N.A.C. Passengers’ Baggage

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31783, 13 September 1968, Page 14

N.A.C. Passengers’ Baggage

Sir,—l wish to register a protest about the handling of passengers’ baggage by the National Airways Corporation. Yesterday, only my keen vigilance prevented

someone else from leaving Christchurch Airport with one of my bags. Even though the mistake was genuine it could have caused considerable inconvenience, as 1 know from previous experience. This could so easily have been prevented if baggage was unprocurable without surrender of tickets. As it is, these tickets are only so much waste paper, with anyone and everyone pouncing on the baggage trolleys as they enter the terminal building, a procedure which is very encouraging to the professional baggage snatcher.—Yours, etc. OLD BAGGAGE.

August 30, 1968. [The public relations manager for N.A.C. (Mr A. G. Feslier) replies: “The incident mentioned by your correspondent relating to the handling of luggage at airports occurs most infrequently, although from time to time a passenger less vigilant than your correspondent does temporarily acquire someone else’s baggage. The system now in use is identical with that used at almost every airport in the world and has proved in the long run to be the most efficient and convenient for passengers. The reason why the luggage label is provided is to permit passengers to identify their own bags, and the very low incidence of mishandling indicates that the system is satisfactory. From time to time it is the practice of the airline to make a check on the system and to have staff to clear the luggage; however this causes delays to passengers and is not as welcome as the present practice.”]