Travelers Face Long Delays for Luggage at Philadelphia Airport

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A significant number of American Airlines passengers experienced extensive delays retrieving their luggage after arriving at Philadelphia International Airport on Saturday night. Travelers from Seattle reported that their flight was delayed due to a lack of crew members, forcing the plane to circle for approximately 25 minutes before it could dock at the gate. Once disembarked, many passengers found themselves waiting for hours in Terminal C for their bags. Passenger Roy Gettle described the frustrating situation, noting that some individuals waited up to four hours without any clear communication from the airline regarding the delays. "They won't tell us why or what's going on," he lamented, highlighting the inconsistency in baggage handling as other flights seemed to receive their luggage promptly. Another traveler, Dennis Markopoulos, echoed the sentiment, expressing a desire to simply retrieve their bags and head home after a lengthy wait. Some passengers reported that their luggage never arrived, and when American Airlines offered to ship bags to those living outside a 150-mile radius, it added to their frustration. Tommy Morello, who traveled from Tacoma, Washington, expressed discomfort with the idea of having his bags shipped, preferring to wait for them in person. An airport worker indicated that the delays were due to insufficient staff to unload the luggage from three incoming flights. Philadelphia International Airport stated that airlines are responsible for addressing baggage issues, and CBS News Philadelphia is seeking further information from both the airport and American Airlines regarding the situation.