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)
#76
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,950
More relevant is the fact that priority baggage is now an advertised oneworld benefit, which makes it very slightly more difficult for AA to stop doing priority baggage. However, the oneworld ad for priority baggage already excludes BA; no reason in principle it couldn't exclude AA as well. But I do agree that it is relatively unlikely that AA will stop at least slapping priority tags on bags, between the oneworld benefit and the fact that the competition (UA and DL) both do it.
#77
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 414
#78
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP (1MM), Hyatt, Marriott Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 396
I noticed that the bag tags say "priority" on them so maybe just the orange tag is going away and there will be an automated priority process now? Just speculation...
#79
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 6,769
At LAX on AA, even with priority tags, my bags can take up to around 40 minutes to come out. I just flew AS and checked in 2-3 bags on a couple of round trips, and even at LAX, they came out pretty fast. Is it just the way the carrier handles luggage?
Although, the walk from the plane to baggage claim can be fairly long, and I was told that in LHR, they make the walk so long so that you don't spend time standing and waiting for your bags, ruminating about poor baggage service.
Although, the walk from the plane to baggage claim can be fairly long, and I was told that in LHR, they make the walk so long so that you don't spend time standing and waiting for your bags, ruminating about poor baggage service.
#80
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: QF WP, AA EXP
Posts: 3,520
I think the priority bags came out first a couple times on flights I took pre-merger.
Post-merger, literally not once on an AA flight.
At LAX T-6 (LUS), I've never waited less that 40 minutes after deplaning for my bag. LAX T-6 is an unbelievable train wreck for baggage. Everyone on that ground crew should be fired, as should their managers.
Post-merger, literally not once on an AA flight.
At LAX T-6 (LUS), I've never waited less that 40 minutes after deplaning for my bag. LAX T-6 is an unbelievable train wreck for baggage. Everyone on that ground crew should be fired, as should their managers.
No question, baggage operations at T6 are horrendous and something needs to be done about it. Funny if I land at TBIT on QF/BA/CX things work amazing. Maybe they need to sack the lot of the handlers and go with Menzies like AS did.
#81
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,511
My priority tagged bags come out very late in the game on more than half my flights. All flights between MDE-MIA, which are half my flights right there, they are always near the end. For my domestic connections, I don't think my results are any better than somebody without priority luggage.
I'd be just as happy if they got rid of them. Having them and then not getting the service annoys the heck out of me. I still won't get priority service, but maybe I'll be a little less annoyed.
I'd be just as happy if they got rid of them. Having them and then not getting the service annoys the heck out of me. I still won't get priority service, but maybe I'll be a little less annoyed.
#83
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: San Jose, CA, USA
Posts: 546
I have to say my own experience with the priority handling is different from the majority here. More often than not mine are among the first off, and I've got a good hit rate of being the first bag on the belt.
#84
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
A mountain out of a molehill. It's my understanding that AA and OW are moving to relying on the embedded bar code for priority as it is more reliable and simply works better.
It will be great for those who want their bags faster and life-ending for the DYKWIA's who think that priority tags make them special.
It will be great for those who want their bags faster and life-ending for the DYKWIA's who think that priority tags make them special.
#85
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 294
A mountain out of a molehill. It's my understanding that AA and OW are moving to relying on the embedded bar code for priority as it is more reliable and simply works better.
It will be great for those who want their bags faster and life-ending for the DYKWIA's who think that priority tags make them special.
It will be great for those who want their bags faster and life-ending for the DYKWIA's who think that priority tags make them special.
#86
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,394
I think AA as well as UA/DL started the "priority bags" as an elite perk well before the proliferation of baggage fees. But one of the unintended consequences of baggage fees is the (what I assume) skyrocketing number of gate checked bags.
They ramp guys are trying to get the plane out on time, they aren't worried about putting gate checked bags behind the priority ones. Same with the ramp guys at the destination, they're just trying to pull everything that needs to go as quickly as possible.
This would also explain why Asian Carriers are better as most of their flying is Long Haul where everyone gets a free checked bag. So their ramp people get used to it and better at it.
They ramp guys are trying to get the plane out on time, they aren't worried about putting gate checked bags behind the priority ones. Same with the ramp guys at the destination, they're just trying to pull everything that needs to go as quickly as possible.
This would also explain why Asian Carriers are better as most of their flying is Long Haul where everyone gets a free checked bag. So their ramp people get used to it and better at it.
#87
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: WAS, LAX
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,330
At LAX on AA, even with priority tags, my bags can take up to around 40 minutes to come out. I just flew AS and checked in 2-3 bags on a couple of round trips, and even at LAX, they came out pretty fast. Is it just the way the carrier handles luggage?
Although, the walk from the plane to baggage claim can be fairly long, and I was told that in LHR, they make the walk so long so that you don't spend time standing and waiting for your bags, ruminating about poor baggage service.
Although, the walk from the plane to baggage claim can be fairly long, and I was told that in LHR, they make the walk so long so that you don't spend time standing and waiting for your bags, ruminating about poor baggage service.
I flew DL SDF - ATL - CLT back in September. Like clockwork, bags came out 12 minutes after arrival AND a DL employee was handing out free bottled water to waiting customers. THAT is service!
#88
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: WAS, LAX
Programs: AS 100K
Posts: 1,330
Agree 100% with this. I only check bags back to LAX T6 when I have no other choices. Then, I'll usually stop at the Admirals Club after landing and have a drink, then head down. They may be out by then. It's always been a problem.
No question, baggage operations at T6 are horrendous and something needs to be done about it. Funny if I land at TBIT on QF/BA/CX things work amazing. Maybe they need to sack the lot of the handlers and go with Menzies like AS did.
No question, baggage operations at T6 are horrendous and something needs to be done about it. Funny if I land at TBIT on QF/BA/CX things work amazing. Maybe they need to sack the lot of the handlers and go with Menzies like AS did.
#89
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Bend, IN
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,554
From my observations, AA rarely has a separate tug and cart for priority bags that is delivered to the terminal first (for non-widebody flights, at least). They get unloaded with all the other bags and then delivered. So, at best, it means your bags are first on the belt, but not necessarily before the non-premium bags are fully offloaded.
I saw this at RDU. The RJs used to (and maybe still do), load right by the belt to the customs facility. One time I got to watch AA put the London bags on that belt. All priority bags were in 1 or 2 LD3 containers and one person was offloading them. The problem was that another person was offloading the non-premium bags. As a result, the bags were mixed on the belt. Far better, I thought, if both unloaders worked the premium container before going to the non-premium container. A small switch that would have delivered the bags as a priority while not delaying the completion of baggage delivery.
I saw this at RDU. The RJs used to (and maybe still do), load right by the belt to the customs facility. One time I got to watch AA put the London bags on that belt. All priority bags were in 1 or 2 LD3 containers and one person was offloading them. The problem was that another person was offloading the non-premium bags. As a result, the bags were mixed on the belt. Far better, I thought, if both unloaders worked the premium container before going to the non-premium container. A small switch that would have delivered the bags as a priority while not delaying the completion of baggage delivery.
#90
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Austin, TX - AUS
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 1,625
My experience with priority luggage handling is all over the map: sometimes among the first bags out, sometimes in the middle, sometimes near the end. I don't consider the priority baggage tag a benefit. Getting rid of the tags won't affect me.