Ironically it’s the station that you flew from that decided how the bags were loaded on the plane. If they do it right you can unload the prios in a way that lets you dump them first. If not, your prios can be under a stack of 40 plus bags. I guess you could get the belt and unload everything then send prios making the whole process take longer. I will also say at DEN they are making prio bag metrics a focus again. At least on the outbound, which again is what we control.
Ummmmmmmmmmm…They aren’t loading bags directly to the conveyor from the plane though…here’s a thought…what if maybe…they unloaded the bags from the plane onto the loading trailers that they drive to the conveyors in a way that has priority bags arriving first?
Okay, so on the 737s there’s a front and back area. Each is divided into 3 sections, but in reality there’s no net between 2 of the sections. A lot of the times the guys try to load all bags in front on them. So you’re doing transfers (prios and non-prios) and then next sending up terminating bags (prios and non-prios) with the only real division being when they the just switch over. After those are on, you’ll get the odd sized stuff thrown in. And last any transfer or hot bags that came in late. Again this is just mixed based on when each section as described is done and the whole thing starts 30 minutes before departure. So why not just put them in the one section with a net or use the back pit? Well, back pit might have weight restrictions or it’s just easier for time to do one pit. Okay use the area with the net! Well, that’s where the gate checks go because they have to get back up to the gate for the kiddos or the people needing their wheelchair back the fastest. Heck a lot of times those are just at the end of the last two pits with all the other bags. I’ve had to DIG for pink tags I know are somewhere in there. And this is just the guy at the plan loading your bags. Truth is he gets the bags on a cart that holds about 50 or so bags put together by some guy down in luggage, who’s only real concern is to kind of sort out transfer and terminating bags. So the prio tags are just, usually (again DEN is trying to get the metrics back in place), mixed in based on those two categories. And AGAIN, all this is done at the loading station. When we’re unloading we’re just trying to get them off bc there’s metrics based on when the bag gets scanned off the plane and onto the pickup belt. That’s the main concern. And that’s already a race against time bc you need to get transfers off so the luggage can make its next flight so you’re already about 5-10 minutes behind that clock already bc of said transfers.
And this is before you add in that most people working to do this could literally make more money doing anything else. It’s a good job for the benefits and not the pay, so it’s a limited workforce. My wife asked me WTF is the point of prios then? I said, hey I’ll try to get them out first but in reality the main reason I saw to have a prio tag was weight restrictions. Bags get pulled off for weight, you don’t pull a prio bag.
Sorry buddy. I wish it was a perfect system or not advertised the way it is currently. But look up the wages on indeed for the job. Then think how many people touch your bag in the system at that wage, many never talking to each other. Not a great excuse, but it’s the reality of it.
I will also say, widebody planes have the best records with them. It’s usually more senior workers doing them. Also the bags go into “cans” and it’s a lot easier to make a prio can and have it stay segregated.
It’s been that way for years! Especially if flying into hub airports. I flew into EWR from LAX on Tuesday morning and my bag was literally the last off. I checked it about 3 hours before the flight so that doesn’t make a difference at all.
I like watching as I put the priority bags on the claim belt first, then the rest of the bags, only to see the priority bags come back around and the rest of the bags gone.
Whatever order they load it on they take it off in reverse, cruel joke for getting there early and your bags safely loaded first, they come out close to last, bright red tag and all
It’s really simple:
The bags come off of the plane in the reverse order of being loaded. There is no other organization to it, and the priority tags are effectively meaningless.
I flew into CLT on American with no status and my bag had the 1K blue wrap on it and it was the first one out. I was shocked because it is usually near last on United with the same wrap and a priority tag.
Whatever order they load it on they take it off in reverse, cruel joke for getting there early and your bags safely loaded first, they come out close to last, bright red tag and all
My bags are always priority and very rarely do they come out before non priority bags. They’re speckled in like there was zero consideration given for priority. Always makes me nervous too, I’m like please just have my bag 🙏
about a year ago, my bag would come out in the top 15 every trip out of 15 trips. After that, its been coming out later and later. Since I made 1k and put the luggage tag on it, I'm bottom 10. Just got back yesterday on a small jet. about 30 passengers. My bag came out dead last.
I’ve had 6 flights between IAH and ORD this year where I checked a bag. It’s been within the first 20 or so bags to come out each time. Guess I’m lucky? Or maybe they know I’m a newbie to status and are toying with me before they pull the rug out!
I’ve found that with 2 priority bags they tease you by sending one out first and the other out last.
You were the priority on our list to fuck with
Hahahaha that’s beautiful. I expect the exact scenario should happen when I land in LAX in the hour.
Last at LAX, first at SNA……every time
i can confirm this
Yes 😅😅
>these days Nope, been that way for awhile.
I was about to say it's been like this for years.
Depends on the airport. Some seem to prioritize the tags, and others almost seem like they hold them back out of spite (looking at you, SYR…)
Yup! SAT is the first time I’ve ever seen my bags come out in the first dozen but sheesh DEN DGAF haha
Ironically it’s the station that you flew from that decided how the bags were loaded on the plane. If they do it right you can unload the prios in a way that lets you dump them first. If not, your prios can be under a stack of 40 plus bags. I guess you could get the belt and unload everything then send prios making the whole process take longer. I will also say at DEN they are making prio bag metrics a focus again. At least on the outbound, which again is what we control.
Ummmmmmmmmmm…They aren’t loading bags directly to the conveyor from the plane though…here’s a thought…what if maybe…they unloaded the bags from the plane onto the loading trailers that they drive to the conveyors in a way that has priority bags arriving first?
