Feb 23, 2016, 2:38 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
AA Priority Baggage Delivery
including eligibility, delivery and Priority tag issues
including eligibility, delivery and Priority tag issues
Link to aa.com page for Priority baggage delivery
Priority baggage delivery is encoded on the baggage check ribbon tag affixed to checked baggage and by a one world standard orange "PRIORITY" tag affixed separately or to the baggage check tag.
Priority baggage delivery
Putting your luggage first
In addition to priority access privileges, on eligible flights*, our top customers can look forward to a swift, convenient exit from the airport with our complimentary Priority baggage delivery service. At check in, your baggage will be tagged with branded Priority bag tags, and when you arrive at your destination, they’ll be among the first delivered to the baggage claim area.
This service applies only to:
To enjoy the benefits of this service, check your bag directly with American at:
** If upgrading, your First or Business Class seat must be confirmed before check-in to be eligible for this service.
Putting your luggage first
In addition to priority access privileges, on eligible flights*, our top customers can look forward to a swift, convenient exit from the airport with our complimentary Priority baggage delivery service. At check in, your baggage will be tagged with branded Priority bag tags, and when you arrive at your destination, they’ll be among the first delivered to the baggage claim area.
This service applies only to:
- First Class and Business Class customers **
- AAdvantage Executive Platinum members
- AAdvantage Platinum members
- AirPass travelers
- oneworld® Emerald and Sapphire members
To enjoy the benefits of this service, check your bag directly with American at:
- A ticket counter
- Self-service check-in machine
- Curbside check-in
- Off-site check-in locations such as Disney and participating cruise lines
** If upgrading, your First or Business Class seat must be confirmed before check-in to be eligible for this service.
Priority tag / tags for checked baggage / luggage (consolidated)
Aug 27, 2019, 4:38 pm
#166
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
The tags are mainly just decorative, the important part is what is in the bar code. If the system does not recognise it as priority luggage based on the bar code, it will be sorted with the standard luggage. So even if the agent had attached a tag, the bagage system would not have sorted it as a priority bag.
Did you buy a fare that was an instant upgrade to F (don't know if AA still has those) meaning the underlying fare conditions where actually Y?
Did you buy a fare that was an instant upgrade to F (don't know if AA still has those) meaning the underlying fare conditions where actually Y?
Aug 27, 2019, 4:43 pm
#167
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
Priority bag tags are technically only for Plat status or higher, but First should receive it as well.
See https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...g-delivery.jsp
See https://www.aa.com/i18n/aadvantage-p...g-delivery.jsp
This service applies only to:
- First and Business customers **
- AAdvantage® Executive Platinum members
- AAdvantage® Platinum Pro members
- AAdvantage® Platinum members
- AirPass travelers
- oneworld® Emerald and Sapphire members
Aug 27, 2019, 6:57 pm
#168
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,191
I believe it was a YUP fare actually. But why would that matter? The fare class listed on the ticket was I not Y. The weird thing is our outbound was also in paid F, and on that flight we did get priority baggage handling. I don't remember if the roundtrip fare was YUP both ways, or just the return. But again, why would it matter if it was a YUP? I thought the only benefit of that from AA's standpoint is they can overbook F and downgrade the YUP customers without penalty?
1. What are the exact condition of the the YUP fares? Are they an F fare, or a Y fare with better seating? If the latter, that would explain the missing priority tag.
2. There could have been a system glitch, seeing you as a Y pax, rather than F. Picking up the original fare class
Aug 27, 2019, 8:46 pm
#170
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,665
Two ways this could matter.
1. What are the exact condition of the the YUP fares? Are they an F fare, or a Y fare with better seating? If the latter, that would explain the missing priority tag.
2. There could have been a system glitch, seeing you as a Y pax, rather than F. Picking up the original fare class
1. What are the exact condition of the the YUP fares? Are they an F fare, or a Y fare with better seating? If the latter, that would explain the missing priority tag.
2. There could have been a system glitch, seeing you as a Y pax, rather than F. Picking up the original fare class
Aug 27, 2019, 8:59 pm
#171
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AA PLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,405
Two ways this could matter.
