On a recent trip (June 16) from Copenhagen to Washington Dulles through Brussels, all of our bags were "delayed". Two were delivered the next day but one is "not in the system" (so the tag came off?) We've looked in lost luggage at the airport, called the 800 # over and over, talked in person with airport customer service, provuded a list of contents and description of the suitcase. Any other suggestions??

So it could have been lost at Dulles, Brussels or Copenhagen.

If you flew multiple airlines, have you contacted all of them AND their codeshare partners (both KLM and NW, for example)?

Have you contacted all _three_ airports?

The possibilities are theft; someone else walking off with it at the luggage claim; lost or illegible tag; human stupidity. Raise all of these possibilities. If you can't talk to someone, send a fax.

Friends from Scotland recovered their "lost" luggage several years ago in Boston from the "lost luggage" office of the airline -- where it had sat for three days while the staff said they had instituted a search: "Oh, you mean _that_ luggage over there!" This is the human stupidity variation.

I received a lost bag after about two to three weeks one time. I thought it was gone for good. This was in the days of TWA. I was flying on UA but had the remnants of a TWA tag on the bag. Evidently the UA tag came off.

To make a long story short, UA gave the bag to TWA, who then sent me a postcard (my address was on the bag). I phoned them and told them to give the bag to UA, and it was in my hands about 24 hours later! A happy ending! Thank goodness.

If it's not found within 5 days, they might use their specialized luggage tracking services. But I think you should file a claim.

I was told to put a copy of my passport in my luggage.Don't they open the bags at lost & found?

Steamer asks, "I was told to put a copy of my passport in my luggage.Don't they open the bags at lost & found?"

Eventually. When may depend on what country it disappeared in or the rules of the airline that had custody at the time. Always assuming that it was not deliberately stolen. Assuming the OP still hasn't got it back (we haven't heard) the likelihood of someone taking it from the carousel accidentally is shrinking.

Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I guess what is so frustrating is that I put TWO multicolored straps around the bag, one of which has our ID imbedded in the bag, our ID in the ID pocket and our itinerary with all ID info in each of the two outside zippered pockets. Also--in spite of all their assurances that our "record" has been updated, the UA online bag search I can access STILL says all the bags were delivered.

I have contacted SK (Scandanavian Airlines) but have had no response at all. Supposedly, United has contacted SK and the three airports--

So--we'll file a claim this week, although on international flights you are limited to $9 plus change PER POUND, so even if they use the maximum # of pounds--50--that means only about $450...

But--it really was a great trip!

Whoops--3rd sentence--ID imbedded in the STRAP--

The right attitude!

alcorjd:

Sorry this happened to you. You're right to go ahead & file the claim . . . I seriously doubt you'll get your bag back.

As I posted elsewhere, I had a bag lost many years ago. Here's what I learned, and I hope it'll help you:

- They'll ask for receipts for items over $100. If you bought items on a credit card, contact the issuer (or store if you bought it on a store credit card) to get microfilm copies of your purchases.

- They will NOT pay you the replacement value for your lost items -- they'll only pay you about 80% of the value. Thus, if I were in your shoes and know what I do now, I'd pad the list a little to make up for the difference. I know that many will consider this wrong, but I think you should be reimbursed for the purchase price PERIOD.

- Also, if you bought your ticket on a credit card, contact your credit card company. You may have some lost luggage insurance coverage via your purchase on that card.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Thanks, LT, and the rest of you, too! RE perhaps collecting something from the credit card company, we used frequent flyer miles-- oh, well!

Well, folks, believe it or not our bag waqs delivered to our home today, 7 days late! It came not from Brussels but from Copenhagen and with a different tag # from the original, which is why it wasn't in the system. Whew!

Thanks for your empathy and your advice!

Joan

Put a copy of your passport in your checked luggage - NEVER. A copy of your itinerary yes. Your passport is a very serious piece of ID do you really want anyone to have a copy of it - Not me! I guard my passport and the copy that I make with my life.

Just a note here--Alitalia lost DDs bags almost a year ago, and then THEY LOST HER CLAIM in the system...however, our homeowners insurance is going to reimburse her and then try to deal with Alitalia (LOL ) So, for those of you that lost more than was covered or weren't reimbursed at all, you might check out if you homeowners policy will cover the loss.

In order to make sure that your lost luggage experience is captured in those annual reports on how many times an airline loses luggage, copy the complaint letter that you write to the airline to the Department of Transport:

DOT Aviation Consumer Protection, 400 Seventh Street, SW #4107 Washington, DC 20590

Otherwise, the airline stats on how many times they lose luggage are skewed in their favor!