Priority Checked Baggage - What a joke !

[prozac]

I fly quite a bit internationally, and the problem is with Australian baggage handlers (the same thing happens with CX, SQ, EK, EY when coming back into Aus)- watch what happens when you fly to other international locations, priority is treated as priority.
This is the reason I generally try and travel with carry on luggage only.

Same here. Whilst I have not been flying QF (mainly SQ and some MH), I find my luggage arrives in Euro ports first out having the removable tape affixed, but not so in Australia. Mind you, not impressed with the last trip on MH when I went to collect bags in AMS they were covered in dried grass. It was drizzling in AMS when we arrived so this could only have happened in KUL. The bag looked like it had been kicked around a country footy field.

 

[pauleg]

As a WP I checked in a Tagged bag at Tulla self check a few weeks ago. It must have been part of a larger major stuff up on Mel to Bne flights as it was not there on arrival Brisbane. It was finally delivered to me about 18 hours later which was certainly not ideal. However I would have to say that a/ it was an unusually rare problem from my experience (lucky!) and b/ the Qantas call staff handled it all terrifically. Making the best of a bad situation, which is good.

 

[ronagoh]

I never take 'priority' tags for granted and expect my bags out first anymore.
I'd just be glad my bags comes out at all tbh!
I reckon it's just to give you a 'good' feeling that your bags are tagged as 'priority' LOL!
It's always either the baggage handler or overseas port to blame etc etc....but we will never know who actually causes the delay.

 

[rhjames]

I've given up any expectations from priority luggage. It seems to come of at random. My first First Class flight was around 40 years ago, and my bags came off first. It rarely happens now.

 

[obsgyn]

I agree with the comments made. Many a domestic and international flight with business class my luggage seems to get to the last of the quede. The only area seems to be Changi where the luggage seems to get to the carousel before I do. I have never been placed too far back for my luggage. The new tagging system does not make priority more recognisable.

 

[coco50]

I'm happy if my luggage turns up.

I usually travel carry on, even overseas, so I am pretty hopeful that my bag arrives with me and I don't have to elbow people out of the way at the carousel to get my bag.

 

[coco50]

Haven't we all seen those youtube clips of how gently baggage handlers treat our luggage when it's out of sight? Don't you think there's a chance that some of those guys harbour sufficient envy towards the frequent flying classes that they would delight in throwing their bags at the bottom of the pile when they see the priority tag, just to "get up their nose"?

Well, in Australia, you are dealing with blue collar unions (although I was a blue collar unionist once - and proud of it!). I don't know what their excuse is in the US. We pulled up to the gate at LAX and we were sitting on the LHS down the back and had a great view of the unloading spectacle. Some of those guys could throw a 25Kg bag 15 metres.

 

[prozac]

I usually travel carry on, even overseas, so I am pretty hopeful that my bag arrives with me and I don't have to elbow people out of the way at the carousel to get my bag.

So, do you;
1. Always keep a set of travel appropriate clothes at your destination
2. Only go for a few days
3. Rotate your undies. You know, front to back, inside out etc
4. Just stay at naturist retreats
5. Just stink and don't care what anyone thinks. eg Like the 2 separate travellers (different rows) in J on an MH flight from KUL last year who kicked off their shoes and nearly asphyxiated everyone in surrounding rows. Was that you?
6. Other...

We can manage a week or so with one shared bag and one carry-on each.
Seriously, that's hard core. How do you manage?

 

[TomVexille]

Well, in Australia, you are dealing with blue collar unions (although I was a blue collar unionist once - and proud of it!). I don't know what their excuse is in the US. We pulled up to the gate at LAX and we were sitting on the LHS down the back and had a great view of the unloading spectacle. Some of those guys could throw a 25Kg bag 15 metres.

Many places in the US have unions as well.

 

[opusman]

We can manage a week or so with one shared bag and one carry-on each.
Seriously, that's hard core. How do you manage?

Never heard of washing your clothes then?

 

[prozac]

Never heard of washing your clothes then?

Travel to a dive destination, no problems. A trip to Europe is a different story where you may encounter different climes. Usually seek out a machine for a weekly wash. Now I am a bit older my clothes are bigger too.

 

[Qld4101]

Domestic only recently but QF appalling, not sure why they annoy people by claiming it is something they offer....... Other hand VA generally do a pretty good job of it, and consistently seem to deliver close to the start, the odd miss but generally far better performance in my experience.

 

[Old Dynamite]

Baggage handlers are about as left wing as wharfies, and delight in making sure that "priority" means damage, destroy and delay.

Protesting will only further delight and encourage them.

An illustration. They obviously support the Communist regime in Vietnam with gusto. As Vietnam Airlines baggage arrives first comes the comrades (crew) excessively large suitcases (for a one night stopover?), and then comes the crew's excess baggage (meaning cardboard boxes bulging with goods for their merchant friends), then comes a hodge-podge of passenger bags in true democratic style - all mixed up!

