I hate to admit it but I make mistakes sometimes too.Last Friday I was traveling from Chicago to New York. I arrived at ORD a bit early and paid $75 to get on an earlier United Airlines flight. That’s right; United charged me a whopping $75 to make the change even though I’m a MileagePlus cardholder and travel with them all the time. When I got on the plane, a flight attendant informed me that there was no more room for my carry-on luggage and that I had to gate check the bag. I was annoyed but happy I had gotten on the earlier flight and handed it over.
That was my BIG mistake.
When I arrived at LGA, my bag wasn’t there when I walked off the plane. I was told I had to pick it up at baggage claim. I found it at carousal #1 (I think) and ran out the door to catch a cab.
But when I opened my carry-on at my final destination I was shocked to discover someone had stolen my jewelry pouch from inside by luggage. I had several pieces of valuable jewelry in a gold purse that I had slipped in my carry-on because I never expected to have had to check it.
Someone had opened my bag and swiped the pouch after it was gate checked (The picture above is a piece that survived the attack.)
As you can image, everything after that was complicated. The first person I called to file a complaint with was a COMPLETE idiot and in five minutes gave me four different types of
instructions. The second person I spoke to was much better and helpful. Basically I had to file a report. I also had to fill out a form and try and show “proof of purchase” for the missing items.
Let’s see, where am I going to find a receipt for a pair of pearl earrings my parents gave me for
college graduation six-years ago?
This is what I hope happens:
1. The dirty thief gets caught and I get all my stuff back
2. United reimburses me for my stolen jewelry, my plane ticket and the $75 it cost for an upgrade.
This is what will probably happen: Nothing. They’ll apologize for the inconvenience but say they’re not responsible for jewelry.
My advice to you is never ever check anything that is valuable. And don’t forget to take it out if you’re forced to.
