Delta passenger's bags lost or stolen, she's out over $7000

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by cd on Thursday, December 08, 2011

I travelled to Bangkok via Srilanka from Trivandrum on 20th January 2009 through Srilankan Airlines with my family ( a little daughter of age 4) ...Its a great pain that we lost our bag on our transit and we got $50 as our first compensation on our way back to India. After 2 months I got another mail stating that "All baggage claims are settled on the weight basis and not on their value" and my bag weights only 12kg so I will get $20/kg!!!
I talked to the manager of Srilankan Airlines and he says its their RULE!! I dont understand this... I am not sure what to do now!
I am going for a court case spending more for my bag

by Praveen Mohan Kumar on Tuesday, March 31, 2009

We travel a lot and I like my creature comforts so we check bags. To minimize the loss of favorite clothing by someone rifling thru the bag for goodies or inattentive TSA agents "forgetting" to replace that cashmere sweater, use sealed travel bags inside your luggage. Clearly label each bag with a black marker with your name and cell#. Put boring items around new stuff, t-shirts, etc. We have had our bags checked lots of times by TSA and to date no losses. Always carry on jewelry, camera's, laptops, medicine, etc.

by travelmystic on Wednesday, March 25, 2009

I cant remember the last time I was asked to show my baggage claim tags when exiting an airport - and it wasnt in this country!

Be really careful at security too! I just had an incident at security in the Jet Blue terminal at JFK where there was a backup of passengers at the metal detector and the TSA agent told me that I had to leave my carryon bags - unattended - on the terminal side of the machine and walk through the detector. When I suggested that my bags shouldnt be unattended, she accused me of trying to give her a hard time! As a frequent traveler, I know to be sure my bags are on their way through the machine before I walk through the metal detector. I have my own security issues beyond theirs.

Aside from anything else, who did she think would push my bags through the machine? And, the newbies behind me were taking forever to get their shoes off, so I wasnt holding up the line.

by evening on Tuesday, March 24, 2009

You know, several years ago I had a dear friend who "decorated" tee shirts, and I took it one step further. I went to a hobby-lobby shop and purchased some of the same t-shirt paints and decorated my luggage, the same black canvas luggage that everyone else has. I am not an artist, but I just painted hearts, flowers, stars, suns, stuff like that. It does not keep the baggage handlers from going through my belongings, but when that goofy bag is in the baggage area, no one grabs it but me. Once, it did not arrive at my destination, and because I had taken and printed a picture of it before I left on the trip, it did arrive the next day, and I do believe it may have been because the bag is so easy to identify.

by shutterbabe on Saturday, March 21, 2009

The site for lost luggage someone posted, http://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/. Is this place selling all your belongings you thought the luggage handlers were stealing? Or are they working hand in hand with the airlines? Seems suspicious because of this info from the site:
"The vast majority of items are from unclaimed baggage which, after at least 90 days of intensive tracking by the airlines, are declared unclaimed. However, unclaimed cargo is also available throughout the store. " I wonder if there are any lawsuits against this place after someone visited and found their lost treasures.

I also heard from someone who worked as an airline attendant that luggage handlers steal things from luggage.

Be vigilant, try your best to safeguard your property, but with so many restrictions from the airline industry we are left open to any corruption from the people we hold in trust of our belongings.

by terry on Saturday, March 21, 2009

My sister accidentally left her purse after being stranded due to weather in Chicago's O'Hare airport several years ago. A month or so later, a package arrived with her purse, license, all credit cards, PLUS a voucher from United, covering the cash that was in her wallet at the time. There is still morality out there.

by mbb72 on Friday, March 20, 2009

I never lock my luggage, I put all my valuables in my carryon and I purchase travel insurance that covers lost luggage. It's a shame you have to worry about someone going through your luggage and stealing. Flying is stressful enough.

