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Bravo Alaska Airlines - bag not on the belt in 25 minutes? $25 off your next flight!
It doesn't matter how much of an experienced traveler you are - if you checked a bag, you are at the mercy of someone in the basement of the airport to get your bag. I've had my bags tagged "priority", and still spent 2 hours waiting for them to appear on the carousel.
Alaska Airlines understands our frustration, and is introducing a "Baggage Service Guarantee" which will go into effect on July 7th.
Their guarantee is simple - if you wait more than 25 minutes for your bags to reach you, you'll get $25 off your next flight, or 2500 frequent flier miles.
Of course, their timing is a little suspicious, because they just announced that they'll be joining the ranks of other airlines that charge for all checked baggage. Your first bag will cost $15, the second $25 and the third $50. This probably means people will secretly be hoping for their bags to take their time, so they can make some of that money back.
Filed under: Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Debbie Dubrow Apr 29th 2009 5:05PM
This seems like a generous offer, but having waited at the baggage office to report lost bags, I wonder how much extra time it takes to get that $25!
B. Apr 29th 2009 7:56PM
As a regular Alaska passenger, I'm curious to see how this actually works. This program may sound good on paper and in a press release, but given "Effective July 7th, if your baggage is not at the baggage claim within 25 minutes of your plane parking at the gate ...":
1. Will Alaska be starting a clock or otherwise measuring exactly when each individual plane parks, then marking precisely when the first bag off that flight pops out at baggage claim? Will that clock or timing be otherwise verified and/or available to customers?
2. Does "at baggage claim" mean bags off the plane but still behind the wall with the handlers, or bags actually on the conveyor belt for customers to pick up?
3. What if half a flight's bags arrive at baggage claim at 24 minutes after parking, and the other half at 26 minutes? How will Alaska tell what bags/customers get the certificate or miles?
Related to Debbie's comment, I also don't like that consumers have to track down a "Alaska or Horizon Customer Service Agent and let them know."
4. Does this mean if your bag takes longer than 25 minutes -- and you're therefore delayed -- you then have to waste even more time by standing in line to claim your certificate or bonus miles toward a future Alaska flight? I sincerely doubt customers in a hurry will take the time to do that.
Now if they have a customer service agent standing at the ready by each baggage carousel, who is marking the time and ready to hand out either certificates or take down mileage plan numbers, then ye gods, I'd stand corrected and be beside myself with joy.
But if not, it just means that we'll look at Southwest the next time we need to fly and check a bag, instead of automatically going with Alaska.