Priority Tags or lack thereof

[chooms]

[rant]

Just checked in CNS-BNE, actually sitting in temp QP right now.

Despite lining up in J check-in queue and presentation of WP card, no priority luggage tag was placed on checked in luggage.

I have a tight connection to a function in BNE this evening and I am now anticipating wait at carousel thus delaying precious drinking time.

I have never had a piece of luggage not tagged with either 'priority' or 'business' and have always had luggage come out the other end towards the front of the carousel queue so I am now considering this a test as to whether priority tags work (my guess is a resounding yes but will wait and see)

[/end rant]

Now, should have I asked for the tag to be placed on the luggage or not? Has anyone else had this happen and pointed it out to the check-in staff? Would be interested to hear other experiences.

Chooms

 

[serfty]

When I check luggage, I watch for this like a hawk ... gently assisting the agent if necessary.

... I learned to do this from experience. :-|

 

[tscharke]

IMHO tags only act as fashion statements for our luggage!

With one exception, I seem to gain very little benefit if not any, from priority, business or even first class tags - especially with QF!

The one exception is HK airport- it appears that the HK handlers actually take time to read tags and action them accordingly!

On my last trip to NA, the time saved going through immigration with the APEC card was quickly deemed useless by having to wait until the end for my luggage to arrive - both ways!!! So the bright yellow QF 1st class tag and the OWE purple & green tag stood for jack!

So should Chooms had have requested the tag? Hell yeah! Would have it made any difference? Hell No!

Out of interest I have always wanted to know someone that has experienced their luggage being the first to come out? Anyone here?

If this miracle actually happened to me I dont think I could resist the temptation to strut like a rooster around the carousel a few times with bags in hand!!! ..........:shock: er well maybe nawt!

 

[nlagalle]

Out of interest I have always wanted to know someone that has experienced their luggage being the first to come out? Anyone here?

well I was returning from PEK last week and my luggage was out within 12 mins of leaving the plane. I breezed through Immigration and was only waiting a couple of minutes before my 3 cases came out.. all with Priority tags on them! Same when I arrived in PEK they were out before the bulk of the luggage.

As i hardly ever have checked baggage in DOM these days I can't comment...

 

[canabear]

i would suggest that the reason tags are frequently not being applied to bags these days is that the baggage handlers dont care. Domestically at least. When i check a bag and it gets tagged it still comes out towards the end of the luggage. If anything it seems to be a interpreted as 'not priority'.

 

[JohnK]

I must be lucky as I get priority tags on my luggage almost all of the time. The only times I have had an issue is at some airports overseas.

As I have been commuting SYD-BNE the last few months I have noticed on many occassions the first bags out on the carousel do not have priority tags. My bag usually comes out on the carousel somewhere in the miiddle which means I am waiting an extra minute or so. No big deal in the grand scheme of things and my new trick is to stop into the lounge for a couple of quickies before heading downstairs to find my bag all alone going round and round on the carousel.

 

[tscharke]

I must be lucky as I get priority tags on my luggage almost all of the time. The only times I have had an issue is at some airports overseas.

As I have been commuting SYD-BNE the last few months I have noticed on many occassions the first bags out on the carousel do not have priority tags. My bag usually comes out on the carousel somewhere in the miiddle which means I am waiting an extra minute or so. No big deal in the grand scheme of things and my new trick is to stop into the lounge for a couple of quickies before heading downstairs to find my bag all alone going round and round on the carousel.

JohnK has his priorities in check

 

[NM]

for domestic flights, especially a 737 like the CNS-BNE flight in question, I find the time difference between the first and last bags is rarely more than 5 mins. You can get more variation than that just at the taxi queue or traffic leaving BNE airport.

In my experience, these days they tend to unload the entire hold onto the trollies before heading into the building to unload onto the belt.

So even though you deserved priority tags, the lack of them is unlikely to add a huge time delay to the arrival process for a 737 at BNE.

 

[chooms]

I apologise to the check-in dude in CNS for trashing his name. Arrived in BNE this evening to find that my bag did have a J tag on it... and surprisingly it was 4th on the belt!

The 5mins between first and last out tonight would have meant an extra 20mins waiting for a taxi..... nightmare taxi queue formed 2mins after i joined!

 

[NM]

The 5mins between first and last out tonight would have meant an extra 20mins waiting for a taxi..... nightmare taxi queue formed 2mins after i joined!

BNE taxi queues have been really bad for a while now. And even when you get into the cab it can take a long time to get ou of the airport. Last week the meter had climbed to over $10 before I left the airport (including flag fall and $3 BAC charge). Was $20 before I reached the Gateway Arterial!

 

[thegurio]

I must be lucky as I get priority tags on my luggage almost all of the time. The only times I have had an issue is at some airports overseas.