Thank you so much airfarewatchdog for all the helpful information you provide.

by grace on Friday, March 20, 2009

I never check a bag and I take both personal and business trips. I have a light polycarbonate suitcase and microfiber clothing. I plan my wardrobe carefully. Between my secondary bag that fits under the seat and this suitcase, I can go anywhere.

by Keep it simple on Friday, March 20, 2009

Red finger nail polish and an initial makes a new or expensive looking bag look old and easily identifies the bag as yours from all the other conveyor black bags - do it for both sides.

by Vander on Friday, March 20, 2009

If your airline is responsible for the loss or damage of your luggage, they are liable by law for the reimbursement of up to $3,300. You may also have some coverage from your homeowners insurance and/or a credit card. Always read the fine print, and know where you have coverage. A travel insurance plan that's designated as "primary" may allow you to bypass the above-mentioned steps and submit your claim directly to the provider. A plan that's designated as "secondary" allows you to submit a claim for the remainder of the loss, after the airline, homeowners plan and credit card have made their reimbursements to you.

by Travel Insurance Lady on Thursday, March 19, 2009

Like others here, I greatly appreciate the info from Airfarewatchdog. My wife and I consider ourselves to be generally savvy flyers and follow all the usual and some unusual precautions. We flew from LAX to MIA a couple of years ago, and then on to Cartagena Colombia via AA. Upon arrival in Cartagena, we realized our bags did not fly w/us. My wife's arrived on a flight the next day and mine 2 days later. When I opened my TSA locked luggage, I discovered that several Tommy Bahama shirts and belts were missing, but the remainder of my belongings intact. After a few moments of doubt as to whether I packed them or not, I realized that my bag had been "delayed" in MIA for a reason. Returning home, I registered a complaint w/ AA and the agent in MIA said he had been getting similar complaints for some time. Back in LA I began to file a claim w/ TSA but without receipts for all the items ( several were gifts) I was unsuccessful in getting reimbursed. So, aside from the baggage handling and conveyor belt thieves, it seems that TSA isn't entirely trustworthy either. Interested in knowing whether others have had similar experiences.

by MGM on Thursday, March 19, 2009

I never check anything any more that I don't mind losing. After having brand new DVDs stolen from my checked luggage, I always take my valuables on the plane. Nowadays, it's just easier and cheaper to travel light and bring your bag on the plane anyway.

by Bean on Thursday, March 19, 2009

I saw a piece once on TV about a giant store that sells things 'recovered' from people's luggage. They buy recovered and/or unclaimed luggage from the airlines and sell the stuff in their store. You have no claim to it anymore after you settle with the airline. http://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/

by catbyter on Thursday, March 19, 2009

I really never carry anything valuable in checked baggage except firearms. The procedure is rather easy if you know the rules for packing handguns and ammunition. I am always worried that guns could be stolen from the gun box that is inside the suitcase. Even though TSA at United Airlines inspected the two handguns and then I relocked the gun box with a padlock (after they put in the firearms tag inside the gun box, when I got to the east coast I saw that the box had been slightly pried open. With security at the gate grabbing those toothpaste tubes and mouthwash and contact lens fluid, you would think those assholes would have some better way of watching the baggage handlers to prevent theft of something such as firearms.

by Lottabaloney on Thursday, March 19, 2009

We flew to Berlin thru Lufthansa and our luggage never made it and Lufthansa gave us $800 each for the two bags stolen. However, my travel agent back in the states was worthless.

by obs on Thursday, March 19, 2009

TSA locks are great, however, all a bag thief needs is a pen or pencil to quickly open a zippered bag. They simply pull the two zippers ends together and where they meet can slip a pen or pencil into the center and just move it around and open the whole bag. Then they just zip it back up. This can take place, even with a lock attached. Your zipped bags ARE NOT safe anywhere. This takes a matter of seconds to complete. This was demonstrated on Fox 10 news in Phoenix, AZ.

