Loss Or Theft Of Airport Luggage

[Guest rohale]

For those people who travel across the country or worldwide, I think we've all known someone who have had his or her luggage misplaced at an airport checkin counter. Whether it was negligence by an employee who punched in the wrong info on the keyboard for the baggage label, or by airport handlers who weren't paying attention to their job duties and misplaced the luggage on a different flight to another part of the country. Somtimes regardless of how long it takes for the luggage to be sent back to the baggage owner, at certain times items or possessions can be stolen somewhere along the journey. These things do tend to happen from time to time and off course it's virtually impossible to hold anyone accountable. Sometimes a person can handle it and move on and certain people just want to take ones own frustrations out on somebody, thus creating a bigger problem. My question is has this type of situation or circumstance happen to any of you guys out there and how did you deal with the problem. I'd be curious to know.

 

Rohale

[Guest]

I've had my luggage sent to the wrong place or had it miss my flight a few times. Strangely enough, it usually has happened on the way back, thank god. If what you have stolen isn't too expensive, the airline is supposed to pay (but they do have very little liability, especially on international flights). I like to buy travel insurance when I go on "big trips." One of my favorite websites is http://www.insuremytrip.com, where you can compare quite a few policies at the same time. Travel insurance will pay not only for lost or stolen luggage, they'll usually pay you $100-$200 for new clothes if your luggage is delayed. (Of course, the major reason for travel insurance is in case you have to cancel your trip, especially if you have older parents, etc.).

[+ deej]

It's happened to me several times. The only thing you can really do is wait it out.

 

It may give you some satisfaction to pitch a bitch at the luggage counter at your destination, but that won't do a damn thing towards getting you your luggage. The people at the destination never touched your luggage, couldn't give a damn that you don't have it, and generally it'll turn up within 12 hours anyway. Why should they get emotionally invested? And if you're a pain in the ass why should they go out of their way to help you?

 

Smile a lot.

 

I usually go to the hotel, find out my local alternatives for buying underwear & cheap polo shirts, and then hit the bar & get drunk. By the time I get back to my room, my bag has been there every time. (I've been lucky!)

 

I've actually had airline personnel drive the bags to me after work, only because they're so relieved to deal with someone who isn't pissed off at THEM. They get kinda friendly when you're friendly too.

 

(OK, the kid in San Antonio got WAY friendly, but that's a story for another day.)

 

Seriously, all you can do is wait it out and make as many friends in the process as you can. It can't hurt to have friends on the inside!

[Guest msclonly]

Once I saw my luaggage leaving down the street.........

 

In the 1990's, I waited for my luggage to showup at the luggage pickup at the Burbank Airport. It was a distinctive gold toned aluminum Halliburton 3 suiter with wheels. Rarely seen in airports. People were taking their luggage off the return, and as I looked around, I caught my luggage going down the street with a guy! I went after him and called out, 'that is my luggage'. He let go and kept on walking. Wish there had been a policeman handy to question him, since he didn't go back to get 'his' luggage.

 

Now I travel with a rollon as light as possible.

 

:+

[Karl-G]

RE: Once I saw my luaggage leaving down the street.........

 

Yes, but years ago; it has not happened in a long time. Once in Chicago and it was delivered to where I was staying 12 hours later. Three times at Heathrow in London. Once it was delivered to my hotel 24 hours later. Second time it was delivered in 48 hours. Third time Pan Am lost it completely and they gave me $500 US then and there so I bought everything new at Marks and Spencer; I was going to be in Europe for three months. I always carried toiletries, camera, and essentials in a carry-on when I checked luggage, so I was never completely lost. These days I use only a roll-on.

[+ newatthis]

What bewilders me is the absolute unpredictability of when and where this happens -- crowded flights, empty flights; early check-in, last minute check-in; many connections or non-stop -- it's happened with all of them at one time or another.

 

The lost bags have always turned up eventually. Overseas I've had to wait a full day sometimes for the next flight from the states. The worst experience was with USAir (worthy successor to giants of service such as Mohawk and Republic), who managed to send my luggage to Philadelphia when I was on a trip that went nowhere near there -- and I always check the baggage tags before they put my luggage on the conveyor.

