Fellow passenger (child) ruined my laptop on my flight
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5
Fellow passenger (child) ruined my laptop on my flight
Edit: laptop ended up being fine after quick internal self-cleaning, so no longer see a point for this thread. Lesson learned. I'm an idiot.
Last edited by DanMJ775; Mar 2, 13 at 11:13 am
#2
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Fellow passenger (child) ruined my laptop on my flight
Having read your tale, I'm afraid that you should file this episode under "very expensive lesson learned". You have no recourse against the airline. Why would you indicate to a complete stranger that he could use your laptop? You are opening yourself to trouble. The fact is that what happened comes down your seatmates' word against that of the teenager and his mother - if you can find them. I'm not doubting your version of events. But you have no one to blame but yourself.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5
Having read your tale, I'm afraid that you should file this episode under "very expensive lesson learned". You have no recourse against the airline. Why would you indicate to a complete stranger that he could use your laptop? You are opening yourself to trouble. The fact is that what happened comes down your seatmates' word against that of the teenager and his mother - if you can find them. I'm not doubting your version of events. But you have no one to blame but yourself.
I agree that the airline is blameless, but perhaps I could subpoena them for the mother's name and address and try to get a judgment in small claims court.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Any chance you could file a police report of what happened with witness statements and then have them pay for a new one (or take them to small claims court if need be)?
The kid's mother is financially responsible for the kid, so you'd be dealing with her.
The kid's mother is financially responsible for the kid, so you'd be dealing with her.
#7
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5
Good news. It works now! I had removed the keyboard last night and rinsed each part very lightly and gently with deionized water to remove the soda stains on the keyboard and underneath. I then let it air dry for 24 hours. I just reassembled it, and it booted up just fine. I seriously thought it was a goner after I couldn't get it turn on for two straight days, so this was a complete hail mary.
I think I will certainly take lessons from this, however. I will NEVER leave my laptop unattended while in flight again. It's not even safe in the case. What happened to me earlier this week could happen again someday. Or worse, a fellow passenger could swipe it while I'm in the bathroom and put it in their carry-on and I'd be screwed. I can't exactly ask the flight attendants to search every passenger's bags before deplaning. The only way I'll leave it unattended is if I am traveling with someone that I know (friend, girlfriend or family member) and trust that they will watch it for me.
Edit: I seriously thought that the circuit board was fried from my past experience (I used to do computer repair for extra money during college). Someone up there must like me or want to give me a second chance.
I think I will certainly take lessons from this, however. I will NEVER leave my laptop unattended while in flight again. It's not even safe in the case. What happened to me earlier this week could happen again someday. Or worse, a fellow passenger could swipe it while I'm in the bathroom and put it in their carry-on and I'd be screwed. I can't exactly ask the flight attendants to search every passenger's bags before deplaning. The only way I'll leave it unattended is if I am traveling with someone that I know (friend, girlfriend or family member) and trust that they will watch it for me.
Edit: I seriously thought that the circuit board was fried from my past experience (I used to do computer repair for extra money during college). Someone up there must like me or want to give me a second chance.
#8
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You have my condolences for your bad experience. It's reprehensible that the mother would let her child take your laptop while she was sitting there, then look you straight in the face and claim to not know what happened to it! She's clearly shirking her responsibility, not only to monitor her child but to compensate you for the damage her child caused. 
Thanks for sharing your story; it's a sad reminder of how inconsiderate our fellow passengers can sometimes be.

Thanks for sharing your story; it's a sad reminder of how inconsiderate our fellow passengers can sometimes be.

#9
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 187
It sounds like the time to deal with this would have been before the mother and child got off the plane. If the mom continued to deny that her son did anything, then ask the FA to arrange for a police officer to meet the plane at the gate to address the fact that somebody vandalized your laptop.
The officer would have most likely just mediated the matter and facilitated an exchange of contact information, but at least you have someone you can go after in small claims court, if needed.
At this point, unless the airline gives you her information voluntarily, recovering money from this lady is going to be a real headache. Glad your laptop is working again.
The officer would have most likely just mediated the matter and facilitated an exchange of contact information, but at least you have someone you can go after in small claims court, if needed.
At this point, unless the airline gives you her information voluntarily, recovering money from this lady is going to be a real headache. Glad your laptop is working again.
