New Next Gen Card and Bag Tags have arrived!

[pshepvic]

Wait Wait Wait....

Your card looks embossed? Have they gone back to doing that again, or is it just the picture...

Unfortunately it's just the picture. The iPhone camera is playing tricks!

 

[drron]

Mine WP's and SWMBO's SG tags are sitting in the filing cabinet and are unlikely to be used ...

I guess: "As previously posted by me" ...

I have been thinking how many of these tags are being used as intended?
I see an occasional one on the baggage carousel-though none coming off QF1 last night in BKK-got to see all the bags as ours were off last.
See an awful lot on carryons though.

 

[ozmille]

I have been thinking how many of these tags are being used as intended?
I see an occasional one on the baggage carousel-though none coming off QF1 last night in BKK-got to see all the bags as ours were off last.
See an awful lot on carryons though.

Isn't NGCI only for domestic travel? Maybe people take them off for international travel for fear of losing them somewhere? As I didn't get mine I can't put them on and so can't loose them

 

[samh004]

Isn't NGCI only for domestic travel? Maybe people take them off for international travel for fear of losing them somewhere? As I didn't get mine I can't put them on and spo can't loose them

Indeed, it’s a purely domestic system for now. Perhaps the majority of pax on QF1 weren’t status.

 

[pshepvic]

Isn't NGCI only for domestic travel? Maybe people take them off for international travel for fear of losing them somewhere? As I didn't get mine I can't put them on and so can't loose them

Yes, and I have also heard of situations where bags have been sent off to the wrong place, because the system has picked up the NGCI tag rather than the barcode on the paper tag!

 

[serfty]

Isn't NGCI only for domestic travel? Maybe people take them off for international travel for fear of losing them somewhere? As I didn't get mine I can't put them on and so can't loose them

Yip, domestic travel only.

There have been reports of said tags on hand luggage interfering with the process when checking bags ---> bags does not arrive at intended destination.

Hence, it is better not to have them with you at all if not using them.

That's why mine are stored - awaiting the remote chance that I may need them.

 

[simongr]

On both my last QF int'l flights all I saw was NGCI tags on bags on the carousel...

 

[nlagalle]

On both my last QF int'l flights all I saw was NGCI tags on bags on the carousel...

I see more NGCI tags in the QP and J lounge than the bag carousel!! :mrgreen:

 

[drron]

Isn't NGCI only for domestic travel? Maybe people take them off for international travel for fear of losing them somewhere? As I didn't get mine I can't put them on and so can't loose them

As one who does not qualify for tags I had forgotten this.There were however many of the tags inside the passenger cabin.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Being based in SIN and the tags being of absolutely zero use to me (for its intended purpose), I do find them a nice decoration as a carry-on bag tag. Not that it's DYKWIM thing, it seems to go well with my small-ish carry-on bag.

 

[JohnK]

Mine WP's and SWMBO's SG tags are sitting in the filing cabinet and are unlikely to be used ...

I guess: "As previously posted by me" ...

I believe my tags are in one of the plastic bags loitering around in my room. I really don't know for sure.

I love the conversation I get at check-in most times.

Check-in Agent: "Where are your bag tags?"
Me: cutting conversation short "I don't want to use them"
Check-in Agent: continues with check-in process.

I do not see any benefit in using bag tags, for now, and no one can really force me to use them either....

 

[nlagalle]

I believe my tags are in one of the plastic bags loitering around in my room. I really don't know for sure.

I love the conversation I get at check-in most times.

Check-in Agent: "Where are your bag tags?"
Me: cutting conversation short "I don't want to use them"
Check-in Agent: continues with check-in process.

I do not see any benefit in using bag tags, for now, and no one can really force me to use them either....

It's interesting you say that John. As I mentioned above I did try it on the weekend and found it to be fantastic, and much quicker than a check-in agent. I do really like it and will definitely use it again when i am not flying to Sydney (only because I want out of the airport ASAP). I am tempted to use it when I fly to DRW next week, but the connection in ADL has me worried...

 

[straitman]

It's interesting you say that John. As I mentioned above I did try it on the weekend and found it to be fantastic, and much quicker than a check-in agent. I do really like it and will definitely use it again when i am not flying to Sydney (only because I want out of the airport ASAP). I am tempted to use it when I fly to DRW next week, but the connection in ADL has me worried...

Yes my one experience MEL-CBR last week was quite good.

 

[JohnK]

It's interesting you say that John. As I mentioned above I did try it on the weekend and found it to be fantastic, and much quicker than a check-in agent. I do really like it and will definitely use it again when i am not flying to Sydney (only because I want out of the airport ASAP). I am tempted to use it when I fly to DRW next week, but the connection in ADL has me worried...

Are you talking about carry on luggage only? Why not OLCI and print boarding pass and then you do not even need to worry about check-in queues or NGCI queues.

