Toiletry bag stolen
Jan 17, 2018, 7:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 76
Toiletry bag stolen
On Monday morning I sky checked my luggage on a Dash 8-300. When I arrived at my hotel after my luggage was sitting in the back of my rental I noticed the zipper on my suitcase was open. When opens my suitcase I noticed my toiletry bag was missing. Someone must have stolen it when the were loading the sky check bags on to the plane. When I arrived back to my home airport yesterday I went to the lost baggage area and spoke to a rep who opened up a file. I was told I need to write a letter to a P.O. BOX number - is this true? And if so do I have any chance in getting compensation? I think my total cost to replace everything might be around $150.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Jan 17, 2018, 7:54 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium, UA Silver
Posts: 2,648
Jan 17, 2018, 8:17 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 76
some people do put valuables in them I.e. jewelry
Last edited by Motoss; Jan 20, 2018 at 8:04 pm
Jan 18, 2018, 6:31 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*SE MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 3,440
Or, did you take it out at security (liquids) and forget to put it back in or close the bag then? I agree with the above folks, theft of a toiletry bag seems unlikely. I've had my bag show up on the luggage rack with zippers open but nothing missing, so it can happen through rough handling as well.
Jan 18, 2018, 6:43 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 76
Or, did you take it out at security (liquids) and forget to put it back in or close the bag then? I agree with the above folks, theft of a toiletry bag seems unlikely. I've had my bag show up on the luggage rack with zippers open but nothing missing, so it can happen through rough handling as well.
My toiletry bag was/is the size of a brick if not bigger, so I doubt it would someone manage to slide out even if the zippers where slightly open.
Jan 18, 2018, 7:56 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 182
I use some plastic zipper locks (pick proof seals from Amazon)that serve to 1) hold the zipper shut so it can't accidentally open 2) let me know immediately if my bag has been opened. They are one time use and won't ever really stop someone from entering your bag. However, they will serve the purposes stated above. If my bag has been opened, I'd rather know about it right away and deal with it right then at the airport.
Jan 18, 2018, 9:35 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
I use some plastic zipper locks (pick proof seals from Amazon)that serve to 1) hold the zipper shut so it can't accidentally open 2) let me know immediately if my bag has been opened. They are one time use and won't ever really stop someone from entering your bag. However, they will serve the purposes stated above. If my bag has been opened, I'd rather know about it right away and deal with it right then at the airport.
Jan 18, 2018, 9:57 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,569
Jan 18, 2018, 12:09 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: FOTSG Tangerine Ex E35k (AC)
Posts: 5,612
My suitcases seem to get opened a high proportion of the times I fly with checked baggage. Despite always using TSA approved padlocks (I may stop bothering) however I've never had that little indicator pop up. I've had the entire padlock disappear at least twice in the last year despite low flying (TATL), I've had it replaced by a different one (like, completely different colour) with the same code (looking at you SFO), I've had "your bag was searched" in some cases, and not in others but it's clearly been gone through.
Given customs have a right to go through your luggage whatever, I'm not too sure knowing it's been gone through helps. It's not like anyone at the airport (especially post flight) is going to be willing to deal with the issue without sending you onto customer care?
Has OP got credit card or similar for insurance? I'd probably try that or travel insurance for $150. Dealing with any airline for stuff lost tends to be terrible though you'd expect better with Sky Check.
In recent trips, I've taken to throwing my wallet into then padlocking my carry-on. And have always done this for sky check (not that I do it often). Easier to sleep as if the entire bag goes missing while on the plane this will be very obvious.
Given customs have a right to go through your luggage whatever, I'm not too sure knowing it's been gone through helps. It's not like anyone at the airport (especially post flight) is going to be willing to deal with the issue without sending you onto customer care?
Has OP got credit card or similar for insurance? I'd probably try that or travel insurance for $150. Dealing with any airline for stuff lost tends to be terrible though you'd expect better with Sky Check.
In recent trips, I've taken to throwing my wallet into then padlocking my carry-on. And have always done this for sky check (not that I do it often). Easier to sleep as if the entire bag goes missing while on the plane this will be very obvious.
Jan 18, 2018, 12:37 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, IHG Diamond, National Exec Elite
Posts: 394
My mom has had her bags searched at ORD on her way to YYZ several times. This last time, they inspected a box of gourmet chocolates - so well that three were missing when she finally got to YYC!
Jan 18, 2018, 12:53 pm
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: AC
Posts: 2,167
On Monday morning I sky checked my luggage on a Dash 8-300. When I arrived at my hotel after my luggage was sitting in the back of my rental I noticed the zipper on my suitcase was open. When opens my suitcase I noticed my toiletry bag was missing. Someone must have stolen it when the were loading the sky check bags on to the plane. When I arrived back to my home airport yesterday I went to the lost baggage area and spoke to a rep who opened up a file. I was told I need to write a letter to a P.O. BOX number - is this true? And if so do I have any chance in getting compensation? I think my total cost to replace everything might be around $150.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Jan 18, 2018, 1:35 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE100K/*G, Nexus
Posts: 211
This happens to me on average 1 in 4 times I fly Canada-USA-Canada. Two other times in the past two years, I have retrieved my luggage and found my lock in place, but open/unlocked. I suspect the TSA pops the lock, checks the case, then returns the lock but doesn't lock it (they probably aren't spinning the tumblers after locking it, so it pops open again with the first jolt). It has gotten to the point where I always pack 2-3 extra locks in my checked bag, so I can replace the missing ones mid-trip if needed. It adds a bit of extra weight, but in a checked bag it's worth it to me.