by djm1950 on Thursday, March 19, 2009

I stitch or hot-glue a distinctive ribbon "stripe" to luggage. A determined thief can quickly rip off that bow you tied to the handle, but can't rid a plain black golf bag of it's 5' long identifier easily! Helps, too, if you have to file a lost-luggage claim. Carrying a photo-copy showing what markings you have on each bag makes identification easier and I occasionally even take a cell-phone photo of my bag before checking it.

by travelgranny on Thursday, March 19, 2009

I am always so amazed at the stupidity of people when they travel. Watching dozens of look-a-like bags come off the carousel and people scramble to read the name on the tag to see if it's theirs. I strap my luggage with brightly colored belts and I KNOW which one is mine when it hits the belt. No struggling with others to grab and read. Before the straps I would attach brightly colored yarn or ribbons to the handles of my bags. Wake up people and put identifying tags on your luggage and save yourself a whole lot of hassle.

by travelingal808 on Thursday, March 19, 2009

Don't overstuff your bags! I know the excess fees are too much for some, but if you are so desperate to get your belongings into one checked bag, the chances of an exploding bag go up. I wonder if some of the things that go missing simply fell out of the bag when the zippers failed on a super stuffed bag. I've seen lots of bags busted open in the claim area and I have no idea how the passengers got that much stuff in the bags in the first place. Also, the airlines have to cut so many jobs to keep people happy with low fares that they can't hire someone to check claim tags. Just a thought...

by MicsPics on Thursday, March 19, 2009

A friend of mine used to work for Delta as a summer job, handling baggage inside the belly of the plane. He said the guys he worked with were ALWAYS rifling through bags to steal stuff -- small and big items alike. So rotten!!! NEVER check your valuables -- always carry them with you, or leave them at home.

by onessee on Thursday, March 19, 2009

Have flown with my spouse JFK (New York City) - ICN (Seoul, Korea) on United, Northwest and Korean Air several times in the last 8 or 9 years and have never lost a thing in the luggage, which sometimes had to be transferred between planes at Narita (Tokyo) or San Francisco.

Our only complaint would be against TSA in the early days before those TSA locks. With no warning we had locks on our luggage destroyed by them, with little message slips inside our luggage "apologizing". Would have been nice if they had paged us to come to our luggage with our keys. PS The whole process is much smarter at ICN.

Nowhere do I recall having seen any checking of claim checks against the tags on the luggage when we've gotten our luggage from various carousels.

by NYC Ed on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Here's a solution no one will like: pack clothes and all other items you don't care about losing. Wear all jewelry and take all electronics with you, or leave them home. Look like a homeless person whenever you travel, and explain why to all you encounter on your trip. Take and wear basic black wherever you go.....look like Johnny Cash. So even if you end up wearing what you wore on the plane for the next few days, weeks, months, you can supplement with items from your destination, and help that country's economy! This is what the airlines have made us become. Forget about being chic or impressing anyone. If you care that much, then FedEx your luggage to your destination.

by clotheshorse on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Oops, I just remembered it was on a UNITED flight (not American) that hubby's bag went missing, and United who ultimately reimbursed us after months of arm wrestling.

We've had bags temporarily lost 3 times in last 5 years (United, United & SAS) that were all returned within 24-48 hours.

by Truffles on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

i learned a packing suggestion from an ex flight attendant. she would travel and pack disposable clothes, clothes that you have that you would be willing to part with or old clothes that your were going to get rid of anyway. then when you travel you leave the old dirty clothes behind and that makes room for items you buy. i traveled to europe and it worked out great. Also dont pack anything that has meaning to you or worth anything, Carry that on! Trust no one traveling!Sad but true.

by Lola212 on Thursday, March 19, 2009

I travel a lot (more than 30 flights a year) for more than 15 years in and out of the US and have only lost a Boise headphone set on a flight that I was returning to the US and injured. They were probably left under the seat. I don't bring valuable jewelry, high tech equipment etc. Except in the Caribbean I always wear black. I use colorful not new luggage with stickers and big yarn things etc. . If you have too many bags to check you can get them shrink wrapped which then gives you less - in numbers of bags - no one could sneak off with these huge plastic packages. Usually this service is in airports with a lot of international travel and more frequently out of the US.
Act and look like you belong where you are and you ll also avoid pickpockets and other problems. An inexpensive black leather jacket makes you a native all over Europe for sure.

