Originally Posted by invisintl

Just a warning to everyone: If you forget something on the plane, you might not get it back.

About two weeks ago, on an IAH-SCL flight, I forgot my iPad in the seat pocket in front of me. I didn't realize it was missing until the day after the flight, and I filed a report with United. I assumed that it was just lost, and that being wedged in between magazines, it probably hadn't been found yet, or had maybe made the return trip back up to the US.

Despite my hostel's bad internet, I managed to set up Find my iPhone to display my contact information and to notify me when the iPad was located.

Lo-and-behold, it was traced to a residential-looking building in Santiago. Ever since instructions for its return were shown, the iPad has stayed turned off.

This leads me to believe that the iPad was stolen. Not lost.

While I know that United can't be held liable for carryon items, this is a big disappointment to me. Calling customer service garnered zero sympathy. I guess I was naive in expecting that lost items would be returned to lost and found.

So word to the wise: Be careful not to forget your carryon items on the plane. You might not get them back.