Article: How to Stop Airlines Losing Your Checked Baggage

[marks]

Apple tags are amazing. Especially when going to the counter early to get the bag report in, because you can see it is still at the origin airport.
And you can share a tag with someone. (the wife/kids/etc) and they can track it without pestering you about the bags.
And you can set an alert when it leaves a location (ie. Theft, or when it being transferred between hotels, etc). I did this when it didn't make my flight so I could see when it was 1. leaving the origin airport. 2. leaving the destination airport on the courier to be returned.
I keep it in the light cardboard holder and blue tac it to the inside of the bag under the lining. Not easily removed then.

VA bags app is pretty cool. "we have your bags" "your bags are on the aircraft" "your bags are on carousel number X"

Q-tags haven't let me down... However, I have had 2 ripped off when travelling OS. The bag was tagged with a paper tag at the time.
I do like the convenience of the Q-tag. But I wouldn't use one without both name tags and air tags as a backup.

 

[stm1sydney]

HLO.

 

[Trekky1]

VA bags app is pretty cool. "we have your bags" "your bags are on the aircraft" "your bags are on carousel number X"

I find this hit and miss. I usually get the first one, but the 2nd one, only every now and then. I've never gotten the 3rd one yet.

 

[Berlin]

With the airtags some airlines like JAL do not allow you to have them in your luggage. So always check the airlines policy

Or just ignore this non-sense. Had this happen to us multiple times now and we certainly did not open our suitcase in the last minute to take out the luggage tag just because JAL prefers one to not know that the suitcase is sitting somewhere in a shed at NRT…

Speaking of- that’s the one issue with the AirTags: Even if you’re generously “allowed” to use them (anywhere else but on JAL, it seems ), airlines don’t want to hear it. Had that issue with Qantas a few weeks back (simple direct SYD-MEL flight, no less), trying to tell them multiple times that the bag was still in Sydney but they had ZERO interest in listening. Took them 4 whole days in the end to finally locate it, somewhere in the bowels of Sydney airport I assume.

And one more tip, from sad decade long experience: If you want your bag to arrive with you, about LHR like the plague

 

[Ripcurlgirl]

I took a (full) flight last weekend where pretty much everyone with a small carry-on sized suitcase at the boarding gate had it forcibly gate-checked. There were over 50 bags tagged and put in the hold. There was no charge for this but the gate staff wouldn't take no for an answer.

Also, if you are using an airline (such as Emirates) that only allows 1 piece of carry-on (ie no handbag, laptop etc) you are forced to check your small carry-on sized suitcase. Many people, such as shorties like myself, need access to some small carry-on (eg medication), without the hassle of climbing over people to try and reach the overhead lockers time and again.

 

[RooFlyer]

Also, if you are using an airline (such as Emirates) that only allows 1 piece of carry-on (ie no handbag, laptop etc) you are forced to check your small carry-on sized suitcase. Many people, such as shorties like myself, need access to some small carry-on (eg medication), without the hassle of climbing over people to try and reach the overhead lockers time and again.

Is that across all classes?

 

[Archipelago]

You just restated everything the article says.

Didn't read the article, this came up as a thread suggestion. Must be a good article then

 

[Scarlett]

They will always open it if they lose the airline tags or your own luggage tags on the outside. If there's no contact info it eventually gets sold off. This is a last resort tactic.

Can confirm.
Mrs Scarlett’s bag went missing out of ZRH (didn’t arrive in NCE) and was effectively ‘lost’ for 8 days. They broke the lock off and found paperwork inside to confirm her name, which subsequently allowed us to get the bag back.
(no idea what happened to either the usual airline sticky tag, or her external name tag)

 

[SeanExile]

Ah lost luggage. Happened plenty of times.
And for those that say just take handluggage, sure, great if your off for a few days. But not as good when you need 4 suits, some gifts and decent change, nuff said.

Anyway, best advise, as been stated before is to laminate a paper with your contact details and place in the zip pocket of the luggage. In Europe, they will open the luggage and check for contact details, 2 suitcases have arrived that way to me.

