Have Bags Will Travel! The past nine years we have seen so much disruption in the airline travel industry as a result of the Transportation Safety Board doing all they can to keep air travel safe and efficient.
I think they have done their best in doing as much as needed and then some to allow traveling the globe as stress free all of as possible as it could be.
We all have personal air travel stories to tell even if you are a non frequent flyer.
I do not travel more than 100,000 air miles a year mostly because my work allows me to travel via the internet and cellular air waves.
The past year air travel suffered at least that is what the news industry reported with body scanning, check point delays, long lines and cramped flights.
The one airline that has captured my interest is Southwest Airlines.
I do not even fly Southwest but their television commercials are just brilliant.
The marketing of their service caring for their customers "bags" is a winner! I believe the baggage handlers truly do care about our bags and they are having great fun at the expense of all other airlines.
Southwest has shown the public that in addition to their main commodity "people", they care for your luggage and at "no charge" to you.
Southwest gets it that they are not in the Air Travel Business, no they are in the People Pleasing Business and they got it right with this popular campaign.
My message is not even about Southwest, I just like their marketing scheme.
My story line is about the congestion that we all experience when actually boarding the plane.
You see, after all the check point lines we must visit, the taking off of shoes, throwing away bottle products and the scurrying to reach your gate on time so you will make your connections, I do not have a problem with that aspect of travel.
It is necessary.
The biggest bottle neck of all is the storing your carry on luggage in the overhead bin above your seat or someone else seat.
Let's be realistic the traveler is already bothered by what seems like high fares - but that is the price of going from point A to point B in real time.
So if I was president of an airline here is what I would do to save time and generate additional revenue as well: 1.
Do not charge for luggage that is checked on sign in.
Allow your bags to be placed on the little trolley and off to the bulk head for safe keeping until you arrive at your destination.
Don't worry the percentage that your luggage will be there for you upon arrival.
Is quite high on retrieval of your luggage and do we ever really pack our most valuables in our luggage? The Traveling public takes way too mush when they travel to begin with.
Just look at the oversize nags and broken zippers from stuffing your luggage to the breaking point.
I do no believe the luggage is the issue it is the traveler carrying too much luggage when they travel.
How many suits do you need - dresses shirts? Your best investment is to purchase a portable steamer and you will get two wearings out of your one suit.
2.
Gate check in as I see it is not the issue either but why not have a greeter like at Wal-mart assisting the elderly and mother of two children with their gate selection? Try it and see how many smiles you generate in the concourse area where everyone seems so tired and lost in their Blackberrys and Lap Tops and I pods and their own world.
Heck, provide entertainment right at the gate - allow travelers to put down their tools of the trade and enjoy a brief moment of relaxation before they depart the sky ways of America.
3.
My final recommendation - charge for Bags brought on the Plane! That is right; if a traveler wants too cram their luggage into the overhead bin that is what should be charged.
If airlines were to begin charging for bags carried on to the plane you will see two things immediately happen: 1.
Access to your assigned seat will go like a fine Swiss watch! 2.
You will eliminate the overhead storage game where the first person on the plane gets a spot to place their bags on the plane.
3.
Stewards will be happier 5.
Pilots will have more take off on time flights and less late arrivals.
6.
It is just darn right common sense to look at so many inquiries and develop a simpler approach to a perceived or real problem.
So why don't we try it for 90 days and if the system improves we all win and we have brought an idea to the TSB and Airline Association of America with a campaign that will rival Southwest marketing Campaigns.
Let the baggage wars begin and may the best carrier be the first to try it.
You never know how wonderful your travel will be if the idea is implemented.
Have Bags Will Travel! Gene G.
Veno President, Gene G Veno & Associates http://www.
geneveno.
com direct line 717.
979.
2821
I think they have done their best in doing as much as needed and then some to allow traveling the globe as stress free all of as possible as it could be.
We all have personal air travel stories to tell even if you are a non frequent flyer.
I do not travel more than 100,000 air miles a year mostly because my work allows me to travel via the internet and cellular air waves.
The past year air travel suffered at least that is what the news industry reported with body scanning, check point delays, long lines and cramped flights.
The one airline that has captured my interest is Southwest Airlines.
I do not even fly Southwest but their television commercials are just brilliant.
The marketing of their service caring for their customers "bags" is a winner! I believe the baggage handlers truly do care about our bags and they are having great fun at the expense of all other airlines.
Southwest has shown the public that in addition to their main commodity "people", they care for your luggage and at "no charge" to you.
Southwest gets it that they are not in the Air Travel Business, no they are in the People Pleasing Business and they got it right with this popular campaign.
My message is not even about Southwest, I just like their marketing scheme.
My story line is about the congestion that we all experience when actually boarding the plane.
You see, after all the check point lines we must visit, the taking off of shoes, throwing away bottle products and the scurrying to reach your gate on time so you will make your connections, I do not have a problem with that aspect of travel.
It is necessary.
The biggest bottle neck of all is the storing your carry on luggage in the overhead bin above your seat or someone else seat.
Let's be realistic the traveler is already bothered by what seems like high fares - but that is the price of going from point A to point B in real time.
So if I was president of an airline here is what I would do to save time and generate additional revenue as well: 1.
Do not charge for luggage that is checked on sign in.
Allow your bags to be placed on the little trolley and off to the bulk head for safe keeping until you arrive at your destination.
Don't worry the percentage that your luggage will be there for you upon arrival.
Is quite high on retrieval of your luggage and do we ever really pack our most valuables in our luggage? The Traveling public takes way too mush when they travel to begin with.
Just look at the oversize nags and broken zippers from stuffing your luggage to the breaking point.
I do no believe the luggage is the issue it is the traveler carrying too much luggage when they travel.
How many suits do you need - dresses shirts? Your best investment is to purchase a portable steamer and you will get two wearings out of your one suit.
2.
Gate check in as I see it is not the issue either but why not have a greeter like at Wal-mart assisting the elderly and mother of two children with their gate selection? Try it and see how many smiles you generate in the concourse area where everyone seems so tired and lost in their Blackberrys and Lap Tops and I pods and their own world.
Heck, provide entertainment right at the gate - allow travelers to put down their tools of the trade and enjoy a brief moment of relaxation before they depart the sky ways of America.
3.
My final recommendation - charge for Bags brought on the Plane! That is right; if a traveler wants too cram their luggage into the overhead bin that is what should be charged.
If airlines were to begin charging for bags carried on to the plane you will see two things immediately happen: 1.
Access to your assigned seat will go like a fine Swiss watch! 2.
You will eliminate the overhead storage game where the first person on the plane gets a spot to place their bags on the plane.
3.
Stewards will be happier 5.
Pilots will have more take off on time flights and less late arrivals.
6.
It is just darn right common sense to look at so many inquiries and develop a simpler approach to a perceived or real problem.
So why don't we try it for 90 days and if the system improves we all win and we have brought an idea to the TSB and Airline Association of America with a campaign that will rival Southwest marketing Campaigns.
Let the baggage wars begin and may the best carrier be the first to try it.
You never know how wonderful your travel will be if the idea is implemented.
Have Bags Will Travel! Gene G.
Veno President, Gene G Veno & Associates http://www.
geneveno.
com direct line 717.
979.
2821
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