New Next Gen Card and Bag Tags have arrived!

[trippin_the_rift]

Tried the nextgen bagdrop thing for the first time last weekend in BNE and CNS, noticed the following:-

No priority way to 'check in' prior to dropping bags off. Lines in both BNE and CNS were HUGE and totally unacceptable. Realistically I should have checked in online to bypass the initial kiosk stop.

Bag-Dropping, again no priority lane/area at all with lines equally as long and shocking. It takes folks just as long to drop their bag as checking in with an actual agent, and given these wait times it's similar to waiting in an all economy check in line. Total waste of my time and energy waiting for the 50 once-a-year travellers.

In CNS I wisened up and went to the shortest possible line which was the group service one. Agent said I needed to join the long line, despite being Platinum and in Business, travelling with 4 others all in business. I asked where the priority line was and she said there wasn't one.

No wonder folks don't want to check bags anymore. It's a cough*ing horrible mess.

 

[justinbrett]

Tried the nextgen bagdrop thing for the first time last weekend in BNE and CNS, noticed the following:-

No priority way to 'check in' prior to dropping bags off. Lines in both BNE and CNS were HUGE and totally unacceptable. Realistically I should have checked in online to bypass the initial kiosk stop.

Bag-Dropping, again no priority lane/area at all with lines equally as long and shocking. It takes folks just as long to drop their bag as checking in with an actual agent, and given these wait times it's similar to waiting in an all economy check in line. Total waste of my time and energy waiting for the 50 once-a-year travellers.

In CNS I wisened up and went to the shortest possible line which was the group service one. Agent said I needed to join the long line, despite being Platinum and in Business, travelling with 4 others all in business.

No wonder folks don't want to check bags anymore. It's a cough*ing horrible mess.

Travelled out of BNE to TVL last month - definitely had a priority check in area (I think they called it the premium service desk). It's not in the place it used to be. CNS doesn't have next gen yet, does it?

Isn't the tagged bag drop only for Silver and above? I was the only one using it when I travelled.

 

[medhead]

Tried the nextgen bagdrop thing for the first time last weekend in BNE and CNS, noticed the following:-

No priority way to 'check in' prior to dropping bags off. Lines in both BNE and CNS were HUGE and totally unacceptable. Realistically I should have checked in online to bypass the initial kiosk stop.

I'm surprised I flew from BNE just after easter. Entered the terminal to see the same mess around the kiosk thingys. No way I was doing that so I looked closely at the desks and there was a check in line, with a door witch, who let me in when I flashed the WP card. I can't remember the exact signs or anything, but my recollection is they said something like J/WP/SG check in/bag drop.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I'm surprised I flew from BNE just after easter. Entered the terminal to see the same mess around the kiosk thingys. No way I was doing that so I looked closely at the desks and there was a check in line, with a door witch, who let me in when I flashed the WP card. I can't remember the exact signs or anything, but my recollection is they said something like J/WP/SG check in/bag drop.

Where was that? I scanned every bag drop in the area and each one had huge lineups. Ended up going to the shortest one at the very right of the check in area.

 

[medhead]

Where was that? I scanned every bag drop in the area and each one had huge lineups. Ended up going to the shortest one at the very right of the check in area.

My memory is very hazy. But it was a taped off queue to the right of the kiosks as you look towards the desks. Staff member standing right in the entry opening. Basically the service desks but I'm sure the sign said check in.

 

[docjames]

It's not that easy to spot due to the boardings. It about 2/3 of the way along to the right, just adjacent to where the boardings currently are. So roughly in the middle of the "old checkin" counters.

They really dont want you to use it. But we had a) minidoc (BP wont issue and OLCI wont allow), and b) oversize luggage (pram). So no option. Only two others in queue and moved fast enough.

They really should have a "prioirty bag drop" machine.

 

[justinbrett]

Still unsure how we are getting priority baggage. Are they going by the colour of your tag? You don't give them back when you lose status, so I can't see that working.

Or will they just say - you haven't had it for years, so there really is no change.

 

[Flashback]

Still unsure how we are getting priority baggage. Are they going by the colour of your tag? You don't give them back when you lose status, so I can't see that working.

Or will they just say - you haven't had it for years, so there really is no change.

It prints(and codes) onto the label either business or priority. See earlier in the thread for a photo.

 

[justinbrett]

It prints(and codes) onto the label either business or priority. See earlier in the thread for a photo.

Print what? The whole point of the tags is that there's no label on your bag.

