The Long and Winding Road That Leads to … Your Bag

There you are, standing at the baggage claim, waiting for that light to flash and the baggage carousel to start moving, hoping that the next bag to pop out is yours.

Next to dealing with flight delays, baggage claim is one of the most stressful parts of airline travel. And like many delays, part of the anxiety comes from not really knowing what’s happening behind the scenes.

At Pittsburgh International Airport, more than 60 airport employees oversee and maintain the eight-mile baggage system (the distance from Point State Park to the Pittsburgh Zoo). In addition, hundreds of airline employees are responsible for inputting and unloading baggage. We asked a few of them to roll us through the process for a better view.

American Airline Flight #2085 from Philadelphia lands on runway 28 Left and pulls up to gate B28. This is where Crew Chief Dino Delmastro, a 37-year employee of American Airlines, and his three-person team (two unloaders and a tug cart driver) begin their work.

“Safety is our top priority,” he says as he pulls out earplugs and straps on a neon safety vest. Delmastro’s team ensures the ramp is all clear of debris and equipment is ready for use when the flight lands.

As the flight pulls up, they inspect the aircraft for any damage during flight and make sure their equipment is secure as it is brought up to the cargo hold where the baggage is stored. Then they hook up the preconditioned air and ground power to the aircraft.

Delmastro gives his team the signal and they begin to unload. Baggage is pulled out of the cargo hold near the back of the aircraft