FWIW, that statistic only means something if you have a comparison against how often your bags showed up when they weren't tagged priority. It could just be when you typically checkin, etc, etc.

For the first time ever, after ORD-PHX flite, they actually started up a second carousel for the "priority" bags. Only 3 came out, and the other 285 bags were overflowing on the unusually small, "non-priority" carousel.

Those 3 bags circled for 30 minutes, seemingly mocking me with every revolution. Funny thing, this was the first time I can remember my bags weren't priority.

Just flew to SFO and our 4 priority tagged baggages came out in the first 10 pieces of luggage. Last one to baggage claim (infants :)), first one out ^^^... Maybe the new service commitment thing is working ;)

Wow indeed. I've had a few good priority tag experiences around the country, but NEVER in LA. I usually find my home airport to be absolutely dismal in this regard. ^ to the change!

Yesterday I was flying RDU-IAD-SEA along with a friend of mine on the same PNR. At RDU we checked in using the Elite line (I'm a 1P, my friend has no status). The TA placed a priority tag on my bag and refused to put one on either of my friends two checked pieces of luggage "because he's not an elite flyer". OK, what ever ... off to security we go.

We land at SEA and wait for the bags to start circling on the conveyor belt. And wait. And wait. 45 minutes late (no joke), the first bags from our flight start showing up; none of the had pirority tags. Both of my friends luggage w/o the priority tags showed up 5 minutes before mine! (No joke, seriously ... five minutes longer, for a total wait time of 50 minutes to get our checked bags from the time we left the plane; not from the time we "landed".)

So my questions are: Why does UA bother to put those tags on luggage if it means absolutely nothing? And what is the proper method for complaining about the way too long of a wait for claiming baggage at SEA? (This is the second trip in as many where my luggage took at least 45 minutes to show up.)

Same experience here, pretty much. "Priority" tag seems to mean nothing, and baggage has been taking 30-40 minutes on average. (One exception: MHT-IAD last Friday night; bags got to baggage claim before I did!)

IIRC, the priority tag ALSO would indicate which bags NOT to offload for a weight/balance issue.

I was sitting in 3A the other day in a 757 in Denver and watching them load the bags; the belt loader was parked pretty much under me.

The tug pulled up with several cars of bags. The first cars had regular luggage, the last car contained only luggage with priority tags. So, they priority were loaded last. Now, what happens when the plane arrives, I have no idea... :)

Unless it is Skywest at DEN, LAX, or SFO. Then it works the opposite. On one occasion they treated my bag with such priority on a flight from FAT that they were in so much a hurry to get it to the carosel at DEN they forgot that it was supposed to go onto a connecting flight.

That is the story of my life with UA the past two years. So much so that when I do check bags I ask them kindly not to put the tag on. The reason being I feel this does nothing to make my bags come faster and is a waste of paper since the luggage tags already have the 'P' symbol on them and baggage/ramp people will now the bag is priority when scanned.

You think 45 mins is long. Try waiting a whopping 1 hour and 15 mins for your bags at PVD on the last flight from ORD on 7/10 and 8/23. Sometimes, I honestly just leave and pick up my bag the next day. :mad:

Really one should try never to check bags. I feel sorry for people that do and I feel their pain. :(

I have had a tagged bag left behind.

I am noticing a bit more attention to this in the US (early on the three flights last week when I checked baggage... not including the one for which it was left behind).

After dismal results, I've had the same recent experience - this past weekend, my wife and I had our priority tagged baggage come down the belt among the first ten bags both outbound and on the return. I was stunned...

There are just sometimes when you simply cannot avoid checking bags. Short trips I do carry-on only; more than 4 days, however, and i's likely a bag needs to be checked.

Sorry to hear about your 75 minute wait. That sucks. :(

I've got a feeling a nicely worded letter to United is in the works. I've got a couple more trips booked for this year where I need to check some bags... gah!

Something has happened where baggage delivery at SEA has gone way downhill the last couple months. I rarely use it but when I have recently everyone was saying it all of a sudden got really bad. It used to be great, where you could come up from the train from N and the bags were starting to come out, priority first. I would pick it up and walk out. No longer.... new contractors??? Anyone know whats going on?

At IAD I have recently have had very good luck with priority tags as some others have as well.

My experience with SEA is that it has always been horrid. When I go to SEA and have to check a bag, I usually go to the RCC to use the lav, wait a couple of minutes for the train to arrive, and the bags have still not come out.

Really odd...as the GSCs in SEA are some of UA's best, but the baggage system there is among the worst.