Laptop stolen mid air on UA flight
Mar 16, 2020, 12:58 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: clue is in the nym
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Sri Lankan definitely do this, can't speak for Ethiopian as never flown with them.
Mar 16, 2020, 1:00 pm
#17
Join Date: Aug 2019
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Mar 16, 2020, 1:03 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2007
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I don't think it's unusual. One of my friends flying back to Italy shortly before Christmas woke up in the middle of the night to find a woman looking in the overhead bin above her seat.
A few years ago somebody stole my toiletry bag out of my backpack, surely oblivious to the fact it contained nothing but my razor and toothbrush. Since then I have been putting everything at my feet.
A few years ago somebody stole my toiletry bag out of my backpack, surely oblivious to the fact it contained nothing but my razor and toothbrush. Since then I have been putting everything at my feet.
Mar 16, 2020, 3:28 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: EVA Air , * G, QR Privilege Club S
Posts: 5,187
Yes and especially on the China flights. I asked the crew and they said it's a common occurrence and if reported before disembarking they hold the passengers and get them searched and have caught many thieves like this.
Mar 16, 2020, 5:59 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: YYC
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Ever since the story broke a few years ago about an Air France flight attendant who was caught pilfering through sleeping passengers' belongings, I put a lock on my bag if I'm putting it in the overhead, especially if I'm planning to sleep. They're hardly foolproof, but it seems like it'd be enough of a deterrent to make a potential thief move on to another target.
Mar 16, 2020, 8:31 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2016
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When traveling overseas I always wear money belt to store cash, passport, credit cards, other valuables and pants with big enclosed pockets to store wallet and phones. I never put valuables in the overhead bins except my MBA. Maybe business class helps a little bit but not always because of the news that some organized thefts just target premium cabin passengers on Middle East to HKG flights.
Mar 16, 2020, 9:32 pm
#24
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
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This is a good reminder of never being trusting. The laptop theft seems pretty bold on an airplane, but that’s easier to replace than a passport, documents, or even cash I sometimes have. Never had this happen but this thread reminds me to be much more careful.
Mar 16, 2020, 10:08 pm
#25
Join Date: Sep 2011
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Ever since the story broke a few years ago about an Air France flight attendant who was caught pilfering through sleeping passengers' belongings, I put a lock on my bag if I'm putting it in the overhead, especially if I'm planning to sleep. They're hardly foolproof, but it seems like it'd be enough of a deterrent to make a potential thief move on to another target.
OP: Welcome to FlyerTalk!
Sorry to hear about your experience. In addition to the other things that have been mentioned, note that if you have renters' or homeowners' insurance, your loss may be covered; also, some credit card travel protection benefits cover items that are lost or stolen on board.
OP: Welcome to FlyerTalk!
Sorry to hear about your experience. In addition to the other things that have been mentioned, note that if you have renters' or homeowners' insurance, your loss may be covered; also, some credit card travel protection benefits cover items that are lost or stolen on board.
Mar 17, 2020, 10:21 am
#27
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I always ask myself if I must use a laptop during an early part of a flight, which means that others see it and see where I store it. It's the same principle as putting something into the trunk of your car before driving rather than upon reaching a parking place.
Once I observed a passenger who came up from coach going through a bunch of business class bins and yes I said something. Another time I woke up to find a FA on a TPAC flight going through stuff in my seat back pocket (aisle seat in business class, not a suite) and I made a big fuss although she *said* that she was looking for a newspaper to give to someone in coach who had requested it.
Once I observed a passenger who came up from coach going through a bunch of business class bins and yes I said something. Another time I woke up to find a FA on a TPAC flight going through stuff in my seat back pocket (aisle seat in business class, not a suite) and I made a big fuss although she *said* that she was looking for a newspaper to give to someone in coach who had requested it.
Mar 17, 2020, 10:33 am
#28
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: DEN
Programs: UA-GS; WN A-list;Hyatt - CC; Hertz - PC
Posts: 644
Client of mine got his laptop stolen on a UA flight last year. Feel a little for the guy who stole it, as the client worked for a high security government agency, and the laptop had a tracker on it. They caught the guy same day.
Mar 17, 2020, 1:18 pm
#30
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Hopefully never.
This is a problem with a simple solution. Presuming that one would find it hard to board with a lock cutter or a box cutter to chop through the lock or a bag and even harder to do all of this in view of crew and passengers, a $3 lock will solve all but the most significant targeted thefts.
Unless one is in a bulkhead row or -- on some non-US carriers, an exit row, a small laptop bag should be placed, in any event, under the seat in front of you.
This is a problem with a simple solution. Presuming that one would find it hard to board with a lock cutter or a box cutter to chop through the lock or a bag and even harder to do all of this in view of crew and passengers, a $3 lock will solve all but the most significant targeted thefts.
Unless one is in a bulkhead row or -- on some non-US carriers, an exit row, a small laptop bag should be placed, in any event, under the seat in front of you.