Questions for Im a baggage Handler !!

[baggage handler syd]

Branched from: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/community/introductions/im-a-baggage-handler-24109.html#post337853

Fire away ...

Hi All

Just wanted to say hello.

I work at sydney airport and will be happy to answer any questions you have about my job role there.

I am up to date on any behind the scenes luggage issues.

I have read a few of the posts regarding lost luggage and how best to lock your bag.

I will be happy to comment or answer anyway i can help.

I would just also lke to say that all comments and posts i make are from my own personal opinion and are in no way a reflextion of the company.

G

 

[nlagalle]

Having some inside info on baggage would certainly be good!

I have a question though - the upcoming changes where we will have RFID tags on our bags, how will priority baggage work? Just curious if there is no "priority" or "business" tag etc on it.

Cheers,

Nick

 

[baggage handler syd]

Welcome to AFF baggage handler syd!

Having some inside info on baggage would certainly be good!

I have a question though - the upcoming changes where we will have RFID tags on our bags, how will priority baggage work? Just curious if there is no "priority" or "business" tag etc on it.

Cheers,

Nick

HI Nick

What Airline are you talking about?

We have a few different airlines in my area, one has just started to use a hand scan system which reads the tags before loading, this will identify the baggage priority.

The other airline still uses the tags which the check in staff place on the bags.

G

 

[nlagalle]

HI Nick

What Airline are you talking about?

We have a few different airlines in my area, one has just started to use a hand scan system which reads the tags before loading, this will identify the baggage priority.

The other airline still uses the tags which the check in staff place on the bags.

G

Sorry I meant Qantas. They have announced RFID chips etc for baggage being introduced over the next 12 months.

Nick

 

[anat0l]

Welcome baggage handler syd

So great to see you on board (pun intended)!

We've probably all got our prejudgements, misconceptions, reservations and other thoughts on baggage handling and what not. For me, what intrigues me the most about baggage handling is probably:

• How baggage handling is paid - is it by the hour or by the number of bags handled
• Does a "Fragile" sticker of any use or is it an invitation for a bag to get more punishment?
• How long does it take to get bags onto the carousels? Do you have performance indicators / targets in this regard?
• Priority luggage sometimes doesn't work, i.e. get to the carousel and all the bags are not in priority order / mixed up. Have you seen this before and what are the usual reasons (e.g. a demand to get the bags on the belt quickly, someone loaded the bags incorrectly from the origin airport, etc.)?

I'm sure some of these might have an introduction but the topic might get moved out of "Introductions" to a more appropriate forum soon.

 

[drron]

Welcome to AFF.Quite brave of you to face a crew like AFFer's.
A personal question-on the last 2 domestic QF flights out of Sydney our TSA locks have been opened.The first time a lock was missing,the second the opened lock was still on the bag.Nothing missing from bags though.Is this an official or unofficial search?

 

[Skyring]

You cough! I've got a long list of complaints I want to discuss with...

Oh. Hang on. You've only just started.

Welcome aboard! I must say that a lot of baggage handling is a mystery. What goes on behind those rubber strips coming and going, well I dunno, but it must be magic!

There were times when I've sprinted along corridors to make a connection, only just made it and wondered whether my bags could run as fast, but there they were at the other end.

And there were times I've waited and waited and the bags never showed.

But I always got them in the end.

Thank goodness it was mostly on the last flights, heading home, when the bags were full of dirty clothes and the kids could wait a few hours for their lollies.

I've got to say I've sometimes envied the lives of the baggage boys, up close and personal with the great birds, driving those little trains around without losing more than the odd guitar tumbling off in a tight turn, playing rugby matches in the cargo hold, laying out a few soft bags for an afternoon nap and waking up in Berlin.

Is there a career path? Do you get to hold the lighted winds to guide in the jets, drive the tug to back 'em out, swing a walkie-talkie around as you casually direct an A380 into a tight corner: "yeh, keep her coming, you're doing fine, left hand down a bit, straighten her up, tons of room, watch yer wingtip there, slow down, careful, ah f*uck."

 

[munitalP]

Welcome to AFF

I look forward to your input - it will be great

I have a charcoal grey samsonite, please be gentle with it


munitalP

 

[Skyring]

have a charcoal grey samsonite, please be gentle with it

I think I've seen your bag. By jingo, you sure get around!

Pete, who goes for bright yellow zippered numbers that aren't quite so bright yellow any more

 

[markis10]

I repeat the welcome, very impressed that a baggage handler would put up their hand in this forum, its almost akin to beng a Christian participant on a muslim board, or an apple fan on an IBM website .

Having travelled with a 24kg bag last week, please accept my apologies for the weight, I dont make a habit of it!

 

[k_sheep]

I'm curious about the best way to lock! I don't bother on domestic flights, and forget for many international, but when I remember I just use a coloured cable tie. I got sick of buying locks and having them cut off (either by inspectors or when I lose the keys!). Including MH on a domestic flight who not only cut the lock, but also my zip. Idiots (and I was too young and naive to report it and get them to fix it).

