QF SG Priority Baggage?

[mdurrant]

Flew QF524 SYD-BNE on 24 Dec and QF545 BNE-SYD on 27 Dec. On both flights, two bags with Gold Q-tags.

After QF524, we were among the last people standing at the baggage carousel awaiting our bags. Clearly no PRIORITY.

After QF545, our bags arrived approximately in the middle of all the bags. Again, clearly NO priority!

Is it a problem with the electronic Q-tags ... or is priority a myth?

The QF web site says "As a Gold Frequent Flyer, you're one of our most valued members. Not only do we look for ways to make your journey with us as effortless and enjoyable as possible, we also aim to give you the recognition and rewards you deserve for your continued loyalty."

So ... how about giving my baggage even moderate priority?

 

[mannej]

How many CL, WP1 and WP members did you have in front of you?

 

[mdurrant]

Not sure. But LOTS of bags tagged with printed tags and no "priority" marker, and LOTS of bags with "transfer" tags ... and, the first flight I mentioned, my bags were virtually LAST OFF!

 

[Anna]

Were you on 737s? The excuse I have been given before by QF staff is that the 737 does not have a dedicated section where they can stow priority baggage so it all has to go in together and can't be differentiated when offloaded. Not sure whether I believe that, but that is what I have been told. But priority baggage does generally seem to be a thing of the past IME. Except Tuesday when my bag came off first for the first time ever - but it was a very lightly loaded flight.

It is a pity so many AFFers travel HLO as if more people were complaining here about the lack of priority baggage then we might get QF to listen and do something about it (as with priority boarding).

 

[Flying mermaid]

In my experience it is totally random - sometimes it works beautifully other times one bag comes out early the other late sometimes they are both towards the end. This can happen even when travelling in J as a WP domestically. (When you would think they would have the most chance of getting it right.......). I actually gave up worrying about it some time ago - just one of the many things at which qantas is inconsistent. I am just grateful to see our bags there....

 

[roncritch]

Try being on a Karratha flight...on reaching Perth last week,two passengers in business and we were both the last bags to arrive on the carousel, with the business tag visibly in view. On return to Karratha, forget it, with electronic tags nothing to show priority baggage apart from gold tag, and it never comes out separately, always in the middle of the mix. I think they figure up here that all the FIFO's are platinum anyway!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Were you on 737s? The excuse I have been given before by QF staff is that the 737 does not have a dedicated section where they can stow priority baggage so it all has to go in together and can't be differentiated when offloaded. Not sure whether I believe that, but that is what I have been told.

hahahahahahaha

now that I've picked my self up off the floor, maybe Qantas would like to explain how Australian baggage handlers can't manage priority baggage on a 737 but Asian carriers can?

Qantas pays baggage handlers. They should have KPIs just like everyone else. Consistently fail and they should lose out financially. Simple.

(Although that being said - my QF bag was already on the carousel last month between disembarking, going straight to the smart gate (no wait) and straight again to the carousel. All up around 7 minutes or so! Spectacular!!)

 

[Danger]

Is it a problem with the electronic Q-tags ... or is priority a myth?

In my experience it has long been a myth.

It reminds me of that bumper sticker that went around years ago. To paraphrase: I believe in priority luggage, good men and other fantasies.

 

[Foreigner]

In my experience the old Priority tags which were attached to bags at check in time almost always delivered my bags ahead of most others. Ever since with new tags, my bags have come to the carousel when almost all other bags have been picked up. I'm not impressed with QF in this aspect.

 

[Quickstatus]

In my experience the old Priority tags which were attached to bags at check in time almost always delivered my bags ahead of most others. Ever since with new tags, my bags have come to the carousel when almost all other bags have been picked up. I'm not impressed with QF in this aspect.

Its not only QF. Recently flew AA and DL in F. (which in the US is Y with bigger seat). AA flight (American eagle CRJ900) one sector priority luggage came out randomly. DL on the other hand all priority luggage came out last on both sectors (737-800 and A320). On the QF11 recently flew J so bags came out in middle.

DL did send a customer review email to ask for my experience on their flight. it was a 0-10 style question. (0 for worst,10 for best). It did not included priority luggage experience. In fact it did not include any question relating to experience after boarding - maybe they already knew the answer so no point asking

 

[cove]

Priority baggage rarely works so be impressed when it actually does work. We are both WP and that is what actually happens and we are not worried about it. In fact we remain pleased when both pieces of luggage arrive on the luggage carousel regardless of whether it is first or last.

 

[Pleb Status]

Priority baggage works on CX. First bag off when I arrived in London last week.

 

[vitagen]

I was out of the Per intentional terminal last night in 10 minutes!

Cathay is just pure awesome.

 

[Kangol]

On the QF11 recently flew J so bags came out in middle.

I thought at TBIT, they have two luggage carousels - one for F/J tagged bags and one for the rest? That was the case when I did QF93 ~10 months ago...

 

[serfty]

I thought at TBIT, they have two luggage carousels - one for F/J tagged bags and one for the rest? ...

That is my experience as well - easier in a containerised system as they can simply unload the priority bins at the priority carousel.

As far as I can tell with my flying over the last two decades - in Australia and flying QF, if your priority tagged bag is one of the first out it is basically luck.

I really don't think QF's baggage handlers nor their supervisors either care and/or can be bothered.

 

[Kieran2274]

I've only ever had one bag go missing on arrival (during normal flying, that is when not subjected to a/c or flight routing change) and ironically (but not unexpectedly, given baggage transfers in USA always prone to misadventure) that was on a LAX-SYD QF F flight in 2006 (or 2005 - it was a while ago). Proof positive that class of travel/status doesn't really protect checked bags.

 

[Cynicor]

I think PER has picked up their game on international arrivals priority luggage. It has come out first consistently since the renovation/redevelopment. Only 3 flight sample size so time will tell, but looking good so far.

 

[Ewing]

I thought at TBIT, they have two luggage carousels - one for F/J tagged bags and one for the rest? That was the case when I did QF93 ~10 months ago...

Which is great fun when you spend ages waiting at the F/J carousel only to see your F tagged bag go by on the normal one.

 

[Kieran2274]

Which is great fun when you spend ages waiting at the F/J carousel only to see your F tagged bag go by on the normal one.

In my view, on International flights, the real class benefit in F/J is that - with some wise packing - you can get away with your expanded onboard hand luggage allowance and skip the baggage carousel altogether (and this is the one time I say make the most of your hand luggage allowance, mainly because the F storage space is excellent and J is usually pretty good too - and how awesome are A380 window storage bins!)

 

[Ewing]

In my view, on International flights, the real class benefit in F/J is that - with some wise packing - you can get away with your expanded onboard hand luggage allowance and skip the baggage carousel altogether (and this is the one time I say make the most of your hand luggage allowance, mainly because the F storage space is excellent and J is usually pretty good too - and how awesome are A380 window storage bins!)

My US trips are usually 2-3 weeks in duration. HLO is cutting it a bit fine

Besides, when in the US I usually check everything besides a very small messenger bag with my iPad and Macbook Air so I don't need to rush for bin space.

But yes, the window storage bins are awesome (although the bin at 5B/5J on the 744 refurb is also excellent)! It was one thing I missed when I flew NZ on my last US trip.