If DL can do it, why not AA [PDB & priority baggage]
Jul 31, 2015, 11:16 am
#1
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If DL can do it, why not AA [PDB & priority baggage]
Flew home last night on DL in paid F, was cheaper than Y in AA/US albeit as an EXP likely would have been upgraded. FAs waded through a crowded boarding to do PDBs along with a small bottle of water provided for each F seat. At MIA checked bags with Priority Tags actually came out first and bags were coming out on the belt by the time I walked down to baggage claim (about 7 minutes). With AA, and particularly at MIA, priority tags are totally ignored and I have never had less than a 30 minute wait for bags. So if DL can pull this off why, not AA?
Jul 31, 2015, 11:27 am
#2
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So, in other words, why can't AA be more like US? (OK, trolling just a little bit, but US is very good at the priority tag handling ...)
Jul 31, 2015, 11:33 am
#3
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Most places I fly to tagged bags come out first. There are exceptions.. not sure if they are related to late flights etc
Jul 31, 2015, 11:38 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2008
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They probably could if they wanted to. I think they just choose not to.
Alternatively, there may be so few bags on the plane, that it all fits on the same tractor cart. So there is no difference in delivery between priority and general. This is still in line with what AA says is Priority Baggage - "and when you arrive at your destination, they’ll be among the first delivered to the baggage claim area."
Alternatively, there may be so few bags on the plane, that it all fits on the same tractor cart. So there is no difference in delivery between priority and general. This is still in line with what AA says is Priority Baggage - "and when you arrive at your destination, they’ll be among the first delivered to the baggage claim area."
Jul 31, 2015, 11:44 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Some AA employees follow the company's procedures and some don't; I am sure DL has the same issue. You'll find inconsistency at any airline. I flew SIN-FRA-JFK yesterday in SQ Suites, one of the most vaunted products in the sky, and sure enough, the SIN-FRA crew was horrible, failing to do a lot of service elements they are supposed to do (storing the larger carry-on in a compartment under the stairs, providing a hanger and then hanging clothes when a passenger changes, etc.), while the FRA-JFK crew was amazing and did everything top-notch.
Jul 31, 2015, 2:53 pm
#6
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Undoubtedly true, but on my (non insignificant) number of domestic F legs on pmAA, DL, and pmUS over the past several years, pmAA comes in dead last on the PDB front.
As far as priority tagged bags on pmAA, I'm have had 90%+ success with those coming out first.
As far as priority tagged bags on pmAA, I'm have had 90%+ success with those coming out first.
Jul 31, 2015, 3:05 pm
#7
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Perhaps with the merger this will improve. Is it not true that US was the stronger airline, but AA had better name recognition, which is the only reason they kept the AA name?
Jul 31, 2015, 3:12 pm
#8
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I flew DL for the first time in a while, just a few weeks ago. I would never, ever with AA to operate like DL. Yes, bags got there quickly. That benefit doesn't come close to making up for the many deficiencies.
Expecting every company to match the best parts of every other company is not realistic.
Expecting every company to match the best parts of every other company is not realistic.
Jul 31, 2015, 5:24 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2003
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If DL can do it, why not AA [PDB & priority baggage]
I'm flying delta f/c tomorrow. Will be interesting to see the differences 
Jul 31, 2015, 5:26 pm
#10
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The "which bags come out first" question seems a real second order distraction in the DL vs AA bag-handling discussion. Delta, along with Alaska, now guarantees you get your bag within 20 minutes of arriving at the gate. I don't check bags on AA that often, but I honestly don't remember a single flight where any bags had started to be delivered within 20 minutes, much less all of them. Last time I checked bags on AA, it took over an hour for the first bag to hit the carousel.
Jul 31, 2015, 5:40 pm
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Flew home last night on DL in paid F, was cheaper than Y in AA/US albeit as an EXP likely would have been upgraded. FAs waded through a crowded boarding to do PDBs along with a small bottle of water provided for each F seat. At MIA checked bags with Priority Tags actually came out first and bags were coming out on the belt by the time I walked down to baggage claim (about 7 minutes). With AA, and particularly at MIA, priority tags are totally ignored and I have never had less than a 30 minute wait for bags. So if DL can pull this off why, not AA?
Jul 31, 2015, 6:08 pm
#12
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I thought AA specifically eliminated priority baggage on domestic flights years ago except JFK-LAX/SFO-MIA?
Or did they restore it?
PDBs as we know are a required service element AA's FAs seem to ignore.
Or did they restore it?
PDBs as we know are a required service element AA's FAs seem to ignore.
Jul 31, 2015, 6:33 pm
#13
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Flew home last night on DL in paid F, was cheaper than Y in AA/US albeit as an EXP likely would have been upgraded. FAs waded through a crowded boarding to do PDBs along with a small bottle of water provided for each F seat. At MIA checked bags with Priority Tags actually came out first and bags were coming out on the belt by the time I walked down to baggage claim (about 7 minutes). With AA, and particularly at MIA, priority tags are totally ignored and I have never had less than a 30 minute wait for bags. So if DL can pull this off why, not AA?
It's really convenient when DL F is cheaper than AA Y, and it's been happening more and more for me now. The funny thing is I'll actually pay for DL F, but I won't buy F on AA anymore.
Jul 31, 2015, 6:43 pm
#14
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Aug 1, 2015, 4:12 am
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It's funny/sad because some of us used to actually pay for F on AA.....not anymore.