Delayed bags - is anyone able to speak Qantasesque?

[RSD]

Flew DPO-MEL-SYD today, the MEL-SYD departed at 4pm, arrived in Sydney to find out that my bags hadn't made the MEL-SYD flight - no idea why.

Baggage services told me that the bags would coming on QF478 landing at 19:35 and that they would deliver them to the hotel. They didn't tell me that the baggage services phone number closed at 21:00, so about 21:10 when the bags hadn't arrived I tried phoning them but got the recoded message saying that the phone line won't be manned now until the morning.

I've looked up online - it says this -


Does anyone know if they update it further when it has been picked up or is it likely that the bags have been picked up by a courier driver and are on their way?

Any help would be appreciated - seeing as how I'm not getting a lot of help from Qantas!

 

[RSD]

Bags have just arrived at the hotel - that is a relief!

 

[AIRwin]

Bags have just arrived at the hotel - that is a relief!

Was it reflected in the tracking status?

 

[offshore171]

Good to hear you have been reunited.

Not going to help this time of course, but going forward, I'd highly recommend throwing an airtag in each bag.

 

[Seat0B]

Not going to help this time of course, but going forward, I'd highly recommend throwing an airtag in each bag.

I totally agree with you @offshore171, and do this myself.

However, reading about @RSD's predicament, I am left wondering - if you locate your bag but QF baggage services are closed/not answering the phone, what actual use is it that you know where the bag is?

I've had a couple of stressful work trips from CBR in winter (think -5 degrees) to DRW (think 35 degrees) for work when my bags took a detour and left me with totally wrong clothes for work - very sweaty the next day. Or the time I flew from CBR (35 degrees) to BNE (35 degrees) for work wearing a very summery dress) and the bag did not arrive for my Monday training session with a bunch of officials from Indonesia (very Muslim), and my clothes were not only too informal, but also too revealing of arms, decolletage etc. Sure buy some new ones - exactly where on a quite Sunday at 9pm in BNE could I do that? Delivery of baggage sometimes really matters.

 

[offshore171]

I totally agree with you @offshore171, and do this myself.

However, reading about @RSD's predicament, I am left wondering - if you locate your bag but QF baggage services are closed/not answering the phone, what actual use is it that you know where the bag is?

It's very useful for the OP's question. This bit

update it further when it has been picked up or is it likely that the bags have been picked up by a courier driver and are on their way?

If you're tracking the AirTags, you can see:

• When the bags have reached your town/city
• When they are moving around on the public roads in that town (ie: likely out for delivery in a van) and,
• When they have reached your hotel (in case reception is slow to notify you).

These are just a few scenarios. All of these things are far better than being in the dark. Great product,.

 

[Seat0B]

Thanks for clarifying your thinking about the benefits for me @offshore171. I was fixated on my own experiences of talking to an answering machine and getting nowhere, when all I wanted was my work clothes. On the assumption that the bag was stuck somewhere at the airport, not out for delivery, that is.

 

[AuSammy]

Thanks for clarifying your thinking about the benefits for me @offshore171. I was fixated on my own experiences of talking to an answering machine and getting nowhere, when all I wanted was my work clothes. On the assumption that the bag was stuck somewhere at the airport, not out for delivery, that is.

At least you would known it was at the airport and which airport and where at the airport (which terminal etc) so you can be in the upper position in a conversation when you could have one.

Like when Aeromexico said our bag was not loaded in Cuba (absolute bulldust) and the airtag said the bag was in T2 at Mexico City

 

[RSD]

Was it reflected in the tracking status?

No - two days later both bags are still showing as scheduled for delivery...

Good to hear you have been reunited.

Not going to help this time of course, but going forward, I'd highly recommend throwing an airtag in each bag.

I will have to find out whatever the Android version is and get some.

 

[RSD]

However, reading about @RSD's predicament, I am left wondering - if you locate your bag but QF baggage services are closed/not answering the phone, what actual use is it that you know where the bag is?.

That is an issue that there probably is not answer to...

I've had a couple of stressful work trips from CBR in winter (think -5 degrees) to DRW (think 35 degrees) for work when my bags took a detour and left me with totally wrong clothes for work - very sweaty the next day. Or the time I flew from CBR (35 degrees) to BNE (35 degrees) for work wearing a very summery dress) and the bag did not arrive for my Monday training session with a bunch of officials from Indonesia (very Muslim), and my clothes were not only too informal, but also too revealing of arms, decolletage etc. Sure buy some new ones - exactly where on a quite Sunday at 9pm in BNE could I do that? Delivery of baggage sometimes really matters.

Last time this happened to me was December in 2019 when AA delivered me to a very snowy NE coast of USA minus bags - while I was still wearing my Melbourne shorts and polo shirt - brrrrr didn't come close to describing it!

 

[RSD]

If you're tracking the AirTags, you can see:

• When the bags have reached your town/city
• When they are moving around on the public roads in that town (ie: likely out for delivery in a van) and,
• When they have reached your hotel (in case reception is slow to notify you).

These are just a few scenarios. All of these things are far better than being in the dark. Great product,.

Yes I can see how that would be much better than being left in the dark like QF left me - it would have been reassuring to know that they had left the airport and were on their way to my hotel!

 

[antycbr]

Had VA leave my bags in Melbourne when connecting to Perth. I knew this had happened because I had AirTags which meant I didn’t waste any time waiting at the belt and went straight to baggage services who tried to fob me off. Holding up my phone showing them at MEL T3 made them use the computer and sheepishly admit I was right.

 

[RSD]

Had VA leave my bags in Melbourne when connecting to Perth. I knew this had happened because I had AirTags which meant I didn’t waste any time waiting at the belt and went straight to baggage services who tried to fob me off. Holding up my phone showing them at MEL T3 made them use the computer and sheepishly admit I was right.

I will give Qantas one point - they did have the grace to ring me as I was walking from the gate to the baggage carousels to tell me that my bags hadn't made the flight and that I should head straight to baggage services.