What do you do when the airline loses your luggage?

Question

It's been 24 hours, and the customer service rep says they're "tracing" the bag, but I have a 3 month supply of blood pressure/Cholesterol medication in the suitcase. Not to mention a number of jewlery and clothing items. What kind of legal action if any can I take?

Answer 1

Hope that they find it... they probobly will... it will just take time... so you should be patient...

You cannot take legal action because it was in the terms of carriage that you agreed to when you bought the ticket...

You should not put your medications in your checked luggage... Most airlines will tell you this in the same agreement as above....

Answer 2

Stay in contact with them. I hope you filled out the forms they gave you to help locate them. You'll need to document everything that could be missing. There is a chance you might not get everything back. We got lucky, but all valuables stayed on our persons.

Here's the thing... they're in the pipeline somewhere. My wife and I had the same problem with AeroMexico a year ago. The connecting flight switched gates at the last minute due to weather, so our bags sat on the tarmac while we boarded our flight four gates down. We found out about it when we arrived back in Houston. It took them three days after our return to get it back (this included the 4th of July holiday). We did get everything back.

Like you, I had my beta blocker and cholesterol medication, but I ONLY BROUGHT WHAT I NEEDED FOR MY TRIP. I missed two days worth. We also left valuable jewelry at home (my wife's engagement ring, my best watch, my expensive sunglasses) and bought cheap sunglasses, digital watches, and just our wedding rings ($150 each from Costco). Be sure you have ALL valuables documented.

You won't have much in the way of legal action. Check the airline's web site. I'd be willing to be that there's a maximum amount they'll refund if it is lost. My parents lost a camera on a cruise (had it stolen). The line would only refund 75% of original price.

Best of luck. They ARE tracing the bag (via that barcoded tag on the check-in sticker that goes through the handle). It can take three or four days. Be patient.

Answer 3

All you can do is file a claim.

There are federal laws that limit the airlines liability with specific dollar amounts. Check the fine print on your ticket, or go to their website for the correct information. Hiring a lawyer won't get you any more money, in fact you will just be paying legal fees for nothing.

You never check you medications or jewelry, those are always carry-on items. Anything expensive has to be declared during check in, that is part of the federal law too. If you had a lot of very expensive items, you will not get the full value and there is no legal action you can take.

Of course that doesn't stop you from hiring a lawyer anyway...

Answer 4

Live and learn.

Don't put medications or expensive stuff in your checked bag.
Always have ID enclosed inside your checked bag, as well as the outside.

Two different airlines lost our bags 2 times in a row last year. Fortunately it was on the home leg of our trip both times. We filled out the paperwork, and in a couple of days a courier delivered them to our door. It was easier than lugging them all around the airport, lol.

I always keep important papers and medication in my purse, and my photography equipment has its own case sized for carry-on. Sometimes the camera case is too big for the overhead, and the flight attendant takes it and puts it in their storage closet. In my carry-on suitcase, I always have the toiletries and a change of clothes, just in case the bags get lost or delayed on the way to our destination.

Most likely, your bags are mis-directed and will be found and returned to you soon. If they are permanently lost, the airline will reimburse you up to the limit of their liability stated on the baggage ticket.

Answer 5

In the fine print on your airline info, it should tell you the amount they are liable for if they don't find your luggage.

And just a heads up, this is an illustration of why medicines shouldn't be put in checked baggage.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Mine was never totally lost, they brought it to my house two days later. It was taken by mistake by someone whose bag looked exactly like mine.

Answer 7

call the ait line. they will bring it to your house