Thursday, April 17, 2008
News Saving fuel, the Hartsfield-Jackson way
Posted by Andisheh Nouraee on Thu, Apr 17, 2008 at 8:45 PM
If you've arrived in Atlanta on an international flight, you're no doubt familiar with Hartsfield-Jackson's annoying international luggage "re-check" requirement.
If you're not, it goes like this:
1. Land.
2. Claim your luggage in Concourse E.
3. Clear U.S. Customs with your luggage.
4. Re-check your bag to have it shipped across the airport to one of the main baggage claim areas.
5. Mutter something to someone, anyone, about how stupid this system is.
6. Take the airport's train to one of the main terminals and collect your luggage again.
Yesterday, I picked up my future missus at the airport. She was out of the country for work.
Steps 1-5 of the above process went as planned, but her luggage was mysteriously held-up on the trip between Concourse E and South Terminal baggage claim.
After 90 minutes of waiting, we asked an employee in Delta baggage assistance to locate her luggage.
She told us the bag was still at Concourse E awaiting a "tug" to bring it to South Terminal baggage claim.
Why didn't it come to the South Terminal with the rest of the luggage from her flight, we asked.
Because the "tug" was probably full and her bag didn't make it onto her flight's "tug" trip.
But doesn't the "tug" make more than one trip, we asked.
Yes, but to save fuel, the "tug" only travels between Concourse E and the South Terminal when it's full, she said.
Fuel is expensive, she reminded us.
She then told us our options.
a) Wait for the next full "tug" to arrive.
or
b) Fill out a claim form and have the luggage delivered by van from the airport to our home in Decatur, free of charge.
Van fuel is apparently cheaper than "tug" fuel.
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