United accidentally strands NZ man....
#16
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Programs: UA PM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 1,293
If he flies a lot I don't understand why he would put it under his seat if he is in bulkhead. Anyone who flies a lot knows you don't put a bag under your seat if you are in bulkhead First Class. You either stow it above or have the FA put it in the closet.
Also, agree with others on not keeping a wallet or passport in a carry-on. That's just asking for trouble.
Also, agree with others on not keeping a wallet or passport in a carry-on. That's just asking for trouble.
#17
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
If he flies a lot I don't understand why he would put it under his seat if he is in bulkhead. Anyone who flies a lot knows you don't put a bag under your seat if you are in bulkhead First Class. You either stow it above or have the FA put it in the closet.
Also, agree with others on not keeping a wallet or passport in a carry-on. That's just asking for trouble.
Also, agree with others on not keeping a wallet or passport in a carry-on. That's just asking for trouble.
#18
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 575
So I know the person this happened too, and he flies *a lot* and would have placed his bag in similar spots before. In person he is also one of the most chilled and relaxed folks I know. Karma this is not - the FA should have asked. A five second question would have avoided everything.
The issue is really about the customer experience once the problem was discovered - not having your passport and not knowing where it is is an awful situation to be in. United didn't cover themselves in glory here.
The issue is really about the customer experience once the problem was discovered - not having your passport and not knowing where it is is an awful situation to be in. United didn't cover themselves in glory here.
#19
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
Insert your favorite Kiwi joke here?
1) Anyone who's flown >1 time should know that carry-on bag is stowed underneath the seat in front of you. This is emphasized in the safety video as well.
2) When filing the lost luggage report, one should always review the "deliver to" address.
So, I'm not totally sympathetic with the NZ man.
1) Anyone who's flown >1 time should know that carry-on bag is stowed underneath the seat in front of you. This is emphasized in the safety video as well.
2) When filing the lost luggage report, one should always review the "deliver to" address.
So, I'm not totally sympathetic with the NZ man.
#20
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO South Bay
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 3,052
I am confused with all the discussion about how this happened. I think the real point is what happened AFTERWARDS. United failed on the response and follow up. That should be the discussion.
I flew in F on A320 just a couple weeks ago. If he was on an intl business class ticket, that is the cabin he would have been in.
As for which seat it was under, here is a report from NZ Herald:
As for which seat it was under, here is a report from NZ Herald:
A Kiwi man was left without his wallet and passport after his bag was removed from a United flight.
Ben Kepes said he was travelling from Nashville to San Francisco in business class and was working on his laptop when his bag was taken, unbeknownst to him.
The bag was sitting under the seat in front of him.
"It was only about four hours later, as we were about to land in San Francisco that I realised my bag wasn't there and the penny dropped," he told the Herald.
Ben Kepes said he was travelling from Nashville to San Francisco in business class and was working on his laptop when his bag was taken, unbeknownst to him.
The bag was sitting under the seat in front of him.
"It was only about four hours later, as we were about to land in San Francisco that I realised my bag wasn't there and the penny dropped," he told the Herald.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 26, 2017 at 12:14 am Reason: Discuss the issues, not the poster(s)
#21
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,930
I assumed from the headline that he was stuck in SFO due to the missing passport, but on reading the article it would seem that UA got his bag to him in time for his SFO-AKL flight. Yes, it was some period of time where he was without his bag, wallet and passport and I'm sure that was stressful, but they didn't actually strand him.
I'm still amazed that the FA could take a bag from at his feet and he didn't notice it. I do wonder if he got up to go the the bathroom or something.
I'm still amazed that the FA could take a bag from at his feet and he didn't notice it. I do wonder if he got up to go the the bathroom or something.
#22
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: TX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 729
And here is a quote from the report linked by the OP.
Kepes, who has been recounting the ordeal on Twitter, says his bag was underneath his Business Class seat while he was working on his laptop before a flight from Nashville to San Francisco when it was removed without his knowledge. As he writes, it wasn't until he was arriving at SFO that he noticed the bag was gone.
I think it is more likely than not the bag underneath his seat, lest he would see it being taken.
Kepes, who has been recounting the ordeal on Twitter, says his bag was underneath his Business Class seat while he was working on his laptop before a flight from Nashville to San Francisco when it was removed without his knowledge. As he writes, it wasn't until he was arriving at SFO that he noticed the bag was gone.
I think it is more likely than not the bag underneath his seat, lest he would see it being taken.
Last edited by txaggiemiles; May 25, 2017 at 6:13 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO South Bay
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 3,052
Nonetheless, I am confused why so many of us are so quick to blame the passenger here? I cannot see any reason for taking any bag off an airplane before a flight, when people are already aboard, without first making sure it does not belong to someone. Even if under your own seat.
And, as the PAX said himself, he is not upset with the FA. He is upset due to the lack of follow up and communication from UA AFTER the incident.
Last edited by blueman2; May 25, 2017 at 6:35 pm
#24
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,091
I think it is pretty easy to take something from underneath the seat you're sitting on. You literally cannot see behind you, and if you are working on your laptop or focused on something in front of you, you wouldn't know that someone leaned into the row behind you to take something from the floor under your seat. Not to mention if you were on the phone or listening to music, certainly not going to get any audio cues or visual ones.
And it's also entirely possible he didn't believe anyone was going to be sitting behind him since he can check the seat map and determine whether the seat behind him was occupied or not.
I don't think it's necessarily fair to jump to conclusions and say the guy was clueless or a DYKWIA, especially when there is a possibility that the seat behind him went out empty and he wasn't doing anything wrong in that case.
And it's also entirely possible he didn't believe anyone was going to be sitting behind him since he can check the seat map and determine whether the seat behind him was occupied or not.
I don't think it's necessarily fair to jump to conclusions and say the guy was clueless or a DYKWIA, especially when there is a possibility that the seat behind him went out empty and he wasn't doing anything wrong in that case.
#25
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I think it is pretty easy to take something from underneath the seat you're sitting on. You literally cannot see behind you, and if you are working on your laptop or focused on something in front of you, you wouldn't know that someone leaned into the row behind you to take something from the floor under your seat. Not to mention if you were on the phone or listening to music, certainly not going to get any audio cues or visual ones.
#26
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#27
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: TX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 729
I want to clarify - I am not blaming the passenger. I think it was a screw up. I think the FA apologized and I think the passenger forgives the FA. I do think the after-incident service was a mess up, but not a huge deal. I think the issue, which UA caused, was handled reasonably.
I was merely commenting on the reporting. From what we know, I think the bag was under his own seat, unless the passenger left his seat, for which there is no indication.
#28
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SFO South Bay
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 3,052
I really need to remember to include emoticons. My comment was a wink comment since I knew, of course, you were just using hyperbole.
#29
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
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His latest tweet :
"Ever sat in the front row? There is no seat in front of you to out a bag under...."
So it would appear that the suggestion that he put it under his own seat are correct.
"Ever sat in the front row? There is no seat in front of you to out a bag under...."
So it would appear that the suggestion that he put it under his own seat are correct.
#30
Join Date: Oct 2015
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My wife flies enough to qualify by segments and she was going to stick it under her bulkhead seat last month. Worse yet, the FA (who was elsewhere during our exchange), tells her to put her small purse underneath rather than up above. Which meant I got further dirty looks.