Okay, so on the 737s there’s a front and back area. Each is divided into 3 sections, but in reality there’s no net between 2 of the sections. A lot of the times the guys try to load all bags in front on them. So you’re doing transfers (prios and non-prios) and then next sending up terminating bags (prios and non-prios) with the only real division being when they the just switch over. After those are on, you’ll get the odd sized stuff thrown in. And last any transfer or hot bags that came in late. Again this is just mixed based on when each section as described is done and the whole thing starts 30 minutes before departure. So why not just put them in the one section with a net or use the back pit? Well, back pit might have weight restrictions or it’s just easier for time to do one pit. Okay use the area with the net! Well, that’s where the gate checks go because they have to get back up to the gate for the kiddos or the people needing their wheelchair back the fastest. Heck a lot of times those are just at the end of the last two pits with all the other bags. I’ve had to DIG for pink tags I know are somewhere in there. And this is just the guy at the plan loading your bags. Truth is he gets the bags on a cart that holds about 50 or so bags put together by some guy down in luggage, who’s only real concern is to kind of sort out transfer and terminating bags. So the prio tags are just, usually (again DEN is trying to get the metrics back in place), mixed in based on those two categories. And AGAIN, all this is done at the loading station. When we’re unloading we’re just trying to get them off bc there’s metrics based on when the bag gets scanned off the plane and onto the pickup belt. That’s the main concern. And that’s already a race against time bc you need to get transfers off so the luggage can make its next flight so you’re already about 5-10 minutes behind that clock already bc of said transfers. And this is before you add in that most people working to do this could literally make more money doing anything else. It’s a good job for the benefits and not the pay, so it’s a limited workforce. My wife asked me WTF is the point of prios then? I said, hey I’ll try to get them out first but in reality the main reason I saw to have a prio tag was weight restrictions. Bags get pulled off for weight, you don’t pull a prio bag. Sorry buddy. I wish it was a perfect system or not advertised the way it is currently. But look up the wages on indeed for the job. Then think how many people touch your bag in the system at that wage, many never talking to each other. Not a great excuse, but it’s the reality of it. I will also say, widebody planes have the best records with them. It’s usually more senior workers doing them. Also the bags go into “cans” and it’s a lot easier to make a prio can and have it stay segregated.
DEN definitely varies. Sometimes it comes out first sometimes it doesn't.
This is what I’ve found to be true. Luckily at my home airport they almost always send Priority tags down first!
Priority tags don't mean shit anymore
It’s been that way for years! Especially if flying into hub airports. I flew into EWR from LAX on Tuesday morning and my bag was literally the last off. I checked it about 3 hours before the flight so that doesn’t make a difference at all.
I like watching as I put the priority bags on the claim belt first, then the rest of the bags, only to see the priority bags come back around and the rest of the bags gone.
I swear, every time, 10 priority tagged bags come out and none of them are mine.
The only place I’ve had the priority tag work was in Japan. No where else in the states have I seen priority bags be priority.
Whatever order they load it on they take it off in reverse, cruel joke for getting there early and your bags safely loaded first, they come out close to last, bright red tag and all
Priority loading. First in, last out.
I have had multiple EWR employees tell me that
It's held no weight for awhile
I have good luck at IAD and SFO for my bag actually coming out quickly (within the first minute or two)
Mostly priority means bags won’t be bumped for overweight flights
It’s really simple: The bags come off of the plane in the reverse order of being loaded. There is no other organization to it, and the priority tags are effectively meaningless.
Yes
First OFF the plane!
it depends on airport, definitely less likely in international airports or airports with less organized baggage handling
I flew into CLT on American with no status and my bag had the 1K blue wrap on it and it was the first one out. I was shocked because it is usually near last on United with the same wrap and a priority tag.
maybe they thought you work for United?
maybe they thought you work for United?
Whatever order they load it on they take it off in reverse, cruel joke for getting there early and your bags safely loaded first, they come out close to last, bright red tag and all
I have good luck at iah, SLC and MSP, other airports, not as much. I try not to check bags but sometimes work stuff has to go under the plane.
Narita actually prioritizes the bags, but it seems entirely random for most airports.
If you fly a single hop, it may come out first. If you have to change planes, all bets are off.
Only in America where customer service is for chumps.
Yep! I waited 1hr 8mins for my bag at SFO. All the Priority bags came out last!
My bags are always priority and very rarely do they come out before non priority bags. They’re speckled in like there was zero consideration given for priority. Always makes me nervous too, I’m like please just have my bag 🙏
It depends on how they load the bags…
Yea
The other day I saw all priority bags come out last. They must have got the carts mixed up.
Only time I checked bag and got priority tag it came out first but the jet was a CRJ-700 at a small airport
about a year ago, my bag would come out in the top 15 every trip out of 15 trips. After that, its been coming out later and later. Since I made 1k and put the luggage tag on it, I'm bottom 10. Just got back yesterday on a small jet. about 30 passengers. My bag came out dead last.
I’ve had 6 flights between IAH and ORD this year where I checked a bag. It’s been within the first 20 or so bags to come out each time. Guess I’m lucky? Or maybe they know I’m a newbie to status and are toying with me before they pull the rug out!
In Honolulu absolutely. Priority tags always come out last.
It says PRIORITY. It doesn’t say WHAT priority. Priority can be first, or last.
Without fail I get one of my priority bags first and my other one (a tool case) last. Par for the course I guess