Downunder its harder, most groundhandlers lack staff and this leads to many mistakes. in 2022 it was a complete circus and my worst experience was on a trip between DOH-SYD-AKL.
I have gold on QR so my luggage had a priority luggage sticker and I was seated in business between Doha and Sydney but in economy over to Auckland since the connection was on Jetstar (I know)...
Anyway I arrive in AKL at around midnight, we're delayed but with less than 30 minutes. My bag and all other bags that came through DOH is not on the flight due groundhandler shortages at Sydney. When we try to report this we realise that the groundhandler, Swissport, has hut for the day and boarded up their helpdesk. They have, however, placed a sign with a helpdesk number. Several people call the helpdesk number, issue is the contact number has a voicemail, but its already full so we cant record new messages. Air NZ groundhandling staff next door informs us that the only way to get hold of swissport is when they are working so we have to return to the airport another day. Apparently it's usually that way with the late flights. Lovely...

Nothing to do but leave the airport without the suitcase and without a lost luggage receipt. The following day I hit AKL airport and file my lost suitcase report. Hoping that my suitcase would be there I wait till late afternoon to visit, assuming the bag would have been sent from SYD on the first flight out, however my bag is nowhere to be seen. Upon returning home, I check the online trackernumber for my missing bag and lo and behold, the luggage shows as having departed Sydney, but no arrival anywhere. I try to get hold of Swissport, but they don't answer and the answering machine is still full. Emails are sent, but they go unanswered. Instead I reach out to QR and they do a quick search and inform me that the suitcase has arrived in AKL the day after me. However the system in AKL has no record of this, but QR guarantees that it was on the SYD to AKL flight. I hit the airport again, armed with this info and present it to the absolutely overworked poor groundhandler who explains that it must be in their warehouse. She explains that they are short of staff and dont have time to enter all lost luggages in the system as they arrive so they are bulkshipped to the warehouse for the info to be added later...

I believe her, there is a huge queue of frustrated passengers, shes all alone and there is about 100 bags standing waiting to be processed. Its not a smooth operation. 10 days goes by of continous effort by me. Eventually, I resort to jetstar and Swissports social media channels, airing my frustration. Then the local manager calls me and says sorry and well do a search. The following day I receive an email saying that my luggage has been found, it had been in the Swissport AKL Warehouse all the time.

I was pretty annoyed, but decided that instead of showing it Ill just thank staff. Its not their fault that they are underresourced and asked to do the job of 4 people. I got my bag, unpacked it and the following day I flew out back to Doha and yes the travel insurance supported me and covered all expenses.

 

[bussyboy]

VA bags app is pretty cool. "we have your bags" "your bags are on the aircraft" "your bags are on carousel number X"

Not sure what qantas was trying with this in their app a couple of weeks ago

Bag was in my hand i was waiting for uber when i screen shot this

Q-tags haven't let me down... However, I have had 2 ripped off when travelling OS. The bag was tagged with a paper tag at the time.
I do like the convenience of the Q-tag. But I wouldn't use one without both name tags and air tags as a backup.

I've had no issues with qtags either, but can appreciate in the earlier days that teething issues may have scared some people off using them.

I wonder if Qantas have Stats available on the usage of these, particularly across the membership tiers?

 

[drron]

In the last 4 months we have taken 6 flights on JAL. One checked bag each time with it's airtag. no problems.

 

[Cosmic Ray]

I have otherwise had success with them, and rarely have issues connecting Syd, Mel, BNE or adl (ex per) other than this one time. In any case they're almost always on the bag as an ID tag.

The Q tags seem to work fine between capital cities, buit once when flying via Alice Springs my bags didnt arrive and I was told by a Qantas rep that this is because the Q tags arent supported at smaller airports so they have to be scanned manually, but often arent, so they get delayed and miss the connecting flight.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Is that across all classes?

Have travelled EK F, J many times (and years ago Y) no issue with handbag and 7kg wheelie @RooFlyer
CX J stated total weight 7kg small handbag and carry on, never weighed thankfully - my handbag is more akin to Mary Poppins!

