Q-tags, only used by Qantas? How are they used?

[getjet]

hello.

Perhaps a couple of silly questions, however-

1. Do other airlines use similar things to Qantas’ Q-tags?
2. Does the FF category colour actually do anything? It’s machine read I would imagine so why does the colour matter? If I taped something to that side would it create any issues?

Thanks!

 

[RooFlyer]

No silly questions on AFF - and welcome! (Don't leave it so long to the next post)

As far as I know: no to both answers - although some do like their status flashed in front of baggage handlers

Useless. Use 'em as drinks coasters.

 

[Pushka]

No silly questions on AFF - and welcome! (Don't leave it so long to the next post)

As far as I know: no to both answers - although some do like their status flashed in front of baggage handlers

Useless. Use 'em as drinks coasters.

Aww, I love my drink coasters. I have them on all my travel bags. Given that we have WP tags our bags usually come out early on flights so I think colour may help.

 

[RooFlyer]

I used to use them. I remember once when I was coming back from overseas that I had one Q tags inside a bag I checked in after a stop in Melbourne on my way to Tas - because I left one suitcase in London (it and contents was a (legal!) delivery for a friend ). Of course the self check-in at MEL went nuts - detecting two Qtags. I'd forgotten about the extra tag in the bag and I had half the people from Qantas (so, 2 of them) trying to figure out what was up.

I think they only work in OZ, don't they?

 

[TomVexille]

My recollection was that they pick up your current status when they get "coded" at checkin. So the colour is nothing more than an ego boost

On a related note, Alliance had a sign up at checkin last week recommending that you remove any Q tags from checked bags as they may get diverted

 

[UP4014]

Only work in Oz domestically as QF do their own handling. Baggage handling systems at larger airports around the world are funded by the airport who put in the infrastructure.

 

[Anna]

IME Q tags are used to ensure that my bags do not end up at the same place as me.

 

[Pushka]

I did have a Qtag inside my bag as well as one on the handle. It didn’t arrive with me.

 

[VPS]

I think it's silly that you can only use them domestically and they actually ask you take them off if you're flying internationally

 

[UP4014]

I think it's silly that you can only use them domestically and they actually ask you take them off if you're flying internationally

But there is no universal system. (Technology wise)

 

[VPS]

But there is no universal system.

I know it's my own fault but I use them as ID tags which means when I forget and have to take them off then I don't have any external ID

 

[Daver6]

I think it's silly that you can only use them domestically and they actually ask you take them off if you're flying internationally

Never been asked to do that in all my international travel.

 

[VPS]

Never been asked to do that in all my international travel.

Got asked again recently when flying to NZ

 

[Daver6]

Got asked again recently when flying to NZ

That's craziness. If they asked me, I'd just take it off, open the zip and put it in my bag. Hardly solving the non-existent problem they think exists.

 

[mannej]

That's craziness. If they asked me, I'd just take it off, open the zip and put it in my bag. Hardly solving the non-existent problem they think exists.

Non-existent problem? It plays with the RFID technology in use

 

[RooFlyer]

Non-existent problem? It plays with the RFID technology in use

But in Australia, it works. Outside Australia, nothing to detect it. So putting it inside the bag from being on the outside send a bit pointless? If there is anything to detect it, then it will detect it inside the bag as well as outside, add I found out.

 

[VPS]

I was told not to put it inside my checked in luggage

 

[serfty]

Useless. Use 'em as drinks coasters.

Certainly useless if you don't check luggage.

Ours are still in their original packaging.

 

[mannej]

But in Australia, it works. Outside Australia, nothing to detect it. So putting it inside the bag from being on the outside send a bit pointless? If there is anything to detect it, then it will detect it inside the bag as well as outside, add I found out.

Nothing to detect it? Australian airports aren’t the only ones to use the technology

 

[Daver6]

It shouldn't make any difference is some other system picks up the QF tag RFID chip. It shouldn't react/recognise the chip ID.

RFID tags are used everywhere. If every time someone had some form of RFID chip in their luggage it caused issues, I think we'd have heard more about it by now.