Theft from Domestic Carousels in Australia

[Qld4101]

Similar experiences with QF bags that are supposedly priority generally near the end so never an issue getting to the carousel first. I have also had a number of issues with the Q tags and was told by an agent in Cairns recently when the same thing occurred, 1 bag arrived 2 didn't, that I should take the Q tags off as they have more issues with them and bags not arriving than they do with the regular baggage tags.
They then went and checked 'outback' again and magically they were discovered to be there..........

 

[here2go]

Q Bag Tags should in theory have less issues than paper, if the infrastructure is there to support it. This means more scanners, more data, and more assurance for both airline and customer. Qantas should know that all bags are on board with a scanner at the cargo hold door or container. If it doesn't make it, we should know upon arrival via text, email, billboards, etc before we reach the carousel. Scanners should also be checking if luggage doesn't make it from the the plane to the carousel. In the past I've nearly missed a connection Internation-Domestic because the handlers forgot to get a pram off the plane, and we needed it for a very tired child.
With the cost of baggage handlers finding a bag, then doing a courier run easily being $100 or more to the airline, I am surprised that there aren't more processes in place to reduce the incidence of baggage mishandling, and alerts for staff and customers to intervene quickly before it gets to needing a courier.

 

[TheInsider]

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With the cost of baggage handlers finding a bag, then doing a courier run easily being $100 or more to the airline, I am surprised that there aren't more processes in place to reduce the incidence of baggage mishandling, and alerts for staff and customers to intervene quickly before it gets to needing a courier.

I don't have the figures on me at the moment, but mishandled baggage has decreased dramatically since the introduction on Q-tags and even the last few months it's been the best for the past 10-15 years.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Q Bag Tags should in theory have less issues than paper, if the infrastructure is there to support it.

To the contrary, I don't think it will ever be at good at the good old manual system, where the baggage handler picks it up, and can see instantly where that bag is going to. With the new system, it must be scanned first with a scanner, then put the scanner down before they can pick it up and send it to where it's going. Common sense would suggests that the old way is a lot more efficient.

 

[mannej]

Doesn't HKG use RFID system?

I'd not entirely agree that a paper system would be more efficient

 

[here2go]

To the contrary, I don't think it will ever be at good at the good old manual system, where the baggage handler picks it up, and can see instantly where that bag is going to. With the new system, it must be scanned first with a scanner, then put the scanner down before they can pick it up and send it to where it's going. Common sense would suggests that the old way is a lot more efficient.

Whole point of RFID handlers don't look at anything other than a bag, place in container or plane. The conveyorbelt will put the bag in the right spot for that flight / carousel. Paper has far less successful scan rates. A number of airports have adopted single-use RFID tags integrated into the paper for this very reason.

 

[Airline Guru]

Theft from baggage carousels in Australia is common...but the cost to an airline in replacing the 'cost' of the bag (remember limits apply) is much less than actually setting up new security measures that the airport owners will not pay for

 

[JohnPhelan]

To me, the big problem with the RFID/Q tags is what happens when the tag gets caught on something on the conveyor and the tag comes off completely?

The handlers have no way of knowing where the bag should be headed.

 

[Flashback]

To me, the big problem with the RFID/Q tags is what happens when the tag gets caught on something on the conveyor and the tag comes off completely?

The handlers have no way of knowing where the bag should be headed.

They're pretty sturdy, so while very unlikely I guess it may still happen. I like HKIA's way of putting a small sticker onto the bag w/ chip (at least that's what it looks like to me!).

 

[SeatBackForward]

Theft from baggage carousels in Australia is common...but the cost to an airline in replacing the 'cost' of the bag (remember limits apply) is much less than actually setting up new security measures that the airport owners will not pay for

I'm not surprised that the Airlines don't give a rats - whatever action results, expect to see it as another "surcharge". But I'd expect that Security services and not to mention the Insurance Industry aren't looking more closely into it.

 

[clifford]

Security services and not to mention the Insurance Industry aren't looking more closely into it.

Well of course. Security services are only there to hassle law-abiding passengers.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Well of course. Security services are only there to hassle law-abiding passengers.

Ahh yes the low hanging fruit argument...

 

[Qld4101]

To me, the big problem with the RFID/Q tags is what happens when the tag gets caught on something on the conveyor and the tag comes off completely?

The handlers have no way of knowing where the bag should be headed.

I have had them come off a bag - must have been after it was loaded as I did get the bag at my final destination sans the Q tag - the Qantas agent told me 'there will be heaps rolling around the hold'!

 

[monoccular]

I have had them come off a bag - must have been after it was loaded as I did get the bag at my final destination sans the Q tag - the Qantas agent told me 'there will be heaps rolling around the hold'!

When I used to only fly occasionally, I used to write on a card in my personal baggage name tag the flight number and date.

Maybe I should start doing that again.

Even a QFF number would help them cross reference, assuming that they may be bothered doing so!

 

[seanpodge]

Arrived back from a trip at HRB and they had people checking luggage tags against their boarding passes before letting them out of the baggage claim area. It was pretty quick and efficient. They had put up a fence about five meters infront of the actual doors for the arrivals area and the open gates were manned by staff who did the checking. As long as the staff numbers are adequate, I think it's a good system that should be expanded to other ports.

Also, kudos to the staff at HRB/CA who actually paid heed to the *A priority luggage tag which allowed me to be in time to get the late bus into the city.