Philip Djaferis, senior manager government relations and tariff services at International Air Transport Association in Geneva, says: "U.S. airlines pushed for the piece system with the introduction of the wide-body 747s and DC10a in the early 1970s because it's so much more efficient and faster to handle masses of passengers if you don't have to weigh every bag. I think they were rather hasty and subsequently regretted it. But now the piece system is established as a consumer benefit, the Department of Transportation is loath to allow carriers to go back to the weight system."