Priority tagged baggage

[harvyk]

The only place I've found priority bags actually work was SFO. There F \ J bags where not put onto the belt, but rather placed in a separate area to the side, which someone who would hand you your bag, even priority tagged bags came out first.

The worst I've see was HKG, where having a priority tag \ J \ F tag meant your bag came out absolute last. Was most annoying.

In general the "priority" tags are pretty useless. I think that they are either ignored, or code for the baggage handler to make sure they are one of the last bags to be sent out. The J tags are somewhat ok, but not as good as it should be. I've been standing around at claim waiting whilst all the Y pax where getting their non-tagged bags just one too many times.

 

[medhead]

Well the business tag worked for me on Monday morning. First on the belt!

Of course I'm not happy about standing around for 20 minutes waiting for action. I still don't know what made me think checking a bag within the carry on limit was a good idea. One week off from flying and I totally lost my mind.

 

[kirk7]

From memory tbit was great. Tagged bags cane out on a different carousel

 

[samh004]

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.

It would require a lot of policing, but if it’s in the contract, I don’t see why they couldn’t be sacked for not doing it, after all, they hurt the brand when the elite customers have to wait around for ages

 

[N860CR]

From memory tbit was great. Tagged bags cane out on a different carousel​

That is the one good thing about the TBIT... however the QF tags are fairly weak and I've found that more often than not (especially with a connection), the tags are ripped during their travels.

When I came in from LAX a few weeks ago, 3 out of my 5 bags had lost their business tags. I could just see them coming out on seperate belts if I was at TBIT!

 

[anat0l]

It would require a lot of policing, but if it’s in the contract, I don’t see why they couldn’t be sacked for not doing it, after all, they hurt the brand when the elite customers have to wait around for ages

Smiley noted, but I don't know if you could put something like this in the contract. Moreover, there may be complaints but - as you mentioned - there are no metrics to hold handlers accountable for checking this.


As an off-topic-ish note, I was travelling SQ and UA, claiming my bag back at NRT, SFO and LAX, which was tagged as *A priority (bright orange tag). In all cases, the bag came out close to the first lot. In the case of NRT, all premium baggage (F, J and *G) was held in a separate area near the carousel, which was really handy. I'm not sure if *A differentiate between F and J baggage but certainly *G is common enough that there is a huge sea of priority tagged baggage, and you're hoping that you'd be one of the first in that group if you were in a real hurry!

 

[Leumas]

If it's done properly, you shouldn't need the handlers to sort the priority bags (be it due to status or short connections) and the non-priority bags. Now with the fancy technologies we have, the priority can be part of the barcode and the system can directly put them to the appropriate trolley.

The priority bags can all go onto the same trolley(s) and be loaded last. Then at the destination, these will, in theory, come off first and be loaded onto the belts first.

I an just imagine the handlers' union throwing a strike over this if they ever require the handlers to sort bags... (Hope I didn't offend anyone here!)

 

[markis10]

The priority bags can all go onto the same trolley(s) and be loaded last. Then at the destination, these will, in theory, come off first and be loaded onto the belts first.

I an just imagine the handlers' union throwing a strike over this if they ever require the handlers to sort bags... (Hope I didn't offend anyone here!)

Priority bags are loaded last so they are first out, along with the connections. Had a late flight into TSV earlier this week and waited 20 minutes for the bags, the handlers had obviously put their resources on getting the late plane loaded for its flight back before bringing our bags to the belt, while I was the second bag out it was still a PITA.

 

[serfty]

...
I an just imagine the handlers' union throwing a strike over this if they ever require the handlers to sort bags... (Hope I didn't offend anyone here!)

Actually, Qantas handers are supposed to ensure tagged bags come out first - it really depends upon team management whether this happens consistently or not.

 

[Groundfeeder]

Actually, Qantas handers are supposed to ensure tagged bags come out first - it really depends upon team management whether this happens consistently or not.

Well, the team management need to go on some more refreshers and update on "Management 101", particularly in QLD.:evil:

 

[straitman]

Well, the team management need to go on some more refreshers and update on "Management 101", particularly in QLD.:evil:

... and a few other places IMHO.