Hi, new to FT, with a question about some disturbing baggage handling policies. I took the US Shuttle this weekend BOS-DCA, and when I got to DCA, I found my bags sitting out front of the baggage office. I was confused, since I got downstairs right away, well before the bags came off. I asked the rep. in the office, and she told me that when people check in early, they will put their bags on the first flight if it isn't full. To do this without telling people, and not letting them go on the same flight as the bags without paying that ridiculous $25 fee is crazy. Despite my status, and wanting to maintain it, I don't know if I'll be able to fly US with checked luggage and still have the same peace of mind I used to. Does this happen all the time? If so, what have you guys done about it? Thanks.

My experience with US has been that the bags follow along at a later time, preferring it seems to enjoy the excitement of PHL to joining me on my connection.

what happened to positive baggage matching??

this sounds like the easiest vulnerability to exploit.

Hi, new to FT, with a question about some disturbing baggage handling policies. I took the US Shuttle this weekend BOS-DCA, and when I got to DCA, I found my bags sitting out front of the baggage office. I was confused, since I got downstairs right away, well before the bags came off. I asked the rep. in the office, and she told me that when people check in early, they will put their bags on the first flight if it isn't full. To do this without telling people, and not letting them go on the same flight as the bags without paying that ridiculous $25 fee is crazy. Despite my status, and wanting to maintain it, I don't know if I'll be able to fly US with checked luggage and still have the same peace of mind I used to. Does this happen all the time? If so, what have you guys done about it? Thanks.

Dude, you're lucky you got your bags at all. Count your blessings.

Positive bag matching was only required before "explosive detection" machines were installed. Even then, the airline was allowed to re-route your bags onto alternate planes without telling you. The policy was to require that your bags couldn't get onto a plane without you being willing to get on the plane as well.

With all the US baggage problems, I'm shocked that someone is complaining about baggage getting there early. Really. Be happy your bag was already there and waiting -- if it had been on your plane you might have been waiting 15 minutes or more for it to get onto the carousel and out to you.

Welcome to FT!

Sounds like a good policy to me. ^

Well, it's a good policy if they want people to pay that stupid-a$$ 25 bucks to stand-by. If they had told me there was a chance my bags would be sitting in DC without me for a few hours and the only way to guarantee I'd arrive with them was to pony up and take the next flight, you bet I would have done it.