 

[TomVexille]

Baggage handlers are about as left wing as wharfies, and delight in making sure that "priority" means damage, destroy and delay.

Protesting will only further delight and encourage them.

An illustration. They obviously support the Communist regime in Vietnam with gusto. As Vietnam Airlines baggage arrives first comes the comrades (crew) excessively large suitcases (for a one night stopover?), and then comes the crew's excess baggage (meaning cardboard boxes bulging with goods for their merchant friends), then comes a hodge-podge of passenger bags in true democratic style - all mixed up!

Tongue in cheek? Or just bitter?

One place that I've experienced priority baggage to work exceptionally well was in Vietnam

 

[coco50]

So, do you;
1. Always keep a set of travel appropriate clothes at your destination
2. Only go for a few days
3. Rotate your undies. You know, front to back, inside out etc
4. Just stay at naturist retreats
5. Just stink and don't care what anyone thinks. eg Like the 2 separate travellers (different rows) in J on an MH flight from KUL last year who kicked off their shoes and nearly asphyxiated everyone in surrounding rows. Was that you?
6. Other...

We can manage a week or so with one shared bag and one carry-on each.
Seriously, that's hard core. How do you manage?

Most OS travel is less than 3 weeks, although I had to think a lot before attending both my son's and daughter's weddings in the US (a year apart) as they were upmarket affairs. Before travelling I always research accom to see if there is a guest laundry (such as Sheraton Waikiki) or I google the location of a nearby laundromat. I always have clean clothes (including underclothes) and I and my wife never stink. I have never travelled on MH and probably never will. I do not stay at naturist resorts. Where we stay, people usually have some sort of garments on, even at the pool. Anyway what life experiences have you had to come up with such a list? I hope you are not compiling this list from personal experience! My wife and I each have a carry om bag and a small bag (eg computer or cosmetics.) Carry on travel is easy and cheaper and faster if you plan ahead.

 

[Seymour John]

I was a member of Flight Deck the predecessor of QF Club et al.The Priority baggage business has never worked consistently, although it is in recent years much worse. I believe that it is probably down to the baggage handlers, as they are the last staff able to take any action.

 

[prozac]

Most OS travel is less than 3 weeks, although I had to think a lot before attending both my son's and daughter's weddings in the US (a year apart) as they were upmarket affairs. Before travelling I always research accom to see if there is a guest laundry (such as Sheraton Waikiki) or I google the location of a nearby laundromat. I always have clean clothes (including underclothes) and I and my wife never stink. I have never travelled on MH and probably never will. I do not stay at naturist resorts. Where we stay, people usually have some sort of garments on, even at the pool. Anyway what life experiences have you had to come up with such a list? I hope you are not compiling this list from personal experience! My wife and I each have a carry om bag and a small bag (eg computer or cosmetics.) Carry on travel is easy and cheaper and faster if you plan ahead.

My carry-on bag contains 13.3" laptop, camera gear/housings etc, sunnies, medications, change of underwear & spare socks, a change of shirt, a novel, perhaps a pullover for the destination. It is usually 75-80% full. I only travel with one carry-on plus one checked-in bag that weighs in at 17-18kg. The bag itself weighs around 4kg. I budget for a daily change of underwear and socks for 7 days. As mentioned if going somewhere that is the destination with no further travel such as a dive location we get by with a shared carry-on and shared bag. If moving around I figure on washing (clothing) every 5th day. Travelling on business I get by with 2 business shirts with nightly wash. I don't think I could travel with everything in the one carry-on so that is why I asked.
You are not missing anything on MH, strictly a case of economies.

Apologies for taking the thread OT.

 

[coco50]

Apologies for taking the thread OT.

I don't think that you did take the thred OT. Travelling carry on is one way of circumventing the need for priority baggage and there is the bonus that if the A/C arrives safely there is a fair chance that you and your luggage will as well. Many people would be interested in how people cope on an OS trip or even a long trip domestically. Some years earlier, my wife and I went around Australia with quite small bags. One of our daughters said that she could never do that. When I farewlled her at OOL for a weekend trip to Melbourne her bag at check in weighed 22 Kg. I don't get it.

 

[coco50]

Many places in the US have unions as well.

With two adult children living in the US and having travelled to the LOTFAP for both business and pleasure I'm sure aware that they have unions there.

 

[TomVexille]

With two adult children living in the US and having travelled to the LOTFAP for both business and pleasure I'm sure aware that they have unions there.

Just checking Your post did read (to me) that you didn't understand what the excuse for priority not working in the US whilst blaming unions.

I think you will find that certain airline groups in the US are heavily unionized and others are not.