As I have been commuting SYD-BNE the last few months I have noticed on many occassions the first bags out on the carousel do not have priority tags. My bag usually comes out on the carousel somewhere in the miiddle which means I am waiting an extra minute or so. No big deal in the grand scheme of things and my new trick is to stop into the lounge for a couple of quickies before heading downstairs to find my bag all alone going round and round on the carousel.

I did this once at ADL. Stopped for a couple of cheekies at the pub there as i was hanging for a beer... When i got to the belt my bag was off of it, and the lady was looking around and about to call security, yes security... Has this happened to you JohnK? Or are QF different than DJ?

 

[v8Statesman]

I did this once at ADL. Stopped for a couple of cheekies at the pub there as i was hanging for a beer... When i got to the belt my bag was off of it, and the lady was looking around and about to call security, yes security... Has this happened to you JohnK? Or are QF different than DJ?

Wost that has happend to me is I have had to walk up to baggage services and ask for them.

 

[Will]

well I was returning from PEK last week and my luggage was out ...with Priority tags

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought QP members didn't get priority tags on int'l flights?

 

[nlagalle]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought QP members didn't get priority tags on int'l flights?

I'm pretty sure you do.. I got them on the way out and way back, as well as my mate travelling with me.

 

[Dave Noble]

I'm pretty sure you do.. I got them on the way out and way back, as well as my mate travelling with me.

Priority tags on international flights is not a benefit of Qantas Club membership, only for Gold and Platinum members

From Flying with Us - Qantas Club - Benefits

Your baggage will be Priority or Business* tagged when you travel on Australian and New Zealand domestic flights marketed and operated by Qantas or QantasLink.

* When you are travelling domestically in Business Class or if you have Platinum or Gold Frequent Flyer membership.

Dave

 

[JohnK]

Has this happened to you JohnK? Or are QF different than DJ?

Yes I have received calls from both QF and DJ.

Last October I was travelling NAA-MRZ-SYD-WGA//ABX-SYD and I only checked my bag through to SYD as I was going by train from WGA-ABX. When I was waiting at the train station in Wagga I got a call from QF asking where I was and whether I was picking up my bag. I explained that I had a tight connection and could not collect my bag and I would be back later in the afternoon to pick it up. No worries bag was waiting for me in T2 baggage services.

Back in February I used DJ for the first time and I travelled SYD-CBR and was going to stay there for 2 nights. Anyway on arrival in CBR went to the QF lounge to get something to eat and have a few drinks. Whilst in the lounge I got a call from DJ asking where I was and did I know that leaving luggage behind is a federal offence. I told him that I had been feeling sick and will be there soon to collect my bag. What can they say? People do get sick during or after a flight.

I have some other funny stories like the time I was travelling SIN-BNE-SYD and for some reason did not realise I had to collect my bags in BNE. I reported the bags missing in SYD and got a call from QF later and the bags were delivered to me by courier free of charge....

 

[Groundfeeder]

BNE taxi queues have been really bad for a while now. And even when you get into the cab it can take a long time to get ou of the airport.

Yeah, I suffered a cabbie rant the other night about not having more than one taxi exit thru the "chopper", and wholeheartedly agree with him. Same experience re time/money to get to Gateway, although lets not get me started on BNE airport again.:evil:

 

[medhead]

Priority tags on international flights is not a benefit of Qantas Club membership, only for Gold and Platinum members

From Flying with Us - Qantas Club - Benefits

Dave

Sorry Dave. That only relates to domestic. (edit: It is silent on International even for gold and plat, but I have always got priority tags on international flights.)

However, according to what you quoted everyone gets priority tags except Gold and platinum who get business tags. Plus everyone travelling in J gets business tags

If we rearrange to make the meaning more clear.

Your baggage will be Priority (or Business*) tagged when you travel on Australian and New Zealand domestic flights marketed and operated by Qantas or QantasLink

(or business* tagged) *When you are travelling domestically in Business Class or if you have Platinum or Gold Frequent Flyer membership.

 

[Dave Noble]

Sorry Dave. That only relates to domestic. (edit: It is silent on International even for gold and plat, but I have always got priority tags on international flights.)

It is not unclear on that page. That page is specifically detailing benefits of QC membership and states that priority handling is a benefit for QC members , Gold and Platinum members on domestic services. It then details that Gold and Platinum get Business tags and that Qantas Club members get Priority Tags

In the section of the QFF pages Benefits and privileges ( Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Benefits & Privileges - Status Privileges ) it shows that Gold and Platinum members get priority luggage handling for international flights

ergo Gold and Platinum members are entitled to priority handling on both domestic and international flights and that Qantas Club members are entitled to priority handling on domestic flights

Dave

 

[nlagalle]

Priority tags on international flights is not a benefit of Qantas Club membership, only for Gold and Platinum members

From Flying with Us - Qantas Club - Benefits

Dave

Oh well.. I got tagged on both flights.. Maybe I was lucky??

EDIT: I'm a PS, would that have made a difference?