"Priority" luggage tags
 

If you're a Premier member (I am a Premier Exec), should the ticket agent always mark your checked baggage with the little "PRIORITY" flag, even when traveling in coach?

I've had the bags marked at times, but more often I get nothing, even if I'm flying in upgraded first class. There seems to be no method to the madness. It's like the ticket jackets: sometimes I get a nice gold or silver one, and other times a flimsy blue one, even if I'm in first.

And does the little baggage flag really make a difference? I've had my bag marked first class only to grow a few gray hairs waiting for it to arrive at the carousel.

Just wondering what everyone else thinks ...

I *think* for 1P and 1K they should always attach priority tags (2P also possibly), probably 1 out of 3 times i have to ask for it though.

as for baggage claim, it really depends on the # of premiers on board, i mean if there are 100 premiers on board (it happens) and everyone got their priority tag, then it might take a while.

Flew last month PIT IAD GRU......agent at PIT affixed the orange priority tag to my suitcase (since I'm a new Prem Exec) so that I'd be sure to get it.

I saw my suitcase on the tarmac at IAD as I got off of the plane and assumed that the connection would be made.......

The next morning at baggage claim in GRU, I had no suitcase.....the only person from a 80% full 767 with such bad luck.

The agent checked the digital trail for my bag and found that it went from IAD to SEA!!

Two days later my suitcase arrived at my hotel in the little town that I was staying in Brazil.

On my next trip to GRU, I think I'm going to aske them to leave the priority tag OFF of my bag!!!! It sure didn't help me on this trip.

SCOOP1P welcome to Flyertalk.
This topic comes up from time to time. You might find these threads interesting to read.
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There are other discussions on this topic. Just do a search for "priority tag".

Personally, I no longer ask the ticket agent to put a Priority sticker on my bag. It doesn't seem to make any difference on domestic flights, and only sometimes matters on international flights.

(edited to correct link)

[This message has been edited by Flexible Flyer (edited 02-17-2003).]

Wow someone droped the ball BIG TIME not only did you not get your bag but it looks like it was boarder on a flight without the PAX(they might have caught it before it went on the flight to SEA and didn't take it out of the bag scanner). What time did your flight from PIT get into IAD?

[This message has been edited by Jacque (edited 02-17-2003).]

Don't answer this unless you want to be threatened with libel! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I arrived in IAD at 4PM, departed for GRU at 9:30PM....all on time. Should have been plenty of time to transfer my suitcase.

Yes, I hadn't thought about the fact that my bag went to SEA unaccompanied, without the passenger......if the security system was working, they'd have discovered the error before we left IAD!

For the most part, Priority baggage tags seem to be a more pervasive joke than the token "knock-knock" riddle. Sometimes they help--but in my experience, such tagged bags get the same treatment as a "naked" bag.

As far as the rules, like any institution at UA, it depends who you talk to. I've had bags tagged (as either a 1P or 2P) with some segments in F or C; other times, if I wasn't traveling an entire journey in F or C, the CSR would find the Y segment and rationalize his/her refusal to attach priority tags.

The best baggage service I've found thus far...carry-on! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by UNITED959 (edited 02-17-2003).]

Sounds right, Bag boarded 917 IAD-SEA, arr SEA at 19:55, bag boarded 224 back to Dulles SEA-IAD arr 06:00 next day and is boarded 861 IAD-GRU and get in 09:25 the second day.

Bags can still travel w/o PAX if they are screened by TSA and now all bags are screened by TSA.

I think I reported my experience in early January when the check-in agent at LAX ignored me as she sent two bags on the belt and after I withheld the third bag to get her attention, she placed a Priority tag on the third and gave me a look. Yes, the third came out long before the others in MEL. I complained to the 1K desk and they confirmed that even award travel qualified for Priority tags because it had been earned.

The tags work pretty good with SQ and LH.

The bags are tagged priority according to the class of service and whether you are Star Gold or not.

Premiers flying coach don't usually get tags.

Premier Executive and 1Ks get tags regardless of class of service due to being Star Gold.

First/business passengers get tags.

Whether the tags work or not depends on the arrival location. They work better on international flights (Someone mention they store priority bags in a special hold on widebodies).

SFO domestic seems to systematically ignore priority tags. I've had good experiences at SFO international but I do think LAX international is better.

Since the priority tags don't work anyway, why doesn't United get rid of them as a cost-cutting measure that no one would mind?

I was trained to affix a Priority Tag for FC and Biz class on all Intl. bags. A FC tag on all domestic FC bags.
I was also told; blue ticket folder for all Y customers; silver for 2-cabin FC and for 3 cabin business class. Gold is reserved for FC 3 cabin use.

I'm sorry every csr isn't following the protocol, but not as sorry as I am that once the bags pass beyond my physical control that nobody else seems to give a hoot about bag tags.

Fortunately or unfortunately, they don't distinguish any bag tag or flag from any other when a bag is mishandled. It's just a screw up when it happens. It isn't intentional.
So- tagged, flagged,naked or any other way- your bag has the same chance of reaching your destination with you as any other bag for the most part. Some other csr's were trained like I was and recognize the differences.

Do FC and B PAX at LHR and CDG still pick up there bags at a different area then Y PAXs ?