Lost airline luggage

[hockeymandan]

So I flew to California last week, and the airline lost my backpack. And I don't mean misplaced it, I mean lost it. its been almost two weeks now, and they still don't know where it is. So my question is, has anyone had this happen to them? Because I'm rather curious as to what exactly happens. They said they were responsible for up to $2500, but I'm not sure how they go about getting me my stuff back. Any ideas/suggestions?

 

[Coolville]

So I flew to California last week, and the airline lost my backpack. And I don't mean misplaced it, I mean lost it. its been almost two weeks now, and they still don't know where it is. So my question is, has anyone had this happen to them? Because I'm rather curious as to what exactly happens. They said they were responsible for up to $2500, but I'm not sure how they go about getting me my stuff back. Any ideas/suggestions?

Bummer
airlines always "say" they have a "limit", but know this - their limit is a minimum and they hope most people will accept it without complaint. Like when they misplace a bag and it comes the next day. I have been offered cash several times for this inconvienence. Until I learned that complaining profusely will up the price.

Once, the guy in front of me got 50 pounds and I walked away with 200 pounds. For going without the bag for 24 hours.

So don't settle for their first offer. Pump it up.

 

[juicylips]

Re: Re: Lost airline luggage

So don't settle for their first offer. Pump it up.

god..you get me hot sometimes.

 

[Aphrodisiac]

Because I'm rather curious as to what exactly happens. They said they were responsible for up to $2500, but I'm not sure how they go about getting me my stuff back. Any ideas/suggestions?

Sorry to hear about your backpack ..

At times since a long time passes many people can not be reached or somehow the lost luggage has no i.d. on them so the airlines are unable to get in touch with that person.
Then after no one claims their bags/luggage they are placed in a room. Well once more than an " x" of time has passed they let the airline workers free and they are allowed to take whatever they want.. a friend of mine used to work in the airport. That is where he would get all his gear , from the "lost and never claimed room".

 

[hockeymandan]

Re: Re: Lost airline luggage

Sorry to hear about your backpack ..

At times since a long time passes many people can not be reached or somehow the lost luggage has no i.d. on them so the airlines are unable to get in touch with that person.
Then after no one claims their bags/luggage they are placed in a room. Well once more than an " x" of time has passed they let the airline workers free and they are allowed to take whatever they want.. a friend of mine used to work in the airport. That is where he would get all his gear , from the "lost and never claimed room".

I'm guessing that's where mine is going to end up, since they still don't have any idea where it is. I don't really understand how that's possible, but who am I to judge.

The thing that pisses me off the most is that I was sentimentally attached to all that stuff. That backpack and everything in it has been hiking all over the country with me. Lousy fuckers.

 

[Aphrodisiac]

Re: Re: Re: Lost airline luggage

I'm guessing that's where mine is going to end up, since they still don't have any idea where it is. I don't really understand how that's possible, but who am I to judge.

The thing that pisses me off the most is that I was sentimentally attached to all that stuff. That backpack and everything in it has been hiking all over the country with me. Lousy fuckers.

You should have not checked in your backpack, you should have taken it with you.
When it comes to the airlines, I am very weary with what I check in because the odds are always there that it might get lost.
You never know maybe your backpack will show up somewhere... Good luck...

 

[hockeymandan]

I wouldn't have checked it, but it stands about 4 feet when its loaded, like it was. Its not a little bookbag or anything like that. It can hold enough stuff to stay in the backcountry for a month. But I've definitely learned my lesson.

 

[Aphrodisiac]

I wouldn't have checked it, but it stands about 4 feet when its loaded, like it was. Its not a little bookbag or anything like that. It can hold enough stuff to stay in the backcountry for a month. But I've definitely learned my lesson.

You should have tried to check it in ... just for the fun of it.

 

[hockeymandan]

This is true. Some people on airlines don't seem to think the size rules apply to them.

 

[Weird Harold]

Any ideas/suggestions?

Is there any identification on/in your pack other than the baggage tag?

Perhaps providing them with a picture of your pack might help them find it.

I've never had baggage permnently lost, although I have had one bag take a later flight than I did. Since I always mark my baggage inside and out with my address and phone # I don't worry too much about permanent loss when I travel.

 

[hockeymandan]

Yeah, there's an ID on the backpack itself with my name and address. But my guess is that it was stolen, otherwise they'd have some idea where it was. And if it was stolen, I'm guessing it won't be showing up on my doorstep any time soon. I mean, they said they'd reimburse me for it, but I'm just not sure how all that works. I don't know if I have to have receipts for the stuff I had in there to prove I had it or what.

 

[Weird Harold]

Yeah, there's an ID on the backpack itself with my name and address. But my guess is that it was stolen, otherwise they'd have some idea where it was. ... I don't know if I have to have receipts for the stuff I had in there to prove I had it or what.

I doubt it was stolen. Very little baggage is ever stolen because there just isn't the opportunity -- there are very few times when your baggage is handled by only one person or left alone. I don't doubt that some baggage does get stolen but I can't imagine what would prompt someone to take a full-sized backpack when ther are so many other tempting targets for theft -- make-up and jewelry cases, small suitcases with designer logos, and other items that would be more likely to contain something worth the risk.

If your ID tag was on a chain rather than in a pocket or sewn to the pack, it's very possible it might have been lost along with the baggage claim sticker. If the information on the tag wasn't in indelible ink, it might have gotten wet and be unreadable.

If you provide the airline with an inventory of what was in the back-pack, I think they will take it at face value and pay reasonable replacement costs. They would probably balk at the inclusion of a diamond studded Rolex in an inventory tht otherwise consisted of camping supplies and you'll probably need to prove you really did pack your Rolex. Otherwise, if the inventory is internally consistent, you shouldn't have any problem with them needing receipts.