FWIW - Priority Tags
 

I mentioned this to the 'baggage drop' lady. I asked her to specifically not put any extra tags on the bags.

The reply was interesting....The bar code on the main bag tag shows that you are a premium passenger and the bag goes into the appropriate container without recourse to any extra tags.

Then the problems start - they're having to re-educate the loaders, both at LHR but more especially at outstations - to load the premium container last and not first. This so that it comes off first and not last...not exactly rocket science, but the loaders are ensuring that your bag gets loaded by putting it on first.

Of course this gives rise to problems at the destination carousel........

Sygyzy

Sorry, but that theory lacks some credibility. Worldwide, aircraft loaders do not just shove containers in, wherever they like. The ULDs (containers & pallets) are loaded into their pre-allocated specific bays according to the actual unit idents., as instructed by Flight Despatch and as shown on the Load Plan. That will take detailed account of the priorities for unloading baggage, plus cargo and mail, whilst considering any transit containers, which, on a multi-sector flight, should remain onboard at the next stop. The Load Plan will also include the separate loading locations of premium bags and cattle-class!

In other words, from the LDM message sent when the aircraft departs, the next station's unloading staff will know the unit number, loaded location and also the contents of all ULDs (or non-ULD 'bulk' compartments). There's no question of "re-educating the loaders" at out-stations, it's a worldwide accepted standard, and that has always been the case.

Admittedly, loading mistakes might sometimes occur, but if that happens with any frequency, the guilty station will soon feel the wrath of managers, and with the accompanying threats of re-training or "re-assignment"!

Not really interesting, everyone knows the brightly coloured extra tags are simply known as "vanity tags" for that very reason. They serve absolutely no purpose other than to inflate the ego of the traveller.

Like belt buckles

What I suspect BA don't do is to expedite that first 'priority' container from the aircraft to the terminal. They may end up as first in the train depending on the unloader.

Some airlines, such as Swiss, do exactly that. First container, clearly labeled 'Priority, taken off and sent to the terminal as the others are being unloaded. I've also seen them do a manual sort when unloading bulk (Jumbolino) baggage at Zürich. In this case a vanity tag would be worthwhile.

What is this rather novel idea that any airline anywhere cares one tiny jot about any of its customers, whatever they have paid??

Such a novel idea.

It will never catch on.

Well, AO, it just takes one EU Eurocrat, or their family members, to be inconvenienced for a whole slew of regulations to be enacted.

Urban Myth has it that Regulation 261 came about because SABENA denied boarding*, twice in two weeks, to the spouse of an European Commissioner.

Hell hath no fury like a Commissioner's spouse scorned.

*Apparently in both cases they arrived at the gate after the doors were closed.