Carry On

I was always puzzled by people lugging their huge suitcases onto airplanes instead of checking it and taking the extra 5 minutes at baggage claim to pick it up on the way out. Now I know why.

AIRLINES & LOST BAGGAGE - An estimated 30 million bags were temporarily lost by airlines in 2005, and 200,000 of those bags were never reunited with their owners, according to an industry report released today. The report by SITA Inc., a company that provides technology solutions for the air transport industry, also noted that "the problem of mishandled baggage is worsening on both sides of the Atlantic." The 30 million misdirected bags comprised only 1 percent of the 3 billion bags processed last year by airports, up from 0.7 percent in 2004, said SITA, which is promoting technology it says would reduce the problem. Last year, mishandled luggage cost world airlines $2.5 billion, compared with $1.6 billion in 2004, SITA said.