DAX

As I boarded Virgin America from JFK to SFO, the flight attendant told me that there's no space left for my carryon in the cabin above my seat so he grabbed it to find space elsewhere. As I settled in my seat I realized that I needed to get my iPad but the flight attendant told me that he actually checked in my carryon from the gate at no charge as he could not find space and handed me a small baggage tag. I was completely dumbfounded since my carryon was not locked but it's just not possible to retrieve it according to the attendant.

No surprise, my unlocked carryon arrived on the carousel in SFO and my iPad was gone!
Virgin America agents (ground and on the phone) told me that's unusual and unfortunately they are not liable for anything missing inside a locked or unlocked luggage even when it was taken on board from a passenger. They told me that I should call the JFK police department to report that my iPad was stolen but they are not liable for it as written in their online ticket contract of carriage.

The lesson here is never entrust your carryon to the flight attendant at Virgin America.

Melnq8

That's unfortunate DAX, it really is. I routinely gate check my carry on when flying smaller jets, but know I'll have to, so I remove all valuables and put them in a tote bag to take on board.

If it were me, I'd not give up. I'd send a letter to Virgin, going to the top if necessary. If nothing else, writing the letter might be therapeutic.

Failing that, you could look into your homeowner's or renters insurance, although there will be a deductible involved.

Good luck.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

I'm very sorry to hear that this happened, but that's not the lesson. The lesson is that you always have a smaller carryon in which you keep things like an iPad, laptop, medications (the things you absolutely can't part with) and make sure it's of a size that will slide under the seat in front of you if that's all the space that's left. That way, if your rollaboard bag has to checked, you haven't parted company with your essentials. That's the lesson.

Cranachin

I wonder what the attendant would have told you if you had said your insulin was in the carryon.

DAX

Thanks everyone, I've gotten over it now.

Basically I was not prepared to check in my carry on otherwise I would have organized my valuables in another bag and bought a lock for my carry on at the airport. I had 3 hours to kill before boarding that I managed to get a massage at the airport.

Looking back, I was probably too relaxed when I boarded the Airbus that's why I didn't grab my iPad and sandwich from my carry on quick enough. Maybe the lesson here is not to get a massage at the airport, LOL.

Melnq8

I love those airport massages...I sometimes get one at Changi in Singapore.

dutyfree

As a flight attendant with a major US airline who now only flies international,I am saddened that this flight attendant would not have come back to you and asked "is there anything in here that you need before I have to gate check it"?
I would still deal with Virgin's customer service and see where it goes. Good Luck!

DAX

Dutyfree: I did call the customer service a few times with the hope of motivating another search/investigation to find the iPad but in the end I got the same standard answers. I came to realize that there's nothing they could do if it didn't turn up as they called and checked both JFK and SFO baggage. Nevertheless thanks for your good suggestion.

mztery

While most airlines exempt electronics form reimbursement in checked luggage., I would write a polite letter to customer service in Burlingame, as well as to Frances Fiorillo, SVP, People & In-Flight Services making hte case not that someone from the airline stole it, but that the gate agent/FA should have made sure you had the chance ot retrieve any valuables first. You might get a flight voucher at least.

DAX

Great suggestion Mztery, thanks!