I was told priority tags make no difference...
Jun 16, 2017, 4:45 am
#46
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
So if my understanding is right, the tags really are pointless and are just there as a comfort factor/feel good factor for the traveller.
And on the actual prioritisation of baggage, it is possible, but only if the airline wants to make the investment and pay for it. Where there's a will, there's a way as they say, because clearly there are airlines that manage to deliver on it pretty much 100% of the time.
And on the actual prioritisation of baggage, it is possible, but only if the airline wants to make the investment and pay for it. Where there's a will, there's a way as they say, because clearly there are airlines that manage to deliver on it pretty much 100% of the time.
Jun 16, 2017, 5:18 am
#47
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Glasgow, UK
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Jun 16, 2017, 6:19 am
#48
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: DFW or GOT or...
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott GFL
Posts: 819
Question about the AKE ("containers") - are they used in all airplanes that BA operates, or f.ex "always" in certain types of planes, like 777 or 747 and never on others, like A320, etc?
Jun 16, 2017, 6:37 am
#49
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold; FB Silver; SPG; IHG Gold
Posts: 2,985
Same with me. It definitely makes a difference in my experience. By ensuring that my bag is out last.
Jun 16, 2017, 7:04 am
#50
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Pretty much all BA services. Automated loading into AKE isn't that common, but it's the standard at LHR T3 and T5, elsewhere the AKEs are manually loaded. The obvious exceptions are BACF, CWLCY and leases.
Jun 16, 2017, 8:55 am
#52
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 221
Low cost airlines generally bulk load their bags, flag carriers use containers as it makes it easier to handle things like transfer bags and priority bags...sometimes.
Jun 16, 2017, 10:06 am
#54
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BA Priority tags don't mean anything to luggage handlers in UK, or Canada. But they do in places where priority baggage handling is taken seriously. Like in SIN, HKG, BKK, (and to a certain extent KUL). I've had BA Priority bags come out before others at these airports.
Jun 16, 2017, 3:08 pm
#55
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest
Posts: 296
Recently I flew four flights on BA (SEA/LHR, LHR/LIS, MAD/LHR and LHR/DFW - change to an AA DFW/PHX fliight). Priority tagged bags. They were not the first bags -- but they definitely were early relative to most of the other luggage. With 747 flights that made a big difference (both long haul were 747's).
So I believe the priority tags make (or at least tend to make) a difference.
So I believe the priority tags make (or at least tend to make) a difference.
Jun 16, 2017, 6:30 pm
#56
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Mexico City
Programs: Life Miles, Miles and more
Posts: 518
So if I may ask, why do you keep doing it? Over years? There's not even that many hold bags on a Lon-Mad so whether you're first or last out doesn't make much difference.
Jun 17, 2017, 12:29 am
#57
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
Airlines like SQ, NH and JL apply priority baggage religiously on every service, and it's always an interesting experience waiting at the belt because it will often come out in a precise sequence of rank, i.e. F and PPS Solitaire first, then Business and PPS, then Star Gold, then the rest.
So it can be done, if an airline is sufficiently bothered and puts some thought into it.
I think anyone working for those airlines would be horrified if their check-in agent said "oh, those don't work anyway"!
So it can be done, if an airline is sufficiently bothered and puts some thought into it.
I think anyone working for those airlines would be horrified if their check-in agent said "oh, those don't work anyway"!
Jun 17, 2017, 5:43 am
#58
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Commuting between London & Jakarta
Programs: Thai Airways ROP *G; British Airways Executive Club Silver
Posts: 333
Airlines like SQ, NH and JL apply priority baggage religiously on every service, and it's always an interesting experience waiting at the belt because it will often come out in a precise sequence of rank, i.e. F and PPS Solitaire first, then Business and PPS, then Star Gold, then the rest.
So it can be done, if an airline is sufficiently bothered and puts some thought into it.
I think anyone working for those airlines would be horrified if their check-in agent said "oh, those don't work anyway"!
So it can be done, if an airline is sufficiently bothered and puts some thought into it.
I think anyone working for those airlines would be horrified if their check-in agent said "oh, those don't work anyway"!
Jun 17, 2017, 5:45 am
#59
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: coastal Croatia
Programs: BAEC Gold, M&M Senator
Posts: 2,181
As noted by FrancisA, BA does not provide priority baggage handling and when priority baggage handling was adopted by oneworld for elites BA operated flights were specifically excepted from this benefit.
From oneworld.com:
See also:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...gs-matter.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...-emeralds.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...g-economy.html
From oneworld.com:
See also:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...gs-matter.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...-emeralds.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...g-economy.html
Thanks for the clarification. I find it really interesting that BA were able to get an exemption from what is otherwise standard oneworld policy. In any case, based on all my experiences on other airlines that get this right, I stand by my earlier claim that BA could solve this if they wanted to. It's obvious that they just don't want to invest the time or money to get this right, which is their decision to make, just as it is my decision to make this a contributing factor in whether or not I continue to use BA for my transatlantic travel.