Virgin Australia launches a new baggage locating app for flyers

Like many people I am travelling with hand luggage only when if I fly, if at all possible.

Some bad experiences during the chaos of Covid have made me - and millions of others - wary of checking their baggage lest it comes lost, or is delayed.

To aleviate such fears, Virgin Australia has launched Australia's first-ever airline baggage tracking tool across more than two-thirds of its domestic network.

Following a successful pilot of the program in May, most guests will be able to track the status of their checked baggage via the Virgin Australia app.

The announcement follows Virgin Australia’s investment of more than $400 million in digital innovation, technology and customer experience initiatives.

The tracking tool will be available on most domestic routes between major airports, including Sydney-Melbourne, Brisbane-Sydney, Melbourne-Gold Coast, Melbourne-Hobart, Adelaide-Melbourne, Sydney-Sunshine Coast, and more.

The airline’s remaining domestic network, including select services departing Perth, are expected to feature the tracking tool soon.

To access the tool, flyers must download the Virgin Australia app and enable push notifications via the app setting. Once enabled, a series of push notifications will be sent to the guest’s phone throughout the journey, reflecting the bag being checked-in, transferred to an international partner airline, or available for collection at the final destination. The tool will also advise the guest which carousel the baggage is available for collection from.

Virgin Australia Group Chief Customer and Digital Officer, Paul Jones, said: “It’s our mission to be Australia’s most-loved airline and that means we need to listen to our customers to ensure we are offering the services that are most important to them.

“We know the potential of lost baggage is a concern for travellers globally and anticipate today’s announcement will give many guests that extra level of comfort knowing where their bag is at every step of the journey."

Expect delays as Melbourne Airport starts baggage upgrade

Another reason for Australian flyers to travel with hand luggage only when possible.

Work has just started on a new state-of-the art baggage processing system at Melbourne Airport.

The new $500 million system will deliver on federal requirements for upgrades and replace the current system of conveyer belts in the international terminal.

Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer Lorie Argus said the new system would help reduce the number of lost and mishandled bags.

“Once the new system is operational, we will be able to track every bag at every moment of the journey from check-in to the aircraft,” she said.

“Bags will be stored in a central holding area before being automatically sent to their flight so we will be able to accept them for check-in much earlier."

That, of course presumes that airlines will open their check-in counters earlier.

Which, of course, would cost more money. So I don't think so.

In the meantime, delays can be expected. 

"Our team will work hard to minimise disruption, but this will be a challenging project because our baggage system is effectively the terminal arteries, so it is a bit like doing open heart surgery while running a marathon," said Argus.

The project is due for completion in 2027 and is part of a larger program of works to boost overall passenger capacity.

One of the worst mistakes you can make when travelling

It may be one the mortal sins for a traveller - but it is one I managed to commit earlier this year. 

Even those who have been travelling for decades need an occasional reminder to be vigilant, so here goes. 

Do not pack your drugs, or any medicine you might need on the road, in your checked-in baggage.

In a moment of madness I packed my blood pressure medication in my suitcase before a recent trip to Canada. 

Regular readers will be aware that Air Canada lost my luggage - and that I was without it for a week before being reunited just before leaving the country. 

No problem, I thought. I'll just get my doctor to send my prescription by email and I'll be fine. 

Except Canadian pharmacies are not allowed to accept overseas scripts. So no go there.

Next solution: get an appointment with a local doctor. 

Easier said than done. Covid was still rampant and you needed to make an appointment a week in advance to see a doctor. 

There were a couple of public clinics, but these had long lines and were populated by some seriously unhealthy people coughing and snotting, while many of the patients looked like they were waiting to pick up their methadone.  

My sister came to the rescue. Her family has an online membership to an auto club that allows access to an online medical service. 

They issued a prescription with minimal fuss. Disaster averted. 

In some countries, like Thailand, you can get any drugs you like without a prescription. Others make it hard - and expensive. 

So remember to take your drugs in your carry-on luggage - and take a prescription with you as back up.  

# My journalist colleague Dennis Passa adds another very useful suggestion. 

If you are travelling for a long period of time, or with lots of drugs in your possession, ask your doctor for a covering letter. That way there will be no issues should you be searched at border crossings.

Image: Anastasiia Rybalko, Scopio.