As you might expect, this ban on liquids in the aircraft cabin has resulted in a lot of extra checked baggage. I’ve heard rumors, but the Chicago Tribune is the first I’ve seen to show actually numbers.
The article shows that on Monday, Chicago/O’Hare saw nearly 61,000 bags checked, up from 46,000 the Monday before – that’s a huge increase.
So what does this mean for you?
Well, a lot more bags being checked probably means longer lines at the ticket counter. Check in online at home and then you can go straight to the baggage drop at the airport. That will save you time.
The big bottleneck that had been anticipated at security isn’t happening. People have less stuff and are moving through security very quickly. It’s baggage checking that can cause delays.
And of course, more checked bags put more stress on the system. This could mean more lost luggage, but we won’t know for sure until the DOT rankings come out in a couple months.
