rylan

Perhaps that explains why some bags never resurface

Qwkynuf

One does not simply *walk* into Mordor

Widgets

Real tracking labels are "In sortation," "Pushed to pier X," "At pier X," and "at XXX airport." It's puzzling why any label would be replaced with "routed to carousel."

gooselee

Thanks for the insight (again)! I agree - I'd much rather see the labels you listed then the cryptic "Routed to Carousel."

Alas...

3furballs

I call BS "sortation" cannot be a real word

Widgets

What do you call baggage sortation systems?

rylan

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sortation

flyerwma

Ask and ye shall receive! http://news.delta.com/fly-delta-app-...t-checking-bag

Qwkynuf

This is great news, but I wonder how useful it will be? I frequently have my bags in my hand at PDX while the app is still showing that they are on the plane (as recently as last week). A couple of weeks ago I had a 2 hour layover at JFK and the app tracking had my bags loaded onto my incoming flight until about 5 minutes before boarding my outgoing flight. Did that plane sit parked with the luggage still on board until just before my RJ was scheduled to depart?

I don't need inch by inch tracking, but it's not very useful if it doesn't at least track the big steps:
*Checked at counter
*Held at sorting area
*Loaded on flight
*Unloaded at connecting airport
*Held at sorting area
*Loaded on connecting flight
*Unloaded from connecting flight
*Delivered to carousel #x

flyerCO

In that case the bag may not,have been scanned. I've seen more then one person freaked out because their bags are labeled on way to carousel just because they got unloaded from a plane and haven't been scanned yet at the holding area for the next flight.

Widgets

Internal tracking shows all those points you mentioned. I don't think the app shows all that stuff because it's a lot of noise that the average passenger either doesn't care about, or would just confuse them. As a passenger, all I really look for is that my bag was loaded onboard before the flight departs. I don't care that it was internally scanned In sortation 13 times (literally) during its 50 minute connection.

It would be cool if the app could let you see the full tracking info., but that would cost money that is otherwise being spent on SNAPP improvements.

Qwkynuf

Nor do I, But I do want to know that my stuff got on *and off* of each plane. In my JFK example, according to the app, my bags were loaded onto a plane at PDX - and then *nothing* happened with them until they were loaded onto my connecting flight at JFK.

Likewise, when I return home the tracking reports that my bags are still on the plane while I can see them on the carousel. This particular one has happened every time I have flown into PDX since the RFID tags went live (basically weekly). I pay attention because most weeks my wife is at the cell phone lot waiting for me to let her know that I am on my way to the curb. In fact, I have had the app show my luggage still on the plane while I am standing at the curb with it, waiting for my ride!

If the technology is there, why not use it?

I am pretty sensitive to the tracking because I carry a small tool bag which I have to check due to a couple of screwdrivers and a razor knife that the TSA won't let me through security with. It's about the size of a shoe box and while it has never been lost, it has failed to be unloaded from the plane several times, requiring a visit to the baggage service office and a call to the ramp. If I could see bags on the carousel but that particular one still showing on the plane, I could start that process without waiting for every other bag to be claimed by its owner.

MSP_Monopoly

Local and national news has been reporting on Delta's new RFID bag tracking technology the past couple of days however all of the stories I have watched keep referring to it as GPS technology in the bag tag and that you can track its location in real time.

It makes me so mad, that is so misleading and incorrect. It's just a simple reporting of the bag scans at various check points. They have had scanners forever now it's just a RFID tag instead of a barcode.

Big eye roll.

spudley007

I have actually had more lost bags in the last month than the previous 5 years (excluding international flights). I guess with the RFID chips I can see in real time that my bag didn't fly with me...

gooselee

Yeah, well....I see "travel secrets" stories all the time that are just plain wrong, so color me surprised.

However, travelling right now and am getting to experience the push notifications on Android app. They do seem to be quite timely and save me the trouble of constantly refreshing the bag tracking page in the app. It's not huge, but I think it's a nice addition.