Missing luggage tags

[cjg]

I called the QFF Centre today to request some new luggage tags. My last ones went missing somewhere between check-in and collection on a recent domestic flight. They're nothing special, but it's good have tags on luggage and I find the ones Qantas uses quite durable (which also surprised me that mine went missing).

Anyway, the QFF rep said that this is becoming more common and she had been told that baggage handlers sometimes have a game to see how many they can swipe in a shift (with Chairmans and Platinum tags more 'prized').

This seems quite strange and I was wondering if people think this is just a silly rumour or whether the baggage handlers are actually doing this. :?:

 

[kpc]

This seems quite strange and I was wondering if people think this is just a silly rumour or whether the baggage handlers are actually doing this. :?:

Not as bad as the baggage handler that was seen running on the tarmac with an animal (can't remember which one; I'm sure someone here will remember) suit but came unstuck when he was spotted by its annoyed owner:mrgreen:, who complained to QF!

 

[cjg]

True. Going through bags is pretty low.

I think it was a camel suit, if I recall correctly.

 

[Travel Guru]

I called the QFF Centre today to request some new luggage tags. My last ones went missing somewhere between check-in and collection on a recent domestic flight. They're nothing special, but it's good have tags on luggage and I find the ones Qantas uses quite durable (which also surprised me that mine went missing).

Anyway, the QFF rep said that this is becoming more common and she had been told that baggage handlers sometimes have a game to see how many they can swipe in a shift (with Chairmans and Platinum tags more 'prized').

This seems quite strange and I was wondering if people think this is just a silly rumour or whether the baggage handlers are actually doing this. :?:

Since most of them lack the intelligence to be able to send out priority bags first on 99% of flights, I doubt they'd have the ability to count how many tags they swipe though given some of the stories I hear about overseas baggage handlers, this seems both plausable and tame.

TG

 

[littl_flier]

Since most of them lack the intelligence to be able to send out priority bags first on 99% of flights, I doubt they'd have the ability to count how many tags they swipe though given some of the stories I hear about overseas baggage handlers, this seems both plausable and tame.

TG

:mrgreen:

What's the cost of new/replacement tags anyway? Do you just pay by Credit Card over the phone?

 

[kpc]

:mrgreen:

What's the cost of new/replacement tags anyway? Do you just pay by Credit Card over the phone?

In my experiene, FREE! A polite email requesting the tags also works well

 

[Mal]

I think it would be more common for the tags to snap or otherwise be lost rather than it being a game.

 

[littl_flier]

In my experiene, FREE! A polite email requesting the tags also works well

Oh, thanks KPC! I broke one and have three bags so that'll work really well.

 

[Commuter]

Mine went missing a couple of times. But I suspect they snapped off because someone tugged on the tag. Then again, since I became a WP they seem to go missing more often (or maybe I'm just flying more often).

 

[JohnK]

On one of my bags a QF Gold luggage tag, along with other tags, went missing from check-in to luggage collection. It did not look like someone had deliberately taken them off but rather they were cut accidentally. By machine, carousel? I don't know.

Anyway I have not bothered putting on my QF Platinum luggage tags since I qualified last May.

 

[Commuter]

Slightly OT but while on the subject of luggage tags, I prefer the gold ones to the platinum ones, because they stand out more (and therefore make my bags easier to spot). Against my black suitcases, platinum ones are hardly noticeable. The issue has been resolved by tying a brightly coloured handkerchief to my suitcases, but I would have liked to be able to forego the handkerchiefs because they do get in the way of the zips a bit.

 

[Mal]

On one of my bags a QF Gold luggage tag, along with other tags, went missing from check-in to luggage collection. It did not look like someone had deliberately taken them off but rather they were cut accidentally. By machine, carousel? I don't know.

The TSA have a diagram and information as to how locks can go missing, and I think this is pretty relevant to luggage tags as well.
TSA: Damaged Locks Alert

 

[QuikSmart]

I just use the tags on carry on luggage and leave them off checked luggage for this reason. I just use the tags that came with the bags.

 

[Alanslegal]

I've seen plat/gold tags being sold online eg eBay so maybe there might be a small business opportunity by those theives who sell misappropriated baggage tags?

 

[cssaus]

During a recent visit to the US I bought some luggage tags in Brookstones. One of them had on it "I Love Baggage Handlers". On checking in for my next flight the CSR had a big smile on her face when she saw it. I asked her if she thought it would work for me and she laughed. Anyway, for all of my remaining flights the bag turned up amongst the first onto the carousel so I'm hoping that it's cute message did have an affect.

 

[serfty]

True. Going through bags is pretty low.

I think it was a camel suit, if I recall correctly.

Yep, see here on FLyerTalk:

• 'There's a guy with a moose head' on the tarmac! - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[serfty]

On one of my bags a QF Gold luggage tag, along with other tags, went missing from check-in to luggage collection. It did not look like someone had deliberately taken them off but rather they were cut accidentally. By machine, carousel? I don't know. ...

Coming back from SIN a couple of years ago; I was surprised to find one of my SG tags neatly severed in half; certainly looked to have been done by a machine -perhaps a baggage conveyor part.

 

[needaholiday]

The issue has been resolved by tying a brightly coloured handkerchief to my suitcases, but I would have liked to be able to forego the handkerchiefs because they do get in the way of the zips a bit.

Be careful tying ribbons / hankies etc. to the handles on your checked luggage. I tied a ribbon the handle on my nondescript black samsonite bag to stop the carousel lottery. After tying the ribbon on my luggage it was 'mishandled' (aka lost) twice. The agent at Qantas baggage services when taking down the description told me to remove the ribbon when I get it back. It interferes with bar codes on your destination tags and they get mishandled by the system. The agent mentioned this is why the priorty/business tags are now stuck into the destination tag to prevent this issue. A coloured strap around your bag, or a sticker on the main part of you bag might be safer.

 

[Commuter]

Be careful tying ribbons / hankies etc. to the handles on your checked luggage. I tied a ribbon the handle on my nondescript black samsonite bag to stop the carousel lottery. After tying the ribbon on my luggage it was 'mishandled' (aka lost) twice. The agent at Qantas baggage services when taking down the description told me to remove the ribbon when I get it back. It interferes with bar codes on your destination tags and they get mishandled by the system. The agent mentioned this is why the priorty/business tags are now stuck into the destination tag to prevent this issue. A coloured strap around your bag, or a sticker on the main part of you bag might be safer.

Interesting point. But it's on a different handle from the one where they put the bar-coded destination tag on (it's on the handle that I have my bag tag on), so I think it's unlikely for it to interfere with barcode reading?