Virgin Australia introduces baggage tracking (selected routes)

[Bagpuss]

 

[SydneySwan]

I expect my Apple Airtags will be more reliable.

 

[Guvner]

My luggage has status? Hopefully it can guest me in to a lounge.

 

[RooFlyer]

If it works like the AA one, we'll be in front.
Report in the Oz on-line.

 

[#flying]

Great news, finally starting to catch up to the US carriers! Well done to Virgin, hopefully this pushes Qantas to do the same.

 

[justinbrett]

The AA tracking is superb.

 

[liamsal]

The AA tracking is superb.

Same as Delta (IIRC, haven’t flown them since pre-Covid).

I received a survey about this last month and thought it would be interesting. Only reason I do the surveys is to use the comments section at the end to suggest lifetime status!

 

[SeatBackForward]

The AA tracking is superb.

Indeed I was glued to it last time I was domestic in the US. Even helped me know one of my checked in bags went AWOL before we took off.

 

[dvb2000]

Where is this in the Virgin Australia app?

 

[justinbrett]

I'm not actually sure airline bag tracking or even AirTags actually help get your bags back any sooner, or prevent them getting lost, but it does make for good watching and peace of mind.

 

[madrooster]

I'm not actually sure airline bag tracking or even AirTags actually help get your bags back any sooner, or prevent them getting lost, but it does make for good watching and peace of mind.

It is definitely useful - I had multiple pax with lost bags last year and those who had AirTags/Galaxy tags were substantially easier and quicker to chase up than those that did not.

The majority of airlines already have tracking scans as part of their procedures, and have had these for years, however the majority don't make the data available to the public except in the US.

 

[justinbrett]

The majority of airlines already have tracking scans as part of their procedures, and have had these for years, however the majority don't make the data available to the public except in the US.

Which is why I said I don't think they make much difference. In my experience, bags are rarely lost - the airline knows exactly where they are. They're just not in the right place.

 

[madrooster]

Which is why I said I don't think they make much difference. In my experience, bags are rarely lost - the airline knows exactly where they are. They're just not in the right place.

An airline might know which airport they might be at, but as to exactly where... not so simple. That's where AirTags/Galaxy tags were helpful last year in conjunction with the airline scan data to narrow down where in the airport a bag was.

I speak from experience - I chased numerous lost checked bags last year on behalf of pax, using whatever was available to me, be it airline scan data or Airtag/Galaxy tag data or both. The ones without Airtags/Galaxy tags took longer as I had to send multiple people to look in their respective jurisdictions.

 

[justinbrett]

An airline might know which airport they might be at, but as to exactly where... not so simple. That's where AirTags/Galaxy tags were helpful last year in conjunction with the airline scan data to narrow down where in the airport a bag was.

I speak from experience - I chased numerous lost checked bags last year on behalf of pax, using whatever was available to me, be it airline scan data or Airtag/Galaxy tag data or both. The ones without Airtags/Galaxy tags took longer as I had to send multiple people to look in their respective jurisdictions.

I'm not disputing that, I'm just saying most of the time when your bag isn't on the conveyer belt, it isn't because it's lost - it's because it didn't make a connection or was loaded on the wrong flight.

Obviously NH summer 2022 is an exception, lots of bags were lost then. But I think we're back to normal now.

I still put AirTags in my luggage. Refreshing constantly while waiting at the baggage carousel seems to pass the time.

 

[ADFlyMore]

Great news! Understand reliability may be issue at first but what a positive step for VA and airlines in AU

 

[Saab34]

Air Tags saved me yesterday. Jetstar arrival into Sydney. I was following my bag as it came off the plane and seemed to be at the baggage belt. No dice. Went over to baggage desk and showed them the tag status, she went out and got it, apologised as it was left on the cart the baggage boy was going for a break just missed it or some BS.

I can guarantee you she wouldn’t have gone out looking for it if I didn’t show her the tag status, generally just we will call you in a year when it shows up.

 

[TheInsider]

I can guarantee you she wouldn’t have gone out looking for it if I didn’t show her the tag status, generally just we will call you in a year when it shows up.

It actually would've shown up within an hour or something and then a cost to the airline for delivering the bags.

 

[bussyboy]

Maybe, one day, airports can have bag pick up Kiosks - instead of a flight load of people milling around a single carousel?

 

[AIRwin]

I noticed this pop up on my app:

 

[#flying]

Page 11 of Qantas’ Investor Day presentation indicates that QF will also be introducing baggage notifications (although no timeframe is indicated).