davetravels

Did you ever track your bag on the DL app? At every point where your bag tag is scanned, I believe it's clocked to the second! It will definitely <almost always> be scanned as it's placed on the carousel.

Dieuwer

No.

MSPeconomist

Maybe this is aimed at the spring break crowd and trying to ge them to check bags. It's a fairly heavy leisure/kettle travel period.

It's also interesting that international flights, even arrivals to the USA including those that are precleared, are excluded.

If you look at the bag tracking function on the DL app, the last indication is very close to the baggage claim belt. [I forget the exact words that appear.] Maybe this would be used as the proof.

The T&C sound like the timer is applied to when a particular passenger's bag appears, versus when the first bags from the flight appear, as I had previously assumed. Yet for some large aircraft, it can take a while for the bags to come down the chute onto the belt even if they're arriving one right after another, as tightly backed onto the moving belt down to the carousal as possible.

SYRRDU

I rarely check my bags which is due to RDU being my home airport. My experience is that RDU and SEA have the worst baggage handling in the network. The "Priority" tags mean nothing (actually less than nothing) at RDU. I believe the handlers intentionally put them on the belt last. After several weeks of TATL/TPAC trips and frustration with my "Priority" tagged bag being the last one delivered, I have brought the Red Coat to the claim area and she watched the Priority tags being delivered last on a few occasions, with mine being last once while she was watching with me. There have been a few times that I have ripped off my priority tag and given it to the Delta agent so they can use it for training. DL also gets a call every time from me on the poor service at RDU and there has been no change.

On a typical day in RDU, luggage takes 30-40 from time of landing. If this plan is true and you want SMs, I would suggest adding RDU to your itinerary.

CJKatl

A few years back, my bags were delayed in ATL three times in two weeks, to the point where DL had the bags delivered to my house. It was 45+ minutes before I gave up. It was the same woman delivering the bags each time. This post made me realize that for the most part, my checked bags are now going around the carousel by the time I get to baggage claim. IMO, if true, the best part of this rumor is that DL has improved baggage handling to where they can make this guaranty. While on this board it's heresy to express something can be better than points, not wasting time waiting for bags trumps getting points!

While I don't usually check bags, sometimes I've got supplies taking up a second suitcase or get a last minute SB and check a bag at the gate. OT: Most of the gates now even have yellow tags!

MSPeconomist

No more stopping at a lounge upon arrival if you have a checked bag!

davetravels

Here's the online / app baggage tracking info from my most recent trip:
It's in reverse chronological order - Most recent posted at the top.

Baggage Tracking History
All baggage tracking activity is displayed in the local time of the airport location.

Date/Time - Airport - Status

Feb 11, 2015 09:26:00 PM PIT Delivered to Claim Area 1

Feb 11, 2015 07:12:00 PM ATL Bag On Plane DL 1296 ATL - PIT Feb 11

Feb 11, 2015 03:05:00 PM MDW Bag On Plane DL 1116 MDW - ATL Feb 11

Feb 11, 2015 02:36:00 PM MDW Bag Checked-In for
DL 1116 MDW - ATL Feb 11
DL 1296 ATL - PIT Feb 11

CJKatl

Even RDU has improved lately. They've even apparently replaced the colorblind baggage handlers who couldn't differentiate yellow.

davetravels

Not really sure why this would matter, since the times are all clocked in.

gator21

AS has a similar program. The time starts when the plane arrives at the gate. It is promoted on their flights. There is also an AS rep in the baggage claim area who will know when the 20 minutes are up and they need to start handing out the $25 vouchers.

http://www.alaskaair.com/content/tra...guarantee.aspx

jrl767

interesting, but not really valuable without knowing when 1296 actually blocked in (FlightAware says 857pm, but that's most likely landing time rather than gate time)

davetravels

It's VERY valuable to people who posted above that didn't know that this detailed baggage info existed.

That said, I called and was told that DL1296 on Feb 11 arrived at the gate in PIT at 9:09 PM

dc333

With Alaska's BSG, the clock starts when the aircraft brakes are set. This equates to the Arrival time on the airline site/app.

When you hear the chime that it's okay to unbuckle your seat belt, start your timer!

jrkmsp

This is an interesting line:

In other words, if you're flying Delta Connection, don't bother claiming miles.

TerryK

Great news, albeit only until March 31st.^ Too bad international flights, which most of mine are, are excluded.