JDiver

Welcome to FlyerTalk! Sorry to hear about your loss of stuff. You don't say what "expensive items" were looted, but many such are specifically not covered, and there are limits and limitations on reporting (see below).

You should check the airline's Conditions of Carriage as they relate to baggage <link> - they tell you what you are covered for and what not (it's pretty one-sided, since they are covered and you are generally not covered much). In part:

Liability (in part)

...American does not accept in or as checked baggage any of the following items: antiques, artifacts, artwork, books and documents, china, computers and other electronic equipment, computer software, fragile items (including child/infant restraint devices such as strollers and car seats), eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, non-prescription sunglasses and all other eyewear and eye/vision devices whether lenses are glass, plastic, or some other material, furs, heirlooms, keys, liquids, medicines, money, orthotics, surgical supports, perishable items, photographic, video and optical equipment, precious metals, stones or jewelry, securities and negotiable papers, silverware, samples, unique or irreplaceable items or any other similar valuable items.

American does not accept these items in or as checked baggage and assumes no responsibility or liability for such items, regardless of whether American knew or should have known of the presence of such items in checked or transferred baggage. If any such items are lost, damaged or delayed, you will not be entitled to any reimbursement under American's standard baggage liability, or under any declared excess valuation. Do not attempt to check these items. Carry them with you in the passenger cabin (subject to carry-on baggage limitations)...

and the clincher here, as you and videomaker stated:

Missing Items

Items missing from checked baggage must be reported to American before leaving the airport or within 24 hours of the receipt of the bag.

Your post and replies will be merged into the existing "Baggage Luggage delay loss advice compensation prevention etc. consolidated thread.

coachrowsey

Welcome to Flyertalk. However as others have said you are out of luck. I can not understand how some one with expensive items in luggage would wait a week to unpack. You have no way to prove they were stolen.

MLINER

Thank you to everyone who responded to my thread. Please let me know if this piece of information changes the situation at all (although I suspect from everyone's initial responses that it doesn't):

The luggage from which my items were stolen (my girlfriends $1100 purse and a $600 pair of my sunglasses) was not intended as checked luggage. The items were taken from a carry-on suitcase that the airline took from me and put under the plane at the gate because of overcrowding in the overhead bins. Additionally, the reason that I didn't open my suitcase for a week after the trip to Detroit was that almost immediately upon arriving in Detroit, I left for a business trip that I had packed separately for. Although I understand the airlines interest in a 24-hour reporting window, in a situation such as mine I would hope that they would make an exception because no reasonable traveler would expect that items of theirs would be stolen by airline employees.

Thanks to everyone for their tips thus far.

pdog02

When forced to gate check, absolutely tell the agent that you need time to re-arrange the items in the bag. IE, take valuables out and repack in your personal carry-on.

tom911

Have you checked if you might be covered with either homeowners or renters insurance? Also, some credit cards provide protection if items are stolen within a certain period of time (AMEX has a card that offers theft coverage for 90 days after purchase), should something like that apply in your situation.

videomaker

No, nothing about that scenario changes the reporting requirements. I'd say you're out of luck as far as pursuing a claim with AA.

When forced to gate check a bag, those are the kind of items that should be removed and carried on the plane.

Radiant Flyer

"I would hope that they would make an exception because no reasonable traveler would expect that items of theirs would be stolen by airline employees."

Ummmm how often do you travel??? Any frequent flier knows the bags that get checked are opened, and yes at times things are stolen. It's been in the local news laptops, and even guns have been stolen by Airline/TSA employees!!! I have even had a $200 electric razor stolen. I find it reckless that someone traveling would let a $1,100 purse get checked, even at the last minute when on board the plane!!! Sorry you had to learn the hard way.

On another note my bags were recently delayed. Second time in 10 years. What made this a major issue for me is that I was departing within 48 hours on another trip. After 12 hours with no bags I called American in a panic and was transferred to some executive customer service office. # 1 they promised the bags would be returned to me within 24 hours, and deposited 15,000 miles into my account.

The bags arrived within 24 hours, and I'm happy that American gave me the bonus miles for my troubles. FYI': They bags were delayed due to mechanical problems at Ohare.

serfty

Note that since MLINER was on an International Itinerary and the USA is a signatory to it, the Montreal Convention overrides both of those clauses:
i.e. the Airline must cover the loss of said items (including valuables/fragiles) and a claimant has 7 Days to notify of loss in writing.

http://www.dot.gov/ost/ogc/Montreal1999.pdf

To MILNER, if it is still not more than seven days since you collected said luggage you must notify AA in writing. See Articles 31.2 and 31.3 of the Montreal Convention.

bdemaria

It is worth a try to pursue this route, but I suspect that Puerto Rico-US will not qualify as an int'l itinerary.

serfty

You may be correct:It all depends upon how "International Itinerary" is defined in respect to Montreal.

oklAAhoma

I don't see how this can be construed as an international itinerary. How could an unincorperated territory of the US be considered to be distinct (for these purposes) from the rest of the US, considering the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is not listed as a separate signatory to the Montreal Protocol?

gemac

Not only do you have a problem with the 24-hour limitation, but even if you had discovered and reported the theft within 24 hours, I suspect that you would have a problem with the fact that the items stolen were many times the cost of the average sunglasses or purse. There is a reason why AA tells you not to check valuables. I know you didn't intend to check this bag, but as others have said, when forced to you have to remove the valuables. The only time this happened to me, I stopped to remove about $2,000 of camera gear from my carryon. The carryon was almost empty when I got all the camera stuff out. FA didn't say a word, took it and checked it.

serfty

See here:

Court analyzes definition of “international carriage” under Montreal Convention

oklAAhoma

As I read it, I think that link proves my point.

“For the purposes of this Convention, the expression international carriage means any carriage in which, according to the agreement between the parties, the place of departure and the place of destination, whether or not there be a break in the carriage or a transhipment, are situated either within the territories of two States Parties, or within the territory of a single State Party if there is an agreed stopping place within the territory of another State, even if that State is not a State Party” (emphasis in original).

Unless there were segments the OP has not mentioned, the entire trip (Puerto Rico-US) was within the territories of a single State Party, and there was no stopping place within the territory of another State. Unless I am missing something, (which is certainly possible), the requisite two State Parties needed to make this an international trip as defined under the Montreal Convention are not involved.

serfty

Agrre - the link does indicate your point. Puerto Rico is a territory of the US and Montreal probably does not apply. I posted it to do so.

However it's good to remember that the AA's (nor any Airline's) C&C's are not always the final arbiter. If the origin had been, say, PAP then the situation may have been different.

Specifically, if an international routing including a signatory country to the Montreal Convention and items in checked luggage go missing then: