US Airways - June 2012 - (Page 14)

embark Making It Happen Behind the Scenes of Your Flight The Big Bag Journey By Tara Titcombe Wonder what happens to your luggage once it’s checked? We followed a bag at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to find out. You check your bags at the US Airways ticketing counter, head through security screening, and make your way to your gate. Two stories below ground, your luggage is going through a very similar process. The US Airways luggage belt system is designed to work 24/7. Using a computer system that tracks the flow of every belt line (green lines are displayed if flowing properly, red if not), a central control room is alerted if a jam or broken belt occurs. Four belt lines along two separate tracks ensure that luggage can be rerouted Check your bag and continue to its final destination. Tag with bar code and final destination is placed on bag Bar code is scanned successfully ★ Bag is placed on conveyor belt and passes through a scanner Scanner determines correct belt for bag, depending on gate number and final destination Unable to read bar code Bag passes through a security screening system Continues running along belt system to gate destination Employee loads bag onto luggage cart designated for appropriate flight Bag is moved to a default belt, where employee affixes new bar code sticker Bag may need to be inspected Employee is notified to drive cart to plane and begin loading bags PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER BARR BAGS BY NUMBERS The belt system at Sky Harbor boasts some impressive stats. ■ The belt system can handle 200–250 bags at one time. ■ Without an inspection, each bag takes an average of 11–12 minutes to get through the entire system. With an inspec- tion, each bag takes 19–25 minutes. ■ The bar code scanners have a 98 percent accuracy rate. 14 JUNE 2012 usairwaysmag.com http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - June 2012

US Airways - June 2012
Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots
Hub Crawl
Adventure: Zip-line junkie
Adventure: Virginia’s Skyline Drive
Wine & Dine
Great Escapes
Gear Up
Behind-the-Scenes Baja
International Itinerary
Charlotte in 2012
Discover Columbia
Welcome to Philadelphia
Must Read
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace™
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - June 2012

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