by Very frequent traveler on Thursday, March 19, 2009

After reading all of this negative feedback, I will share the best story ever; in Feb. 09 my husband & I flew from Ft. Lauderdale to Puerto Rico on JetBlue. I took about 5,000. dollars worth of camera equipment onboard. I stored it in the overhead compartment with several other bags. We were in our hotel on the 20th floor overlooking the beautiful beach before I realized that I had left my camera equipment behind~I started crying because I knew I'd never see it again. It's less than a year old!
The Crew on JetBlue turned it in to the Manager @the ticket counter. Can you imagine? I don't know who the honest employee was, but I have renewed faith in mankind. Do you think you'd do the same thing if you'd found my bag?
Rock on JetBlue! You hired an amazing Person with high moral values. I wish that I could tell you who!

by HAMLET on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Where can I get the cello wrap????? I am going to the Ukraine at the end of April and have been told of a LOT of theft.

by quacker on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

I had several Pairs of expensive Jeans, Shoes, and Clothing stolen from my checked bag on DELTA. I filed a claim and it was denied because they said it took me a week to file the report. They also claimed that no one was responsible and there was no evidence of mishandling by Delta employees. It was apparent that a baggage handler opened my luggage and took things. Wouldn't you know that 13 Delta Employees "Baggage Handlers" were arrested and charged with larceny and blurglary after an investigation. I called Delta 7 times since last week and no calls back to me.

by mrmrtr on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

My husband's bag disappeared at the Hayden, CO airport last year (Steamboat Springs). We suspect one of the many van/bus drivers who pick up groups of skiiers to the resorts accidentally picked it up with a bunch of other people's bags. American Airlines' records indicated the bag arrived at Hayden before we did, as all of our luggage arrived early while we got stuck in Denver. Delightful. We called around to the larger resorts and hotels to no avail.

It was quite a struggle getting American to reimburse us for the true value of the items, but we persisted, and persisted, and persisted, and finally got fair reimbursement. Stick to your guns, people, and ask for managers whenever possible.

American did reimburse me once for a bra that went missing. I had to pursue that one as it was the principle of the thing! Now I pack all my undies in clear ziplocks, so there's no excuse for inspector perverts to go rifling through. Ew.

by Truffles on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

We stopped for a sandwich on a flight to Chicago recently and got to the baggage carrousel after everyone else had gotten their luggage. There was a security tape across the entrance to that carrousel and an airline emplyee standing behind it. I climbed over it and got our luggage and dragged it under the secuirty tape while the airline emplyee watched buit never said a word or asked to see my claim checks.

by rraabe on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

If you ever fly out of an airport that offers giant rolls of cellophane to wrap your luggage, USE IT! I found out the hard way that it's not offered to protect the condition of your luggage, it's tavailable to keep unscrupulous baggage handlers from stealing valuables from your luggage. I lost quite a bit of jewelry and a portable hard drive. Get the TSA locks and use the cellophane. Outside of the US, apparently there is very little coverage for lost/stolen items.

by CaliGal on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

I have had my luggae rifled, items stolen -no one gives a sh!t. They are more concerned you'll bring on board toothpaste and floss. Thier is no security for passengers or thier luggae-it is a sham. Big money spent to make a big show. No one checks baggage claim, and if you do have something stolen tough luck. Maybe we should ask for a bail out for passengers?

by Bobster on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

air travel just keeps getting worse. The bag apes trash luggage and the customer NO service agents are worthless.

