Phone lost at IAH (17 Aug 2018) & now found
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,921
If I found a phone unattended, I'd pick it up and turn it in. If the person who forgot it came back 30 seconds later, I'd hate to be called a thief.
#47
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
During this whole ordeal a friend of mine mentioned that one would think that with all of the social media outlets we have it should be possible to simply post an alert that help is needed at a given location. For example, were an FTer available in Terminal E at IAH on the morning of August 16 I could have directed them to my phone's location as determined by the Find My iPhone APP and set off the lost phone alarm so that they could hear it, find it and return it to me. I am wondering if there is scope to set up such an "Immediate Boots on the Ground Help Needed" thread on FT. Note that the thread would not be tied to a specific airline, as this one is, since what we need are FT bodies at a specified location. I have noted calls for help on FT such as mine from time to time, but I stumble upon them rather than see them as a directed outcome from FT. One could even set up notifications, like an Amber Alert, when an FTer needs help. FTers could opt in or out of the notifications, as they wish. Thoughts?
Plus, how would we know if the person demanding the phone is authentic or not. Anyone could easily pretend to be in touch with you and say it's their device when it's not. This is why UA and other establishments demand a positive ID check of you, the device owner.
#48
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,530
If I found an iPhone on top of a paper boarding pass and decided to pick it up to turn it in to lost and found, I'd probably pick up both, since the name/PNR on the boarding pass would help reunite the phone with its owner. If I had time, I'd even go to the gate for that flight and give it to the GA so they could page the passenger at the gate.
Seems it could have been:
(1) someone thought it was unattended, picked it up to turn it in (and failed to grab the boarding pass)
(2) someone picked it up thinking it was theirs, later realized they had two phones, turned it in
(3) someone stole it from the bathroom, later decided it wasn't worth it and dropped it off somewhere where it was later found and turned in (or maybe even turned it in themselves)
(4) OP actually set it down somewhere other than where they thought they did (a different sink, on the hand dryer, fell out of their purse in the terminal, etc.) and it was found there.
I think we will never know for sure!
Seems it could have been:
(1) someone thought it was unattended, picked it up to turn it in (and failed to grab the boarding pass)
(2) someone picked it up thinking it was theirs, later realized they had two phones, turned it in
(3) someone stole it from the bathroom, later decided it wasn't worth it and dropped it off somewhere where it was later found and turned in (or maybe even turned it in themselves)
(4) OP actually set it down somewhere other than where they thought they did (a different sink, on the hand dryer, fell out of their purse in the terminal, etc.) and it was found there.
I think we will never know for sure!
#49
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 754
If I found an iPhone on top of a paper boarding pass and decided to pick it up to turn it in to lost and found, I'd probably pick up both, since the name/PNR on the boarding pass would help reunite the phone with its owner. If I had time, I'd even go to the gate for that flight and give it to the GA so they could page the passenger at the gate.
Seems it could have been:
(1) someone thought it was unattended, picked it up to turn it in (and failed to grab the boarding pass)
(2) someone picked it up thinking it was theirs, later realized they had two phones, turned it in
(3) someone stole it from the bathroom, later decided it wasn't worth it and dropped it off somewhere where it was later found and turned in (or maybe even turned it in themselves)
(4) OP actually set it down somewhere other than where they thought they did (a different sink, on the hand dryer, fell out of their purse in the terminal, etc.) and it was found there.
I think we will never know for sure!
Seems it could have been:
(1) someone thought it was unattended, picked it up to turn it in (and failed to grab the boarding pass)
(2) someone picked it up thinking it was theirs, later realized they had two phones, turned it in
(3) someone stole it from the bathroom, later decided it wasn't worth it and dropped it off somewhere where it was later found and turned in (or maybe even turned it in themselves)
(4) OP actually set it down somewhere other than where they thought they did (a different sink, on the hand dryer, fell out of their purse in the terminal, etc.) and it was found there.
I think we will never know for sure!
Last edited by economyplusfan; Aug 21, 2018 at 10:41 pm Reason: Tried to shrink the size of the attached image, to no avail.
#50
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,273
How often, exactly, do you lose your phone?
Glad you located the phone; although I am still not convinced it was ever "stolen" in this instance.
#51
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: if it's Thursday, this must be Belgium
Programs: UA 1K MM
Posts: 6,481
#52
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 754
1. Track the phone's location on Find my iPhone.
2. Put the phone in Lost mode using Find my iPhone.
3. Disable the account at my carrier.The phone was in this state when United called me at the number listed on the phone's home screen, so doing this must not wipe out the Lost iPhone message on the home screen.
4. Enable the account at my carrier.
After the last step Find my iPhone was able to locate the phone at United's L&F in terminal B. I do not believe I was able to locate the phone prior to turning the cell service back on.
Last edited by economyplusfan; Aug 22, 2018 at 9:47 am
#53
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 754
I wouldn't give up so quickly. Several years ago I left an iPad in the seat-back pocket of a UAX flight inbound to IAH. I was involved in a VDB that happened after I had boarded the flight and while de-boarding to accept the VDB I forgot my iPad. I realized it about 5 minutes after the plane departed and notified the gate agent, who said she was able to get word to the receiving GA at IAH (not sure about that, but that's what I was told). When I got to IAH about an hour later, I went to the gate where my original flight had arrived. No sign of the iPad. I chalked it up as lost.
Four weeks later I got a phone call from United Lost & Found: "Kale73, we've found your iPad. Where would you like it shipped?"
Four weeks later I got a phone call from United Lost & Found: "Kale73, we've found your iPad. Where would you like it shipped?"
#54
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 747
Indeed, patience has paid off, as you suggest. I received an email from United today (8 days after I was notified that they had the phone in their possession at IAH) asking for shipping information and a credit card payment for shipping. Yippee!! Thanks to all at FT for the education and advice, and a special thanks to COSPILOT for offering to collect my phone from United baggage in IAH.
#56
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: In between
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, SPG/Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 564
I had a similar story just come to closure not too long ago:
Back in April, I left my work phone on a flight from PIT-EWR. I realized I had left it on the flight after moving to the UC, went back to the gate and the plane had already left. No turn ins to lost and found. I wrote the phone off and went on my way to AMS.
FFWD to about a month ago, I got an email from a nice lady at the lost and found depot at IAH saying they had a phone they think belonged to me (not sure how as I never filed a report) and asked me for details. Provided the details, the woman confirmed and overnighted the phone to my house. Received in perfect condition - easily one of my more favorable United CS moments.
Back in April, I left my work phone on a flight from PIT-EWR. I realized I had left it on the flight after moving to the UC, went back to the gate and the plane had already left. No turn ins to lost and found. I wrote the phone off and went on my way to AMS.
FFWD to about a month ago, I got an email from a nice lady at the lost and found depot at IAH saying they had a phone they think belonged to me (not sure how as I never filed a report) and asked me for details. Provided the details, the woman confirmed and overnighted the phone to my house. Received in perfect condition - easily one of my more favorable United CS moments.