 

[Anda]

Also, if you are using an airline (such as Emirates) that only allows 1 piece of carry-on (ie no handbag, laptop etc) you are forced to check your small carry-on sized suitcase. Many people, such as shorties like myself, need access to some small carry-on (eg medication), without the hassle of climbing over people to try and reach the overhead lockers time and again.

Can’t you stash your handbag/whatever in the carry-on till the last minute then pull it out before putting your carry-on into the overhead? That’s what I did last year when I flew Emirates. The little bag was up top so quick and easy to pull out.

 

[SeaWolf]

Speaking of- that’s the one issue with the AirTags: Even if you’re generously “allowed” to use them (anywhere else but on JAL, it seems ), airlines don’t want to hear it. Had that issue with Qantas a few weeks back (simple direct SYD-MEL flight, no less), trying to tell them multiple times that the bag was still in Sydney but they had ZERO interest in listening.

This is a bit of a shortcoming of the airlines, if you're using an AirTag/SmartTag it's useful for giving you info about where the bag is but the airlines haven't caught up, their systems just have no way of entering or using the information you're providing them.

I did use a Samsung SmartTag a few months back to at least assure myself that QF had indeed loaded the bag into the aircraft that I was on. That was reassuring. Of late I've noticed QF is really pushing hard to get you to check in bags with reminders in the app and the check in process. At Sydney they've been (mostly) weighing every piece of carry on (JQ style) before they let you into the line for security.

 

[Ripcurlgirl]

Is that across all classes?

Only one carry-on (dimensions should not exceed 55 by 38 by 22 cm) in both Economy (7kg) & Premium Economy (10kg) but the following applies to Business & First classes :

7kg Carry-on +
7kg Briefcase or garment bag

The briefcase may not exceed 45 by 35 by 20 cm; the handbag may not exceed 55 by 38 by 22 cm; the garment bag can be no more than 20 cm thick when folded.

I know Qantas Economy allows:

one piece of 115cm luggage
= 56 cm + 36 cm + 23 cm.

Also it states:
Note:

• In addition to your carry-on baggage allowance, you may also carry onboard one small personal item such as a handbag, laptop computer (in a slim bag), overcoat, small camera, a reasonable amount of reading material or a small amount of duty free goods (where permitted).

This screwed me when I was going to Manchester in 2022 but, due to a flight connection cancellation, I had to switch airlines - that's how I learnt of the difference. Now I'm flying Emirates to Spain later this year so my carry-on size luggage will have to be checked.

BTW Qantas also prefers you to check baggage where possible due to limited cabin storage space during peak periods.

 

[Ripcurlgirl]

Can’t you stash your handbag/whatever in the carry-on till the last minute then pull it out before putting your carry-on into the overhead? That’s what I did last year when I flew Emirates. The little bag was up top so quick and easy to pull out.

Yeah, I have thought about that but my friend is checking her carry-on so I will probably just follow suit. That way I can take a small, foldable day pack on-board with a change of clothes etc (esp as it will still be cold in Australia when we leave - & on the aircraft no doubt - but stinky hot when we arrive in Madrid).

 

[Ripcurlgirl]

Have travelled EK F, J many times (and years ago Y) no issue with handbag and 7kg wheelie @RooFlyer
CX J stated total weight 7kg small handbag and carry on, never weighed thankfully - my handbag is more akin to Mary Poppins

Total newb here. How do I know if my ticket is F, J, Y or whatever? I just know that it's Economy (Flex on the way there & Flex Plus on the way back). I see many Letter References in posts here but where do you find out? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[SeaWolf]

Total newb here. How do I know if my ticket is F, J, Y or whatever?

In this context, those are a reference to each class of travel, where:
F = First
J = Business
P/W = Premium Economy (usually)
Y = Economy

You might sometimes see C used for Business as well, particularly on Star Alliance carriers.

 

[Ripcurlgirl]

In this context, those are a reference to each class of travel, where:
F = First
J = Business
P/W = Premium Economy (usually)
Y = Economy

You might sometimes see C used for Business as well, particularly on Star Alliance carriers.

Thanks. So even if you buy, for example, a "saver" or "sale" ticket in Economy it is still Y class?