Yes you read it. AA has the worst baggage tracing system in the world because they are not on a system called WorldTracer.

Most international airlines (at least the ones in Asia and Europe) are linked onto a system called Worldtracer. At ANY given moment, one can ask a check-in agent or baggage services personnel where your bags are - or at least if it has been loaded onto your flight as you are about to board. Or when your bags are lost, where in the world they are or most likely are. This has been tried out on Lufthansa, Austrian and CX and when at the Lost Baggage Desk, just a few taps on the computer, the agent can literally tell you on the spot where your bags are.

Except AA. Mainly because they're too cheap to buy the system from SITA even though SABRE has the capability.

My 1st experience with the hierarchy of AA politics was 3 weeks ago. Connected from YUL-JFK-PAR-LHR. All on AA except last leg was on BA. I was certain that my bag did not make the YUL-JFK flight. But at JFK, no one seemed at all interested when I told them that I know that my bag is missing. They kept asking me to check at the last port of arrival. Can they tap into the computer? NO. Can they call baggage services? NO. Can they see if they bag made the flight. NO. Basically not at all helpful. Yeah, if I was missing instead of the bag, you can be sure that they'd find the bag in the cargo hold in a hurry! Even the ExecPlat desk could not get the lazy gate agents to check the status of my lugguage transfer.

So I arrived in to London. And filed a report with BA. BA taps into Worldtracer and lo and behold...they have no idea where it is because AA does not have the same system. Basically about 9 hours later, I receive a call from IAPA (International Airline Passengers Association) who are also tracking the bag that they have found the bag and it's arriving into London on BA323. ETA 1800. Problem was I was scheduled to leave on BA59 to CPT and the bag was tagged onto to LHR!

Checked in at BA. And literally saw the staff swing into action. Walkie-talkers in hand, a customer service rep assured me that they are sending someone out to find the bag. Oh-ho, the bag has been sent to the Customs hall. No problem, they sent a special handdler to retreive the bag and bring it to the tarmac next to BA flight BA59. Upon boarding, all staff knew of my situation and am so pleased to be able to identify suitcase before BA specially tagged it to CPT. All this was done within 50 minutes of my departure. Even though I was flying ClubWorld, my status with BA Exec Club was just a lowly BLUE. (I've elevated to SILVER since). BA excelled whereas AA couldn't care less. BA staff ran round getting things done, whereas AA staff were too 'busy' to take the time in helping the customer. And I was flying on a full First Class ticket that day. No upgrade. As of last communications between BA and myself, AA still has not updated the file as to where they thought they last handled the bag!

Today I'm in BKK. Flown in from LHR-CDG-HKG-BKK. Guess what? No bags! Filed report.. with CX which were quick to inform me that it definitely did not make the CDG-PAR connection even though I had 1.5 hrs to make the flights. CX checked ith BA and BA says the bags did go on the flight I flew on to Paris. SO the bags might still be in Paris then...? And guess who handles for CX ground arrangements in Paris?

You guessed it - AA!



[This message has been edited by Guy Betsy (edited 08-19-2002).]