Lost Luggage Tales!

[SarahS]

If you've flown more than once, chances are it's happened to you -- an airline losing your luggage.

Have you had to buy a whole new wardrobe in Italy after four days without your suitcase? Have you been told that the airline has found your bag, only to be told the next day that they lost it again?

Share your gripes about lost or delayed baggage here!

Related Story: Lost Luggage

[soliteyah]

I've actually been pretty fortunate. The airlines have only mishandled my bags once (knock on wood!), and it wasn't too traumatic.

I was flying home on British Airways from Glasgow to D.C. for Christmas, connecting in Heathrow. Our flight departed on time from Glasgow but then ended up circling London for a while because they were having trouble landing planes in the fog (fog in London, imagine that). By the time we finally landed I was freaking out because I thought I was going to miss my connection -- and I very nearly did. (Cue much angst over possibly missing Christmas at home!) Luckily I managed to sneak on in the nick of time, but my bag didn't make it...not a big surprise. It turned up on the porch a night or two later around 2 a.m. All told, not too bad of an experience.

[sleepyliquid]

Not a lost luggage story. A damaged luggage story. Without going into details, I think the moment the baggage handlers see a guitar case, they choose to knock it around as much as possible. Cracked the plastic almost entirely off the case at the bottom. And I could have filed a complaint and hopefuly received some money for it, but there was this Byzantine maze of paperwork and buerocracy (sp), and who wants to stay in the airport after a 5 hour flight for that?

This was ATA, by the way.

[love2go]

After losing my luggage a couple of times - didn't see it for two weeks the second time - I started using Global Bag Tags. I love'em and won't leave home without them again. They have an ID number on them, you register your ID number with the company, give them your travel itinerary, they store it in their database. If your luggage goes one way while you go the other, it can be sent to your current location or your next destination.

[pixeljuice]

On November 03, 2007 I traveled on American Airlines from XNA to LGA with one short stop in Chicago. Seated in 24F, I saw my bag loaded onto the airplane bound for La Guardia. Still, my bag, and the bags of 4 or 5 others on my flight, never found their way to the carousel.

I gave my info to the baggage desk and was issued a file locator number. I have been contacted once by AA in reference to my lost bag and have been faxed a questionnaire on which I sadly list items that I trusted American Airlines to move from one location to another and will have to most likely replace myself.

If AA willingly takes possession of my baggage, are they not responsible for returning it to me? Period?!

I have read many posts on the internet complaining of lost baggage and little to no compensation. I have added my voice to these complaints and will continue to cry foul for what's happened and AA's inability to locate my baggage.

I have a choice when I fly and I well intend to use that opportunity to fly with a company who has a better record for things like lost luggage and customer service.

[MissRoseDarrensAngel]

I flew from Detroit Metro to Dublin Ireland with a stop over in NYC-JFK airport last fall. I was told in Detroit my suitcase would be checked in and I didn't have to reclaim it in JFK when making my connection, and I could get it when my flight landed in Dublin.

My flight from Detroit to JFK got held up due to "traffic" at JFK for 1.5 hours in Detroit then I was able to barely make my Aer Lingus flight to Dublin from JFK (the checkin people there understood that the delay from detroit wasnt my fault), and I was able to get on the flight without issue.

Once in Dublin, I had my carry on and purse only, and went to baggage claim after clearing immigration. My suitcase did not arrive, and I had to go to the airport baggage desk right in the baggage area to report the issue. The lady was very understanding when I explained my first leg of flight had a hold up before arriving in NYC. She said my bag would have been placed on the next flight due in later that day. She gave me a form to complete - it asked for my final destination city, hotel, and phone #. I pulled out my hotel confirmation papers & the lady commented i was very organized *lol*. She said the bag would be delivered at their expense to my hotel in Belfast Northern Ireland. I made my way to the coach to Belfast and was there before 10 am. The bag made it to my hotel by 6 or 7pm that evening after a few phone calls my best friend made for me to check on things.

Good thing, going home was alot better - no delay of baggage and i was able to claim my suitcase in Chicago then Detroit on the way back from Dublin!!!

[pwodock]

OK, so I was bitten by the lost baggage bug! Just want to share a few things that would have been nice to know beforehand. First, go directly to the claim office and MAKE SURE they put your information in the computer. A paper claim will be delayed and therefore could possibly miss crucial opportunities to find luggage. Also, they will have no record of your claim until it hits the computer (at least in my experience). Secondly, once the baggage has been determined to be lost and you now must complete a Property Loss Claim Form, be aware that the airlines will ask for a "new" cost and thus will depreciate the value of your items. My claim was depreciated by 20%!! Lastly, if you travel on business or pleasure frequently, its a good idea to keep purchase receipts for clothing, luggage etc. as those WILL be useful in submitting a claim. In my situation, items over $100 had to be accompanied by a receipt to be valid.

