The only airlines that I've been on where it has made a difference having priority tags have been QF and NZ, where the priority bags seem to be in their own containers, and those containers are off-loaded and delivered with before the others are touched, quite often the bags are on the carousel before you get through Immigration, Customs, and Agriculture. I suppose this is one of the benefits of pay ten grand for a ticket. Also QF even adds the tags to bags if you are connecting from AC in LAX even though you never see the bags, but just give the agent the tags.

When I flew YVR-YYZ last month, my bag along with the rest of the other Priority tagged bags were among the first group to appear on the belt.

[This message has been edited by FlyerAl (edited 04-22-2001).]

Uh, FlyerAl, we waited for a while for our bags, and the priority bags didn't even come out first. This, however, was probably due to the fact that CP 3008 was late leaving HKG, which thus didn't leave much time for priority bags to be sorted before loading in YVR.

But on the other hand, while we are discussing "priority" services, that priority boarding was really helpful. Thanks.

No problem

Our bags did take a while, but it seemed that when they appeared, they were grouped together with other Priority tagged bags. I would imagine that those without the Priority tag (like those seaboys )had to wait much longer for their bags.

[This message has been edited by FlyerAl (edited 04-22-2001).]

Well, after getting my bag, I went upstairs to get something to eat (yeah, I like Webbers), went back down to domestic arrivals about 20 minutes later, and a friend who was also on our flight still didn't have his bags (he was coming from HKG).

Oh, and the previous week coming back from DEN, all our priority bags were out within minutes, but we ended up waiting 45 minutes for a pair of skis. Interestingly, after about 30 minutes of waiting, we were told that there were no more bags left from the plane and that we should file a lost baggage report. Well, once we finished the report, the skis finally came out!

Did your friend have a Priority tag on his bags?

No, my friend doesn't have any status, despite 4-5 trips from YYZ to HKG per year. And you want to know why - he's never bothered to collect points! Yeah, once I discovered this, I had a chat with him.

[This message has been edited by Robyyz (edited 04-22-2001).]

Yeah he really needs to get himself status for his bags. You know, I find AC's baggage delivery service very inconsistent. I don't know what their problem is. Other airlines are quicker with their baggage delivery sans Priority tags. For example, AA's hub in MIA which is at least twice the size of AC's in YYZ, can deliver my bags within 5-10 minutes of my arrival. AC obviously needs to work on their baggage service if they expect to be competitive with the other majors.

Sometimes the situation is that there are several flights arriving at the same time, although we do make an effort a 'log jam' happens because of the limited space at the baggage belts. I am speaking of Terminal 1 at YYZ because that is my Area Of Operations.

Yes we do put the 'P' bags in a container all its own and this container does go into the doorway position for quick offload. As for arriving flights at times the 'P' bags are loaded into the bulk and due to the high numbers delivery does take longer.

I would like to say that as a whole at AC there is no labour strife, as far as individuals are concerned I can not speak for them. As far as the comments about the P tags being torn off, I have never witnessed this happening. I know of people who have been dealt with for removing tags.... so I can say it is monitered.

I hope this sheds light on the operation.

Regards YYZAC

Here's my cost saving suggestion for AC: Stop producing the Priority tags.

My experience is that putting the priority tags on luggage has no effect on when that piece shows up. Last summer, I waited at YYZ for 45 min for my priority tagged bag while other non-priority bags were merrily making their way around the belt.

In response to fakecd, I think that there should be no differentiation between high paying (business) and low paying (economy) priority stickers. I would suggest that the frequent flyer is the lifeblood of the airline, whether travelling in economy or business. Getting your bad a few minutes early can save considerable time as you make a dash for the rental or taxi lines before the other passengers.

I would say the priority tags have worked for me 80%+++ of the time. How can you say do away with them? Insanity.

Dorian

Just got back from a full AC LHR -> YYZ flight. All the bags with Priority tags came out dead last -- it was weird seeing all the business class cabin pax waiting around as the pax with non-tagged dwindled away...

It took 1.5 hours from arrival at the gate to get to the taxi rank

Unrelated point, but immigration was log-jammed with about 4 747 flights including one originating from India -- so there was a long wait. Staff there directed some folks with children to the crew line as the kids were getting cranky with the delay. My AC crew arrived and one of the FAs loudly proclaimed as she was pushing to the front of the line "This is line is for CREW ONLY" -- an ugly scene for a while as some pax explained that they had been told to go there.

I expect this has been discussed before but is there any reason why Canadian immigration does not have lines for Canadian residents like virtually every other country?

ACCORD: There is an immigration hall in T2 which has the Canadian citizenship line. However, it seems to be rarely used!

Simple reason is that the PIL (primary inspection line) is Customs, not immigration. And Canadians are just as likely to merit referral to secondary inspection as visitors. (Just for Customs secondary, rather than Immigraiton secondary).

In many airports, (e.g. LHR), you clear immigration, first. So it make sense to separate people who need immigration processing from your citizens who don't.

American customs facilities in US airports have special lines for US Citizens Only. Canada Customs should have more "Canadians only" lines at airports. This way they can assign the agents at the "non Canadian" lines for more stringent inspections. It would make life much easier for us average Canadians