Theft From Luggage Problem
 

Newbie poster here, so if this is the wrong forum for this I apologize. Been a long time loyal NWA customer (2.1mm FF miles) and am struggling to remain so though I get the impression these days that If I'm not willing to buy my tickets from them at 5+ times the going (competitive rate) they don't want my business - but I digress...

I recently returned from a 6 day business conference where because of the length of the trip I had no choice but to check luggage. When my bag cam off the conveyor at MSP I noticed that one of the pockets was unzipped half way. As the flight was late and I had a commitment that evening a grabbed the bag and ran. Once I got home and unpacked I realized that a digital camera and a Swiss army knife were missing from the bag. I contacted NWA immediately and reported it only to receive a letter about a week later stating that since TSA had inspected the bag they were absolved from any responsibility/liability.

TSA's website states that they do not cover the theft of any photographic equipment. (Which in my mind basically condones the theft of personal property)?

Any suggestions on how to get a favorable resolution to this problem would be greatly appreciated.

Vote for people who base their values on justice, rather than on fear. yes, I know its a political statement, but it is the politics that is driving this travesty of a TSA. I can't think of any agency more reminding me of Nazi Germany than the TSA, with its "we can't tell you why you are on our no-fly list, nor how to get off it, but we know we aren't going to let you fly and that's that" The current Government seems intent on criminalizing dissatisfaction with a bureacracy that sanctions stealing from people, sexually assaults people, and in my humble opinion, does not add much if anything to the safety of the public. Jeez, I don't understand why everyone doesn't just rise up and say "we don't want these fascists running our transportation system!"

What was the line in that movie? "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any longer"

Rant not finished.......

As aggrivating as it was, I prefer the way baggage was inspected in Israel. If you failed the security screening, they take you into a separate room and then dump everything from your luggage out into a bin in front of you. And then go through that. While you're there.

This is the way the TSA should do it.

But to get anything changed with their procedures... will probably require an act of Congress.

Theft from luggage is nothing new, TSA or no TSA, and to have packed such trinkets into a checked bag was ill-advised. That isn't to say nobody is responsible, just that some forthought would've prevented it from ever happening and saved you the items and the hassle of flighting for their replacement.

Welcome to FT, nonetheless. :)

[QUOTE=MSP-FFF] Once I got home and unpacked I realized that a digital camera and a Swiss army knife were missing from the bag. I contacted NWA immediately and reported it only to receive a letter about a week later stating that since TSA had inspected the bag they were absolved from any responsibility/liability.

TSA's website states that they do not cover the theft of any photographic equipment. [QUOTE]

I am not sure where you saw the TSA disclaimer. In the section related to checked baggage instructions TSA says that the airlines don't have any liability for electronic equipment, photographic . . . etc, and they don't. File the SF-95, and include the letter from NW as an attachment. I can see the Swiss Army Knife . . . but what were you thinking, putting a camera in a checked bag?

BTW, if the camera is valuable enough your homeowner's is the next best bet for reimbursement if you don't get anywhere. The SF-95 should act as a police report, but if your insurance company demands that you go to the police, they will likely write a counter report at the airport or over the phone.

Stuff has been stolen from bags for years, thats a fact.
More seems to be stolen now, with less liability since TSA, airport staff, and airlines staff all seem to handle it.

It is sad and the TSA thing is even worse. A travesty I say!

Oh yes, why would anyone check a digital camera. And if you have to carry a swiss army knife -then at least BURY it in your bags.

So I gather from your responses that I was at fault for putting the camera in my bag in the first place. That I should simply expect that anything of value will systematically be removed from all checked luggage by either the folks at TSA charged with protecting the traveling public, or the unscrupulous airline baggage personnel.

Is this what we've come to? :(

I don't think anyone is saying that you were at fault, but you definitely have better control over your valuables when you carry them on board.

Is there any chance that your luggage's zipper just came undone while the luggage was being transported? Your missing items might still show up in the lost and found in one of the airports between your origin and MSP.

[QUOTE=TravelLover]
Is there any chance that your luggage's zipper just came undone while the luggage was being transported? QUOTE]


I suppose anything is possible. All I know is that the camera was there when I gave the bag to TSA and when it came off the conveyor the pocket was open and the camera was gone.

