The Holiday travel season can be stressful, but following these simple tips will help ensure your bags arrive when and where you do

ARLINGTON, Texas, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- As the holiday season approaches, airports around the world will be facing an influx of passengers, which means more baggage. In the height of the December travel season, one out of seven terminals at JFK on their peak day in December can process more than 27,000 bags alone. Pair this with the added stressors of bad weather and delays, ensuring that all bags reach their correct destination is made an even more complicated and sophisticated process.

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New technology developments, however, have helped automate the baggage process and reduce errors. According to the WorldTracer2 database, in 2008, 14.28 bags per thousand passengers were mishandled worldwide (compared to 18.86 per thousand in 2007 - giving an improvement in handling rates of almost 25%), and the great majority were reunited with their owners in under 48 hours (Source: SITA 2009 Baggage Report). However, the holiday season still brings an influx of checked luggage and mistakes can and do occur.

Technology from Siemens, global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, including baggage conveyors and carousels, screening and sorting equipment, as well as storage and IT systems, will be working overtime to process your luggage in many of our nation's busiest airports such as JFK, Chicago O'Hare and LAX this holiday season.

Want to ensure your luggage is not lost or delayed? Lukas Loeffler, Vice President, Infrastructure Logistics for Siemens, recommends the following eight easy tips to ensure your baggage has a smooth and accurate journey to its final destination this holiday season.

        1.  Don't Wrap Holiday Gifts Before Flying
            Many wrapping papers contain foil, which make packages in
            suitcases appear solid during the screening process, requiring the
            bag to be manually searched. To avoid having your presents
            unwrapped, wait to gift-wrap until after the flight.

        2.  Don't Book Tight Connections
            The SITA Baggage Report states, "the single biggest problem for
            baggage handlers is when bags are being transferred from one
            aircraft to another." Not allowing enough time between connecting
            flights increases the probability of losing your bag. Tight
            connections will cause your bag to be rushed through the system or
            handled manually; increasing the likelihood your bags won't make
            your flight.

        3.  Check Bags Early
            The introduction of online check-in has made the process much
            smoother and helps eliminate waiting in long lines. While you can
            check-in faster, if you are checking a bag, make sure to arrive at
            least 45 minutes to an hour before the flight. This allows enough
            time for the bag to go through the entire baggage system,
            eliminating the need to rush your bag through, when mistakes can
            be made.

        4.  Double Check the Destination
            Check the destination code on the tag before leaving the bag to
            make sure it is going where you are. The baggage automation system
            reads this code to properly route your luggage - making it
            imperative that the correct destination is on the tag. Also, put
            proper identification both on the outside and the inside of your
            luggage as ID tags can come loose and fall off during processing.

        5.  Ensure Your Bag is Easy to Open
            Security is a concern for many travelers; however, a bag that TSA
            can't open may cause delays and damage. If you use a lock, use TSA
            friendly locks so that security can open your bag using a master
            key. Excessive wrapping of your bag in plastic or large belts can
            also cause delays.

        6.  Keep Straps Tucked In
            Loose straps or bulky belts around the luggage may get caught in
            conveyer equipment. This not only damages your luggage, but can
            also cause further delays, as the bag will likely need to be
            removed from the system and processed manually.

        7.  Size (and Weight) Does Matter
            Baggage systems are designed for standard luggage to be most
            efficient. If a bag is too large, or too bulky, you increase the
            chance of the bag having to be rerouted for manual sorting or
            extra security screenings. Small bags should be carried on, as
            they are also more likely to get lost along the way. Stick with
            standard luggage sizes, weights and shapes, as these are what the
            systems are designed for. Large items like golf clubs and skis are
            considered "oversize" for which there is a separate process and
            should not be a concern.

        8.  Stick to One Carrier
            Booking through some travel sites may allow you to book
            connections with different carriers to get the cheapest flight -
            but this also increases the likelihood of losing or delaying your
            bag. Different airlines often have two different systems for
            baggage sorting and luggage will have to be moved manually - which
            always increases the probability of mistakes.

About Siemens

Siemens Industry, Inc. (SII) is the U.S. affiliate of Siemens' global Industry Sector business -- the world's leading supplier of production, transportation and building technology solutions. The company's integrated hardware and software technologies enable comprehensive industry-specific solutions for industrial and infrastructure providers to increase their productivity, sustainability and profitability. The Industry Sector includes six divisions: Building Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility, Drive Technologies and OSRAM SYLVANIA. With nearly 222,000 Siemens Industry Sector employees worldwide, the Industry Sector posted a worldwide profit of $2.7 billion on revenues of $47.7 billion in fiscal 2009. www.usa.siemens.com/Industry

Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, and operates in the industry, energy and healthcare sectors. For more than 160 years, Siemens has built a reputation for leading-edge innovation and the quality of its products, services and solutions. With 405,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide revenue of $104.3 billion in fiscal 2009. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA reported revenue of $21.3 billion and employs more than 64,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. For more information on Siemens in the United States, visit www.usa.siemens.com

SOURCE Siemens

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