Qantas Q bag tags

[Pablo]

Has anyone else found that when using the Q bag tags you don't get priority luggage anymore? I mostly fly out of NTL but when I do a flight when I can use them, my bag takes ages to come off - as if priority baggage no longer exists.

Is this common?

 

[ReLoad]

Yes that is amazingly common, priority luggage domestically with Q bag tags is a joke.

 

[roj]

I have 6 of these... 2 silver, 2 gold, 2 plat - in 74 flights in the last year I've not used them once...

Don't understand why people would buy them...

 

[medhead]

Has anyone else found that when using the Q bag tags you don't get priority luggage anymore? I mostly fly out of NTL but when I do a flight when I can use them, my bag takes ages to come off - as if priority baggage no longer exists.

Is this common?

The only time I used them my luggage came out just about first.


Sent from the Throne (80% chance) using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[TheInsider]

I have 6 of these... 2 silver, 2 gold, 2 plat - in 74 flights in the last year I've not used them once...

Don't understand why people would buy them...

Don't understand why people don't use them. Since the introduction of NGCI and Q-tag, lost bags have gone down dramatically. from about 20 per 1000 bags, to about 6-8 per 1000 bags.

 

[medhead]

Don't understand why people don't use them. Since the introduction of NGCI and Q-tag, lost bags have gone down dramatically. from about 20 per 1000 bags, to about 6-8 per 1000 bags.

Don't know about others but I don't use them because I don't check in luggage.


Sent from the Throne (80% chance) using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[nlagalle]

I have 6 of these... 2 silver, 2 gold, 2 plat - in 74 flights in the last year I've not used them once...

Don't understand why people would buy them...

Generally I don't check bags but the 3 times i have and used them it has been great. Worked a treat and my bags were close to first off

 

[richie9x]

Just remember not to put spare qtags inside your checked bag as the RFID chip inside the qtag can be scanned through the suitcase, so what could happen is the one inside your bag gets activated & when your bag arrives out the back in the baggage makeup area the qtag on the outside of your bag will not scan as it won't have been activiated when it went through the auto bag drop.

The end result is the baggage handlers won't know who the bag belongs to or more importantly where it's going. :shock:

I got caught out by a similar situation. Generally I don't like showing off status and normally travel carryon only, so I have a qtag on the inside in case I ever needed it. Then one time that I did check the bag in I forgot I had qtag in the bag. So I went to the kiosk got a paper tag and put that on the bag. Then at the bag drop it recognized the qtag in the bag instead of the paper tag. The bag drop machine printed another bag receipt, which I should realised what had happened.

Then at the other end no bag showed up. At the the lost baggage desk were very quick to work out what happen, seems to be reasonably common occurrence. Having a bag with a paper tag that had not been received and an active qtag upset the system. The bag got put on the next flight and it actually made it to the hotel before me as I stopped off for lunch.

 

[juddles]

They're virtually worthless unless you're allergic to putting your own paper tag on your bag.

Internationally they cannot be used.
.....

Hear hear. A couple of years ago I got back to QFF after a long stint away, and due to having to do a lot of work travel I went through the bronze to platinum thing in a few months. I am now the proud owner of 8 tags (two silver, two gold, two platinum, and two ptr gold). I have NEVER used them. I cannot believe peope would actually pay good hard cash for them.

 

[openseat]

Don't understand why people don't use them. Since the introduction of NGCI and Q-tag, lost bags have gone down dramatically. from about 20 per 1000 bags, to about 6-8 per 1000 bags.

From the experience of people at work, with friends and myself; I'd say those figures exclude anyone who has used the QTag in BNE!

 

[reductionist]

Don't understand why people don't use them. Since the introduction of NGCI and Q-tag, lost bags have gone down dramatically. from about 20 per 1000 bags, to about 6-8 per 1000 bags.

Wow, still sounds like a lot to me.

Back on topic. I've used the tags recently, and given some to friends to use. Feedback has been good.

 

[Airworthy]

They're virtually worthless unless you're allergic to putting your own paper tag on your bag.

Internationally they cannot be used.

Domestically, when checked multiple bags in J, the paper tagged ones come out within the first half dozen bags, the Q tag ones come out mid pack or worse. Every time. So I dont bother any more and ask for paper tags. Interestingly I passed this comment to the checkin agent who acknoweldged she'd been told that by quite a few people!

Spend your $50 on booze at the airport.

I have them and they are great. Saves so much time as I check in for my flight on my iPhone the day before my flight then when I arrive I scan my barcode at the bag drop place the bag off and away it goes. It is never longer than 1-2 mins. No waiting in queue for a kiosk or service desk to check in allowing more time to relax in QF Club.

As for bag collection priority just because you have a Q-Tag it doesn't automatically give you the highest priority. Business class customers are 1st (regardless if they are a FF member or not) Platinum FF members get the next priority regardless if they are using paper or Q-Tags then Gold, Silver, Bronze and non FF members.

 

[Airworthy]

Internationally they cannot be used.

The reason why they are unable to be used internationally is because Qantas have developed the technology here in Australia plus have put a copywrite for 3 years (I think) therefore not allowing other airlines and countries to upgrade their luggage tagging system to handle the Q-Tag. My prediction is that once the copywrite expires other major carriers will follow suit.

 

[BAM1748]

The free ones sent out make a good beer coaster.

matt

 

[Sprucegoose]

The reason why they are unable to be used internationally is because Qantas have developed the technology here in Australia plus have put a copywrite for 3 years (I think) therefore not allowing other airlines and countries to upgrade their luggage tagging system to handle the Q-Tag. My prediction is that once the copywrite expires other major carriers will follow suit.

I am not sure of the commercial imperative to protect their IP? I would license and sell it.

 

[here2go]

The reason why they are unable to be used internationally is because Qantas have developed the technology here in Australia plus have put a copywrite for 3 years (I think) therefore not allowing other airlines and countries to upgrade their luggage tagging system to handle the Q-Tag. My prediction is that once the copywrite expires other major carriers will follow suit.

Not true. The technology is IATA Standard. The issue has been commercialisation outside a small near monopolistic network like Qantas'. Expect to see eInk on generic bagtags soon that will allow the tags to work in both RFID and laser barcode reading airports. Expect this to happen by year end.

 

[ReLoad]

As for bag collection priority just because you have a Q-Tag it doesn't automatically give you the highest priority. Business class customers are 1st (regardless if they are a FF member or not) Platinum FF members get the next priority regardless if they are using paper or Q-Tags then Gold, Silver, Bronze and non FF members.

You are looking into it far too much.

At the end of the day it all makes a rats cough, it's all how it's loaded and offloaded.

In terms of priorities, there are three tiers domestically;

Business class, WP and CL

Priority; SG and QP

Nothing; PS, NB and non FF

Inside these tiers the luggage handlers couldn't give a toss.