 

[FSM-2024]

From simply a visual perspective, the bag tags will not designate whether or not the baggage is flying Priority, however, it should be scanned inbound at placed at the front along with the other normal labelled bags. I can't state whether this is fully implemented yet though.

 

[justinbrett]

From simply a visual perspective, the bag tags will not designate whether or not the baggage is flying Priority, however, it should be scanned inbound at placed at the front along with the other normal labelled bags. I can't state whether this is fully implemented yet though.

That's my point entirely.

You were lucky to get priority service with a brightly coloured tag on your bag.

What chance have we got when they have to actively scan your bag to check?

 

[FSM-2024]

That's my point entirely. You were lucky to get priority service with a brightly coloured tag on your bag. What chance have we got when they have to actively scan your bag to check?

Yeah I know. What concerned me also was during my last flight I used my PS Q Chip card during boarding and it printed out that I was PS QC. I'm a SG but have yet to receive my SG Q Chip Card; what it suggests about the system is that its not all entirely wired up to check the main database when you scan through - ie my bags were probably sent through as PS (no priority) as well. I would be very interested to find out how the system works - and if they're planning (eventually) making it work internationally - particularly with other oneworld carriers. One would hope the system is squared away by then though.

 

[justinbrett]

Yeah I know. What concerned me also was during my last flight I used my PS Q Chip card during boarding and it printed out that I was PS QC. I'm a SG but have yet to receive my SG Q Chip Card; what it suggests about the system is that its not all entirely wired up to check the main database when you scan through - ie my bags were probably sent through as PS (no priority) as well. I would be very interested to find out how the system works - and if they're planning (eventually) making it work internationally - particularly with other oneworld carriers. One would hope the system is squared away by then though.

I've been SG for years and I rarely get any priority - with our without the tags.

 

[k_sheep]

I got an email months ago asking me to double check my address as my tags were coming. Did so. No tags.

Rang up a few weeks ago as I was about to drop back to NB and was told I was never meant to get the tags, that they would only be sent out after requalification. Phone wench then very kindly offered to sell me some. I kindly declined.

But what a mess! I fail to see how this has streamlined anything - all I see are confused lines and groups of people wandering around check in area.

 

[justinbrett]

I got an email months ago asking me to double check my address as my tags were coming. Did so. No tags.

Rang up a few weeks ago as I was about to drop back to NB and was told I was never meant to get the tags, that they would only be sent out after requalification. Phone wench then very kindly offered to sell me some. I kindly declined.

But what a mess! I fail to see how this has streamlined anything - all I see are confused lines and groups of people wandering around check in area.

BA have used it for years, but you had to print the bag label. It seemed to work well.

 

[FSM-2024]

I've been SG for years and I rarely get any priority - with our without the tags.

Just like priority boarding.

I got an email months ago asking me to double check my address as my tags were coming. Did so. No tags.

Rang up a few weeks ago as I was about to drop back to NB and was told I was never meant to get the tags, that they would only be sent out after requalification. Phone wench then very kindly offered to sell me some. I kindly declined.

But what a mess! I fail to see how this has streamlined anything - all I see are confused lines and groups of people wandering around check in area.

Honestly, I wouldnt waste money on tags which at the end of the day take no more than 30 seconds to print a baggage tag - particularly when you have the security of something that isn't IT based.

 

[justinbrett]

I think QF won't be happy when the government brings in the photo-id check in requirement.

Puts a hole in their next-g checkin plan.

I flew a few years ago out of LHR T1 (just prior to T5 opening). Elite FFs had their own entrance to the terminal, and the check in area was a completely seperate room to the plebs (solid walls). The security was dedicated to the elite check in, and it took you up an esculator to the terraces lounge which was near the gates.

Why can't we have that in Oz?

That an a 24H self service bar. And spirits in Y....

 

[medhead]

That's my point entirely. You were lucky to get priority service with a brightly coloured tag on your bag.What chance have we got when they have to actively scan your bag to check?

It's supposed to code your details including priority luggage onto the tag when you do bag drop. This is because anyone can use the tag, so I could give my NB family a plat tag but it should be coded as NB for that flight.

 

[Robert K]

I think QF won't be happy when the government brings in the photo-id check in requirement.

couldn't they do that at the security check?

 

[justinbrett]

couldn't they do that at the security check?

They'd have to ban non-travellers from going through security.

Most likely solution is to check on boarding. From memory that's how they do it on intra-Europe flights. Will slow the process down though, hence why QF won't be happy.