Personally I check luggage and I see no benefit using NGCI. Print my own paper boarding pass and luggage tags? Why? I hardly ever have to wait more than a minute or so for a check-in agent and I can always ask if there is any change of getting on an earlier flight. Not that it ever gets me anywhere anyway.

And also checked luggage at the other end comes out the same regardless what method was used to check luggage....

 

[djfuzz]

Personally I check luggage and I see no benefit using NGCI. Print my own paper boarding pass and luggage tags? Why? I hardly ever have to wait more than a minute or so for a check-in agent and I can always ask if there is any change of getting on an earlier flight. Not that it ever gets me anywhere anyway.

I thought this would be the case, but I found the process to be (relatively) quick and straightforward, and did not require printing out anything but the receipt and the BP at the gate. Of course, this assumes everything is working well, that the baggage belt has not melted down or that there are not huge queues for the bag drop - in which case everything seems to grind to a halt.

And also checked luggage at the other end comes out the same regardless what method was used to check luggage....

Agreed, but - it may just be in my head - my NGCI'd bags on my last trip came out a lot quicker than bags I'd checked in at the premium desk previously. Just one random data point with no basis for any sort of inference, but will be very curious to see if this persists.

 

[medhead]

Personally I check luggage and I see no benefit using NGCI. Print my own paper boarding pass and luggage tags? Why? I hardly ever have to wait more than a minute or so for a check-in agent and

I thought this would be the case, but I found the process to be (relatively) quick and straightforward, and did not require printing out anything but the receipt and the BP at the gate.

Yes, one thing that seems to be missed is that you do not have to print bag tags if you use the NG Tags. I will also reported that when I checked in in BNE a couple weeks ago used both the check in agent and the NG Tags. That's right you can use the new tags and still check in with a real person. This is has been my understand of how the system would work. So I can understand not using NGCI (I also don't like the idea*) but I have trouble understanding why someone wouldn't use the NG tags.

Not to mention the general kiosk/self service check in in BNE was an absolute mess. Work seems well advance in ADL, I'd guess only a couple more weeks until it turns to chaos as well

 

[JohnPhelan]

So I can understand not using NGCI (I also don't like the idea*) but I have trouble understanding why someone wouldn't use the NG tags.

Because if, by chance, the NGCI tag gets torn off your bag by the machinery, etc - you are stuffed!

Without the NGCI tag, they simply have no idea where your bag is supposed to go. And given the weight of the new tags, they are much more likely to get caught on/by something on the belt than were the old paper tags (which I will still use).

And there have been a reasonable number of people on this site who have told of instances where the NGCI tags have been either ripped off completely or damaged in such a way that the data was unreadable.

 

[JohnK]

So I can understand not using NGCI (I also don't like the idea*) but I have trouble understanding why someone wouldn't use the NG tags.

I have tried using the NGCI kiosks. They are OK but apart from a few extra ways to get into the booking they are exactly the same as the old QuickCheck machines but not as generous.

As for bag tags I think it has already been mentioned.

If the advantage of bag tags is that a paper sticker/bag tag is not required then what happens to your bag when the bag tag is removed?

And before anyone starts bagging the current system, or old if you like, you have a bag tag attached to the handle and also a label that is taken off the bag tag and stuck on to the bag somewhere.

So in theory luggage should always some identifying bag tag/label on it unless both have gone missing in action.

 

[nlagalle]

Are you talking about carry on luggage only? Why not OLCI and print boarding pass and then you do not even need to worry about check-in queues or NGCI queues.

Personally I check luggage and I see no benefit using NGCI. Print my own paper boarding pass and luggage tags? Why? I hardly ever have to wait more than a minute or so for a check-in agent and I can always ask if there is any change of getting on an earlier flight. Not that it ever gets me anywhere anyway.

And also checked luggage at the other end comes out the same regardless what method was used to check luggage....

No, I checked in my bag as I wanted to test the system. I didn't OLCI, but 5 days earlier selected my seat so there was no need. The only piece of paper i got was when i placed my card under the reader at the gate - then i got the slip.

I'm wondering why you don't want to try the tags out? at the very least you don't have to waste time having them attached or you removing them at the other end.

Personally I will use it if i check in luggage - personally I don't as I hate waiting especially in sydney in the morning. And arriving in CBR my bag did arrive quite quickly, was in the first couple of dozen that came out.

 

[JohnK]

I'm wondering why you don't want to try the tags out? at the very least you don't have to waste time having them attached or you removing them at the other end.

There are a few reasons Nick.

First and most important is that I am flying a full-service carrier and they want me to check-in my own bag? Please! If I was flying Tiger or GOD forbud Jetstar then that would be a different story.

Secondly what will using NGCI check-in offer me? Better seat? Faster luggage turnaround at the other end? Quicker check-in experience? I can either line up at the Business/Platinum counter or find a free check-in kiosk and then the baggage deposit. Much of a much muchness.

Thirdly the first two reasons are important enough for me....