Coalition for Luggage Security Craziness
“The Coalition for Luggage Security, with Universal Express, Inc. announced today that making air travel safer demands a new system to eliminate luggage from domestic air travel by requiring travelers to voluntarily ship their suitcases prior to the departure date.” I mean, I know this is PR hype to get people to use their service, but COME ON. It’s just way too easy to rip this idea to shreds by just mentioning the simple words “rights infringement.” I find it hard to believe a company would go this far just to get some business. Hello – it isn’t voluntary if you’re required
Michael McCauley, President, Universal Jet Aviation, a jet charter service subsidiary of Universal Express (who I may now refer to as Hitler) represented Richard A. Altomare, a veteran logistics and air courier business leader who serves as Founder and Chairman of The Coalition and is CEO of Universal Express (Stalin), at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Aviation 2007: Ready for Takeoff” summit being held at the Chamber of Commerce’s headquarters.
Okay, I’ll try not to interrupt. The rest is the press release verbatim.
Mr. McCauley replaced Mr. Altomare as the moderator of one of the summit’s panel discussions called “Strengthening America’s Security and Economy” in which he introduced speaker Edmund S. “Kip” Hawley, Assistant Secretary, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Universal Express with The Coalition for Luggage Security and CIT finance co-hosted the annual summit.
Other featured speakers at the summit – whose theme focuses on how the aviation industry is ready for takeoff after a turbulent few years – were: Marion Blakey, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration; Monte Belger, Vice President, Transportation Systems Solutions, Lockheed Martin Corporation; W. Douglas Parker, Chairman and CEO, US Airways Group, Inc.; Jack Pelton, Chairman, President and CEO, Cessna Aircraft Company; Neil Planzer, Vice President Strategy, ATM Programs, The Boeing Company; and Jim Coon, Republican Chief of Staff, Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives. The day-long summit is addressing a wide range of key issues such as the congestion crisis, aviation advancements, strategic alliances, and legislative updates.
In Mr. Altomare’s remarks, which can be viewed at the company’s website (www.usxp.com), he highlighted security ideas being proposed by The Coalition and urged the need for a “creative and staged exit plan from our airports” and their present security system to better improve expenditures, deployment of personnel, luggage and personnel movement. “The solution to making security stronger at airports is to separate passengers from their luggage. Elimination of their suitcases also eliminates long lines and the average wait time of two hours at airports, flight delays, hour-long boarding and deboarding, financial losses and costs to transport bags, and the need for additional fuel,” said Mr. Altomare. Lost luggage is also an issue, given that “57 suitcases are misplaced every minute and 15 percent of those will never be found.”
Proposing Shift in Traveling Paradigm
Mr. Altomare has been an outspoken leader in the logistics industry, especially about current security issues concerning luggage in the nation’s airports. He founded The Coalition in 2005 as an outgrowth of his fundamental belief that suitcases are cargo and should be shipped separately from passengers for security reasons. Besides creating the luggage shipment industry he also has been a vocal proponent of examining accepted practices and norms, recommending an entire shift in the traveling paradigm to benefit business and travelers alike. According to Mr. Altomare, unlike what many people think separating luggage from flights is not a logistical nightmare. “The core of the solution is utilizing the private sector and requiring the separation of baggage from travelers so they ship their bags prior to the departure date. It’s a matter of changing the way luggage is handled,” he said. Instead of travelers taking their baggage through airport check-in points they would use a new procedure for shipping their luggage in advance to reach their destination in time for their arrival. This would allow the U.S. Postal Service along with 4,000 parcel carriers to handle baggage that is currently carried by the airline industry. Mr. Altomare recommended the procedure be directed by a designated leader of the luggage movement industry.
“The Coalition’s proposals for changing what has become ‘normal travel’ for people domestically, requires courage and foresight, but the rewards can be historical,” Mr. Altomare said. As examples, creating separate lines for “no luggage” travelers so they can arrive 25 minutes before a flight; different ticket prices for those with suitcases and those having none. “Separating passengers from their luggage would unclutter our airports, save taxpayers’ money, reduce governmental expenses, shorten lines, and eliminate the creation of unnecessary fear into the hearts of Americans – and inevitably it will save lives,” he said.
A white paper published by The Coalition for Luggage Security that elaborates on Mr. Altomare’s proposals and objectives to solve luggage and cargo safety issues on airlines and at airports is available at: https://www.luggagesecuritycoalition.com/downloads/securitywp.pdf.
About The Coalition for Luggage Security
The Coalition for Luggage Security was established to ensure the safety of travelers through alternate means of luggage transportation. The Coalition consists of prominent businesspersons and companies that educate the public, Congress and the Administration on the importance of solving the luggage and cargo safety issues that exist in airlines and airports.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements contained herein, which are not historical, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, certain delays beyond the Company’s control with respect to market acceptance of new technologies, products and services, delays in testing and evaluation of products and services, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Un-freaking-believable. The Coalition for Luggage Security is the PETA of the travel industry. I’m not saying some work shouldn’t be done to improve current measures, but that doesn’t mean people should have to give up their luggage.