Priority baggage
 

Realised that priority baggage tags are seldom placed by airlines on OW Emerald and Sapphire's members. Any reason why? It doesnt cost the airline any extra money to tag the baggage, so why does OW not tag each other's bags like Star aLLIANCE?

As you know, priority baggage is never part of OW benefits. It is airline-dependent.

On the other hand, I hope that can be added to become a standard OW benefit.

Yep.

I don't know... I remember reading reports, some time ago, about US handlers targeting priority labeled baggage for deliberate mischief. I have no idea if the reports are true or fantasy but since then I have never been too keen on getting the privilege. From a strictly personal, empirical view, I can't say that I'm very impressed with the order of arrival of such baggage at the carousel.

There are two reasons:
* If the handlers are good, they will handle the priority luggage more carefully. If the handlers are targeting priority labeled baggage for mischief, I rather like it not priority-tagged.
* I would just like to get through customs sooner instead of waiting behind a long line, esp in case of a connection.

The tags are just for show and have no impact on how fast your baggage arrives. The real priority tag is the bar code, which sorts the bag into the priority container (on international flights). All bags in the F luggage bin are unloaded first, for example, and most OW airlines use this system now. Some airports always deliver in priority sequence (e.g. HKG) and others are always haphazard (and the tags mean nothing). So don't fret about this, if the airline's computer system has recognized your priority status, your bag will be properly sorted. And if it has not, it doesn't matter how many priority tags an agent will put on the bag, it still won't go into the F container.

Perhaps it should be referred to priority handling, regardless of tagged.

BTW, not all equipment use containers. Some planes still require hand-loading of luggage.

Meaningless data point - yesterday at LHR T4 (CPT-LHR) I and a number of fellow upper-deck J pax were approximately the last people to get our (priority-tagged) bags at the carousel.

It is still meaningful - at least you get your bags.

That would be great, if implemented with enough enthusiasm. Priority luggage handling has been an official Star Alliance Gold benefit for years. Works great in Asia, occasionally in Europe, and almost never in North America. Bottomline is that it can be done but most airlines in Star don't really bother.

One data point in a sea of similar data is not meaningless; it reinforces the view that the current implementation of the 'benefit' is virtually useless or, as in your case, even worse.

And frankly, because I checked in 4 hrs before the flight, the tags possibly put my bag at greater risk of "inspection" by idle CPT ramp and bag handling folk. Nothing happened, nor have I had any negative experiences in prior trips through JNB or CPT. Perhaps the paranoids are after me.

Well, yes and no, thats not quite accurate. AA always tags me with priority for LHR, but never for South America, with no regard for class flown either. And in LHR, the bags are normally almost first of, and I only do J, not F. In BOG, my bags are normally the last ones of, just about every single time. Its mind blowing.
LAN on the other hand, always tags me with a nice blue and gold priority tag and they are very good in all airports I use them with to have my bags of in a flash. Actually, they are one of OW's better airlines IMHO.