[AaronScottDC]

>My question is has

>this type of situation or circumstance happen to any of you

>guys out there and how did you deal with the problem. I'd be

>curious to know.

 

Hey Rohale, the airline didn't lose my luggage, but they did cause me a great deal of problems once by poorly mistreating it.

 

I was traveling down to Panama Beach, Fl to compete in a triathlon. And, of course, you have to travel with your bike, dismantled and packed into a special bike carry case. Some cases are heavy-duty plastic and some are metal. The one I had was made of very thick plastic and had wheels on it like a regular luggage bag. The triathlon had about 2500 competitors from all over the country and lots of other athletes travel with their bikes like this all the time. So, I figured everything would be just fine.

 

Well, when I finally made it to my destination and went to the baggage claim to get my bike, I almost fell over when I saw the bike box coming around the carousel. It was completely crushed on one side and part of the bike frame was sticking out of the box. It seriously looked like it had fallen off the plane and run over by one of those baggage truck things they drive around in. I immediately opened the box, expecting the worse. Luckily, the frame was only scratched up, but not bent. However, the front wheel was completely bent all to hell.

 

I dragged the bike box right over to the customer service desk and showed the people working there all of the damage to my bike. I explained to them that I had to race in a triathlon the next day and that they were going to have to fit the bill for what ever needed fixing/replacing. They were a little surprised to hear that my bike was worth over $2000 and the cost of replacing even one wheel was going to run around $300. But, they said as long as the damage was less than $500 that it wouldn't be a problem. Anything over that and the airline requires all sorts of convincing to pay up.

 

Luckily for me, most triathlon races have lots of wheels, parts, etc. at the race course with bike mechanics on hand to help out with any type of problem. So, I was able to get a new wheel and a quick tune up before the race for under $500 and the airline did repay me for my expenses. I ended up doing pretty well in the race, but needless to say, I was a bit stressed out over the whole ordeal. I haven't flown my bike to a race since, and have chosen to only compete in races that I could drive to in a reasonable amount of time. I don't trust the airline companies with my bike anymore.

 

 

Aaron Scott DC

http://www.erados.com/AaronScottDC

http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/aaronscottdc.html

[Guest rampo]

RE: Once I saw my luaggage leaving down the street.........

 

Once my plane arrived late in Japan and I had to make a mad dash to catch the last plane for Bangkok that evening. I made the flight, my luggage did not. Since then I always make sure that I have a change of underwear and shirt in my carry-on, where I also keep all my valuables. My luggage was delivered to my Bangkok hotel 24-hours later (at 3am in the morning, just as I was walking in with my "catch of the day").

 

On check-in, I always watch to make sure that the check-in clerk puts the right routing tags on my luggage as a couple of times I have stopped them from putting on tags routing my bags to Washington's Dulles International Airport instead of Washington National Airport. If you buy insurance, check the policy as many policies will not cover valuables like cash, travelers cheques, jewelry, cameras, etc., put into checked luggage. The airlines always advise keeping valuables in your carry-on luggage. Trust that advice.

[buttnovice]

It's all a crap shoot, lessened these days by carry on baggage. Amazing how adaptable we've become. However there are those extended trips, usually foreign, when we must check baggage. My only incidents luckily have been those with close connections, and something is delayed. I remember a good one going from northern Italy to USA with a connection in London. We sat on the ground in Genoa for an hour with the only explanation being local air trafic. There was none. Got to London and I did the "OJ" to make my connection, just barely. Needless to say, my baggage was not as fast. This has happened a few times in various locations and always, baggage was delivered to my house, the longest delay being 3 days. With today's bar scans, it seems almost impossible to lose a bag- but it can happaen.

 

What concerns me most is final destination baggage areas where there is no claim check "check". Anyone can walk off with whatever. We've all seen those bags that seem to keep going around and around. I'm always nervous, especially international, when I'm delayed in customs or whatever and I imagine my luggage being toted away by anyone. In most airports, baggage claim is in an unsecured area.

[fedssocr1]

Thanks a million for this travel insurance link! I had been planning to buy some insurance for my Malta trip just in case. I usually don't bother but just in case something happens there getting back home could be an adventure, so it's nice to have coverage for things like medical evacuation or repatriation. Only $63 for the policy I bought.

