Why is UA's baggage system so poor?
Mar 2, 2013, 9:03 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: IAH TX USA
Programs: AA PLT LT & 2MM, HH D, MAR PLT EL LT
Posts: 484
I sure hope I don't have to wait as long as the previous poster, as I have another outbound trip and need the luggage and some of the content.
However in 3 trips this year, I have had bags misconnected or just plain wrong 2 out of 3 trips. That is appalling.
The last misflight, they would not even deliver the luggage. I had to pay for a cab to go to the airport to get it. I had to expense items to cover the 3 days it took them to deliver my bag. I expensed the cab fare too.
Now I returning from a trip. I check in 2.5 hours prior to the flight, for a direct flight. 2 bags. 1 makes it, albeit last off the belt. (So not sure what the priority tag purpose is in IAD.) Second bag, nowhere. Of course this is after waiting 45 minutes for bags to unload. They sent to bag to EWR instead of IAH. Why when there is another flight to IAH following the flight that I had. So Why again why EWR.
At a 66% snafu rate this year, that is appalling.
However in 3 trips this year, I have had bags misconnected or just plain wrong 2 out of 3 trips. That is appalling.
The last misflight, they would not even deliver the luggage. I had to pay for a cab to go to the airport to get it. I had to expense items to cover the 3 days it took them to deliver my bag. I expensed the cab fare too.
Now I returning from a trip. I check in 2.5 hours prior to the flight, for a direct flight. 2 bags. 1 makes it, albeit last off the belt. (So not sure what the priority tag purpose is in IAD.) Second bag, nowhere. Of course this is after waiting 45 minutes for bags to unload. They sent to bag to EWR instead of IAH. Why when there is another flight to IAH following the flight that I had. So Why again why EWR.
At a 66% snafu rate this year, that is appalling.
Mar 2, 2013, 9:25 pm
#34
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,645
I sure hope I don't have to wait as long as the previous poster, as I have another outbound trip and need the luggage and some of the content.
However in 3 trips this year, I have had bags misconnected or just plain wrong 2 out of 3 trips. That is appalling.
The last misflight, they would not even deliver the luggage. I had to pay for a cab to go to the airport to get it. I had to expense items to cover the 3 days it took them to deliver my bag. I expensed the cab fare too.
Now I returning from a trip. I check in 2.5 hours prior to the flight, for a direct flight. 2 bags. 1 makes it, albeit last off the belt. (So not sure what the priority tag purpose is in IAD.) Second bag, nowhere. Of course this is after waiting 45 minutes for bags to unload. They sent to bag to EWR instead of IAH. Why when there is another flight to IAH following the flight that I had. So Why again why EWR.
At a 66% snafu rate this year, that is appalling.
However in 3 trips this year, I have had bags misconnected or just plain wrong 2 out of 3 trips. That is appalling.
The last misflight, they would not even deliver the luggage. I had to pay for a cab to go to the airport to get it. I had to expense items to cover the 3 days it took them to deliver my bag. I expensed the cab fare too.
Now I returning from a trip. I check in 2.5 hours prior to the flight, for a direct flight. 2 bags. 1 makes it, albeit last off the belt. (So not sure what the priority tag purpose is in IAD.) Second bag, nowhere. Of course this is after waiting 45 minutes for bags to unload. They sent to bag to EWR instead of IAH. Why when there is another flight to IAH following the flight that I had. So Why again why EWR.
At a 66% snafu rate this year, that is appalling.
Mar 2, 2013, 9:37 pm
#35
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: IAH TX USA
Programs: AA PLT LT & 2MM, HH D, MAR PLT EL LT
Posts: 484
2nd trip today, CUN - IAN
Mar 17, 2013, 7:17 pm
#38
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA lifetime gold; Hilton Gold; Marriott/SPG Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,954
I am not one to apologize for United's many mistakes but could this be a baggage staff issue and not a United problem?
Many of these services are contracted and unionized which may mean that United has little/no say in how things are done.
Many of these services are contracted and unionized which may mean that United has little/no say in how things are done.
Mar 17, 2013, 8:04 pm
#41
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Southern California, GVA, SIN, LHR, BRU, CDG
Programs: UA LT GS 4.12MM (4.08MM BIS), AA EXP 1.86MM ,DL DM 1.1MM, HH LT Diamond, SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,182
Mar 17, 2013, 8:32 pm
#42
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: MileagePlus
Posts: 190
Well that is what happens when you have unions sadly. My buddy did baggage work once and he said its a joke of how lazy those people are. The thing is that the airlines don't care because the customer accepts it. I was in IAD and my bag was late 2.5 hours, I complained to United and they shrugged it off and gave me 5,000 points for my issues. In Japan my bag got misplaced and those girls were RUNNING to find it...yeah if I ever get out of the Navy I will find a job working in Japan...helluva better here.
Mar 17, 2013, 8:58 pm
#43
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Izamal, Yucatan
Programs: Previously 5 year AS Gold 75, UA MM Lifetime Gold
Posts: 787
I've transferred international->domestic many, many times at IAH (and EWR, FWIW) and my bags have *always* gone onto a conveyor belt. There is no way I would leave them out on the floor and hope for the best.
What you've described above doesn't sound like the normal operation at IAH at all. I'm sure others can confirm based on their experience.
What you've described above doesn't sound like the normal operation at IAH at all. I'm sure others can confirm based on their experience.
Last edited by J.Edward; Mar 18, 2013 at 2:22 am Reason: moderate
Mar 17, 2013, 9:40 pm
#44
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Mar 17, 2013, 11:29 pm
#45
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 362
Just to return back to the OP's original comment...
I had a recent delayed bag issue and the thing that drove me the most crazy was the website's continual "tracing continues" notice all day long... it only updated once I actually had received my bags. What's the point? Fix that and you'll get a lot more calm customers who know where their bag is and when to expect it...
btw - for 1K members, the "1K baggage desk" was fantastic and was able to provide a lot more information than on the website... but why not just put it on the website for everyone?!
I had a recent delayed bag issue and the thing that drove me the most crazy was the website's continual "tracing continues" notice all day long... it only updated once I actually had received my bags. What's the point? Fix that and you'll get a lot more calm customers who know where their bag is and when to expect it...
btw - for 1K members, the "1K baggage desk" was fantastic and was able to provide a lot more information than on the website... but why not just put it on the website for everyone?!
