Laptop damage - Airline policy?

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Feb 20, 2019, 5:45 am

#46

Imstevek

Join Date: Jul 2014

Location: BOS

Programs: 1MM, UA 1k

Posts: 529

Quote:

Originally Posted by bocastephen

Not so sure I would be running to my employer to report this - they might question why their employee lacked the knowledge to simply remove the laptop and place it under the seat vs checking the laptop.

yes, but two wrongs (not disclosing damage to their device, which contains their data) doesn’t seem to make a right, don’t you agree?

Feb 20, 2019, 7:50 am

#47

prestonh

Join Date: Jan 2007

Location: Bellingham/Gainesville

Programs: UA-G MM, Priority Club Platinum, Avis First, Hertz 5*, Red Lion

Posts: 2,808

Quote:

Originally Posted by Repooc17

Contents on my computer are more important than me (no joke), so if _______ (insert airline) has no more space, I would volunteer myself off the flight. The aggravation dealing with the aftermath is not worth the extra time I would have to wait for the next flight.

if that's 'REALLY' the case then your drives are fully encrypted, striped drives, and the good stuff is not on your local drives but you VPN back to a much more secure location. Anything more valuable than yourself 1) you wouldn't have the only copy unencrypted on your laptop HD or 2) have a low value on your life or work.

BTW, who uses unencrypted drives and travels?

Feb 20, 2019, 8:11 am

#48

COSPILOT

Join Date: Nov 2007

Location: Colorado

Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE

Posts: 5,648

We had a foreign exchange student two years ago that wasn't at all travel savvy. She gate checked her bag to COS, which included her computer. Computer was damaged in doing so, and UA payed for it because her ORD-COS was part of an international trip. I was expecting nothing for her, but apparently the international part made the difference. Took a trip to the airport to meet with UA, but it was relatively smooth and compensation for the computer arrived about 2 weeks later.

Feb 20, 2019, 8:28 am

#49

STS-134

Join Date: Jul 2011

Location: SF Bay Area

Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat

Posts: 6,652

Quote:

Originally Posted by NetNathan

The flight did not involve Montreal, but it was international..
1st leg was SIN to SFO.
2nd leg was SFO to ONT (Ontario, Calif).

They were discussing the Montreal Convention, which governs airline liability on international flights.
https://www.iata.org/policy/smarter-...ages/mc99.aspx

Quote:

Originally Posted by NetNathan

I usually try my best to protect my laptop. But on a few smaller flights when I had to green tag my bag due to inadequate over head space, I never had an issue. I am a million miler, so I have been through this before.

Just because you got away with it in the past doesn't mean it was ever a good idea. You can often get away with slamming the brakes at the last second while driving in snow many times before it causes a spinout or a crash. It doesn't mean it was ever a good idea to be doing it in the first place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NetNathan

The gate attendant gave me no choice. He simply said overhead bin space ifs full and put a luggage tag on my computer laptop bag without any questions on what was inside or any choice of alternative handling.

You need to speak up. If they ever tried to check one of my bags with my laptop, camera, or camera lenses in it, my reply would be fine, the bag gets checked, but the laptop/camera/lenses come out first.

cawhite likes this.

Last edited by STS-134; Feb 20, 2019 at 10:01 pm

Feb 20, 2019, 9:42 am

#50

EricH

Join Date: Jan 2002

Location: Washington, DC, USA

Programs: UA MM, MB LifeTit

Posts: 1,829

This won't help for your current situation, but it may help going forward. I worked for a place that required us to keep our laptops in our possession at all times while en route and provided rolling bags for them. I didn't like the rolling bag (my rolling suitcase is enough wheels for a trip) and I saw potential problems like the one you encountered, so I asked for a briefcase-style bag instead. It took far too much effort on my part to get them to agree to this but it was worth it.

Feb 20, 2019, 2:36 pm

#51

Often1

Suspended

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: DCA

Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL

Posts: 50,262

While it sounds as though UA has not gone under for lack of your business, I'm not sure what UA did wrong. Laptop damaged, owner of laptop (employer) chooses not to file a claim, and that is the end of it.

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