Priority labeled bags delivery on baggage conveyer belt | thread
Dec 6, 2017, 9:40 am
#16
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AMS
Posts: 2,062
One has to bear in mind a regular bug in the process which is the tagging itself when flying with the family for instance. When I fly with my kids in Y, only my bags are tagged with the priority barcode (and the "F" letter on it), even with a common PNR. Of course all of our bags get the yellow tags but they are most of the time useless as the baggage system is assigning my bags to the priority container and my kids' bags to the regular containers. Upon arriving at destination, it makes absolutely no sense having half of our bags being delivered with priority and the other half upon the end. Sometimes though they all come together with priority, meaning the bags have been manually assigned to the priority container thanks to the yellow tags.
In the past, when status pax still got two bags rather than just one, I solved that problem by checking my non-status sister's bags under my name, with priority.
In BCN I've had them do the reverse -- check in a prio pax bags under my name, tagging both theirs and mine for priority -- but never at AMS.
Dec 6, 2017, 3:04 pm
#17
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 🇸🇬 🇭🇰 🇫🇷
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Posts: 4,749
I have no idea what the agent is supposed to do but what is done currently is a lose/lose/lose situation:
- I lose the benefit of having my bags delivered first (providing the benefit is actually working, which is the purpose of that thread)
- My kids (actually me, as they are too young to feel concerned) lose the hope of having their bags delivered first thanks to yellow the priority tag whereas the barcode primarily is ruling (who cares about luggage barcodes if not FTers?)
- The airlines loses its credibilty
It is indeed possible however requires more work for the agents as they have to add extra e.g. paying bags in the system then waive the fees.
I am fine with having non priority bags for my non elite party when flying Y. Then the airline should be consistent and not put yellow tags on these bags.
Anyway, not a big deal as the benefit is a hit or miss.
- I lose the benefit of having my bags delivered first (providing the benefit is actually working, which is the purpose of that thread)
- My kids (actually me, as they are too young to feel concerned) lose the hope of having their bags delivered first thanks to yellow the priority tag whereas the barcode primarily is ruling (who cares about luggage barcodes if not FTers?)
- The airlines loses its credibilty
I am fine with having non priority bags for my non elite party when flying Y. Then the airline should be consistent and not put yellow tags on these bags.
Anyway, not a big deal as the benefit is a hit or miss.
Dec 6, 2017, 3:43 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AMS
Posts: 2,062
They are only supposed to priority-tag (yellow label + prio status in system) bags belonging to either business/first class pax, or those with status or ticket-based skypriority. Not those travelling with them.
No skypriority = no yellow label.
Then instead ask them not to priority tag? Obviously I've never tried that myself but I assume they can override that.
No skypriority = no yellow label.
I am fine with having non priority bags for my non elite party when flying Y.
Last edited by CyBeR; Dec 6, 2017 at 3:49 pm
Dec 7, 2017, 1:06 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Zanzibar
Programs: Flying Blue
Posts: 1,319
The check-in agent is not supposed to priority-tag your kids' bags. You may be able to ask her to check in the kids' bags under your name though. Some of them would agree with you that having both priority-tagged and non-tagged is ridiculous.
In the past, when status pax still got two bags rather than just one, I solved that problem by checking my non-status sister's bags under my name, with priority.
In BCN I've had them do the reverse -- check in a prio pax bags under my name, tagging both theirs and mine for priority -- but never at AMS.
In the past, when status pax still got two bags rather than just one, I solved that problem by checking my non-status sister's bags under my name, with priority.
In BCN I've had them do the reverse -- check in a prio pax bags under my name, tagging both theirs and mine for priority -- but never at AMS.
Dec 7, 2017, 12:58 pm
#20
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: NYC
Posts: 99
I find it strange that family bags are not supposed to be tagged priority, seeing as skypriority status itself often transfers to people on the same reservation: e.g. before I was FB gold, with my parents in Y on one reservation, my boarding passes would also show sky priority and my bags would be tagged priority (and generally arrive first too).
Anyway in recent experience, I've had the bags arrive first almost always at JFK, but hit or miss at LHR. Will have to pay more attention in other places.
Anyway in recent experience, I've had the bags arrive first almost always at JFK, but hit or miss at LHR. Will have to pay more attention in other places.
Dec 7, 2017, 5:03 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AMS
Posts: 2,062
I find it strange that family bags are not supposed to be tagged priority, seeing as skypriority status itself often transfers to people on the same reservation: e.g. before I was FB gold, with my parents in Y on one reservation, my boarding passes would also show sky priority and my bags would be tagged priority (and generally arrive first too).
I should know if this worked differently -- my dad has been LTPE since Flying Dutchman turned into Flying Blue.
Dec 12, 2017, 2:41 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Zanzibar
Programs: Flying Blue
Posts: 1,319
AMS-JRO Bags where offloaded and waiting for me on the elite spot when I was first one true customs.
JRO-AMS
Bags are still in JRO... after I waited until all was unloaded.... they will be home delivered tomorrow or the day after!
JRO-AMS
Bags are still in JRO... after I waited until all was unloaded.... they will be home delivered tomorrow or the day after!
Jan 18, 2018, 2:44 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
I don't check bags, so no personal experience, but the other day I was in 4F looking directly down the conveyor loading the bags. The priority bags came to a grand total of two, both of which were set aside and loaded last. What then happened to them at AMS is of course anybody's guess. I also noted with interest that the loaders identified a bag which was apparently destined for another flight. The conveyor was equipped with a scanner and some sort of tablet, so they scanned the bags label and entered some data on the tablet before taking it with them.
Johan
Johan
Jan 18, 2018, 2:48 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: UK/FR
Programs: FlyingBlue Platinum, Hertz PC
Posts: 886
Miracle in BHX on earlier this week. As I had given up all hopes of any improvement and was waiting for the bags seated, I saw some yellow/green tagged bags coming out first along with the crew bags!
Jan 20, 2018, 6:00 am
#28
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Seoul, Korea
Programs: KL-PEFL
Posts: 51
(And in 40 years of frequent flying I gotta say it's rare, perhaps 3 times)
Jan 20, 2018, 6:14 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,036
As long as it doesn't take too long.
I've had it happened once so far, after a delay connection was very short. Since I was doing the last part of the route overland, there was actually a chance the bag would still overtake me!
It didn't, but it was still delivered the next day.
I've had it happened once so far, after a delay connection was very short. Since I was doing the last part of the route overland, there was actually a chance the bag would still overtake me!
It didn't, but it was still delivered the next day.
Jan 22, 2018, 7:36 pm
#30
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My last KLM flight with a checked bag was AMS-JFK on October 30 and my bag came out very late in the delivery process. A few Priority tagged bags would come out and then a spurt of non tagged bags, then priority bags etc. I ended up waiting almost 20 minutes from the start of bags being delivered to get my bag.