 

[UP4014]

You're sure going to be facing the bombardment of questions in this forum.

Matt

 

[docjames]

Here's a question:

In your opinion, what are the major reasons bags get lost and/or damaged?

Mechanical (baggage travellators/ramps within the "bowels" of the airport)?
Dropped manually out of aircraft?
Picked from a collection of bags then put on wrong a/c (ie. human error?)

Is there anything travellers can do to try and reduce the risk of lost/delayed/damaged luggage? (I'm guessing NOT overload the bag will be one.....)

Thanks if you can answer for us.

 

[TheInsider]

Here's a question:

In your opinion, what are the major reasons bags get lost and/or damaged?

Thanks if you can answer for us.

One of the reasons why it can get damaged is due to the advanced system inside the airport and getting down to the correct baggage area (laterals), barcode gets scanned and then a big metal swinger thing hits it at about 100km/hr, down the lateral ramp which is about on a 80 degree angle!

Otherwise it can get lost due to the barcode being hidden from the scanners, then it has to be manually entered into the system and if there is no one there to do this it will miss the fligh..

And if a pax is late it can generally get lost/delayed.. Takes about 5-10 minutes for it to go through the whole system, and all bags gets scanned.

 

[docjames]

Ah, thanks.

No avoiding the 100kph swinging arm of baggage death.....

 

[TheInsider]

Ah, thanks.

No avoiding the 100kph swinging arm of baggage death.....

Lol it's a soft 100km/hr if that makes any difference!

It's fast but the belt is very fast too, so it even out

 

[baggage handler syd]

Welcome baggage handler syd

So great to see you on board (pun intended)!

We've probably all got our prejudgements, misconceptions, reservations and other thoughts on baggage handling and what not. For me, what intrigues me the most about baggage handling is probably:

• How baggage handling is paid - is it by the hour or by the number of bags handled
• We get paid by the hour.
• Does a "Fragile" sticker of any use or is it an invitation for a bag to get more punishment?
• The fragiles come to us via the fragiles belt, i personally take care with this baggage but not everybody does. i have seen these chucked from a tug onto a belt...... Not Qantas staff in my area
• How long does it take to get bags onto the carousels? Do you have performance indicators / targets in this regard?
• Depends, from my planes about 5/10 minutes your should have these bags by the time you get there, they are processed first before tran ship.
• Priority luggage sometimes doesn't work, i.e. get to the carousel and all the bags are not in priority order / mixed up. Have you seen this before and what are the usual reasons (e.g. a demand to get the bags on the belt quickly, someone loaded the bags incorrectly from the origin airport, etc.)?
• Not everybody takes notice of the tags, the issue is the leading hands are not the ones who put the nags on the carousel, so there is not real way of tracking this...

I'm sure some of these might have an introduction but the topic might get moved out of "Introductions" to a more appropriate forum soon.

I can only really talk about what i see on a daily basis, it will really depend on who handles your bags.

 

[baggage handler syd]

Welcome to AFF.Quite brave of you to face a crew like AFFer's.
A personal question-on the last 2 domestic QF flights out of Sydney our TSA locks have been opened.The first time a lock was missing,the second the opened lock was still on the bag.Nothing missing from bags though.Is this an official or unofficial search?

Hi

The TSA locks only have a real effect in the US and the UK.

I am not sure why it would have been opened, i do find loads of locks broken off, the TSA lock should have a return policy with them the ones i use have a lifetime guarantee.

 

[straitman]

Hi All

Just wanted to say hello.

I work at sydney airport and will be happy to answer any questions you have about my job role there.

I am up to date on any behind the scenes luggage issues.

I have read a few of the posts regarding lost luggage and how best to lock your bag.

I will be happy to comment or answer anyway i can help.

G

baggage handler syd,

Welcome to AFF.

Good to have you on the forum.

As you can see a lot of people have a lot of question but I'm sure there are also a lot who do not know what questions to ask so any general info or clues will always be appreciated.

 

[baggage handler syd]

I'm curious about the best way to lock! I don't bother on domestic flights, and forget for many international, but when I remember I just use a coloured cable tie. I got sick of buying locks and having them cut off (either by inspectors or when I lose the keys!). Including MH on a domestic flight who not only cut the lock, but also my zip. Idiots (and I was too young and naive to report it and get them to fix it).

HI

I would recommend a TSA lock on US and Uk flights, if the place you by them from is any good and they are the manufactures they will give you a lifetime guarantee on the lock, so if the TSA/HMRC cut it they will replace.

Locks are fine to secure most bags but i have seen a total sleeve on a few bags and that is what i will be getting once i find out where to by them. they stop most issues with travel.

I see lots of hardware locks but i a not sure you would get the replacement with them.

One other thing some of teh TSA locks have indicators, do not buy these, if your luggage has been inspected by a TSA or HMRC officer they will place a letter in your bag so the indicator serves no purpose.

Cheers