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Mail: This may explain Qantas baggage handling issues

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Qantas has come under fire for outsourcing its baggage handling services during the pandemic. Photo: Phil Carrick JOYCE CHOICE Traveling recently in the evening on Virgin Australia’s very late and delayed arrival from Melbourne, I ran into several baggage handlers on the shuttle bus to the parking lot which may have explained one reason for the baggage issue. All had worked for Qantas and lost their jobs. All rehired by [the aviation services company] Swissport after a period of no work, although some accepted Jobkeepers. They have nothing good to say about unfaithfulness and lost benefits and more. Has Alan Joyce plucked his golden goose? Paul Gerrard, Kellyville, NSW SELLING HARD If Qantas is to step up its game, it has to stop whipping wine, insurance, health care and who knows what else and focus solely on its air travel business. John Swanton, Coogee, NSW THIS WEEK’S LETTER GO IN 60 SECONDS Sue Williams article “the art of deceiving a con man” ( Traveler July 9 )

Travelers track their own bags for lost and delayed baggage all over the world

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Katherine Scott and Tim Biggs Hundreds of bags were delayed at Hamburg Airport last month. A global shortage of baggage handlers has resulted in a spike in the number of delayed or lost baggage. Photo: Getty Images Lost and delayed baggage continues to plague the airline industry amid soaring travel demand and a widespread shortage of baggage handlers. Several airlines have taken extreme steps to contain the crisis, with US carrier Delta Air Lines this week flying with delayed baggage, and no passengers, from London to Detroit. Icelandair, meanwhile, puts its own baggage handlers on flights to Amsterdam to ensure baggage is dropped off at the city’s overwhelmed Schiphol Airport. Amid horror stories about lost and delayed bags, travelers are turning to baggage tracking devices to try and make sure they can find their belongings, even if airlines can’t find them. Shane Miller used Apple AirTag to find his own delayed bag at Melbourne Airport, after waiting a week t