Less exciting for an Aussie audience but Lufthansa almost without fail delivers luggage with HON (First) tags first, then Priority (SEN/Star Gold/Business), then regular bags.
Just yesterday I arrived at LHR T2 and noticed again how efficiently it worked.
Agree though at SYD and with QF/VA it doesn't help much at all. I also find SQ seem to routinely unload Business Class before First/Suites tagged bags.
Over the last 18 months on my 120+ flights with QFF platinum Q-tags on luggage, I rarely if ever, see my bags first when flying domestically. Generally I have enough time to make it to the lounge in Sydney, get a coffee and make it to the carousel before my bags arrive.
Completely random. I've had priority tagged bags comes out first 90% of the time at some ports/with some airlines, 50/50 at other ports and almost always last at others.
Priority tags have worked better in Japan then almost anywhere else.
QF Domestic pretty good, AA domestic were very good especially when transferring .
When I was on a small AA aircraft and my cabin baggage wouldn't fit into the locker they placed priority tags and I was given my Bag back from the stairs of the aircraft before Y Pax got theirs upon landing at Charloote
I travel for pleasure and try to pick Airlines that allow 2 Carry on bags in J internationally
Completely random in my experience - however more often than not they come out closer to the order i check in. If i check in early, they come out later - if i check in late they come out earlier. My first few flights on Virgin when they first launched the coast to coast were the only reliable times they came out first - i assume their was some extra attention being paid at that time though.
Most of my travel has been international with Virgin Australia, Delta or Singapore airlines flying into HKG, LAX, MEL, SYD and major US cities. I have priority baggage being a platinum member and have seen my luggage consistently come out within the first 5 minutes.
Recently flew LHR-HKG-ADL with CX, we are lowly Silver QF, luggage tag said "priority" when it printed using the self serv function at LHR (we flew Y+). Arriving in ADL our luggage was 2nd and 3rd out, my partner was wrapped as it never happens. However, I got stuck in a queue for the auto gate, and then (as always) I have to go back into the queue to the "assistance line" and then got additional immigration questioning once I was past the BF staff member - so the only time our luggage was out first - I was 3rd last out of immigration :-)
I once had a bag arrive so far ahead in the queue it arrived on an earlier aircraft! I was standing around at the carousel until the very last bag, then went to the baggage office to find out where it was, and they had it there, so it was the first bag of my flight to arrive, but it was the last one collected and I was the last to leave, which kind of defeated the purpose.
Often at Sydney on VA I can see it on the belt as I'm coming down the escalator
Just depends! On airport day - in other words they meannothing! Unless you are flying LH F and land at JFK with your First assisitant (or not if your aircraft gets downgraded to a 747-4 from an A380 without F and you have to schlepp in appauling LH Business Class!!!) Recently one bag tagged F Honor Corcle FRA-JFK other bag tagged Business by incompetent FRAPort staff at FRA who are NOT LH employees! HON bag waiting for me as soon as I deboarded had to wait 20 mins for StarGold tagged second bag! UA LX LH VA EY etc etc etc even when you are in First tags mean nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quite a coincidence this article - I am Platinum and have been for quite a few years and was just thinking about this on my last return from O/S last week. Flew First from LAX with First tags and as usual, my bags came out well after many others and mixed in with the standard tagged bags. I do not believe that having First or Business tags actually does anything and if your bags do come out in the first few it is more general luck then having the tags - has to be considering the law of averages and how many flights I take. In fact made a joke with the check in person who was searching for tags ot not bother as it would make no difference
General Question for Platinum or Gold FFers. One of the perks of top tier status is getting Business or even First Class "priority" labels on checked bags; even when flying economy etc. But, how often do FFers actually get their bags returned quickly at the Carousel at the end of the flight? It seems to me that only about 5-10% of the time are my bags delivered within the first 20-20% of bags coming off the carousel. To me, this is a really good potential perk of loyalty but one that airline "procedures" at the end of the flight seem to constantly fail to deliver. Any thoughts?
It depends on the airport not the airline. In First Class arriving in Singapore (SQ) or Abu Dhabi (EY) your bags will likely be at the carousel before you are, or within minutes. In Sydney, with Australian baggage handlers and a healthy does of tall-poppy syndrome, on the same airlines, your bags will never ever be first. At best about the 30th percentile. More than once, absolute last bag.
Certanly doesn't work with Cathay arriving at Brisbane. Stood and waited for 45 minutes while all the economy people were forming a huge queue at customs. The priority labels were still on the cases, they just got ignored. Not impressed.
To add some perspective I am happy when my luggage arrives at all :)
However my experience is that the delivery of priority bags is often a factor of the airport as well as the airline - some airports seem to get priority bags out early, some seem to deliberately send them last, and having waited at one US airport earlier this week, for over an hour before any bags arrived - priority or not seemed somewhat irrelevant.
Thanks everyone. I'm Platinum with QF and Elite with Air NZ, and I must admit that over the years, taking about 40 sectors a year minimum, it does seem to make absolutely NO difference what tags are on your bags. I've noticed my bags come out completely at random. It's disappointing because airlines must be able to put in place a proper Procedure to ensure that "priority" bags are given priority upon landing. If any airline wants me to look into this for them, I'm available to build a lean workable Procedural solution in February 2018.
vantage03
vantage03
Member since 13 Aug 2015
Total posts 2
Less exciting for an Aussie audience but Lufthansa almost without fail delivers luggage with HON (First) tags first, then Priority (SEN/Star Gold/Business), then regular bags.
