Long lines - statistics on # of agents
Got these stats from MSNBC: Source: Wall Street Journal
I see CO is #1 and DL is last for the major full-fare airlines.
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Airline Passengers
per Day Agents P/A Ratio
1. Continental 100,885 6,689 15 to 1
Ranked No. 1, and trying to get even better. Nationwide, airline is installing ATM-style kiosks for self-service check-in.
2. United 209,658 12,252 17 to 1
Good in most cities, but beware of its Denver hub. There, the ratio was 38 passengers for each check-in agent.
3. Northwest 132,573 6,700 20 to 1
In some airports, roaming agents with wireless portable devices can print boarding passes and luggage tags for fliers.
4. US Airways 147,704 6,888 21 to 1
The incredibly shrinking airline: fewer passengers, fewer agents every year since '96.
5. America West 50,299 2,400 21 to 1
Phoenix-based airline says it's recruiting airport agents heavily, but it added only 100 staffers last year.
6. Trans World Airlines 68,159 3,000 23 to 1
Airline says it's trying to address long lines but has no immediate plans to upgrade technology at the counters.
7. American 180,841 7,452 24 to 1
Ratio may be taking a toll: American has the most boarding-related complaints of any airline so far this year.
8. Delta 270,800 8,033 34 to 1
Outside most Delta terminals, fliers can now get boarding passes at curbside to avoid crowds.
9. Southwest 178,871 2,631 68 to 1
Unembarrassed, airline says numbers show how productive its employees are. It also helps that Southwest doesn't issue traditional boarding passes.