Daily Oklahoma discusses new baggage wait line, says Tulsa is puny.

[sgrizzle]

http://newsok.com/at-airport-yellow-says-back-up/article/3357093

At Tulsa International Airport, yellow says 'back up'
BY D.R. STEWART - Tulsa World
Published: March 28, 2009

TULSA — Passengers are taking a wait-and-see attitude to a Tulsa International Airport advisory.

Contractors this week installed a yellow-tape perimeter line on the floor surrounding American Airlines' baggage carousel in the airport's east baggage claim room.

The tape is imprinted with a request: "Please wait for baggage here."

After hearing from a Tulsa resident that the tape is effective in calming the baggage claim process at European airports, the Tulsa Airport Authority decided to install the perimeter tape on one of six baggage carousels for a 90-day trial period.

"It's been interesting. People seem to be following instructions," said Alexis Higgins, the authority's marketing director. "It improves safety for children, who like to be first. This is a trial period. If it seems to work and improve the passenger experience, we will install lines around all six carousels."

How is it received?
The perimeter tape was installed by InTackle, a Tulsa contractor, at a cost of $895, officials said.

To some observers and staff at the airport, where airline passenger traffic last year was 3.26 million or about 8,936 passengers a day, the perimeter tape can appear unnecessary.

Except during peak traffic periods in the morning and evening, the baggage claim rooms are deserted, the carousels empty and not operating during much of the day.

Does it work?
At bigger airports, it is a different story.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in 2008 had passenger traffic of just more than 57 million people or about 156,164 a day — a third of the population of Tulsa.

At DFW, baggage carousels are ringed with passengers throughout the day.

"We'll give it a trial period," Higgins said of the perimeter tape.

"It will be at least 90 days or until we are stripping and rewaxing the floors," she said.

So seriously, what is this reporter's problem? We installed a yellow line and he has to go into a rant saying TIA is a ghost town.

[Samalicious]

This story was in the Tulsa World and written by a Tulsa World reporter. It looks like the Oklahoman picked it up.

[Red Arrow]

$895 to put down some yellow tape on the floor, I'm in the wrong business. 

On second thought, I've seen how the airport authority works.  It probably cost the contractor $1000 to make that $895.

[sgrizzle]

This story was in the Tulsa World and written by a Tulsa World reporter. It looks like the Oklahoman picked it up.

Nice, then why is the Tulsa World reporter have his underwear in a wad?

[Samalicious]

Have you ever felt in danger of being overpowered by the crush of passengers at luggage claim at TIA? Me either.

[sgrizzle]

Have you ever felt in danger of being overpowered by the crush of passengers at luggage claim at TIA? Me either.

Nor have I felt that in Dallas, Denver, Columbus, Las Vegas, etc. etc.

The idea is to keep people far enough back that when your bag comes out, you can get to it.

[Hoss]

Have you ever felt in danger of being overpowered by the crush of passengers at luggage claim at TIA? Me either.

Probably because there was some thought when baggage claim areas at TIA were put in.  As opposed to the absolute worst place in the world to retrieve your baggage: Chicago O'Hare.

[joiei]

Probably because there was some thought when baggage claim areas at TIA were put in.  As opposed to the absolute worst place in the world to retrieve your baggage: Chicago O'Hare.

I always dread baggage claim at Miami International.  That place really s**ks.

[Wilbur]

The craziness to two fold -

1.  Your attempt to make things better simply means pushing the ring of people back three feet.  Same ring of people!

2.  If someone is inside the line, then what?  "Hey, policeman.  He's inside the line."  Give me a break.

[Samalicious]

We has a big airport, just look at our yellow line. 
Seriously I love TIA because it is so low stress.

[waterboy]

It seemed a pretty innocous story Grizz. Everything he wrote was accurate and the only conclusion drawn was that it was probably not needed here which we all agree on. TIA is easy to use. Perhaps there is more to the story. I saw where they apprehended a baggage thief who was watching to see which luggage had gone around the carousel and not been picked up. He would then take it on the next round and walk off unmolested. This could allow cameras or security to catch such thieves.

[tulsa1603]

THat's pretty much how I would have worded the article.  Between this new yellow line, the body scans, and the closed off exits from the gate areas, I'm glad I'm not flying as much as I used to....Talk about annoying and unnecessary. 

[cannon_fodder]

FWIW:

Will Rogers:  3.74mil passengers, 121,415 flights, 53 based aircraft.

Tulsa Int.: 3.3 mil passengers, 129,000 flights (more cargo), 167 based aircraft.



The yellow line works.  I picked up my sister on Saturday and people paid attention to the line.  Considering that luggage was all mixed up (all luggage from flight A was on C, C was on B, B was canceled and was in Dallas . . .) I was surprised that everyone just stood back and waited.  It also worked well to keep kids back (stay on the line!).

I noted it and noted that it worked.  It really did make it easier to watch the luggage coming your way and step forward to grab it when the time came.

Why it cost $1000 to put it in, I'm not really sure.  Probably FAA or Homeland Security requirements on the installers.  Had to be fire retardant yellow tape capable of holding its color within +/- 5% of hue for 11.8 years and installed by a left handed non-terrorist citizen under 6' 3" tall certified in laying of tape in no less than three colors, including yellow, with references from 6 different FAA approved customers.

[Red Arrow]

Why it cost $1000 to put it in, I'm not really sure.  Probably FAA or Homeland Security requirements on the installers.  Had to be fire retardant yellow tape capable of holding its color within +/- 5% of hue for 11.8 years and installed by a left handed non-terrorist citizen under 6' 3" tall certified in laying of tape in no less than three colors, including yellow, with references from 6 different FAA approved customers.

Don't forget: Engineering approval, insurance to the TAA, workers insurance, permit to do the job, proof of financial security of the company doing the work....

[PonderInc]

I've always been amazed at how people crowd up to the baggage carousel...you'd think it was dispensing dollar bills or free steaks or something!

I've always thought that if everyone would just chill out and stand back, nobody would be in the way of those whose luggage was actually going around in circles.  (Often the people crowding the carousel are those whose bags are the last off the plane.)  Goofy!

Glad to hear the yellow line is working.  Now, about those free steaks...