An Apple AirTag tracking device that Lily Datta had in her luggage before leaving Cleveland on June 27 showed that her suitcase had arrived in Paris the next day. It confused Mr. Datta because she and her family had no plans to go to Paris. Their destination was Vienna, where they stopped in Washington DC and Barcelona, but not in Paris. It was the first overseas expansion for the family since the pandemic began, and it was a trip to celebrate his son Dev’s high school graduation.
Datta filed a claim for lost luggage at the airport, but the next morning, when the suitcase wasn’t delivered to the hotel in Vienna as promised, she started sending emails to the airline and the location of the bag (according to AirTag). I shared it every day. She had no reaction. Even more frustrating, when she called the customer service number she was given, she said, “She just received the recording, no one could answer the phone, and there was no way to leave a message.” It was that.
Due to the surge in demand for air travel and the shortage of airport staff, this has been a difficult summer when it comes to lost or delayed checked baggage.Incidents like London’s recent baggage system malfunction Heathrow AirportIt caused such a large backup that the flight was canceled to give workers the opportunity to sort out the turmoil, but it only added to the misery.
The number of mishandled bags has declined over the last decade, but in part thanks to new technologies, that trajectory has changed over the last few years. According to the report, the number of delayed or lost bags increased from 5 out of 1,000 in February 2020 to 6 out of 1,000 in February this year. Latest report From the Ministry of Transport.
William McGee, Senior Fellow for Aviation at the American Economic Liberties Project, a nonpartisan organization that promotes equal access to economic markets, said the system is currently operating beyond its capabilities. “This is the worst summer meltdown for airline customer service in the 37 years I’ve worked, written and advocated for airlines,” he said.
A few days after the airline did not contact, Datta and her husband, Alampairat, began sending emails to various United Airlines and Austrian Airlines executives who were handling luggage. They also contacted via social media and with the help of the hotel concierge. Seven days after they arrived in Europe, Mr. Datta received an email reply from Austrian Airlines. The representative apologized and wrote that her bag was one of the thousands that went missing, “in the present reality, we can’t provide any concrete information.”
Danny Cox, vice president of guest experience at Breeze Airways, a new airline launched last year, said the issue of baggage loss was exacerbated by reduced airline investment in baggage handling during a pandemic. increase. “The airline is in survival mode,” he said, “there was no overfunding to improve the baggage system.” He added that the current staff shortage has a spillover effect. “If you’re looking for a mechanic to repair something, you’re pulling from the same people who are servicing other ground work.”
Follow these tips to increase your chances of not losing your baggage and to increase the chances of you and your bag reuniting if you do. Zen patience also helps, as many of the troubles are out of your control.
Identify your luggage. The most important thing airlines can do to reunite if they lose their luggage is to label the exterior with initials and phone numbers and put more complete contact information such as business cards inside. Take a picture of your luggage and make a note of the brand name and dimensions. Check your baggage claim and check your ticket and flight number.
To reduce mishandling, push in a loose strap that can get entangled in the machine or another bag and go off course. Remove all barcode stickers or checked luggage tags from previous trips.
According to Kevin Larson, Alaska Airlines’ Central Baggage Service Manager, luggage that appears to be lost may have been accidentally taken by someone with a similar bag. Your luggage may be in another carousel. Larson advises passengers to put something unique, like a colorful ribbon, on the outside of the bag. He can also make a suitcase stand out with bright luggage tags, stickers and reflective tape.
I will act immediately. If your luggage does not arrive on arrival, please notify the airline before leaving the airport. It was difficult to get in touch by phone. A notification recorded on a June 30 call to Delta predicted an 80-minute wait time and did not offer the option to leave a number to receive the call instead of putting the call on hold. ..
Pack smartly. The Ministry of Transport recommends that passengers do not pack valuable, fragile, fragile or irreplaceable items in check bags if the airline loses cash, jewelry, computers, artwork, etc. Allows you to specify the types of items you do not want to cover. Antiques and collectibles. Keep them with you or leave them at home. Put important medicines in your carry-on baggage.
Keep an eye on it virtual. You can place a small tracking device such as Tile or Apple AirTag in your luggage to monitor the location of your bag via the phone app. “It’s about the same cost as checking one bag,” said Cox of Breeze Airways. Trackers are especially useful for discovering if someone accidentally removed a bag from the carousel instead of their own bag.
Some airlines, such as United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, provide passengers with baggage tracking capabilities via their websites or mobile apps.
I know the rules of compensation. Ministry of Transport Rules that airlines must follow When your luggage is delayed or lost. The maximum amount an airline can pay passengers is $ 3,800 per bag. International flights are subject to various rules and most passengers receive about $ 1,800.
Each airline has its own policy within the rules of the government, so passengers should check the airline’s website for details. United Airlines For example, a passenger must have a receipt for a lost item if they claim that the contents of their luggage are worth more than $ 1,500. United considers the bag “lost” after 5 days, but other airlines may specify a longer time before declaring the bag “lost”.
Refill when there is no bag. If the baggage runs out, the airline will refund the passengers for toiletries, clothing and other ancillary items while the company is trying to find the baggage.Airline websites can be ambiguous about what is covered The U.S. Government does not allow airlines to impose daily spending limitsTherefore, travelers may feel unsure of what is allowed. Travelers are required to fill out a billing form on the airline’s customer service desk or website and provide a receipt for the purchased item. You also need to explain what has changed about why you needed to buy.
Use protection. Premium credit cards may cover lost baggage, but passengers can jump over several hoops to get it. According to JP Morgan spokesman Pablo Rodriguez, more than 25 chase credit cards are available for lost baggage to compensate for the difference between airline refunds and the value of the baggage and items in the baggage. Provides up to $ 3,000 in compensation tracking. Customers are required to submit a copy of the receipt for each item worth $ 25 or more requesting a replacement, and depending on the age of the item, they may receive less payment.
Travel insurance purchased separately may include coverage for lost or delayed luggage, but as with travel insurance, please read the details.
Do not check the bag. The most obvious advice, but the best way for airlines to avoid losing their bags is to travel with carry-on baggage only. Ruthlessly stuff — what do you really need? What can I buy at my destination? Can I wash my socks with a sink? If you want to check your baggage, try booking a direct flight. Transfers are another chance that something goes wrong.