Good Luck!

[Mikel]

pwodock or anyone else who can help.

I traveled to Germany via Heathrow in late Jan and British Airways lost my luggage on the way. I had to purchase one set of clothing in Germany since I was on business and my luggage did not turn up for two days. I have submitted a claim twice with BA with no reply. I have found no way to talk to a person at BA about this. They make it impossible to reach someone. Do you know of any way to get in direct touch? Any special phone number or executive e-mail address that I could take my claim to directly? I heard there are web sites out there that have this type of information for unhappy customers.

The rest of my experience with BA was very good and I would travel with them in the future if this issue could be resolved. If not they lost a customer for life and I will reccomend that others avoid them when traveling.

You can e-mail me directly at mblepage@cvs.com Thank you for any help you can proivde. Mikel

[traveling savta]

AA lost my bag in December, 2007, denied my claim in March, 2008 and yesterday a small claims court awarded me a judgement of $3740. I advise everyone to go to small claims court. if you have half a brain and are prepared, you will win.

[KillerBee11]

AA lost my bag in December, 2007, denied my claim in March, 2008 and yesterday a small claims court awarded me a judgement of $3740. I advise everyone to go to small claims court. if you have half a brain and are prepared, you will win.

Where did you go to small claims court? Your home town? The reason I ask is I am from Canada and had my luggage lost by AA and recieved no compensation. I am going back to the US in October, so was wondering if I could do this in Pheonix even though my luggage was lost from a flight from Toronto to Texas.

[KillerBee11]

On November 03, 2007 I traveled on American Airlines from XNA to LGA with one short stop in Chicago. Seated in 24F, I saw my bag loaded onto the airplane bound for La Guardia. Still, my bag, and the bags of 4 or 5 others on my flight, never found their way to the carousel.

I gave my info to the baggage desk and was issued a file locator number. I have been contacted once by AA in reference to my lost bag and have been faxed a questionnaire on which I sadly list items that I trusted American Airlines to move from one location to another and will have to most likely replace myself.

If AA willingly takes possession of my baggage, are they not responsible for returning it to me? Period?!

I have read many posts on the internet complaining of lost baggage and little to no compensation. I have added my voice to these complaints and will continue to cry foul for what's happened and AA's inability to locate my baggage.

I have a choice when I fly and I well intend to use that opportunity to fly with a company who has a better record for things like lost luggage and customer service.

Wow, same thing happened to me in October 2007. Went through the same thing with AA and still nothing. Even had a lawyer write them a letter and still no response from AA...I will consider the post by the guy who said he took them to small claims court..

I just can't comprehend or get over the fact that an Airlines can just walk away from losing your luggage. It eats at me everyday. The total cost of items in my oversized bag, which I paid extra for the size and weight, was over $5000...I will keep trying until I get something in return. A friend of mine received 4 free flight passes just for an overbooked flight that he was asked to wait until the next day for. So I can't fathom not being compensated for lost luggage......

[traveling savta]

Where did you go to small claims court? Your home town? The reason I ask is I am from Canada and had my luggage lost by AA and recieved no compensation. I am going back to the US in October, so was wondering if I could do this in Pheonix even though my luggage was lost from a flight from Toronto to Texas.

I went to court in my hometown, my final destination. I don't know Canadian law, but in the US, you may file in any city where the airline does business.

[davidhussey]

I gave my info to the baggage desk and was issued a file locator number. I have been contacted once by AA in reference to my lost bag and have been faxed a questionnaire on which I sadly list items that I trusted American Airlines to move from one location to another and will have to most likely replace myself.

[KillerBee11]

I went to court in my hometown, my final destination. I don't know Canadian law, but in the US, you may file in any city where the airline does business.

thanks, I'll give a try when I get back to the US

[KillerBee11]

I gave my info to the baggage desk and was issued a file locator number. I have been contacted once by AA in reference to my lost bag and have been faxed a questionnaire on which I sadly list items that I trusted American Airlines to move from one location to another and will have to most likely replace myself.

Best of luck to you. If you do have success please let me know. Thanks.

[traveling savta]

thanks, I'll give a try when I get back to the US

AA hasn't paid the judgement yet, I hope they do not appeal because the law clearly states that they must compensate for lost bags. There is a cap on the amount, but if the airline acted wrecklessly, it is possible to get more than the maximum. The judge was very sympathetic to me. Good luck.

[simplosys28]

I have to say that until and unless the luggage in question does contain some valuables, what point does it serve by stealing someone else's luggage.
I mean, all that the suitcase would contain would be old clothes, ones that we had worn earlier, so what would be the point in stealing them? Idiots!

[KillerBee11]

I have to say that until and unless the luggage in question does contain some valuables, what point does it serve by stealing someone else's luggage.
I mean, all that the suitcase would contain would be old clothes, ones that we had worn earlier, so what would be the point in stealing them? Idiots!

