Originally Posted by
hughw
This is an area that Continental really needs to work on. See this previous thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=713541
Stuff is stolen along the way starting with the ground crews and stuff is not itemized in any way where it can be identified easily by Lost and Found even if it gets there.
Some suggestions:
(1)Have someone from the flight crew (or gate crew) walk the plane immediately after passengers deboard and pick up anything of obvious value that they can see on the seats, in the luggage compartment, etc. and have them tag with flight # and date. I'm not suggesting that they are required to look under seats or go through seat back compartments, etc. but I would bet that there are a lot of ipods, phones, etc. left on seats when people put them down when they are pulling out there luggage.
(2) Require the cleaning crews also to tag all items found with flight # and date. And perhaps have security occasionally test the ground crews for honesty by planting some items to see if they're turned in or stolen.
(3) Institute a computer matching system where a passenger can request by flight # and date if an item was found. The minute I asked Lost and FOund if they had my old blue sweater that I left on a flight, and they were not interested in even knowing the flight, I knew that there was no way it would be found even if they had it.
All of these suggestions are in place in Cleveland except number 3. The agents try their best to match lost items with lost article reports. A couple things to remember the agents first responsibility is to work on delivering out bags that Co mishandled. Placing all bags onhand not claimed the day before. Taking claims for bags that do not arrive. Answering phone calls. I hate to say lost articles are the last things the agents work on, but it is. The folks in Cleveland try hard to match these items, but when a name and phone number is not on the item lost it makes it very difficult to find a owner. If the item comes to baggage from the gate with the flight info and date that helps.
Always remember when you leave something on the plane and you call CO file the report and give as much info as possible.