Many TPGers solely journey with carry-on luggage and refuse to verify baggage. However for longer journeys, it is typically arduous to keep away from checking a bag. (So far as I am involved, it is principally why Apple AirTags have been invented.)
Airways have vastly improved their expertise, so you possibly can observe your checked bag’s progress throughout journey and obtain alerts about what baggage carousel it’ll land at. Nevertheless, you probably have just lately checked a bag, you might have observed an odd pattern: The listed carousel quantity is commonly improper.
So when does this change into an precise situation and never simply an inconvenience? This is what you’ll want to know.
What is going on on with baggage carousels?
Should you’ve performed this sport of “baggage roulette,” you in all probability waited for what felt like an extremely lengthy (like a nail-biting, is-my-bag-ever-going-to-appear lengthy) time, solely to search out your bag circling on an infinite loop on one other carousel. You aren’t alone, although.
In a short TPG Lounge ballot on Fb, we recognized 16 airports the place readers just lately had this expertise. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL), Ronal Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport (DCA) and Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport (PHX) all appeared as repeat offenders.
“This simply occurred final Tuesday at EWR. The announcement, app and the carousel signal have been incorrect,” one TPG Lounge member instructed us. As somebody who flies out of Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) manner too usually, I can add that this has occurred to me just lately, too; United Airways lastly obtained my bag to me after a prolonged 45-minute delay.
One other TPG Lounge member who works at an airline gave us this inside bit of data: “As an airline worker in Denver, we often ship up the bags on the introduced and posted carousel. Now and again we’ve got to make use of a special one proper subsequent door. The explanation often is as a result of one other airline is obstructing the place we drop-off the luggage.”
Whereas this is smart, the frequency with which we have been seeing this discrepancy makes us surprise if there’s some method to get compensated for our time (and our agita once we’re observing an empty carousel).
Associated: Misplaced vs. delayed baggage: How are they completely different and the way do you shield your self?
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Do airways supply bag ensures?
The reply is, effectively, typically. Within the case of two airways, you may be rewarded for standing on the proper carousel when your luggage do not present up — should you’ve been ready lengthy sufficient.
Each Delta Air Traces and Alaska Airways supply a assure so that you can be reunited together with your baggage. In case your luggage usually are not on the carousel inside 20 minutes of your flight arrival time, you will be entitled to 2,500 miles in compensation. (Alaska additionally gives the choice of a $25 low cost code to be used on future Alaska flights; nonetheless, since Alaska miles are price 1.45 cents every in accordance with TPG’s January 2025 valuations, you would be significantly better off taking the two,500 miles, that are presently price $36.25.)
When you’re ready in your bag, set a stopwatch. When you hit 20 minutes, you possibly can proceed to say your miles.
For Delta, you possibly can submit the declare on-line — simply have your journey particulars, together with your affirmation quantity, available. The app will affirm that you just have been ready previous the 20-minute promised time. Then, go to the declare submission web page, enter your info inside three days of your flight’s arrival and click on “Submit.” If permitted, the bonus miles may take as much as two weeks to put up. (Notice that there are some fine-print guidelines.)
The method is completely different for Alaska. There is no on-line submission choice, so you have to converse to an Alaska baggage agent on the airport inside two hours of your flight’s arrival to submit a declare. Should you suppose you are eligible, be sure you do not go away the airport earlier than talking to somebody. As I discussed earlier, you are additionally not obligated to pick the miles — a $25 nontransferable voucher (redeemable on the airline’s web site) can also be an choice. Should you do choose the miles, although, they need to put up inside three days. You possibly can view the full phrases on-line.
Backside line
Checked luggage are a booming income stream for airways — U.S.-based carriers collected nearly $33 billion in charges in 2023 alone. However, as many people uncover the arduous manner, a checked bag does not at all times find yourself the place it is presupposed to be. Though having a suitcase waylaid to a different carousel is extra irritating than trip-ruining, it might probably nonetheless be a aggravating and time-consuming occasion.
Should you’re flying Delta or Alaska and your luggage go to a special carousel than they’re presupposed to, you might be able to obtain compensation (in the event that they take greater than 20 minutes to reach). This coverage is nice for vacationers, and it is a severe incentive to verify your bag (particularly if you are able to do so free of charge). Moreover, having a transparent time constraint like this makes it simpler for airline staff to supply top-rate service and hopefully get your bag to the right carousel earlier than you change into crazy.
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