JetBlue Confirmed Lost Bag February 2019 - Still no reimbursement
Dec 10, 2019, 11:12 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 3
JetBlue Confirmed Lost Bag February 2019 - Still no reimbursement
My son arrived at JFK on JetBlue in February 2019 and his baggage did not arrive. JetBlue confirmed the bag was scanned at SeaTac airport and did not arrive or was not scanned at JFK. They asked him to give them a list of items and their approximate costs for those items and promised to reimburse him. We have contacted them every month since last February and the person in charge of his case promises every time to issue him the check for reimbursement immediately. He continues to not be paid. Does anyone have any ideas about how to finally get paid? Is their strategy continue to promise something they have no desire to deliver on in the hopes the person will give up trying?
Dec 10, 2019, 11:19 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,539
My son arrived at JFK on JetBlue in February 2019 and his baggage did not arrive. JetBlue confirmed the bag was scanned at SeaTac airport and did not arrive or was not scanned at JFK. They asked him to give them a list of items and their approximate costs for those items and promised to reimburse him. We have contacted them every month since last February and the person in charge of his case promises every time to issue him the check for reimbursement immediately. He continues to not be paid. Does anyone have any ideas about how to finally get paid? Is their strategy continue to promise something they have no desire to deliver on in the hopes the person will give up trying?
Dec 10, 2019, 11:21 am
#3
Company Representative - AutoSlash and HotelSlash
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: autoslash.com | hotelslash.com
Posts: 5,665
Your son might want to consider filing a claim in small claims court in NY. Instructions for doing so can be found here. The likely outcome is that JetBlue will not want to bother sending an attorney to the proceedings and will settle with you. If the facts are as you state them, it seems like your son probably has a reasonably strong case. You could also first try sending JetBlue a certified letter addressed to their general counsel demanding payment within X days for your loss or explain that you will be forced to pursue all legal remedies available to you under NYS law.
Dec 10, 2019, 11:59 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 3
Yes. This is the thing that is so frustrating. He has done all the things correctly and they keep telling him they will issue the reimbursement and haven't done it. He has emails from them confirming it was their fault, the bag was for sure lost by them and they will reimburse him.
Dec 10, 2019, 12:49 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVPG, DL KM, Bee Six, Bonvoy Plat, Avis PC, Natl Exec, Greyhound Road Rewards Z"L
Posts: 16,699
Your son might want to consider filing a claim in small claims court in NY. Instructions for doing so can be found here. The likely outcome is that JetBlue will not want to bother sending an attorney to the proceedings and will settle with you. If the facts are as you state them, it seems like your son probably has a reasonably strong case. You could also first try sending JetBlue a certified letter addressed to their general counsel demanding payment within X days for your loss or explain that you will be forced to pursue all legal remedies available to you under NYS law.
-J.
Dec 10, 2019, 2:13 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 3
Thanks everyone. He is calling today, telling them he is recording the conversation and that they have until January 1st to get him the check. If not, he will move things to a small claims court in New York.
Dec 11, 2019, 10:13 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Miami, FL, USA
Posts: 4,047
It does not seem right that you need to file suit if they don't pay up by Jan 1. Lost baggage is regulated by the DOT. It seems like they should be able to help.
https://www.transportation.gov/lost-...amaged-baggage
https://www.transportation.gov/lost-...amaged-baggage
Dec 11, 2019, 10:52 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVPG, DL KM, Bee Six, Bonvoy Plat, Avis PC, Natl Exec, Greyhound Road Rewards Z"L
Posts: 16,699
It does not seem right that you need to file suit if they don't pay up by Jan 1. Lost baggage is regulated by the DOT. It seems like they should be able to help.
https://www.transportation.gov/lost-...amaged-baggage
https://www.transportation.gov/lost-...amaged-baggage
Although certain items were lost, the bag itself of course had inherent value, you may have paid a fee for the bag or a higher fare for the sole purpose of including a free checked bag, and you should valuate time spent trying to work with JetBlue.
- The maximum liability amount of $3,500 is set by a regulation.
I read an article not too long ago about a man who was kicked off a flight, and sued for some ridiculous amount in small claims court. JetBlue never showed up and he was actually awarded the full amount he was seeking. It took a strongly-worded letter from an attorney to actually get paid, but he got his check.
-J.
Last edited by GW McLintock; Dec 12, 2019 at 3:11 pm Reason: Added link
Dec 31, 2019, 2:22 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum, JetBlue Mosaic, Hilton Silver
Posts: 711
I'm late to the party here but totally agree about filing a claim in Small Claims Court. It's fairly simple and effective because corporate lawyers hate it. Good luck and keep us posted.
Jan 4, 2020, 6:19 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: American Express Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve
Posts: 619
Wow. Yet another instance of not only awful but in this case it is illegal withholding of just compensation for an error that is 100% JetBlue’s fault. They lost one of our bags a couple years ago and issued a check promptly. Something has gone very wrong at this airline.