StuW
StuW
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 14 May 2017
Total posts 4
Over the last 18 months on my 120+ flights with QFF platinum Q-tags on luggage, I rarely if ever, see my bags first when flying domestically. Generally I have enough time to make it to the lounge in Sydney, get a coffee and make it to the carousel before my bags arrive.
Himeno
Himeno
Member since 12 Dec 2012
Total posts 295
Completely random.
I've had priority tagged bags comes out first 90% of the time at some ports/with some airlines, 50/50 at other ports and almost always last at others.
Priority tags have worked better in Japan then almost anywhere else.
akronflyer
akronflyer
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 29 Jul 2014
Total posts 145
Horvath
Horvath
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 27 Jun 2011
Total posts 41
QF Plat has brought my bags out quickly, usually first. But now that I'm Gold, I seem to be waiting 5 mins +
elemist
elemist
Member since 25 Jan 2012
Total posts 11
Completely random in my experience - however more often than not they come out closer to the order i check in. If i check in early, they come out later - if i check in late they come out earlier. My first few flights on Virgin when they first launched the coast to coast were the only reliable times they came out first - i assume their was some extra attention being paid at that time though.
Jorge_fly
Jorge_fly
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 08 Feb 2016
Total posts 83
Most of my travel has been international with Virgin Australia, Delta or Singapore airlines flying into HKG, LAX, MEL, SYD and major US cities. I have priority baggage being a platinum member and have seen my luggage consistently come out within the first 5 minutes.
colin5353
colin5353
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 03 Jul 2011
Total posts 85
Recently flew LHR-HKG-ADL with CX, we are lowly Silver QF, luggage tag said "priority" when it printed using the self serv function at LHR (we flew Y+). Arriving in ADL our luggage was 2nd and 3rd out, my partner was wrapped as it never happens. However, I got stuck in a queue for the auto gate, and then (as always) I have to go back into the queue to the "assistance line" and then got additional immigration questioning once I was past the BF staff member - so the only time our luggage was out first - I was 3rd last out of immigration :-)
tronek
tronek
Velocity Platinum
Member since 10 May 2013
Total posts 93
I once had a bag arrive so far ahead in the queue it arrived on an earlier aircraft! I was standing around at the carousel until the very last bag, then went to the baggage office to find out where it was, and they had it there, so it was the first bag of my flight to arrive, but it was the last one collected and I was the last to leave, which kind of defeated the purpose.
Often at Sydney on VA I can see it on the belt as I'm coming down the escalator
cbourl
cbourl
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
Member since 12 Sep 2011
Total posts 9
Just depends! On airport day - in other words they meannothing! Unless you are flying LH F and land at JFK with your First assisitant (or not if your aircraft gets downgraded to a 747-4 from an A380 without F and you have to schlepp in appauling LH Business Class!!!) Recently one bag tagged F Honor Corcle FRA-JFK other bag tagged Business by incompetent FRAPort staff at FRA who are NOT LH employees! HON bag waiting for me as soon as I deboarded had to wait 20 mins for StarGold tagged second bag! UA LX LH VA EY etc etc etc even when you are in First tags mean nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pallmall
pallmall
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 25 Mar 2015
Total posts 7
Quite a coincidence this article - I am Platinum and have been for quite a few years and was just thinking about this on my last return from O/S last week. Flew First from LAX with First tags and as usual, my bags came out well after many others and mixed in with the standard tagged bags. I do not believe that having First or Business tags actually does anything and if your bags do come out in the first few it is more general luck then having the tags - has to be considering the law of averages and how many flights I take. In fact made a joke with the check in person who was searching for tags ot not bother as it would make no difference
Muddle
Muddle
Member since 10 May 2017
Total posts 1
It depends on the airport not the airline. In First Class arriving in Singapore (SQ) or Abu Dhabi (EY) your bags will likely be at the carousel before you are, or within minutes. In Sydney, with Australian baggage handlers and a healthy does of tall-poppy syndrome, on the same airlines, your bags will never ever be first. At best about the 30th percentile. More than once, absolute last bag.
Dolly
Dolly
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
Member since 24 Jan 2013
Total posts 5
Certanly doesn't work with Cathay arriving at Brisbane. Stood and waited for 45 minutes while all the economy people were forming a huge queue at customs. The priority labels were still on the cases, they just got ignored. Not impressed.
Ralph
Ralph
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 30 Sep 2017
Total posts 1
drgmarshall
drgmarshall
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 May 2012
Total posts 106
Thanks everyone. I'm Platinum with QF and Elite with Air NZ, and I must admit that over the years, taking about 40 sectors a year minimum, it does seem to make absolutely NO difference what tags are on your bags. I've noticed my bags come out completely at random. It's disappointing because airlines must be able to put in place a proper Procedure to ensure that "priority" bags are given priority upon landing. If any airline wants me to look into this for them, I'm available to build a lean workable Procedural solution in February 2018.