US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Baggage Arrival Times

Having been a CP for a few Years now I was wondering as I stood waiting for my bags to be returned at the A -west baggage claim.

What do most Frequent Flyers consider a "Reasonable Wait"? I know it PHL some Limo companies are charging "waiting time" for baggage arrivals exceeding 30 minutes.

To me 20 Minutes seems fair and resonable. What about the rest of you?

I can live with 20 minutes as well.

Irony is that us preferred members in F deplaning first have a perceived longer wait then everyone in coach :)

I have traveled in First on several different airlines but had my first First experience on US Airways this past week. Coming back from Cancun into Boston I was one of the first off the plane...zipped thru imigration and was one of the first to the baggage carousel. I didn't believe my eyes when everyone else on board got their luggage first and I was one of the last people to get my luggage (other First passengers were in the same boat). My luggage was tagged as "Priority" and with the First Class tags so I expected (as on other airlines) that my bags would pretty much be one of the first off the carousel. Is this common on US Airways?

I have traveled in First on several different airlines but had my first First experience on US Airways this past week. Coming back from Cancun into Boston I was one of the first off the plane...zipped thru imigration and was one of the first to the baggage carousel. I didn't believe my eyes when everyone else on board got their luggage first and I was one of the last people to get my luggage (other First passengers were in the same boat). My luggage was tagged as "Priority" and with the First Class tags so I expected (as on other airlines) that my bags would pretty much be one of the first off the carousel. Is this common on US Airways?

You thought Priority tags meant HIGH prority??? Look closer, you'll see "low" written in real real tiny letters right before where it says "Priority". :D

Unfortunately you'll find that priority tags on US usually receive standard baggage handling with the occasional above-average handling.

-JC

To me 20 Minutes seems fair and resonable. What about the rest of you?

20 Minutes seems fair and reasonable.

Last Tuesday night, waiting in Boston for baggage from the Charlotte flight, just under an hour (and a short walk to the adjacent belt).

I frequently fly from RIC-PHL and I find that if I have to check bags, the wait for baggage almost always exceeds the flight time. I do not think it is reasonable, but have just adjusted. I try very hard not to check bags into PHL. Once, I had to wait 70 minutes and I just about had a seizure.

Geez, I would love a 20 minute wait in PHL!

One miserable flight we took last March my son came down with a stomach bug 2 hours before our plane took off. Guess who got it 30 minutes into our flight? This was the most miserable travel experience of our lives, and we were so happy to just get off the plane. Not so fast. A piece of luggage supposedely clogged the system and we waited about 80 minutes for our luggage. By this time, my son and I were laying down on the floor half-dead.

I've never waited at any other airport for luggage as long as we wait in PHL.

Speaking to US baggage service at PHL A West, we are extremely pleased with baggage handling. For the most part, bags are either on the carousel when one exits immigration control, or they arrive shortly thereafter ( in other words, within 20 minutes of gate arrival ).

Our experience includes 11 flights dating to May 2003 when A West first opens. In those first couple of months, there were some baggage delays as they work the bugs out, but we have found that service improved quickly, and baggage handling at the US international terminal is a breeze.

For those of us lucky enough to live within the Philadelphia metro region, flying international out of PHL is almost a pleasurable experience.

Barry

Speaking to US baggage service at PHL A West, we are extremely pleased with baggage handling. For the most part, bags are either on the carousel when one exits immigration control, or they arrive shortly thereafter ( in other words, within 20 minutes of gate arrival ).

Our experience includes 11 flights dating to May 2003 when A West first opens. In those first couple of months, there were some baggage delays as they work the bugs out, but we have found that service improved quickly, and baggage handling at the US international terminal is a breeze.

For those of us lucky enough to live within the Philadelphia metro region, flying international out of PHL is almost a pleasurable experience.

Barry

Huh??? :confused:

My bag from A-West international took longer than any of my US domestic-checked baggage.

-JC

I can confirm the positive experiences with baggage at A West. I fly internationally into PHL at least once a quarter and almost all of the time, my experience is like yesterday's coming from FRA. After getting off the plane (row 1, thank you very much) and zipping through immigration (5 minutes), my bags came out right after I had paid for my luggage cart. :cool:

In stark contrast, I picked up my in-laws last month at Terminal B and it took their bags 90 miutes to show up. That's with Priority tags, of course. :td: I also try very, very hard not to check anything out of or into PHL domestically if at all possible.

It is not uncommon to wait 45 minutes in Charlotte regardless of whether you are a CP with priority stamped on your baggage tag or not. About the fastest I have ever seen is 25 minutes. I expect it will get worse as the financial situation continues to be an issue and the holidays approach.

Barry

In PHL A (International) the wait time is usually 20 minutes - but it comes after a 5 - 10 minutes walk to pass control and than 5 - 15 minutes wait at the pass control. If you fly up front - your wait is very long indeed.

In PHL B and C - it depends - I remember times when bag were unloded even before the doors are opened. Now neither the door nor the holds are opened and now it takes time to wait for someone to flag the plane into the spot. And after that 5 minutes walk - the usual wait is over 30 minutes and often gets to 50 - 60 minutes. After flying cross country for 6 hours waiting for 15 minutes to get to the gate and than 45 minutes for the bags - is abominable.

PHL is far one of the worst airports I have seen on all counts.

I agree with m44 - most of the time your wait is a minimum of 30 minutes, I have waited as long as 1 hour.

After my most recent clt - phl flight, I almost had a stroke ;) my luggage was actaully there when I arrived at baggage claim.

I don't understand....

What's this checking bags thing that everybody is talking about? ;)

I was flying PHL - ORD the other day with my golf clubs. I put on my Yellow GoFares tags that were given out at FFOCUS.

The agents laughed when they saw them on the bag because they never saw them before. I just jokingly said - I was hoping it would ensure a little extra TLC with the bags.

When I arrived in the baggage claim area in ORD, my clubs and other suitcase were both sitting right next to the wall and the carousel had not even started to move with the other bags!!

I frequently fly from RIC-PHL and I find that if I have to check bags, the wait for baggage almost always exceeds the flight time. I do not think it is reasonable, but have just adjusted. I try very hard not to check bags into PHL. Once, I had to wait 70 minutes and I just about had a seizure.

RIC isn't much better. I always thought we were the slowest in the world.