Lost luggage
 

First flight on Jet Blue last thursday the 21st, JFK-HOU and they lost my suitcase. I immediately started the process of filing a claim, and have been on the phone to them several times a day. Every agent has been very nice, but I haven't gotten the feeling that any of them can move mountains. The only policy pronouncements so far have been that they reimburse $25/day for incidentals for the first 5 days, and after that I get a single person to work on my case and start to file a claim. The JetBlue site is singularly uninformative.

I'm leaving for Hobby to go home in a couple of hours. Any suggestions on how to optimize my chances for either getting the bag back or for optimal reimbursement? Am I settling for less than I am due?

It's a run-of-the mill travelpro rollaboard, bright red with a bright blue strap, which should help it stand out. They think the luggage claim ticket fell off (the one that's so hard to pull off? Plus that label they stick on the side?) so that would probably mean that the flimsy old paper AA address tag also fell off. Unfortunately I can visualize the large address label that usually goes inside my suitcase still at home on the bed -- yes, my VERY bad.

I know that lots of bags get lost during the holidays but it's been a colossal pain to scramble together three outfits for a dressy wedding. And the prospect of the time and shopping agony ahead if I have to replace the few nice outfits that FIT me makes me weep.

Any words of advice, or Flyer experts?

Hope everyone is having a happy holiday!

("all I want for Christmas is my suit-case back, my suit-case back...")

I've never lost a bag so I am not one to give advice. Just wanted to wish you the best of luck in this situation! It must be so frustrating.

Happy holidays and hopefully the flight itself will be enjoyable for you!

I flew with my parents to LAS on a late evening flight and one of two checked bags was lost. It was right after JetBlue moved to the new terminal and a few customers on-board had lost luggage, so I suspect it was a problem at LAS.

The crew did an awesome job with the situation. They stayed in the office until very late that night, called with several updates the next morning, and then delivered the luggage to their hotel the next afternoon. The crew offered a voucher towards a future flight (I think it was $25) right away; JetBlue actually issued vouchers for both of my parents for the inconvenience.

I'm sorry your situation isn't going so well and I hope the rest of your holidays are much better!

Bill

Thanks for the support. As of 5:30 tonight it'll be 5 days so my case gets bumped to the next phase. I'm working on an inventory of the contents :(

I must say that they have never called with an update even after promising to call. Houston has only 6 flights a day, in and out, how hard can it be?

After 5 days of JFK baggage service not returning my calls (or anyone else's, apparently, since their voice mail was full yesterday afternoon) I got in touch with the main office in Salt Lake City and was assigned a contact person. They're supposed to send a claim form, which must be completed and returned by Jan. 14 in order to be considered for reimbursement.

I got complacent and checked baggage without incident for years. Obviously it's time to rethink. A challenge in this TSA environment and for some of the leisure travel I do...

Happy New Year, everyone!