#10
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It sounds like the time to deal with this would have been before the mother and child got off the plane. If the mom continued to deny that her son did anything, then ask the FA to arrange for a police officer to meet the plane at the gate to address the fact that somebody vandalized your laptop.
The officer would have most likely just mediated the matter and facilitated an exchange of contact information, but at least you have someone you can go after in small claims court, if needed.
At this point, unless the airline gives you her information voluntarily, recovering money from this lady is going to be a real headache. Glad your laptop is working again.
The officer would have most likely just mediated the matter and facilitated an exchange of contact information, but at least you have someone you can go after in small claims court, if needed.
At this point, unless the airline gives you her information voluntarily, recovering money from this lady is going to be a real headache. Glad your laptop is working again.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5
It sounds like the time to deal with this would have been before the mother and child got off the plane. If the mom continued to deny that her son did anything, then ask the FA to arrange for a police officer to meet the plane at the gate to address the fact that somebody vandalized your laptop.
The officer would have most likely just mediated the matter and facilitated an exchange of contact information, but at least you have someone you can go after in small claims court, if needed.
At this point, unless the airline gives you her information voluntarily, recovering money from this lady is going to be a real headache. Glad your laptop is working again.
The officer would have most likely just mediated the matter and facilitated an exchange of contact information, but at least you have someone you can go after in small claims court, if needed.
At this point, unless the airline gives you her information voluntarily, recovering money from this lady is going to be a real headache. Glad your laptop is working again.
What I will do, however, is write a letter to the airline in question (I won't name them because it isn't their fault but you can probably narrow it down to 2 or 3 if you look at my itinerary) explaining the situation and telling them what happened. Not because I want anything, but just so they stop to think about it. Because if that little POS does it to someone else's laptop, they might not be so lucky to get it working again. I'm not really sure what they could have done to prevent it.
#12
Join Date: Aug 2012
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Fellow passenger (child) ruined my laptop on my flight
Sorry to hear about your experience. True congratulations on your handling the situation so well. Glad your laptop is in good shape.
#13
Join Date: Apr 2010
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-- SNIP --
What I will do, however, is write a letter to the airline in question (I won't name them because it isn't their fault but you can probably narrow it down to 2 or 3 if you look at my itinerary) explaining the situation and telling them what happened. Not because I want anything, but just so they stop to think about it. Because if that little POS does it to someone else's laptop, they might not be so lucky to get it working again. I'm not really sure what they could have done to prevent it.
What I will do, however, is write a letter to the airline in question (I won't name them because it isn't their fault but you can probably narrow it down to 2 or 3 if you look at my itinerary) explaining the situation and telling them what happened. Not because I want anything, but just so they stop to think about it. Because if that little POS does it to someone else's laptop, they might not be so lucky to get it working again. I'm not really sure what they could have done to prevent it.
I guess one option would be for the airline to institute a policy where all involved parties and potential witnesses are met and questioned/interviewed by police at the destination. But what else could the airline do? I am almost certain that the airline's management does not want to involve it's employees in resolving disputes between passengers that don't involve the financial or safety interests of the airline. But I could be wrong about that. It wouldn't be the first time.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 646
IANAL, but a plane is not a lawless zone. If someone assaulted you physically, they would be detained upon arrival. I don't see why vandalism and damage to property would be acceptable. I'd have asked for a police meet and greet upon arrival.
This behavior sounds very strange, though. Did the kid seem normal? It sounds more like the actions of someone with a developmental disability.
Either way, the mother should be held accountable, if not the kid. I wouldn't have left the airport w/o a police report filed. What if they'd stolen stuff and not returned it? What if they'd engaged in some identity theft?
The airline knows exactly who they are. It seems to me strange that this would just be let go.
This behavior sounds very strange, though. Did the kid seem normal? It sounds more like the actions of someone with a developmental disability.
Either way, the mother should be held accountable, if not the kid. I wouldn't have left the airport w/o a police report filed. What if they'd stolen stuff and not returned it? What if they'd engaged in some identity theft?
The airline knows exactly who they are. It seems to me strange that this would just be let go.
#15
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I applaud you for keeping your patience, if I were in your situation, after I got 2 person who tells me the real story, I'll be ballistic and called her on her lies. While the teen's action is stupid, the mom's action is much worse.