Priority tagged baggage

[Boris spatsky]

I have noticed recently that having priority tagged bags (J/F) makes little difference in where they come out on the belt.

On my last two A380 flights, they have been tagged F, and have come out after about 200 other bags, leaving me at the back of a massive queue at Syd customs, even with express lane. Is this normal? No point tagging them if it doesn't make a difference!

 

[TonyHancock]

I have had similar issue on my last two flights from the UK into Sydney (Mid September and early October this year). I'm not sure that my experiences were as bad as yours.

I had assumed that the luggage loaded on in SIN came off before the luggage loaded at LHR.

Know what you mean about the queues though!

 

[anat0l]

Yet another thread ranting about priority tagged bags. Here was the thread of the last one: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....er-program/priority-tagged-baggage-23195.html

The system is not perfect, as you've found. I certainly haven't had all the luck on my flights.

When the system works it is a godsend, so getting rid of it altogether is not invited at all in my opinion!

Some people will tell you that they find it never works, in their experience, so we should get rid of the system. In my experience, the flights where it hasn't worked have both been rare, and otherwise (where it has worked) it has been great.

My gripe with SYD or MEL international baggage handling is not that bags don't get priority delivered, but rather it takes over 20 minutes or so for the first bag to actually get onto the belt! By that time, being one of the first off the plane and through immigration isn't all that much of a benefit any more.

 

[samh004]

When the system works it is a godsend, so getting rid of it altogether is not invited at all in my opinion!

As I keep saying, if someone developed a system that used the RFID tags more airlines are using to double as a sorting/priority system, focusing less on ground staff to recognise the tags, I think they’d be onto a winner.

 

[moa999]

My understanding is priority bags are meant to be loaded into a separate container, separate area that 'should' be unloaded first.

Then the container goes to the wrong belt/ for a joyride round the fence boundary or the driver decides to take a smoko heading back to the unloading area.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Yep, don't want to get rid of it. Just wondering if my experience is normal. Seems it might be at Syd.

 

[ozmille]

Arrived in Sydney this morning arriving from Europe in J. Flights were BRU - HEL - BKK -SYD last leg on BA9. I noticed that all the J tagged bags from the Finnair connecting pax were put on the belt way after BA J tagged bags. Maybe because they are transferring bags they get put in the back? Got out of the airport quick though but still quite annoying. Previously have had some very good experiences with priority tags, have often been home from international within an hour of landing.

 

[drewbles]

As I keep saying, if someone developed a system that used the RFID tags more airlines are using to double as a sorting/priority system, focusing less on ground staff to recognise the tags, I think they’d be onto a winner.

HKG already does, and with the NGCI, the barcode is meant to do it.

The tags only really give you the DYKWIA factor supposedly. It may make it easier for a handler to see inside a luggage cart and see a sea of yellow tags, but I doubt it.

 

[JetLagged]

Ifc you think that SYD or MEL is bad - try LHR. I have often waited 30-45 minutes for my bags to arrive - long after Y passengers had theirs and gone! Was almost ready to go and see where they had landed, as opposed to where I had!

Last time I flew into SYD from LHR, did my duty free, came through immigration and was casually moving towards the carrier belt when I noticed that my priority-tagged bag was already there and had to make a small dash to get it. Now, that was quick!

 

[TonyHancock]

Ifc you think that SYD or MEL is bad - try LHR. I have often waited 30-45 minutes for my bags to arrive - long after Y passengers had theirs and gone! Was almost ready to go and see where they had landed, as opposed to where I had!

Somewhat oddly it has been the reverse for me at LHR. My luggage has magically appeared almost immediately.

...now waiting for the AVIS bus...that is a different story!

 

[Boris spatsky]

Yeah, likewise at LAX but I don't trust AA as far as I can throw them!

 

[serfty]

My understanding is priority bags are meant to be loaded into a separate container, separate area that 'should' be unloaded first...

OK for Airbii/767, but the 737's have a "magic carpet" - no containers.

 

[samh004]

HKG already does, and with the NGCI, the barcode is meant to do it.

The tags only really give you the DYKWIA factor supposedly. It may make it easier for a handler to see inside a luggage cart and see a sea of yellow tags, but I doubt it.

Sort of what I was referring to, but the system should be opened up for others to use, and eventually with all airports using it, we’ll all be benefitting, wherever we go.

 

[simongr]

Hand. Luggage. Only.

 

[Boris spatsky]

No, I will never stoop to taking a house load of luggage onto a plane and jamming it in the overheads ala the US. Never!

 

[TonyHancock]

No, I will never stoop to taking a house load of luggage onto a plane and jamming it in the overheads ala the US. Never!

These days I'm with you, but there was a time back in the 90's when I lived in the US. I traveled regularly with Delta and my luggage was lost in 3 out of the first 5 trips I did. It turned up again each time but the inconvenience led me to learn to pack so that I could get away with a carry on. I think I'm just lazier these days!

To be fair I have done pretty well with Qantas with luggage apart from a pretty dire time around 2001 when Ansett collapsed and service, including luggage was pretty ordinary.

 

[NYCguy]

Hand. Luggage. Only.

Nah, I'm over that now I'm not flying all the time. On our last trip to NYC we had five checked pieces between the two of us, and it was entirely painless. I've always found (perhaps paradoxically) that priority tags work well at JFK. At CDG, though, it can be a coughs-shoot.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Yep, don't want to get rid of it. Just wondering if my experience is normal. Seems it might be at Syd.

It shouldny be normal and want change until you let QF know everytime it happens.
It was a disgrace in Perth where the backpackers were half into town before SG/WP got their bags. I contacted QF everytime and they got it right after a while.

Any inside view if these bags are seperated into bins so it is just a matter of emptying the priority bin first?

 

[Sprucegoose]

Yep, don't want to get rid of it. Just wondering if my experience is normal. Seems it might be at Syd.

It shouldn't be normal and it want change until you let QF know everytime it happens.


It was a disgrace in Perth where the backpackers were half into town before SG/WP got their bags. I contacted QF everytime and they got it right after a while.

Any 'inside view' if these bags are seperated into bins so it is just a matter of emptying the priority bin first?

 

[Krispy78]

Yes it seems very random as to whether it makes a difference, doesn't it. I guess, as an airline, you can make a rule, but making the groundstaff actually do it is another matter altogether.

The application of priority tags is also a bit confusing. I'm QF Silver and Qantas Club and I get priority tags on international bags sometimes, but not always.