[Guest Fisher]

My luggage was lost twice

 

1) I was flying from Milan to Washington DC and had to change planes in Frankfurt, Germany (Luftansa to Milan/ Pan Am to DC) I checked my luggage through to the states. After I boarded and sat down (window seat) I looked out and was certain I saw my two large, burgundy suitcases on the luggage train out on the tarmack. I had about 8 hours to wonder if those were my suitcases. The plane arrived at Dulles and my luggage was not there

The people at Pan Am actually were polite. My luggage arrived at my house the next day :-)

 

2) I was flying into St Louis (United) to catch a flight to Japan.I had my two large, burgundy suitcases with me. When I arrive in St Louis, only one came down the carousel. I went to United's desk to inform them that one of my suitcases was missing. They looked at my tags and discovered that when I checked my two bags in at Memphis, the idiot at the counter sent one to St Louis and the other on one to Detroit! They were able to send word to Detroit to put the bag on the next flight to St Louis ... the suitcase arrived before my flight to Japan :7

[tedbear]

I was heading home for Christmas a long time ago and had to fly into St. Louis and transfer to a commuter airline for the rest of the trip. The weather was horrible that day and I barely made the run through two terminals to catch the small plane. As I setlled in my seat, I looked out the window and saw my suitcase being gently placed in the hold. I had been worried that my luggage wouldn't make the tight connection.

 

When we arrived at my small town, everyone was waiting for their luggage in front of the garage door that functions as baggage pickup. The door flew open, a guy placed my suitcase inside the terminal, shrugged, then slid the door closed. All the other passengers ran to the ticket desk to complain. As my Mom approached, I picked up my hard-side suitcase, and a huge triangular piece fell out of one side. I picked it up and drug it to the end of the line waiting to file claims about their missing luggage. I had a really bad cold, but the guy in front of me wrinkled his nose and asked if anyone else smelled fuel. I looked behind me to find a trail of liquid leading from the garage door to my suitcase.

 

I have no idea what exactly happened to my luggage, but the airlines refused to give me a cent since two different airlines were involved. I took everything straight to the dry cleaners (driving with the windows down, of course!). My clothes turned out fine, but several of the presents I had packed were ruined.

 

Those with the missing luggage got everything before Christmas the next day. I was left with a huge dry cleaning bill and got to buy all new presents, choosing from the picked-over junk that was left in the stores.

x(

[Justice]

RE: Once I saw my luaggage leaving down the street.........

 

Been there! Done that! And unfortunately, will probably have to do it again! Deej and I handle it exactly the same way. There's nothing that you can do about it and giving someone a hard time isn't going to reunite you with you luggage any faster.

 

A couple of years ago, my luggage and I took separate vacations for the first three days of a seven day cruise. (The first day was at sea and the first stop was a private island, so my luggage couldn't catch up to me until our first real stop. My friends were horrified. (I actually had to tell one of them to "shut up" when he tried to "help" at the pursor's desk.) I just dealt. I had a change of clothes in my carry on. The pursor arranged for free laundry service (although I did have to dispute laundry charges on the last day of the cruise) and for a $50 gift shop credit. I felt like a walking advertisement for the cruise and it got a little old wearing the same outfit to dinner every night, but I wasn't going to let it spoil my vacation. The pursor's staff couldn't thank me enough for being so understanding. They were still thanking me long after I had been reunited with my luggage.

 

Justice

[OneFinger]

Sorry to hear about your luggage problem. I know it can be a bitch to deal with and really tends to ruin your trip. Others have made some excellent suggestions on what to do. But, for the education of hooville travelers, I'll explain how most baggage handling systems work and what usually causes problems.

 

After 9/11, airports are "supposed" to match all checked luggage with passenger lists. This is done by placing a bar code on your luggage which matches the bar coding on your boarding pass. A good rule of thumb is to check the luggage bar code BEFORE the agent takes your bag. Make sure it's got your name and flight number on it. When using the new kiosk systems, it is common for the agents to accidentally place someone else's bar code on your bag. The kiosk agents are usually working 5-6 kiosk stations at one time and errors are possible.

