The threat of a strike by airport baggage handlers ended when workers accepted an improved pay offer.

Many feared chaos at Gatwick Airport with thousands of travellers queuing for hours to retrieve their luggage if the strike went ahead.

An agreement was reached between between Aviance, the company responsible for baggage handling and the main baggage handlers union the GMB.

The deal, involving increased wages and changes in the shift working patterns, was last night supported by the handlers.

GMB announced its members at Aviance, which employs staff at airports including Heathrow and Gatwick, voted by 3-1 in favour of the new deal.

Ed Blisset, the GMB's senior organiser said: "I am pleased Aviance management listened to its staff and came forward with an improved pay offer."

Airlines were today told to treat complaints about lost luggage more seriously.

Mishandled baggage topped the list of phone complaints received by the Air Transport Users Council last year and showed a marked increase.

The AUC said: "Despite repeated assertions to the contrary from the airline industry, we see little evidence that there is any real concern about the impact on passengers of damaged, delayed or lost luggage."

The AUC received 1,163 written complaints in 2001-02, compared with 1,417 in 2000-01.

Telephone complaints in 2001-02 totalled 4,252 - a 14 per cent rise on the 2000-01 figure. Mishandled baggage accounted for 19 per cent of the telephone complaints, with ticketing and delays the next highest categories.

Delays topped the list of written complaints, followed by mishandled baggage and flight cancellations.

As well as being worried about missing bags, the AUC said it was concerned about various aspects of ticketing.

Staff at Gatwick are bracing themselves for the bank holiday weekend when they expect almost half a million people to be jetting off on holiday.

The busiest day is expected to be the Saturday, with an estimated 120,000 passengers planning to travel through the airport.

Roger Cato, airport operator BAA's managing director, said it would be the first time many passengers would be flying since the events of September 11.

Gatwick has launched a major public awareness campaign during the summer to remind passengers sharp items, such as cutlery, penknives and scissors, are no longer permitted in hand luggage.

BAA is also reminding travellers using its airports that car parking spaces in its secure on-airport car parks can be pre-booked through its web site or by calling 0800 844844.