Regional Qantas passengers say the airline is neglecting its country customers after luggage was left behind on two flights in one week.

Key points: Qantas apologised to the passengers who were left without luggage for days

Qantas apologised to the passengers who were left without luggage for days Qantas flew the luggage to Emerald, then hired a minibus to drive the bags to Longreach

Qantas flew the luggage to Emerald, then hired a minibus to drive the bags to Longreach Barcaldine Mayor Rob Chandler said locals were fed up with the service

Qantas apologised to dozens of passengers on its flights to Longreach in central-west Queensland this week who were left without their luggage for days.

The airline said it was not a common occurrence with a total of four Brisbane-Longreach flights removing bags since the beginning of the year — two of which only had some of the bags removed.

Passengers on the flights were told when they landed in the outback town that their luggage had not been loaded on their aircraft.

Jodie Harris flew to Longreach on Tuesday, and was angry about the way Qantas had communicated with passengers.

"We've had no contact from Qantas, no-one has called to tell us what is happening with the bags — it's ridiculous," Ms Harris said.

She had medication in her checked-in luggage, and was worried about having to skip taking it while she waited for her bags to be returned to her.

Ms Harris also said she had to buy new supplies such as underwear and a colleague was forced to buy new clothes and technical equipment.

"$175 he's up to since Monday — he's got no chargers or anything for his mobile phones and laptop," she said.

Ms Harris said she knew of three times luggage had been left behind on Qantas flights to Longreach.

"Sydney or Melbourne or somewhere like that — I don't think they'd be so quick to take bags off and have people go without," she said.

Jodie Harris said she was angry about the way Qantas had communicated with passengers. ( ABC News: Julie Hornsey )

Jo Smethurst said her return flight cost her $1,000 and she was appalled her luggage was left behind.

"At Country Target, I think I was one of a series of people in there, buying undies and a top as well, so I think Country Target has done quite nicely." Ms Smethurst said.

"I think the chemist has done quite nicely too."

"I have no idea where my bag is — I am assuming it is here or in Brisbane, but I don't really know."

Jo Smethurst said she was appalled her luggage was left behind. ( ABC News: Julie Hornsey )

In a statement, Qantas apologised, saying "we understand our customers' frustrations, and appreciate their patience".

"Safety is our first priority and due to forecast storms on both days, the operating captains made the decision to take additional fuel in case a diversion was required — this meant bags needed to be offloaded," the statement said.

But Ms Smethurst said she was suspicious about the reason given by the airline.

"There was no thunderstorm here, and locals say there was no thunderstorms predicted, so that did make me think what is really going on," Ms Smethurst said.

'We're just expected to cop it'

Passengers were finally reunited the bags late yesterday, when Qantas flew the luggage to Emerald, then hired a minibus to drive the bags to Longreach.

Longreach local Pauline Brunckhorst said that was a ridiculous solution.

"It's unbelievable a whole planeload can come out and no luggage at all can come with that flight," Ms Brunckhorst said.

"I don't think the people in the city would tolerate this sort of thing if they're going between Brisbane and Sydney, but we're just expected to cop it and put up with it."

She said the service was unreliable and locals were frustrated by regular delays to their outgoing flights, which could take more than 24 hours to be rescheduled.

"Quite often it might hit a bird on landing or something and that plane is delayed and held over until the next day when an engineer can be flown out from Brisbane to fix it," she said.

Barcaldine Mayor Rob Chandler said locals were fed up with the service. ( ABC News: Julie Hornsey )

Barcaldine Mayor Rob Chandler, who is also the head of the Remote Area Planning and Development Board, said locals were fed up with the service.

"It's pretty ordinary when you haven't got your luggage when you get off the airplane — it wouldn't happen in too many places in the world," Cr Chandler said.

ABC News staff were on one of the flights and were also impacted by the baggage issue.