 

After the security checks. which often take place in your presence, the cleared bags are placed on a conveyor system and disappear into a secure area.

 

The conveyor takes the bag to a sortation system which reads the bar code label on your luggage. This is where the computer verifies that a boarding pass has been issued to a living, breathing person for that specific bag. The sortation system is usually a round conveyor and the bags continue to circle until the computer verifies ownership and diverts the bag to an exit "finger". Each flight has their own exit finger from the sortation system.

 

Bags from each finger are loaded onto individual carts. Most airports try to use dedicated carts for each flight. (I.e., they shouldn't put the baggage for two different flights on the same cart. When they do, there is a high risk that your bags will be loaded on the wrong plane.)

 

Unfortunately, the sortation system computer does double duty. First, it verifies passenger and bag info. Second, it diverts to an exit finger. The sortation system is the last time your bags are scanned to verify destination. There is no further scan to verify your bags are loaded onto the right cart. In addition, there is no secondary scan when your bags are loaded onto the plane. If the wrong cart goes to the wrong flight the only hope is for an alert baggage handler to notice the error.

 

When loaded onto the plane, they "try" to place all bags with connecting flights into a specific place. These are generally off-loaded first and sent through the sortation system again. (In some smaller airports or with tight connections, the sortation system may be by-passed and baggage handlers sort the luggage.)

 

Here are some suggestions to minimize the probability of lost bags.

 

[li]Take direct fights and avoid connecting flights.

[li]Verify bar code tag info on bags.

[li]Arrive early at the airport so your bags can be placed in the sortation system as soon as possible.

[li]Avoid connecting flights that leave sooner than 60 minutes after your arrival. Again, the sortation system needs as much time as possible.

[li]Use carry-on whenever possible. I used to work for a company that supplied baggage handling systems and I know they are less-than-perfect systems.

[Trixie]

I have been fortunate to have never had an incident with my luggage (knock on wood).

However, I am a little nervous about my connections on my upcoming trip to Central Asia. I have one hour to the minute to change flights in Seoul and catch my plane to Tashkent. Then I fly the very next morning to Bishkek, and the morning after that I head off to the more remote parts of Kyrgyzstan. There are only two flights a week from Seoul to Tashkent, so if my luggage doesn't keep up with me, it's never going to catch up!

Therefore, I shall whine like hell at the Asiana counter to be allowed to carry on my backpack. It's soft, and easily squishes into an overhead compartment, if not into those wee boxes they ask you to test your carry-ons in.

 

Trix

[Retired Fly Boy]

RE: The theft part of this message. When the Federal Govt. took over the screening process, many of the former employees of the private security firms were hired by T.S.A. The TSA never did a full criminal background check on these people. After many passenger complaints re: theft of luggage the story came to light. Over 1,300 of them were found to be ex convicts. The former private security companies at the airport never checked them out. In the rush to have the Fed's take over, they were hired on. ABC News with Peter Jennings, did a report on this in 2003. As far as direct flights, in the airline business, "Direct Flight" is NOT a non stop flight. It is a flight that makes one or more stops and you do not have to change planes, just remain on board. Unless your flight is listed as Non Stop, plan on landing at least once before your final destination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[+ Charlie]

This has happened to me or a traveling companion a number of times, but it usually is smoothly worked out within 24 hours. However, once my partner flew to Frankfurt for a two week vacation traveling in Germany, expecting to pick up his suitcase at the airport and board a train to Cologne. He waited and waited for the bag, and missed the train; unknown to him, Lufthansa had automatically put the bag on the train for him to pick up in Cologne. The bag then disappeared completely. Feeling bad for him, I secretly arranged to fly to meet him in Berlin to surprise him with another bag of his things; it was an extravagant plan, since it was a last minute ticket purchase and I would stay in Europe only overnight (not the sort of thing I normally did on a teaching salary). While I was in the air, of course, Lufthansa found the original bag and got it to him in Hamburg. So my grand gesture turned out to be totally unnecessary (but we had a great night in Berlin).

