Baggage Check-in

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Baggage Weighing, Luggage Check-in, Luggage Forwarding, Luggage Dispatch, Baggage Drop Off

Category

Travel, Transport Facilities, Processing Activities, Tourism

Message / Function

To indicate the location of baggage check-in / baggage weighing

	Source	Description
	Düsseldorf Airport	Bag/suitcase, human figure behind desk
	Swiss Post	Bag/suitcase with label on scale
	UIC 413 b	Suitcase with label on scale
1)	UIC Testdesign	Suitcase/bag on scale
	UIC 413 b	Suitcase/bag with label on scale
	BS 8501:2002	Bag/suitcase with label on scale
	D'source	Bag/suitcase on scale
	ISO 7001	Bag/suitcase on scale
	Erco	Bag/suitcase on scale
	Schiphol	Suitcase on conveyor belt, arrows indicating direction of movement
	ÖNORM A 3011	Side view of human figure next to suitcase on conveyor belt, arrow on baggage pointing away from human figure
	UIC 413	Side view of human figure next to suitcase roller conveyor, arrow on baggage pointing away from human figure
	ON Testdesign	Front view of human figure next to partial view of suitcase on roller conveyor, arrow pointing from human figure to suitcase
	ATA	Front view of human figure next to suitcase above line, arrow pointing away from human figure and suitcase
	D/FW	Suitcase with label, arrow pointing towards plan view of airplane
1)	ON Testdesign	Open container, suitcase on roller conveyor, arrow pointing away from suitcase to backside of container
	Schiphol	Side view of human figure bending towards larger object with suitcase on arrows inside, the latter pointing away from human figure
1)	ON Testdesign	Side view of human figure and suitcase, arrow above pointing away from human figure
2)	ON Testdesign	Partial view of suitcase and human figure, arm pointing towards suitcase
2)	ON Testdesign	Partial view of suitcase and human figure, arm pointing away from suitcase
	ON Testdesign	Suitcase, on the side above arrow pointing towards suitcase handle
	AIGA	Suitcase

Discussion

The examples above indicate the diversity of concepts and visualizations for the referent Baggage Check-in that can be found in publications and guiding systems worldwide. Apparently there is no clear stereotype to indicate the location for baggage check-in and baggage weighing.

Results of various studies covering symbols related to luggage made obvious that subjects usually "understand that these symbols refer to some kind of luggage facility. The elements added to the suitcase, however, often do not convey which specific luggage facility is meant" (Zwaga & Boersema, 1983).

Based on these findings the working group 6 of the relevant Austrian Standards committee FNA 133 and a working group of the UIC developed several test designs which were examined in an Appropriateness Ranking Tests (Brugger, 1992). This test showed that the variants marked with 2) did not differentiate between Baggage Check-in and Baggage Claim and were judged as least appropriate of the pictograms studied. The variants marked with 1) were ranked as most appropriate and also reached better comprehension scores in a follow up Comprehension Test than the other variants inspected (Brugger, 1992).

Regarding this groundwork Scheiber developed a new variant labeled above as ÖNORM A 3011, which again was tested for comprehensibility (Brugger, 1995) and reached the best scores of all variants tested up to then (80 % correct responses). If the answer Baggage Scale is judged as correct, the pictogram labeled as UIC Testdesign performed just as well, but in a Matching Test with a focus on luggage related symbols this variant proved to be far less efficient (Brugger, 1995).

The decision of AIGA to use the same pictogram for Baggage Check-in as well as for Baggage Claim may work in environments, where a clear separation of passenger streams is guaranteed and no other baggage related facilities/activities could be searched for. Other applications or circumstances might lead into difficulties due to the ambiguity of the message conveyed.

Recommendations

CheckIn

Based on test results available we recommend the use of a pictogram similar to symbol B.2.6 Forwarding of Luggage from the International Railway Standard UIC 413. To improve this pictogram the size of the suitcase with arrow should be increased a bit to emphasize the direction the suitcase is taking.

Tests of pictograms of referent concepts and a considerable number of visualizations

Brugger, Ch. (1992): Reihungstest 1992. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) FNA 133 dated August 1992, Vienna.

Brugger, Ch. (1992): Verständnistest 1992. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated October 1992, Vienna.

Brugger, Ch. (1995): Matching-Test Gepäcksaufgabe / Gepäcksabholung - Bericht an ÖBB-GD 02. Vienna, June 1995.

Brugger, Ch. (1995): Verständnistest 1995 - Im Auftrag der ÖBB und des ON - FNA 133. Vienna, November 1995.

Gärling, T. (1985): ISO Appropriateness Ranking Test 1985 - Redovisning av genomförande. Report to the Swedish Standards Institute dated 1985-07-24.

Magyar, S. (1993): Sorolási Teszt 1993. Készült az MSZH felkérésére. Budapest, January 1993.

Zwaga, H.J. & Boersema, T. (1983): Evaluation of a set of graphic symbols. Applied Ergonomics, 14, 1, 43-54.