It's Not Who You Know, But Who You Are

Hundreds of big-city mayors from around the nation are flying home this week from the US Conference of Mayors in Chicago—but many of them will be skipping the airport check-in lines.

Instead, they will be checking their airline baggage downtown—at a special, secure airline check-in at the Hilton Chicago Hotel. Freed of their bags, departing visitors can relax, spend a little more time in the city, and proceed to the airport at a leisurely pace with no luggage hassles.

This time-saving amenity is made possible by ARINC Incorporated and its partner, Baggage Airline Guest Services—or BAGS—a concierge service based in Orlando, FL. The BAGS remote check-in service is being offered for a nominal charge this week to ticketed passengers on four major participating carriers: United, Delta, Continental and American Airlines.

The BAGS service is made possible by a new technology: ARINC’s iMUSE Express, a portable check-in workstation that sets up for secure operation in minutes at any location with a standard Internet connection. BAGS accepts travelers’ airline baggage and issues each passenger a secure airline boarding pass. Baggage is transported to the airport and checked through to the airlines under TSA-approved procedures. Passengers simply pick up their luggage when they arrive at their destinations. The BAGS operational model and airline off-site check-in conform with TSA security requirements, and BAGS check-in personnel receive extensive security training and follow the same regulations as regular check-in staff at airports.

Mayors from 1183 cities across the US went to Chicago for this year’s United States Conference of Mayors (USCM). The Hilton Chicago hosted the USCM and added BAGS to their list of amenities for attendees. This year’s Conference aimed to promote the development of effective national urban/suburban policy, to strengthen federal-city relationships, ensure that federal policy meets urban needs, provide mayors with leadership and management tools, and create a forum in which mayors can share ideas and information.

FMI: www.arinc.com