 

The worst experience, however, was when a female friend and I took a group tour to Guatemala. When we all arrived at the hotel in Guatemala City, my bag was there, but hers wasn't (we had glimpsed it briefly at the airport). She had not brought any carry-on, so the device to remove her diaphragm was in the suitcase, along with various medications. Pan Am refused any responsibility, since we had seen the bag at the airport, and the tour company was equally unhelpful. After two days of increasing desperation and uncleanliness, she had to buy a ticket back to the states. I stayed, and had great sex with a sympathetic gay couple on the tour.

[Guest cliffw]

without fail, EVERY time I check anything, I have to see the destination tag they put on it. Since I started watching that I have not had one piece go astray.

But if I know in advance I'm changing planes, making connections, I will not check anything. I love the new wheelies and I can do 2 weeks in Europe out of one that fits overhead.

[Guest msclonly]

I don't know of any reason to check luggage in this day and it's uncertainty. Of course, I only travel to warm climates in the winter and cool ones in the summer.

 

My travels have been much better with only rollon luggage, and very limited amount of clothes, some of which go unused anyway.

 

:+

[Michael]

> I don't know of any reason to check luggage in this day and

> it's uncertainty. Of course, I only travel to warm climates

> in the winter and cool ones in the summer.

>

> My travels have been much better with only rollon luggage, and

> very limited amount of clothes, some of which go unused

> anyway.

 

... and I can't think of any reason to want to take any more carry-on lugagge onto a plane than absoultely necessary.

 

I usually aim to have either one carry-on (a small briefcase) or none.

 

The last thing I want to do is to drag luggage about in an airport - particularly post 9/11

 

I fly fairly often on a mixture of US domestic and international flights, and have never had any baggage completely lost or stolen. Something gets delayed every 18 months or so - usually by less than 24 hours.

 

The worst that ever happened was when my bags were left outside in a thunderstorm at Newark, and showed up in Toronto 2 days later still soaking wet.

[Guest Tomcal_]

Since 1995 I have flown 1 - 2 flights a week for business,(1.5 million on American and 500,000 on continental) and learned in the first year, if I can possibly do carryon, I will, and I never check, unless it's longer then a week and I absolutely have to check a bag. Last year I checked bags only twice and both times they didn't arrive with me. I am exec. platinum with American, so they put special stickers on the bags so they will be the first ones on the line in bagage claim(although this never seems to happen! lol ) Even with the special markings on the bags to denote you are in the highest level of their frequent flyers, they still get lost/delayed.

I have learned to pack only what I really need and not double what I need for a trip, which seems to be common for alot of people to do.

[+ Lucky]

Tomcal is definitely right on this one! American sent our luggage (with premium tags) to London instead of our South America and we went 3 days without clean clothes! And that was after a 31 hour trip on rain-delayed planes.

[Guest msclonly]

No more dirty clothes with delayed baggage!

 

Solved the dirty clothes problem with wash-n-wear!

Especially easy for briefs. Or like Tomcal say, go without.

 

The bathroom sink and a bar of soap makes a mean substitute for a washer or laundromat.

 

I have a friend, who packs a change of clothes for each day of his trips. So he has to check a bag, carry a gymbag for workout clothes and shoes, and attache case for his jounals and papers. Wears a sportcoat for his ticket/passport! Even to tropical climes.

[Guest zipperzone]

RE: No more dirty clothes with delayed baggage!

 

>I have a friend, who packs a change of clothes for each day of

>his trips. So he has to check a bag, carry a gymbag for

>workout clothes and shoes, and attache case for his jounals

>and papers. Wears a sportcoat for his ticket/passport! Even

>to tropical climes.

 

 

Is he sligtly up tight anal, or what?

[Guest msclonly]

RE: No more dirty clothes with delayed baggage!

 

Says he gets better treatment and upgrades on the airline, as a Platinum Elite! And needs the pockets in the sportcoat for his ticket and passport. I don't understand, since he has travels with a briefcase, as well.

 

Yes he is a little uptight, but I have learned to laugh at his sweating in Bangkok while wearing a sportcoat on his first nite out!

I prefer Hawaiian shirts, that let the air circulate underneath.

 

It might be just a case of poor judgement