manneca

With the bar code tracking, it should be easily found. I watched UA input bar codes as they took bags from the area where they are put before boarding and then as they loaded those bags into the cargo hold. While I suppose it's easy to miss inputting a code where the baggage looks like it contains valuable items, it might be easy to "miss" inputting the bar code and taking the items from the luggage. And of course their waiver for expensive items lets UA off the hook.

Baze

Did you tell UA that your iPad was showing at LAX? The app can narrow down the location pretty good if it is a strong signal. And the iPad showing in LAX would show 1 of 2 things. Where the bag was or where the person who swiped it out of the bag kept it and then tossed your bag so it would not look like a theft but a lost bag.

mdpdjx

The problem here is OP has no proof that he was instructed not to file a claim by multiple UA agents. OP was too nice and trusting.

mgcsinc

Doesn't really matter. OP will file a DOT complaint and UA will pay him. And all will be well with the world.

planes&trains

I told the one I spoke with on the phone (as well as when I stopped by at the airport office after a week) that I can find the iPad still in LAX, so likely the bag is at the airport.

That was my big hope, that it was not stolen and I will find it. Of course, they thought it was good news as well, that the bag is still at the airport.

Chase sent me some attachments I have to complete. What fun. Thanks everyone for the tips. It never occurred to me that my home insurance covers this nor that I should call the credit card. I have had bags delayed and airlines paid incidentals but first time I lost a bag. I was in denial.

Thank you for the DOT tip as well.

mgcsinc

Just be aware that, if you file a DOT complaint and get paid, you might owe that money back to the "insurance" company that pays out your credit card claim.

spin88

Given that the bag ended up at LAX (where I assume the OP resides) any dispute is under CA law. I have no doubt that in CA, if the OP says that UAL kept telling him to wait, and given his seeing it at LAX for two weeks, that any court will find in his favor.

I also seriously doubt that a 46 page set of rules that ARE NOT GIVEN TO HIM WITH HIS TICKET, and are not part of the "fare rules" that you can see on the web-site when you buy the ticket from UAL will be worth the paper they are printed out on in a CA court.

IMHO the "rules" would need to be on the SAME sheet he SIGNED or acknowledged having read (as with a pre-printed form) for them to be given any currency by a California Court. Even then a Court might not enforce a rule like this even on a pre-printed form. Something not made available to him upon purchase and that he is not told to review or he waives legal rights? Good luck enforcing that in a California Court.

Now if he lived in some state like Texas, he can just bend over, Texas does not really have courts of "justice", but California does...

mgcsinc

There is massive federal preemption when it comes to this stuff. And the CoC really does matter. Normal contract principles are only marginally relevant.

And I say all that even though I agree with you in the end, that the OP was entitled to rely on the representations of UA's agents.

flyingnosh

Yes, but they might also raise your premium next year.

Baze

And depending on your deductible it may not even be worth it.

mdpdjx

I agree it is a bad idea to file a claim withnyour homeowner insurance. The premium could go up quite a bit.

Often1

Why say this? Historically, premiums have not risen as the result of claims which are generated by random events not likely to be repeated. Put simply, it's no more likely that this situation will repeat itself for OP than for anybody else.

I have never heard of a person who has had their premiums raised as the result of a lost baggage claim. If you have data, it would be good to know.

MojaveFlyer

Many years ago, UA tried to pull this stunt on me. I sent a nice letter, can't recall to whom exactly, pointing out that I flew UA all the time, I trusted them with my bag, they lost it, I told them in a timely fashion and listed many distinguishing items in the bag so they could ID it if name tags were gone. I said they admit they lost my bag, they should do what is right and pay me per their reimbursement policies. They did.

But that was long ago when UA really cared about their elites. And I'd never trust them again with the "just wait a while to see if we can find it" nonsense.

morelegroom

UPDATE United has found the bag in dayton Ohio sent to to HNL and then "entrusted it" to some kind of ly by night bizarre firm. UA says they have a 6 hour window to deliver the bag. When i asked why ihe said "its policy" Whose policy "the company" which company "the delivery company" but they are your contractor, so you had to agree to the policy even though it is unfair to the customer. He refused to accept that United had any responsiblity for their contractors and told me if I had a complaint to go to the website.

spin88

I am happy to be corrected by an aviation lawyer on this, but I think the truth as I understand it is more that (1) the airlines claim that they have some type of absolute "pre-emption" but in fact (2) all they really have is the "filed rate doctrine" and that has no applicability in the face of oral representations and conduct by UAL. My experience is in telecommunications which use similar doctrines to try to protect themselves from liability, but I think the principles apply for airlines as well.

Put another way, if UAL incorporated the T of C quoted into their contract via the filed rate doctrine AND by reference and someone who had no dealings with UAL, did not file a claim, and suddenly came forth 6 months later and said they lost their bag, it might (probably would) fly. But once he started talking to UAL and filing paperwork, no way that the Aviation Consumer Protection Group at DOT or most court's will find it a defense.