should i complain to Qantas about priority tag for luggage?

[Myrna]

I am a Gold QFF. I flew from LHR to SYD (via SIN) in one go. When I checked in, a Busines tag was stuck to my almost empty suitcase back to SYD. [The reason for the almost empty suitcase was that hubby moved to London for work for a few years, so we combined our status allowance (him being Plat) to pack 4 suitcases weighed almost 90kg with us on the way there - all his clothes and shoes. I returned to SYD to sort out a few tax and domestic things before joining him there early next year. Hence, the almost empty suitcase back, as I will be bringing my clothes across on the next trip.]

After gone through immigration in less than 5 mins, I waited at the luggage carousel for 45 mins - my suitcase was no where to be seen. Finally it was one of the few last ones to emerge. After long flights between LHR and SYD, I was tired and very upset that I had to wait so long for my suitcase (having a Business tag on it). I don't know if I should complain to Qantas about this - what is the point of earning status and having the luggage came out last? However, when I mentioned this to my sister (who is with another airline ff). She said it happened to her once in America, she took an empty suitcase back on one of her flights, and even though she has the equivalent gold status (like mine with QFF) she waited over an hour for her suitcase - a security person brought it out and gave it to her! She thought that custom / security people must become suspicious of an empty suitcase and checked it out thoroughly.

Has this happened to anyone? Just curious! And, should I write a complain letter to Qantas? Interested in your views, any views!

 

[juddles]

After about a million flights, I have come to the very solid conclusion that there is a whole netherworld of physics that dictates the movement of checked baggage. To try to comprehend it is in itself impossible. So to try to actually CHANGE things by writing a letter is just wasting your time.
I have had countless experiences with two bags, with fancy business or first tags, where one pops out in the first couple on the carousel, and the other appearing near the end.
This happens across airlines, at any airport, in any country, with any colour or shape or size bag.
Irritating, but in my experience, not something you can control.

Try this as a different option: Forget the bag issue. Instead write a letter to whichever airline praising the good actions of any staff member you came across that deserved it.

A path far more likely to leave you feeling good within.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Good luck with that Myrna, I doubt that the empty suitcase was the reason for the delay. If you do a search here on priority baggage you will find it is at best inconsistent.
I would just write it off as an experience and enjoy the other tangible benefits of status such as extra luggage allowance, better seat selection and lounge access as these are more reliably available.

 

[JohnM]

I've recently completed a DONE4 and my experience was that priority tags put on by AA, BA, IB and CX invariably meant bags were very close to first out .

My consistent experience with QF, both Dom and Int, is that I'd prefer no priority tag as it mostly seems to mean close to last out :evil:. Wrting in would be futile IMO.

 

[Vinny]

From experience the pink business tag means little so don't feel singled out.

A complaint to QF customer care can take weeks with no result.

Just be thankful that your luggage turned up at all.

 

[JohnPhelan]

No. Pointless. There's nothing they can do about it now.

 

[serfty]

A bit late now, but "a nearly empty suitcase"?

I would have left it in the old dart; or if it was of an 'quality type', not used it at all - simply using a cheapy one-off on the way over.

Then again, I view checked luggage as an evil to be avoided when possible/practical.

 

[Myrna]

Thank you, everyone, for your views and comments. Much appreciated them, helping me to take things in a more balance perspective

OK, I won't bother with wasting time writing a complaint letter to Qantas. One just has to understand these things.

 

[amaroo]

In my experience baggage priority is hit & miss on all airlines including QF - many a time I've watched first class tags come out near the rear.

The best yet for me is VN, they on-forwarded the whole of J cabin to Paris upon arrival at HAN - there were some very unhappy people at the lost baggage counter. They actually made me look like a reasonable person

 

[haydensydney]

I vote for "suck it up" - that, and don't fly QF again :mrgreen:

 

[simongr]

Actually I WOULD complain to QF over this. I think we should ALL complain about this. This is a published benefit that QF are not providing and they should do something about it. If no-one complains then how do they know something is wrong?

 

[tuapekastar]

<redacted>

I'm struggling to understand what would be 'stupid' or 'not substantive' about the concept of complaining to an airline when they don't deliver an advertised benefit. I find it perfectly logical. Many (myself included) no longer have any great expectations of QF consistently providing the priority luggage benefit (though simongr's recent post is quite correct - we should complain) but that in no way makes complaining about the benefit not being delivered 'stupid'.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

The way l was looking at it was; I recently came back from Europe on the same route as the OP. Regardless of which order my bags came out, l still had to wait over an hour to clear customs. Getting my bag first or last, would most probably have amounted to a 5 minute difference walking out the door.

juddles reply pretty much sums it up perfectly;

After about a million flights, I have come to the very solid conclusion that there is a whole netherworld of physics that dictates the movement of checked baggage. To try to comprehend it is in itself impossible. So to try to actually CHANGE things by writing a letter is just wasting your time.
I have had countless experiences with two bags, with fancy business or first tags, where one pops out in the first couple on the carousel, and the other appearing near the end.
This happens across airlines, at any airport, in any country, with any colour or shape or size bag.
Irritating, but in my experience, not something you can control.

Try this as a different option: Forget the bag issue. Instead write a letter to whichever airline praising the good actions of any staff member you came across that deserved it.

A path far more likely to leave you feeling good within.

 

[N860CR]

I'd raise I with Qantas on Twitter. They resolved an issue I had in literally a day which is amazing considering Customer Care usually takes up to 8 weeks these days (and usually give a fairly ordinary result). Priority Luggge can work (even poor little FJ can get it right), Qantas just chose not to make it a company priority (so to speak).

 

[Pushka]

My consistent experience with QF, both Dom and Int, is that I'd prefer no priority tag as it mostly seems to mean close to last out :evil:. Wrting in would be futile IMO.

Yep. My thoughts too.

 

[under the radar]

Thank you, everyone, for your views and comments. Much appreciated them, helping me to take things in a more balance perspective

OK, I won't bother with wasting time writing a complaint letter to Qantas. One just has to understand these things.

i disagree...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE write to/notify the company... if you dont tell them things arent working...they think everything is going along just fine.....take this advice from an 'insider'...we are constantly told by the company to 'put it in writing' so they can gauge any particular area that needs 'attention'... the more people that complain/write in about 'priority baggage' not given 'priority', the better..i can assure you things will only change if/when the company is made aware of 'trends'...this also applies to all other aspects of the airline's servive.. .so i urge ALL of you to unite and complain to the company... off soapbox now! thankyou

 

[codash1099]

Well, you live and learn.

I always thought that, for a bag to be last out, it had to have my name on it.:mrgreen:

 

[Balwyn3103]

Like JohnM, my experience is that other airlines can honour their policies but QF can't. My main other carriers that I fly J in are JL and CX and both their priority baggage and priority boarding seem to work very well.

 

[codash1099]

Like JohnM, my experience is that other airlines can honour their policies but QF can't. My main other carriers that I fly J in are JL and CX and both their priority baggage and priority boarding seem to work very well.

Perhaps it's one of those practices that the TWU is fighting to preserve.:evil:

 

[Red Roo]

Hi Myrna,
Please do provide feedback.
I’ll PM you with some details so we can look into it.

Red Roo