SFOMEX From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (6 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 3706 times:
The experiment is over. After ten years of misplacing a good portion of the baggage it handled, United will stop using it, replacing it by the old but reliable service provided by baggage handlers.
From the NY Times: ""Automation always looks good on paper," said Veronica Stevenson, a lead baggage handler for United Airlines and president of the union local that represents United's 1,300 or so baggage handlers in Denver. "Sometimes you need real people.""
The rest of the article is great. You can skip registration by using bugmenot.com
LTBEWR From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 11470 posts, RR: 8 Reply 1, posted (6 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 3601 times:
It took them 10 years too long to realize that this disaster wouldn't work. I just hope the public doesn't get stuck with the tab for this - although they probably already have and will. This proves that there are just some things that only people can do and do it right at a reasonable cost. Extensive automating of a process, especially with something with as many variables such as this luggage system had to face, will always have problems working right. Problem now is that UA has to hire hundreds of people at DEN, adding costs that will affect it's bottom line in it's Chapter 11 status.
Okie From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 2050 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (6 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 3561 times:
Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 1): I just hope the public doesn't get stuck with the tab for this - although they probably already have and will
I believe this came up during the present bankruptcy. UA was paying something like $30M per year for a system that cost $90M to install and it had a 30 year contract. Not a bad return on investment for DEN/DEA airport authority. Especially sad since most of the time the system has been abandon.
Airbazar From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 5959 posts, RR: 9 Reply 4, posted (6 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 3530 times:
Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 1): This proves that there are just some things that only people can do and do it right at a reasonable cost.
No, the only thing this proves is that the people who design it were not qualified enough to do it. Somehow I have a very hard time believing that no other airport in the World has a computerized baggage handling system.
Slider From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6089 posts, RR: 43 Reply 5, posted (6 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 3453 times:
Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 1): I just hope the public doesn't get stuck with the tab for this - although they probably already have and will.
Thanks Federico Pena, ya jerk!!! This entire DIA monstrosity was his pork barrel project, and that now-unused automated sortation and pier system now sits as a testament to the foolishness and greed of bureaucrats who insisted on running up the tab.
Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 1): Extensive automating of a process, especially with something with as many variables such as this luggage system had to face, will always have problems working right.
I disagree. Yes, there are adjustments, but they're using robotic arms at AMS presently, and they're having a 98% success rate and able to pick, lift and move 1000 bags in a standard shift. that's a huge advantage to a manual process, from accuracy, timeliness and reliability standpoint. Plus, a robotic arm isn't going to get an OJI.
AirFrnt From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 2745 posts, RR: 45 Reply 6, posted (6 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 3376 times:
Quoting Slider (Reply 5): Thanks Federico Pena, ya jerk!!! This entire DIA monstrosity was his pork barrel project, and that now-unused automated sortation and pier system now sits as a testament to the foolishness and greed of bureaucrats who insisted on running up the tab.
Quick correction, it was UA that insisted on the system, which is why UA is the only one who has used it over the last ten years.
Brick From United States of America, joined Aug 1999, 1554 posts, RR: 10 Reply 7, posted (6 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 3360 times:
Brick From United States of America, joined Aug 1999, 1554 posts, RR: 10 Reply 8, posted (6 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 3263 times:
Oh, I didn't post the above link to be condescending. I just wanted to provide a link to previous new articles and discussion on this topic. That's all...
Ssides From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 4059 posts, RR: 28 Reply 9, posted (6 years 5 months 2 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 3242 times:
Quoting Slider (Reply 5): Thanks Federico Pena, ya jerk!!! This entire DIA monstrosity was his pork barrel project, and that now-unused automated sortation and pier system now sits as a testament to the foolishness and greed of bureaucrats who insisted on running up the tab.
Amen to that. DIA was an enormous waste of money, and was used to inflate the egos of Denver area politicians who wanted a "world-class" airport.
There's no doubt that Denver needed a new airport. But one that covered that many square miles, that far outside of town, and with that many cost overruns?
I can't imagine what would happen to that facility if UA were to go under.
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