In my case it was a full hockey bag with all my equipment along with several sticks. I also add personal items in the bag because of its size and the amount of things I was taking to my new job. I also had some video games for a playstation, plus my friggin camera.......The problem was they tagged my carry on but didn't tag my one bag of 3 that were suppose to be tagged. So the one bag went down the schutte without a tag, thus no identification to where to send it...To date, still no compensation....

[explorer848]

i lost my luggage once too and i got it in week later, i flew from norway to milan, and the bags flew somewhere else
but they got my bags back.

[MD T.]

Here's my tale:
I flew on Continental From San Francisco through Houston to La Guardia. Im a musician, and as one might imagine, I am not the richest man in the would, so I had to stuff a lot of things in one bag, Pay the extra Fee, and Pray nothing would be broken or Lost. Yep they lost it completely (which I find hard to believe), but they did. I suspect it was somewhere in Houston, but I really have no Idea.

Anyway, after a lot of paperwork, and unusually "nice" employee phone calls to resolve a settlement, I came out with only half of what the baggage contents were worth. What killed me was their policy on no refunds on Electronics or anything electronically related. So basically my crappy clothing was reimbursed. This doesn't help me at all because I play music, and without my Vintage Keyboard, and Snare drum (etc) Im kinda screwed!

What im wondering is if I continue to tell them that I will never fly again, and Ill inform all my friends and family not to fly Continental, how possible is it for me to get a free voucher in addition to my reimbursement check?

MD

[prabamadhu]

Hi,

My case is little different. I checked in 5 baggages for an international flight and when I entered US i was asked to identify my luggages for the local flight to my destination. When doing so I mistakenly placed my hand baggage in the conveyor belt and it went along with checked luggage. It did not have a tag either and hence the airlines will not accept a claim for the same.

I had been contacting various phone numbers to recover the same. Since the bag was placed in the airline conveyor belt, it should be with the airline I guess.

Do you have any suggestions for me. Pls help.

[airportparking]

Nice post...Thank you very much!!......

[1827lina]

My luggage was lost on an Air India flight from Dhaka - Delhi - London. The day after I arrived in London, I received a call from the airline saying the bag had been found in Delhi and would be sent the next day. Of course, the bag never arrived. I was offered only $70 for emergency clothing, which in the winter in England is a joke. It also seemed the agents in Heathrow did little to try and retrieve the bag, sending a few email requests to Delhi asking that it be sent to London.

I wanted my bag back as it contained most of my winter clothing and irreplaceable souvenirs. I started making daily phone calls to the Air India Heathrow Airport lost luggage department and the lost luggage department in the Delhi Airport (and noting down names of each employee I spoke with). Each time I called, I was either lied to or hung up on. I asked for documentation on the bag to be faxed to me (a record of what they had done to try and retrieve the bag) and they refused. The Air India staff in Heathrow also indicated on several occasions that I would not be reimbursed for the lost items, telling me I should have had travellers insurance and I shouldn't expect anything from the airline).

Air India's customer service (and not just the baggage department) is absolutely the most horrible I have ever encountered (and I have done a lot of travelling on a range of airlines).

Eventually, I started calling the baggage manager at their headquarters in Bombay who gave me phone numbers not listed on the website (as well as the mobile number of the baggage manager in Delhi). After over three weeks of daily phone calls inquiring about the bag and asking that it be sent, I finally got through to one person in Delhi who sounded like he cared. This person agreed to personally make sure the bag got on the next flight to London. It eventually did arrive in London, but it then took an additional week for Heathrow's courier service to drop it off at my home. This experience was an absolute nightmare, and very frustrating since I knew that at one point the bag had been found, and the problem was the staff in Delhi just weren't sending the bag. Amazingly, all the contents were still there. But, I would never fly Air India again after this whole production.

[jocap]

After a cheap package holiday, in Mallorca, we were sitting waiting for our flight at Palma airport. I noticed a baggage trolley spill its load on its way to a plane, and the man just drove on.....
We landed at East Midlands, and waited in vain for my suitcase....just one lone one, going round and round.... Customs appeared, and had that suitcase open in 2 seconds flat....it should have gone to Manchester. We were told that mine was probably in Manchester....baggage handlers try to shove spare cases on a flight going to the same country,if not the right airport.
Mine was delivered the next day, but to the wrong house, where a victim of Bi-Polar illness lived....luckily, it was one of her better days, as on her bad days she would take whatever she reasoned belonged to her from my house and garden...
Jo.

[rjkaaronrjk]

This thing happen in every ones life,As many of you know I went out of town and lost my luggage!!This is really irritating and big problem for every one,One thing you might consider is checking in your luggage with each connection,Be always careful with our luggage and bags