Now I realize TSA had the initial contact with the bag but as I understand it NWA's baggage personnel have at least four additional points what with loading the carts, loading the plane, unloading etc. I find it humerous that since TSA had opened the bag that NWA is trying to claim no responsibility.

Definitely not your fault...but it is what we've come to and should expect. Now you know for next time. Also, you should check your cc provider if you purchased the camera recently - some of them have lost/damaged replacement provisions if it happens within the 1st 90 days of purchase.

It happened to us on NW last year, after connecting through DTW. Missed our connection and our bags sat in the airport for a few hours. Our video camera was stolen out of our suitcase. As is often the case, the camera was easily replaced. The video tape of our baby's first steps etc. was lost.

NW told us the same thing--video equipment is not covered. In fact, if you look at the list of items they exclude, it essentially covers just about anything thieves would probably want to steal (they weren't too interested in my khaki pants and/or boxer shorts, which were passed over by the bums but ARE covered in case of theft).

I have no suggestions for a favorable resolution, just a suggestion for the future: don't check anything of value, even if your bag is locked. Carry it on board or ship it separately.

No, definately not your fault. But what I was gently trying to say was there is some onus on the traveler to guard their valuables. As a TA, I've been passing on packing tips to clients for a decade, which goes back pre-TSA to a time long, long ago when your checked suitcases could actually be locked. And even in those days, I still advised not putting anything of value in those bags because of the risk of theft/pilfering somewhere along the way. While I'm guessing this is the first theft in your 2.1 million miles flown, I would think it's reasonable to assume you've probably read/seen/heard airline/airport advice not to place valuables in your checked luggage. Something like this:

"Customers should NOT pack medications, car keys, tickets, passports and other legal documentation, or valuable items such as jewelry or cameras in checked luggage."

http://www.nwa.com/services/shipping...gage/faq.shtml

I known I've probably come across it dozens of time within the pages of in-flight magazines, had it mentioned by GA's, etc.

So, it's not that anyone is jumping on the newbie or anything like that as we were all newbies once. Just trying to offer some feedback on the subject or help, where possible. Enjoy FT!

the logic escapes me.

on the one hand we may not take large carry-on bags; we are limited to one carry-on item; if we board late they may force us to check our carry-on because of space limitations.

on the other hand, most items of any value are not covered if checked.

for jewelry, etc., the solution is clear: it's small and portable, so carry it on board. For other items: souvenirs, gifts, small-medium trinkets, food or liquor from foreign countries, and many other miscellaneous items, there is no reasonable solution. I find the proposal that we must carry anything of any value with us on the plane somewhat unrealistic.

Can we really only pack clothes (but not expensive clothes), toiletries (but not the ones we need the first night or in case our bags are delayed), and cheap, valueless trinkets from South American street vendors in our checked luggage?

Since I fly ex-MSY which has had three rounds of arrests already of airport workers taking bribes and stealing items out of luggage, yeah, that's pretty much the way it is for me. I wear old clothes that I can leave behind if I need to put a gift or a new purchase in my carry-on. Checked luggage is for dirty laundry, cheap hotel shampoo, and a pair of scissors. Shopping for souvenirs is a thing of the past, really.

think twice about homeowner's insurance
 

I would never advise anyone to report a theft of a small item almost certainly worth less than $3K to their homeowner's insurer. People are losing their homeowner's insurance if they have too many small claims, at least in the Gulf Coast and the tornado-prone states. If you lose your homeowner's insurance, you may not be able to buy homeowner's insurance from another insurer and will have to fall back on the very expensive state-sponsored insurance. It is happening more and more. Small thefts should just be "eaten" because you need that insurance when an oak tree falls on your house! There was an article in Kiplinger's telling about this. I believe it was the June 2003 issue but someone who still has the old issues might look it up. A person interviewed had lost his homeowner's insurance because he made a "lost baggage" claim. Now his house can't get regular coverage and so is un-sellable for its former market value.

Most digital cameras, even brand new, are worth less or only a little more than your $500 deductible anyway. I just don't see any good coming of reporting such a theft to your insurer.