Not picking up checked luggage
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: LIS/ATL/other
Programs: UA 1K, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Plat, Marriott Gold, HH Silver
Posts: 1,983
Not picking up checked luggage
Here's the situation. I am flying WN into BOS, with an 8+ hours connection to another carrier. The other carrier is one of those international carriers with one flight a day, so their check-in counter won't even be open by the time I get to BOS. I plan on going into the city for some sightseeing and a nice meal before coming back to the airport. But I will have luggage. I can't carry it around Boston and there is no left luggage facility at BOS. So...
What if I simply don't pick it up from the WN carrousel? What I would expect to happen is for WN to eventually notice it still going around and around, and move it to the baggage office to attempt to reunite it with the pax. I would then stop by the baggage office some 5 or 6 hours later to claim it. Would this work?
What if I simply don't pick it up from the WN carrousel? What I would expect to happen is for WN to eventually notice it still going around and around, and move it to the baggage office to attempt to reunite it with the pax. I would then stop by the baggage office some 5 or 6 hours later to claim it. Would this work?
#4
Join Date: Jun 2015
Programs: VX Gold/WN Companion
Posts: 682
That would be my only concern...make sure the bag has been secured rather than it just being a strangler on the carousel for who knows how long.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ORD, MDW or MKE
Programs: American and Southwest. Hilton and Marriott hotels primarily.
Posts: 6,459
My concern is that you are leaving for an international vacation. Your plan SHOULD work. The problem is, are you prepared to disrupt your vacation, if things don't go right, for 8 harried hours in Boston.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: LIS/ATL/other
Programs: UA 1K, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Plat, Marriott Gold, HH Silver
Posts: 1,983
And park it in Boston?
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
You risk WN misplacing your luggage and not being able to find it, sending it back home or someplace else, or having your luggage stolen.
Do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do ya?
Do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do ya?
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
First, you don't have a connection. WN doesn't interline, so you are necessarily on another ticket. Hence the problem.
Second, you can't count on WN to do anything. Maybe the bag will be stuck somethere near baggage claim for a couple of hours and maybe not. Maybe after a few hours, WN will simply send it back to your origin point or send it back and louse it up. But, whatever it does, WN has fulfilled its obligation by getting the bag to you in BOS and if you just abandon it, that's on you.
Third, easy solution is to drop the bag with one of the airport hotels on your way to go do whatever you are going to do for 8 hours. It's a nice sideline for the bell desk at the Hilton --- just make sure that you tip well on both the way in and the way out because shifts change across the day and this isn't exactly $ which these folks report.
Second, you can't count on WN to do anything. Maybe the bag will be stuck somethere near baggage claim for a couple of hours and maybe not. Maybe after a few hours, WN will simply send it back to your origin point or send it back and louse it up. But, whatever it does, WN has fulfilled its obligation by getting the bag to you in BOS and if you just abandon it, that's on you.
Third, easy solution is to drop the bag with one of the airport hotels on your way to go do whatever you are going to do for 8 hours. It's a nice sideline for the bell desk at the Hilton --- just make sure that you tip well on both the way in and the way out because shifts change across the day and this isn't exactly $ which these folks report.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: LIS/ATL/other
Programs: UA 1K, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Plat, Marriott Gold, HH Silver
Posts: 1,983
Ah, a hotel bellman and a tip (or two) is an excellent suggestion. Would you recommend the Hilton at the airport, or some hotel near South Station, such as the Intercontinental?
#12
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: none
Posts: 1,668
As long as the WN baggage office is still open, you'll be OK. There are plenty of legitimate reasons why someone doesn't claim luggage right away. It happens every day. The baggage folks clear the unclaimed bags from the carousel usually before the next flight arrives and set them aside. Then when they have a free moment between arriving flights, searching for missing bags, filling out paperwork, etc., they'll secure anything not immediately claimed.
If they're really on the ball, they can check all the flights that have already arrived, cross reference all later flights, call the station where you left, check other airlines, etc., looking for you. But they probably won't do all that.
When you do finally arrive, go to the baggage office and get your bag. Just plan on enough extra time to wait in line, show your baggage claim, PNR, and proof of ID. Plus you will need enough time to check back in to your ongoing flight.
Don't sweat it. Enjoy your trip.
If they're really on the ball, they can check all the flights that have already arrived, cross reference all later flights, call the station where you left, check other airlines, etc., looking for you. But they probably won't do all that.
When you do finally arrive, go to the baggage office and get your bag. Just plan on enough extra time to wait in line, show your baggage claim, PNR, and proof of ID. Plus you will need enough time to check back in to your ongoing flight.
Don't sweat it. Enjoy your trip.
#13
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Olde Dominion
Programs: DL Silver - uh huh!
Posts: 948
#14
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,536
No experience with BOS but I have found Southwest elsewhere to be very diligent about clearing bags from the belt. My bag has been removed before my arrival more than once at smaller stations.
#15
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: CLE -> BNA
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, UA Silver, RR A-List
Posts: 312
Does one even have to take the car out of the spot in the rental garage? Put the bags in the trunk, lock it, and walk away!