United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - My Personal Belongings Were Stolen From My Luggage

Hi guys,

I need some advise on what to do. I had a flight from London to Philadelphia with US Airways. When I arrived at Philadelphia, I stupidly misread the screen and assumed that I can reclaim my checked bag at the gate. However, I realized that I missed the baggage claim after I passed custom and they won't let me come back in to get the luggage. The airport staffs and US Airways workers assured me that my bag will be picked up and send to my final destination. I arrived to Denver with US Airways and then Denver to San Jose with United Air. Fast forward, when I come back to get my delayed bag the next afternoon, I found that many of my belongings are missing. Many of them are expensive clothes that I bought as well as souvenirs, a camera, and Ray Ban sunglasses. I also noticed that my TSA lock was opened and left unlocked(so only TSA has access to this). The theft seem like he has time because he selectively choose items that are more casual than dressy clothes as well as have time to take my camera as well as it battery that I kept separately in another compartment. I was told to file pilferage claim with United Airline(as they are the one that take me to my final destination and not US Airways). I am so devastated as many of these items are sentimental to me. Anyone has experience with stuffs missing from their luggage and how is it solved? Is this considered under Montreal Convention or Domestic? Please help!:confused::(

Sorry to hear, it is quite disappointing when something like this happens. Unfortunately it is very unlikely the missing items will be return but you can make a claim for stolen items. The airlines liability for stolen items is quite limited.
Claim form for checked baggage that is missing items (https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/damaged.aspx)

Some earlier threads on stolen items that might content useful info
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus-pre-merger/1256350-items-stolen-checked-luggage-ua-flight-lax-msy-need-advice.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus-pre-merger/994323-stolen-items-checked-suitcase.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileageplus-consolidated/1374865-item-stolen-gate-checked-bag-united.html

Basic packing tip. Do not pack anything valuable in checkin bags. Clothes it hard to avoid but cameras and such shouldnt be packed in those bags

Anybody can watch a video on youtube and learn how to pop a TSA lock in seconds (depending on which type of lock it is). I was stunned how easy it was to open the locks I have here. There's no way to know it was the TSA who opened your lock, or that it happened after you arrived in the US. Anybody who handled your bag could have helped themselves.

I'm actually fairly stunned your bag actually showed up at all.

Sorry to say, I think won't be solved, I would not plan on seeing any of that stuff again.

If you bought your tickets with your American express gold or platinum card you have insurance for stolen property while flying. Perhaps with other cards too.

You'll never see your stuff again, so you may as well start replacing it and take this as a lesson not to check anything valuable..

Did the bag have any tags/paperwork on it that showed which flights it had taken back to SJC? Was it with United or US Airways when you collected it from SJC?

Given that the flight either side of where you got separated from it was with US Airways I wouldn't be surprised if if ended up going all the way to SJC with them, and didn't actually travel with United at all.

The most likely place for it to have been "officially" inspected would be in Philadelphia, based on you not being there to carry it through customs. Was there any paperwork in it to say that TSA/Customs had inspected it?

How do you know it didn't happen in London after you checked in?

Basic packing tip. Do not pack anything valuable in checkin bags. Clothes it hard to avoid but cameras and such shouldnt be packed in those bags

Not only that, but most airline baggage coverage specifically excludes things like cameras, so you'll likely get nothing from the carrier for that. Also, even the Amex coverage, if you have it, appears to have a $250 limit for items like cameras.

As others have said, never pack valuable or irreplaceable items in checked bags. There's a high risk of theft, it's nearly impossible to track down when and where it happened, and most insurance specifically excludes things like electronics.

As for the issue with baggage locks, I've never understood the fetish some people have with locking their luggage (and I don't mean the OP). Some act like they want it to be like a traveling bank vault, with one of those locks that can withstand a direct gunshot. If someone wants to steal what's in your checked luggage, the tiny lock on the bag isn't going to stop them. It will keep the bag from opening accidentally, and perhaps keep the honest people out, but not much more.

