From WHQ:


United announced that its Baggage Services
Call Centers have been consolidated into the
Reservations Division, as part of a companywide
effort to improve cost-competitiveness and
responsiveness to customer needs.

"Consolidating Baggage Services call handling with
Reservations will increase consistency and operating
efficiency across our call centers -- improving
service for our customers," says Judy Bishop, vice
president-Worldwide Reservations.

To improve responsiveness to customers' baggage
questions during the busy summer travel season,
United announced that beginning April 17, 2006,
its South Bend, Ind., Reservations office
will transition to handling baggage services calls.
The transition is expected to be complete by May 1.

Additionally, United has contracted with InterGlobe
Technologies (IGT) in Delhi, India to handle baggage
services calls. IGT is expected to be fully staffed
to handle baggage calls by late summer; when both
and Ft. Wayne, Ind. which has been
handling baggage services calls since September
2005, will close. IAM-represented employees at both
locations will be offered options commensurate with
their contract.

"Record load factors and challenging operating
conditions have resulted in on-going high call
levels to Baggage Services," says Judy Bishop, vice
president-Worldwide Reservations. "By temporarily
converting South Bend to a bag desk, we will provide the
immediate resources needed to handle baggage
services calls during busy summer travel months.
Closing South Bend and Fort wayne will provide long-term cost-
competitiveness."