Luggage fiasco at JFK International Airport vexes American Airlines

by Jeffrey White on

American Airline staff in Terminal 8 at JFK International Airport are still sorting through a pile of left luggage after a computer mishap yesterday derailed the terminal’s baggage system.

Thousands of customers abandoned hope of retrieving their bags, according to the Associated Press, and instead left the airport with the hope that AA would right the problem and deliver their luggage soon.

The error caused flight delays to ripple through Terminal 8 throughout the day yesterday.

The computer error first surfaced early in the morning yesterday, when the software that reads the bar code on each checked bag failed. After that employees began having to sort baggage by hand, and soon became overwhelmed by the volume, the AP says.

AA tried to delay incoming flights up to 90 minutes to relieve the stress on baggage handlers.

Some bags were diverted to LaGuardia airport and put on other flights, the AP says.

In response to the computer failure, AA waved its extra baggage charge for passengers checking fewer than three bags.

JFK drops off list of most-delayed U.S. airports

by Jeffrey White on

John F. Kennedy International Airport has long been a joke in terms of on time departures and arrivals. But there are signs that JFK might be getting better.

The Associated Press is reporting that JFK is finally off the list of the country’s 50 most-delayed airports, while previously it was a perennial Top 3 contender. The secret? It finished 2007 strong, with 73 percent of all flights arriving and departing on time between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31, 2008, the AP says. That’s up from 67 percent.

O.K., so that’s not going to have travelers rushing to reroute their trips through Kennedy. But that should still give us all hope of greater improvements to come.

The U.S. Dept. of Transportation reportedly targeted New York City airspace for a massive improvement initiative starting around Thanksgiving last year, which, among other things, included allowing commercial flights to use military airspace, the AP says.

The Federal Aviation Administration also jumped on the bandwagon in December with its own plans to overhaul NY airspace.

There’s still more in the offing. By the end of this week, DOT is expected to begin cutting the number of hourly flights at JFK from 100 to 83, which means less flights at the most congested times, the AP reports.

Still, it seems that there is little in the way of good news to report over at Newark Liberty International Airport, which topped the 2007 most-delayed list. It hasn’t seemed to improve a lick.

What’s the worst airport in the U.S.? Let us know.

John F. Kennedy’s Birthday and Locations with his Name

by Jamie Rhein on

I was looking through my calendar to see what events I may have missed in May. Here’s one I caught just in time. Today is John F. Kennedy’s birthday. Born May 29, 1917 he became the 35th US president in 1961. This would be his 90th birthday if he were still alive.

In honor of the occassion, here’s a list of just some of the places you can go that are named after him. From an airport to a highway to an island and an eternal flame–you could travel for awhile to hit them all.

  • John F. Kennedy International Airport., New York.This is easier to get to or get from with the AirTran train that goes between the airport and Howard Beach and Jamacia Stations. For only $5 one-way, that’s a deal.
  • The Kennedy Center of Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. is considered a living memorial and showcases world renowned performances in dance, drama and music.
  • Kennedy Blvd. in Tampa, Florida (State Highway 60). Used to be called Layfette Street and Grand Central Avenue but had a name change after Kennedy’s visit to Tampa.
  • John F. Kennedy Space Center near Orlando, Florida. Here you can see rockets launch. The next one is June 8.
  • USS John F. Kennedy (US Navy aircraft carrier that served until March of this year was the last conventionally powered carrier. It’s port-cabin designed by Jacquelin Kennedy will be reassembled at the National Museum of National Aviation in Pensacola, Florida.
  • John F. Kennedy Peace Forest at the outskirts of Jerusalem, Israel.
  • Kennedy Island in the Solomon Islands is where Kennedy swam ashore in WWII after his torpedo boat was sunk by a Japanese destroyer.
  • John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame, Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. The flame is at his grave and never goes out.