If you bought your tickets with your American express gold or platinum card you have insurance for stolen property while flying. Perhaps with other cards too. ...Ditto for many of the Chase cards and in some cases your homeowners / renter policy.

Ditto for many of the Chase cards and in some cases your homeowners / renter policy.I should look into that regarding my Chase card and the disappearance of a bike-mounted video camera that disappeared coming back from France a couple weeks ago. A $200 camera so not the end of the world, and I was certain that I was going to discover it packed away in a different bag than I thought it had been placed in, but no, and my son knew exactly where he had packed it.

Bikes in general are getting screwed up pretty badly by TSA these days. Can't tell you how much damage I see coming into the shop, typically due to the TSA folk pulling the bikes out of their boxes or cases and just haphazardly tossing them back in, in particular not installing the axle end caps that keep the wheels from punching through the box as well as damaging the frame inside the box. If chase covers such things, even with a fairly-low limit, it would be of interest to my customers.

OP - it sounds like that the MSC in this case may be US.

So it is best you contact US Airway as soon as possible, as UA may summarily deny your claim based on that.

Anybody can watch a video on youtube and learn how to pop a TSA lock in seconds (depending on which type of lock it is).

Yeah, Bolt Cutters do the job quicker and are often used by the TSA regardless of lock used.

Hence I don't check bags.

So it is best you contact US Airway as soon as possible, as UA may summarily deny your claim based on that.

Wrong. By IATA convention, the carrier operating the last segment is responsible for the baggage claim. UA is going to handle this.

UA is going to handle this.
In other words, OP, don't waste your time .. :rolleyes:

Wrong. By IATA convention, the carrier operating the last segment is responsible for the baggage claim. UA is going to handle this.

I don't want to argue with you. Read:

http://www.atpco.net/atpco/download/Five_baggage_facts.pdf

U.S. DOT rule prevail IATA.

I am so confused. So should I contact US Airways too or it is too late?!? because originally I only contacted United Airlines and United Airlines worker at the airport said that since they were responsible for my last flight, they will handle the case.

I am so confused. So should I contact US Airways too or it is too late?!? because originally I only contacted United Airlines and United Airlines worker at the airport said that since they were responsible for my last flight, they will handle the case.believe you have done the right thing -- this last issue to not relevant to lost baggage issue (it is referring to baggage fees).

I don't want to argue with you. Read:

http://www.atpco.net/atpco/download/Five_baggage_facts.pdf

U.S. DOT rule prevail IATA.

The new DOT rules deal with the establishment and disclosure of baggage fees. The rules for carrier responsibility have not changed in eons and remain that the last carrier handles the claim and pays the customer, if appropriate. It is then up to the carriers to work out responsibility among themselves.

Here, UA was OP's carrier on his last segment and it is to UA which he has properly complained. UA will deal with the claim and then fight with US about responsibility (or not). But, that won't affect OP.

Wrong. By IATA convention, the carrier operating the last segment is responsible for the baggage claim. UA is going to handle this.Yes, normally this is the case. However I suggested OP claim on both and let them sort it out between them! I am not sure whether the normal requirement to pick luggage up on arrival at PHL (that was missed by OP) changes this to make the incoming carrier at that point when the OP should have picked up his luggage, the "last" carrier.

Here, UA was OP's carrier on his last segment and it is to UA which he has properly complained. UA will deal with the claim and then fight with US about responsibility (or not). But, that won't affect OP.

That's right. This is true even if it is undisputed that the loss occurred on another carrier (for example, the bag went completely missing en route and both carriers agree that US never handed off the bag to UA).

Consider why this makes sense. Consider the case where you start off in Africa on an Air Zimbabwe flight, connect through Europe on a European carrier, and then end up in the US on a UA flight, and where your final destination is your arrival city in the US. You won't know your luggage is missing or damaged until you're at your final airport. Even if it is somehow known that Air Zimbabwe is responsible for the loss or damage to your luggage, how are you supposed to handle it now that you're in the US? That carrier likely doesn't have a presence at your final airport, and may not even have an agent in your entire country. Even if you contacted their HQ at your own expense, they may not even speak your language. By having the operating carrier handle damage or loss claims at the final arrival airport, this guarantees that you have someone local that you can speak to in person to take your report and deal with the issue of communicating with the other carriers involved.