by luckysnap on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Went to my daughter's wedding at Disney, when we checked out at hotel and got our boarding passes I didn't notice that they belonged to someone else with the last name, no big deal, except that our luggage was going to his destination! Continental was great at getting our luggage back to us, even though it was in no way their fault. There really are still nice people out there!

by heathersmom on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Remember a few back when a court ordered an airline to give some baggage handlers their jobs back even though they had been discovered stealing?

by Cyrano on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Don't they have cameras on the conveyor belts in the back? Everyone, please use a TSA lock because TSA has the keys, the baggage handlers supposedly don't. It's better than not having one. Also, you can get these luggage tracker tags by Swiss Army that will help you recover lost luggage. I hide the tag in the zipper lining of my luggage so no one throws it away if they decide to steal my luggage. they won't expect it in the lining. You can call the company and they will track it for you when lost. Although, I tried it once and didn't answer at night. But, it's worth a try. You'd think with all the radio frequency RFID tagging ability we have, they would use more of that to track often stolen stuff like iPods, cameras, luggage and maybe even a $200 pair of jeans or a fur coat. I always carry on my valuables though. Never carry on cash, cameras, jewelry.

by TheySuck on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

The only places I remember baggage claim checks were NY, Newark, and Chicago...and I think the agents were there simply to ensure that no outside thieves interfered with the insider thugs.

by accidental_purist on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

I am very glad that I subscribe to airwatchdog.com. I am always suprised by the things that I find out. We fly once or twice a year and these things are good to know. I know that I will definitely consider mailing my luggage instead of relying on the airlines after reading the last email. Last summer my daughter and I were trapped in JFK for 4 days by JetBlue. My daughter cried we were there so long and she was 17 years old! JetBlue claimed they were not flying because of the weather but once we got to our destination, we found out that other airlines were still flying from JFK. Since then I have received airwatchdog.com's email messages and I am thankful for the information given to me by it. Since then I read the email whenever they come so I can stay informed. I want to avoid catastrophe at all costs. Thanks for everything. I appreciate all the advice...

by Forever suprised... on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

For the first time, I lost a large box filled with antiques, some tech stuff and clothing, that we checked with our luggage in Raleigh/Durham on Southwest. After it never showed up, I am positive that it disappeared in someone's hands somewhere between the curbside checkin and the luggage conveyor belt. It was an easy thing to snag a box, not quite as conspicuous as a piece of baggage. And of course, Southwest refused to pay for any antiques or tech stuff--but all I REALLY wanted was the stuff. And my wardrobe took a big hit too. From now on, I will NOT ever use a box.

by starmaidn@gmail.com on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

I lost a Fanny Pak on Delta in Atlanta with my wallet in it and it was NEVER FOUND and returned. WHY??? Don't people have any morals and return my pictures.

by Bklynborn on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Please list the top 10 worst airports for missing/lost luggage

by luckysnap on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Another warning about luggage for those flying on an employee pass (or "buddy pass") YOUR LUGGAGE AND CONTENTS ARE NOT COVERED or insured at all. They will not even deliver it if it is delayed. And what surprised me was that the airline employee took one look at my claim ticket and knew immediately that I was flying on a buddy pass...makes me wonder if the luggage handlers would know that as well. If that is the case, what would prevent someone from taking the luggage knowing the passenger couldn't even file a claim?

by beckwith125 on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

I just wanted to thank you for all your helpful information. Because of Airfarewatchdog, my domestic partner/significant other (whatever you wish to call him), was able to fly from Florida to his Mom's funeral in Missouri for under $200.00 at the last minute. We aren't made out of money and the only other fare I was finding was over $1100.00! He is on disability and has limited income and I did not want him driving that distance being distraut about his Mom. I requested a wheelchair to take him from his arrival gate to the connection gate and the trip to Mo. was fine, but no one met him on the return flight back to Florida and he had to 'hoof it', which did not please me in the least,...but he made the connection. Keep up your wonderful work and thanks again!

by Sheila V on Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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Delta passenger's bags lost or stolen, she's out over $7000

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