1. What are the exact condition of the the YUP fares? Are they an F fare, or a Y fare with better seating? If the latter, that would explain the missing priority tag.
2. There could have been a system glitch, seeing you as a Y pax, rather than F. Picking up the original fare class
1. What are the exact condition of the the YUP fares? Are they an F fare, or a Y fare with better seating? If the latter, that would explain the missing priority tag.
2. There could have been a system glitch, seeing you as a Y pax, rather than F. Picking up the original fare class
If indeed it's due to the YUP issue, I'm kind of shocked that as frequently I read this forum, that I don't remember anyone else having a similar issue. Surely someone else would've noticed this "glitch" before today!
Feb 3, 2020, 8:40 am
#173
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Northern Virginia
Programs: UA Gold, AA PLT, Hertz PC, Marriott Gold
Posts: 107
Checked in at DCA on Friday and they were cutting the priority tags in half because they were running out of them. One of the ticket agents commented that it was another cost-cutting measure by AA 
Feb 3, 2020, 9:17 am
#175
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,665
Jun 14, 2021, 3:49 pm
#178
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DCA/CLT/HKG
Programs: AA EXP (Former US CP)
Posts: 731
Checked in at the Priority Desk in CLT for a flight to IAD. I had changed the flight multiple times and for some reason OLCI would not work despite issuing me a boarding pass for the flight.
When I dropped off my bag at the counter and officially checked in the agent tagged my bag but failed to put a Priority tag on it. I really didn’t care as I wasn’t in a rush upon arrival.
Once bags arrived at the claim in Dulles, my bag magically had the orange Priority tag on it, and it appeared to have a brand new bag tag as the claim check stickers weren’t peeled off.
I saw the agent put the bag on the conveyor belt without a Priority tag. Somewhere along the way did someone manually scan it and reprint the bag tag and add the Priority tag?
When I dropped off my bag at the counter and officially checked in the agent tagged my bag but failed to put a Priority tag on it. I really didn’t care as I wasn’t in a rush upon arrival.
Once bags arrived at the claim in Dulles, my bag magically had the orange Priority tag on it, and it appeared to have a brand new bag tag as the claim check stickers weren’t peeled off.
I saw the agent put the bag on the conveyor belt without a Priority tag. Somewhere along the way did someone manually scan it and reprint the bag tag and add the Priority tag?
Jun 14, 2021, 3:53 pm
#179
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,191
Checked in at the Priority Desk in CLT for a flight to IAD. I had changed the flight multiple times and for some reason OLCI would not work despite issuing me a boarding pass for the flight.
When I dropped off my bag at the counter and officially checked in the agent tagged my bag but failed to put a Priority tag on it. I really didn’t care as I wasn’t in a rush upon arrival.
Once bags arrived at the claim in Dulles, my bag magically had the orange Priority tag on it, and it appeared to have a brand new bag tag as the claim check stickers weren’t peeled off.
I saw the agent put the bag on the conveyor belt without a Priority tag. Somewhere along the way did someone manually scan it and reprint the bag tag and add the Priority tag?
When I dropped off my bag at the counter and officially checked in the agent tagged my bag but failed to put a Priority tag on it. I really didn’t care as I wasn’t in a rush upon arrival.
Once bags arrived at the claim in Dulles, my bag magically had the orange Priority tag on it, and it appeared to have a brand new bag tag as the claim check stickers weren’t peeled off.
I saw the agent put the bag on the conveyor belt without a Priority tag. Somewhere along the way did someone manually scan it and reprint the bag tag and add the Priority tag?
Nov 11, 2022, 5:43 am
#180
Join Date: Feb 2022
Posts: 1
AA Priority Baggage Tag
Has there been discussion about how these are meaningless. I'm lifetime Platinum and have checked bags dozens of times and always get the priority tag. However, less than 10% of time my bags amongst the first wave. It's just as likely to be in the second half. Today, in going to miss a connection in Miami because there was a >20 pause between the first and second wave of bags. Am I unlucky, or is this part for the course at AA?