Qantas leaves some bags behind on SYD-WLG

[encryptededdy]

Original Reddit Post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/comments/10q75z5

NZ Herald: Qantas slammed for offloading 60 bags from Wellington flight
Obligatory news.com.au article based off a reddit post: https://www.news.com.au/travel/trav...e/news-story/c460cf2746c6bac4da25f5d2130f1be1

Interestingly I was on this flight, so I was quite intrigued when I saw this article pop up on my news feed.



My two bags made it though - not sure if that's WP/J privilege or just luck. Slightly guilty because my bags were actually both empty, I was just bringing them to return to family in New Zealand (I suppose it does't weigh much though).

People in the reddit comments suggest this happened on Monday too.

Once again as with the QF9 drama from late last year, leaving bags for weight reasons is unfortunate, but it seems like Qantas still hasn't sorted out the art of actually telling customers about it, and instead rely on pax to see their bags not turn up on the other end. I can attest that there was no Qantas staff present at the baggage claim area and no announcement on the flight or during boarding regarding this. The baggage services desk at the airport was unmanned.

I did realise that after the priority bags came out, there were no bags for a while while I was going through biosecurity. I remember waiting for my ride in arrivals for ~10 minutes and not seeing anyone else come out, thinking that was weird (knowing that the flight was nearly full and the baggage claim was quite full of people waiting).

 

[p--and--t]

Original Reddit Post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/comments/10q75z5

NZ Herald: Qantas slammed for offloading 60 bags from Wellington flight
Obligatory news.com.au article based off a reddit post: https://www.news.com.au/travel/trav...e/news-story/c460cf2746c6bac4da25f5d2130f1be1

Interestingly I was on this flight, so I was quite intrigued when I saw this article pop up on my news feed.

View attachment 315632

My two bags made it though - not sure if that's WP/J privilege or just luck. Slightly guilty because my bags were actually both empty, I was just bringing them to return to family in New Zealand (I suppose it does't weigh much though).

People in the reddit comments suggest this happened on Monday too.

Once again as with the QF9 drama from late last year, leaving bags for weight reasons is unfortunate, but it seems like Qantas still hasn't sorted out the art of actually telling customers about it, and instead rely on pax to see their bags not turn up on the other end. I can attest that there was no Qantas staff present at the baggage claim area and no announcement on the flight or during boarding regarding this. The baggage services desk at the airport was unmanned.

I did realise that after the priority bags came out, there were no bags for a while while I was going through biosecurity. I remember waiting for my ride in arrivals for ~10 minutes and not seeing anyone else come out, thinking that was weird (knowing that the flight was nearly full and the baggage claim was quite full of people waiting).

I understand its frustrating and annoying and possibly shouldn't have happened, but in the scheme of things looks like he was missing his luggage for slightly more than 24 hours. That is not a world disaster and a scenario that has happened since the dawn of time in aviation.

 

[Quickstatus]

scenario that has happened since the dawn of time in aviation.

But since the dawn of time, several inventions has revolutionised communications. One is e-mail, and the other is SMS. I wonder if the airline has heard about them...

 

[p--and--t]

But since the dawn of time, several inventions has revolutionised communications. One is e-mail, and the other is SMS. I wonder if the airline has heard about them...

True, but one can choose how they react to hiccups and from his post he could be up for some serious health issues later in life if he doesn't calm down and look at life a bit more objectively.

 

[justinbrett]

So - basically we're back to ops normal for airline bags.

Not really newsworthy.

 

[jrfsp]

This is where the US airlines (yes you read that correctly) really excel with real time tracking of your bag through their apps.

 

[Quickstatus]

one can choose how they react to hiccups

Making a mountain out of a molehill is your point and I agree. Though that is separate from the simple steps that the airline could have taken.

Many years ago, I flew the Kiwi to CHC. The FA on board informed me that 2 of our bags were left behind and also enquired if CHC was the final destination, I mentioned that we were driving down to Temuka that afternoon. The bags arrived in Temuka the next afternoon.

Simple but effective airline communication helps the molehills not be mountains (or at least smaller)

These days airlines have apps which allow checked luggage tracking. UPS have point to point parcel tracking. It's not hard and can be largely automated.

 

[mrsterryn]

Can formula not be in hand luggage ?
I noted that loss of formula was a major deal

 

[p--and--t]

Making a mountain out of a molehill is your point and I agree. Though that is separate from the simple steps that the airline could have taken.

Many years ago, I flew the Kiwi to CHC. The FA on board informed me that 2 of our bags were left behind and also enquired if CHC was the final destination, I mentioned that we were driving down to Temuka that afternoon. The bags arrived in Temuka the next afternoon.

Simple but effective airline communication helps the molehills not be mountains.

I guess QF could have done the alternative and bumped his family from the flight altogether and loaded everyone else's bags.

