T5 luggage system - it really does know where each bag is
Oct 29, 2012, 3:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold, TG Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 8,665
T5 luggage system - it really does know where each bag is
Interesting experience today at T5.
Two of our bags (AA ticket numbers given we connected from AA but that is another story) appeared on the carousel but two did not. Walked over to BA luggage assistance (no queue at least) and showed them the two ticket numbers of the missing bags). The agent typed the ticket numbers into the system and said:
"Oh! The bags did arrive but they have sent it to the wrong area. They will be delivering on the carousel in due course".
15 minutes later, no bags appeared so I went back to the agent. She typed the ticket numbers in again, looked confused and said "Oh! they have put the bags on carousel X instead". Sure enough, we saw the bags going around on that carousel.
Very surprised that BA/BAA can detect where the bags are around T5. All that automation I complain about at T5 does sometimes work.
Two of our bags (AA ticket numbers given we connected from AA but that is another story) appeared on the carousel but two did not. Walked over to BA luggage assistance (no queue at least) and showed them the two ticket numbers of the missing bags). The agent typed the ticket numbers into the system and said:
"Oh! The bags did arrive but they have sent it to the wrong area. They will be delivering on the carousel in due course".
15 minutes later, no bags appeared so I went back to the agent. She typed the ticket numbers in again, looked confused and said "Oh! they have put the bags on carousel X instead". Sure enough, we saw the bags going around on that carousel.
Very surprised that BA/BAA can detect where the bags are around T5. All that automation I complain about at T5 does sometimes work.
Oct 29, 2012, 3:46 pm
#2
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
They proved that to me the other day too. My bag did not appear on the designated carousel. So I went up to the baggage services desk to ask what happened, and the chap told me exactly what happened. He tapped something into the system and 2 seconds later he told me that they somehow put my bag on a wrong carousel (transfer bags or misplaced bags or something or the other carousel).
He had a great sense of humour and I had a good laugh with him.
He sent someone to fetch it for me.
He had a great sense of humour and I had a good laugh with him.
He sent someone to fetch it for me.
Oct 29, 2012, 3:51 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
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Posts: 16,348
Every bag can be tracked throughout the LHR baggage system. It really is pretty clever!
Oct 30, 2012, 2:13 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci. And BA Gold – previous awards - Gold 11, Silver 7, Bronze 4.
Posts: 4,232
IIRC the design of T5 was very much driven by the baggage system. I read something about the critical bit of the terminal design was ensuring that the bags were efficiently and speedily routed from check-in to a/c and then from a/c to to carousel.
The second most important aspect of the design was ensuring that the 'self-loading freight' were routed past as many shops as possible to ensure maximum revenue extraction before flight.....
The second most important aspect of the design was ensuring that the 'self-loading freight' were routed past as many shops as possible to ensure maximum revenue extraction before flight.....
Oct 30, 2012, 5:17 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,513
Oct 30, 2012, 6:27 am
#14
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,513
Because its an idiot savant system (Thanks Jib71 for that great description
)
In all seriousness, if the baggage handlers do not have the processes/don't follow the processes to load priority baggage onto the system first there is little the system can do about it. About the only thing it could do is delay all the Y luggage in a holding area and only deliver it after the priority luggage. And clearly that doesn't help anyone - priority luggage doesn't arrive earlier and Y luggage is just delayed more.
)In all seriousness, if the baggage handlers do not have the processes/don't follow the processes to load priority baggage onto the system first there is little the system can do about it. About the only thing it could do is delay all the Y luggage in a holding area and only deliver it after the priority luggage. And clearly that doesn't help anyone - priority luggage doesn't arrive earlier and Y luggage is just delayed more.