Happiness is a place travellers only dream of

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Huge rise in air delays and passenger complaints

"Take two", the slogan used by Alaska Airlines for its wide network of domestic flights in the western US is an invitation to travellers to carry two decent-sized cases into the aircraft cabin. The airline wants to entice passengers who recognise the added speed this can offer. And losing bags costs the airline money in reuniting luggage with owners. It also costs points in the Department of Transportation statistics that are easily available to the travelling public. Customers are happy, the airline is happy.

Happiness is increasingly rare among flyers in Britain. As today's figures from the Air Transport Users' Council demonstrate, complaints about lost bags are increasing.

Yesterday, the Civil Aviation Authority revealed an increase in flight delays, even before the summer rush – or in the case of some holidaymakers to Majorca, the summer standstill – began. These are two sides of the same coin, reflecting woeful underinvestment in transport infrastructure combined with lack of will among airlines and the authorities.

Passengers hoping to fly from Stansted last Tuesday were painfully aware of the shortcomings: the Stansted Express rail links seized, stranding hundreds in Hertfordshire and causing an almighty snarl-up when the passengers finally finally reached the airport.

Across at Heathrow, the delay in announcing the result of the Terminal Five enquiry means yet more "make do and mend", at the long-term cost of British jobs. With BA now using all four existing terminals, and having to shuffle passengers and bags between them, it is hardly surprising they are increasingly likely to be parted.

But until Europe decides to take action to force service providers to deliver, or to tax aviation fuel to stifle the increase in demand for air travel, or to introduce a Europe- wide air-traffic control system than supersedes national autonomy, travellers will have to get used to the idea that even when everyone and everything is working normally air travel is unlikely to be a happy experience.