Given the total shemozzle that all of NZ has been for the last week due to the weather, I am surprised at all airlines are managing recovery reasonably well.

As @justinbrett said - not newsworthy in the whole scheme of things

Can formula not be in hand luggage ?
I noted that loss of formula was a major deal

Not been there for over 10years but I thought NZ had supermarkets?

 

[Quickstatus]

Can formula not be in hand luggage ?

Baby formula and sterilised water are exempt from the 3-1-1 rule. But an infant must in tow.

Loss of formula is not necessarily a big deal. Provided the NZ supermarket shelfs of baby formula have not been emptied by the Daigous

 

[Lynda2475]

I don't understand why they didn't take some essential items as hand luggage? I never fly outbound without at least 1 change of clothes in my carry-on, luggage delays happen.

Medication, a day or two of formula etc should always be in hand luggage, very poor planning on the part of the traveller.

Although I'm very glad my WLG last weekend was HLO - I was first through customs in WLG on arrival, and second from my flight through the same in MEL.

 

[Quickstatus]

not newsworthy in the whole scheme of things

But newsworthy it has been.

The point is that airlines can take simple steps to minimise such passenger angst whether newsworthy or not (separate and independent to what the passenger could also have done in mitigation)

 

[justinbrett]

This is where the US airlines (yes you read that correctly) really excel with real time tracking of your bag through their apps.

Yes and no. My bag misconnected in DFW a few months ago (STL-DFW-LAS). Don't know why as I had about 1.5 hours on the ground - but DFW-LAS is always very full (although I was in F).

AA is brilliant at telling you were you bag IS. At any moment - you can track it like a parcel.

Where it is not so good, is telling you WHEN you bag will be somewhere. Went to the baggage services at LAS, they had no idea if I'd have my bag on the next flight, or in 3 days. I had onwards flights to Sydney three days later.

In the end they arrived about 8 hours later and delivered to my hotel. Not complaining (actually was great not having to wait for bags at LAS and put them in an uber) - but I'm not sure QF or any major airline operates much different - apart from the real time tracking (which doesn't help you get your bag any faster, just stops you worrying about it). You can also try using an AirTag or similar.

But newsworthy it has been.

The point is that airlines can take simple steps to minimise such passenger angst whether newsworthy or not

Plenty of things make the news, doesn't make them newsworthy. It's the worthy part that lets them down (news com au is full of non-newsworthy articles).

 

[p--and--t]

Even my fave airline AN misconnected my luggage a couple times way back when and I ducked down to Target and bought a razor shirt and change of undies & socks for my business meeting. Which they reimbursed even though my bag turned up at the hotel 6 hours later.

 

[Quickstatus]

doesn't make them newsworthy

So it's newsworthy to the outlets that purvey them. An audience is reached and the audience makes its own conclusions as to the "worthiness", which is your point. However, the point is not whether something is validly newsworthy or not...

 

[justinbrett]

So it's newsworthy to the outlets that purvey them. An audience is reached and the audience makes its own conclusions as to the "worthiness", which is your point. However, the point is not whether something is validly newsworthy or not...

Correct, it is a subjective statement.

I'm entitled to say it's not newsworthy.

You can argue differently if you like. But the fact that it is in the news, doesn't necessarily make it newsworthy.

 

[mrsterryn]

On the one occasion a bag went astray it was wonderful lol. They delivered it the next day. We didn't have to lug it on the bus home

 

[Quickstatus]

You can argue differently if you like

Hmm I think re read my posts. Again whether newsworthy or not - which has been my common refrain is not the point I'm making.

 

[justinbrett]

On the one occasion a bag went astray it was wonderful lol. They delivered it the next day. We didn't have to lug it on the bus home

My best story was flying LAS-LAX-SYD (different trip to the above), I had 10L of rum over two bags (travelling with a friend so we were within the DG limit).

Fully expecting to pay about $400 duty on arrival in Sydney.

Bags misconnected in LAX (LAS flight was 3 hours late) - told on arrival in SYD (at the gate) our bags didn't make it. Filled out the form and went home to Newcastle (also great not having to lug bags around). Expected a phone call about the booze - nope - they arrived at my door in Newcastle about 24 hours later.

I was very happy with the way QF handled my bags!

Hmm I think re read my posts. Again whether newsworthy or not - which has been my common refrain is not the point I'm making.

I'm not getting into this any further.

 

[Scarlett]

Newsworthy or not, a family with a small child at the airport at 0200 and no cot, stroller and all the other yard monkey paraphernalia is not the best place to be. To get typical QF support in such a situation (ie: none - flight late, bags left behind, no communication) is worth a rant.

I hope the next day they hit up Countdown or whatever supermarket in NZ and properly got their monies worth from QF!