Open suitcase on tarmac! Need advice
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 17
Open suitcase on tarmac! Need advice
My inlaws are traveling from SNA-EWR-BOM. After the flight landed at EWR, they saw out of the window one of their checked bags coming out; it was completely open (it's a clamshell suitcase). The baggage handler then casually shut it and put it inside his trolley.
They are sitting in EWR right now and want to ensure that the suitcase is properly shut. United reps at EWR and on the phone were not very helpful and said they cannot give them access to the suitcase at EWR.
Do any of you know whats the best approach in this situation? They have about 3 hours at EWR before their next flight; which is the right entity to contact to either get them to check their suitcase or have United verify that it is properly shut?
They are sitting in EWR right now and want to ensure that the suitcase is properly shut. United reps at EWR and on the phone were not very helpful and said they cannot give them access to the suitcase at EWR.
Do any of you know whats the best approach in this situation? They have about 3 hours at EWR before their next flight; which is the right entity to contact to either get them to check their suitcase or have United verify that it is properly shut?
#3
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,771
Not sure much they can do other than to hope gets to BOM in one piece. The story does sound a bit odd to me though as unusual for pax to see their baggage being removed at EWR as pax often are more focused on leaving the plane. Also many baggages look similar so may not be theirs. I think you should just reassure them and hope it all works out well.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: CLT
Programs: Choice Hotels/FFOCUS
Posts: 7,256
I can only say had that happened here 99% would've taped it up so that it would've made if in fact it's broken. Or perhaps just closing it up solved the problems.
If the agent you tried to get was no help find a spvr. & explain to them.
One other thing this happens far more than it needs to happen & most of the time it's because people try to cram to much in their luggage
If the agent you tried to get was no help find a spvr. & explain to them.
One other thing this happens far more than it needs to happen & most of the time it's because people try to cram to much in their luggage
#5
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton GLD, Marriott Plat, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 2,872
If they come in contact with their checked baggage, they will have to be rescreened by TSA. The window for doing that and making an international departure is rapidly shrinking.
#6
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Central Virginia
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,231
Not sure much they can do other than to hope gets to BOM in one piece. The story does sound a bit odd to me though as unusual for pax to see their baggage being removed at EWR as pax often are more focused on leaving the plane. Also many baggages look similar so may not be theirs. I think you should just reassure them and hope it all works out well.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAH / HOU
Programs: UA GS, DL-Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Somethingist, Marriott Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 2,853
A couple years ago we saw several of our group's suitcases (all on a single cart) nearly ignited by a nearby tug (which had pulled up alongside another one, but not quite even with it) and we just knew they were going to be damaged as we watched out the window. The baggage handlers put them on the plane, though, so we figured we would find out soon enough. When we arrived at our destination (fortunately flying home) we discovered three hard sided suitcases and three plastic ski tubes had been partially melted and were completelu unusable plus one cloth bag was burned so badly the skis were falling out of it. The total compensation for our group well exceded the cost of the trip on that one. And four of us got new skis out of the deal.
#9
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 1,580