Heads up to those travelling out of EWR; my mother and travelling companion's checked luggage was ransacked yesterday after curbside check. Upon arrival into LAX, they noticed their folded clothes had been tossed and then balled back into the suitcase and shoes wrapped in tissue paper were ripped out. Luckily, my mom is smart enough not to pack any valuables in checked luggage. Before anyone thinks otherwise, this was not the work of the TSA (no love note inserted); this has to have been UA luggage handlers. Early check-in plus large Tumi suitcase = prime target.

I think it's a stretch to say it wasn't the TSA because there was no inspection note. If one of their people is ransacking lugggage, they probably won't be putting notes in it saying so.

I also think that just because there is a note that means it was the TSA, if ground workers are going to ransack, they may add in a TSA note so people don't blame them.

I would not base any decisions on who was in the bag on the presence or lack of a note.

I think it's a stretch to say it wasn't the TSA because there was no inspection note. If one of their people is ransacking lugggage, they probably won't be putting notes in it saying so.

I also think that just because there is a note that means it was the TSA, if ground workers are going to ransack, they may add in a TSA note so people don't blame them.

I would not base any decisions on who was in the bag on the presence or lack of a note.

It is because there is no way to tell whether the TSA or the airline handlers committed the robbery that these robberies take place. The airline and the TSA can point the finger at each other.

@flyinhawaiin - How does a large Tumi + early check in create a "prime" target? And this problem isnt just at EWR. Its at every airport. Warning someone about robbery at EWR is like warning someone that your was broken into in Illinois.

@flyinhawaiin - How does a large Tumi + early check in create a "prime" target?

Large expensive suitcase may hint that there are expensive contents inside.
Early check-in - more time to verify this, and to set bag aside and check before sent down to the ramp?

Heads up to those travelling out of EWR; my mother and travelling companion's checked luggage was ransacked yesterday after curbside check. Upon arrival into LAX, they noticed their folded clothes had been tossed and then balled back into the suitcase and shoes wrapped in tissue paper were ripped out. Luckily, my mom is smart enough not to pack any valuables in checked luggage. Before anyone thinks otherwise, this was not the work of the TSA (no love note inserted); this has to have been UA luggage handlers. Early check-in plus large Tumi suitcase = prime target.

Agree 100% with this post.

Heads up to those travelling out of EWR; my mother and travelling companion's checked luggage was ransacked yesterday after curbside check. Upon arrival into LAX, they noticed their folded clothes had been tossed and then balled back into the suitcase and shoes wrapped in tissue paper were ripped out. Luckily, my mom is smart enough not to pack any valuables in checked luggage. Before anyone thinks otherwise, this was not the work of the TSA (no love note inserted); this has to have been UA luggage handlers. Early check-in plus large Tumi suitcase = prime target.

from what I hear EWR is notorious for baggage theft including cases perpetrated by TSA. If TSA sole from a bag would they really be stupid enough to leave one of their notes?

I think it's a stretch to say it wasn't the TSA because there was no inspection note. If one of their people is ransacking lugggage, they probably won't be putting notes in it saying so.

I also think that just because there is a note that means it was the TSA, if ground workers are going to ransack, they may add in a TSA note so people don't blame them.

I would not base any decisions on who was in the bag on the presence or lack of a note.+1

I am so confused. So should I contact US Airways too or it is too late?!? because originally I only contacted United Airlines and United Airlines worker at the airport said that since they were responsible for my last flight, they will handle the case.

I'd call both.

And understand it wont matter.

s

from what I hear EWR is notorious for baggage theft including cases perpetrated by TSA. If TSA sole from a bag would they really be stupid enough to leave one of their notes?

If anyone cared about this, how hard would it be to use surveillance cameras to catch these?

If anyone cared about this, how hard would it be to use surveillance cameras to catch these?

Apparently it's too difficult as all the surveillance cameras are focused on the general public. ;)