opened and physically searched in the absence of their owners," said ACTE
Executive Director Nancy Holtzman. "Yet neither the government nor the
airlines have offered a policy on dealing with locked bags. There is also no
authority at this time assuming the liability for lost or stolen articles."
She noted that this new security methodology will be nicely timed for holiday
travel.
The association, which represents the interests of business travelers from
2,500 companies worldwide, has been critical of airport security measures in
the past, questioning the accuracy and slowness of the massive million-dollar
bulk screeners. These devices routinely reject 25 to 30 percent of bags run
through them, occasionally flagging damp woolen sweaters and boxes of
chocolate as suspect items. These bags will now have to be opened and further
searched using an explosive trace detector.
"Even though the overwhelming majority of business travelers fly with one
carryon bag and a briefcase, there are still plenty of times when additional
baggage has to be checked. Today we've learned that the airlines want it
known it's the government initiating these searches and that any liability
should rest there," said Holtzman.
Holtzman said that other questions, such as who's responsible for delivering
bags that miss flights due to security checks, what process is planned for
reporting missing or stolen articles, and who pays for them have yet to even
be addressed.
"The position of the airlines is easily understood," said Holtzman.
"They
don't want to be the bearer of any more bad news. Passengers are already
dismayed by current security measures. The new steps aren't likely to win any
new fans, especially if it means arriving at the airport earlier than
passengers have to be there now."
ACTE is studying the problem to develop an advisory travel managers can pass
on to their travelers. This may be as simple as warning travelers not to lock
their bags (to avoid breakage), and not to pack anything that isn't
replaceable or worth more than $50. Or baggage may have a better arrival
guarantee shipped separately, via UPS or Federal Express. The association
will publish these findings early in December, along with a lost or missing
articles claims procedure.
"No one wants to skimp on security," said Holtzman. "But there
has to be a
better way than one which promises to increase delays while resulting in a
higher number of opened bags and an almost certain increase in breakage or
loss. And if there is no better way, then travelers need to be told the
limitations of the system, so they can plan for it."
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For more information, contact:
Jack Riepe, ACTE Communications
1-610-256-0124 or [email protected]
Founded in 1988, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) is a member-driven organization wholly dedicated to the science of business travel management with an international constituency. ACTE membership totals more than 2,400, including business travel executives in Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the United States. The organization is headquartered in Alexandria, Va., with regional offices located in Brussels, and Singapore. ACTE's web site is www.acte.org.
