[tsky]

This is very first time for me, even I travel at least twice a year.
I was going from Orlando to shanghai pudong airport, since I only have one checked bag, so I checked my carryon bag as well, so that I can free my hands. when I arrived home, I opened my checked carryon bag, found out my watch was missing. I bought this watch for my uncle, the box still there, but it's empty!!! some body stolen my stuff after my bag was checked!! so i double checked everything, so far only camera charger and watch, lucky I didn't put my camera in it, otherwise will be stolen too. how can I trust this airline again??

I was so mad, so I filed online report, didn't get anything back. so when I came back to state, I called the airline, they told me they can't do anything about it, because the day they stolen my stuff was oct.27,2009, I came back on Dec.8, called on Dec.9,2009. they said it' too late, if i filed claim right the way, they might do something. But I told them that I filed online because i called shanghai airport, they said continental don't have office or counter over there, so i can only report in the states. And then, they told me the "missing report" is only for stuff that the owner left on the airport or on the air craft. I guess it' s my fault that they don't have stolen report on their website.

so , they just tell me they can't do anything about it.

How can I trust continental airline again with my checked luggage, I will be worried about it all the time. I will tell my friends not choosing this kind of airline, so their luggage will be safe.

[PHXFlyer]

It's more likely that a TSA agent took the watch, not a Continental employee. The TSA processes each bag through x-ray and knows the contents. I'll bet they saw that watch and pulled your bag aside for a "secondary search."

Even if you had reported the missing item immediately Continental, like all airlines, does not replace jewelery, including watches, missing from bags. How do they know it was there to begin with? If the airlines paid out claims for lost watches and jewelery everyone who traveled would claim their Rolex was missing from their bag!

[tsky]

my friend suggested TSA locks, so when airport selling the TSA locks, it doesn't really block them, because they can still open it. I guess you are saying no one can't stop them, we just wish they didn't find any valuable stuff from our bags.

[PHXFlyer]

Originally Posted by tsky

my friend suggested TSA locks, so when airport selling the TSA locks, it doesn't really block them, because they can still open it. I guess you are saying no one can't stop them, we just wish they didn't find any valuable stuff from our bags.

The whole point of a TSA lock is that the TSA has the ability to open it. If you put any other type of lock on your bag they will simply cut it off or if they can't your bag won't fly and neither will you.

[jimworcs]

Phx,
Not sure there is any evidence that TSA are "more likely" to steal than airline employees. Both sets of staff have been caught and prosecuted for theft.

Sadly, the sad truth for this traveller is that staff at the airports are not to be trusted, and therefore nothing valuable should be packed in the luggage. Airports seem to be havens for thieves and liars. As it was an international flight, I am sure that the rules which take precedence are those of IATA rather than the airline themselves. You may wish to just check if there is any remedy that way.

On the issue of filing your claim being timed out... if you wished to pursue the matter in court (I would not advise it, I think your case is too weak to prove who stole it); it is possible you could get a court to accept that you had taken reasonable steps to file a claim under the circumstances. You would only be able to do this however, if you could get a copy or prove somehow that you did make a claim through the website. Airlines cannot impose "unfair" terms and conditions which make it impossible or too difficult to meet the conditions they require. Courts have shown some flexibility in this regard.

Your best bet is to not travel on US based airlines when travelling internationally. In general the service they offer is of a lower standard than European and Asian airlines.

[tsky]

what I lost is not huge, I'm not trying to get money back. I just wanna complaint about it, so maybe airline would find some solution. The thing is I didn't even get an apology from the airline.

[Gromit801]

The one saving grace of a TSA lock, it that if something is stolen, the finger points right at TSA. They know this, and will probably not steal anything from a bag with a TSA lock.

[Silent Bob]

Not sure there is any evidence that TSA are "more likely" to steal than airline employees. Both sets of staff have been caught and prosecuted for theft.

Jim, true on both counts that TSA and airline employees have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar, but as far as evidence of TSA being more likely to steal than the airline employee: hmmmm who has the X-ray machine and uses the excuse of "I had to cut your lock because i saw something suspicious inside." If ever I would have items missing from my checked luggage, TSA would be suspect number one on my list. An airline employee runs the risk of getting caught trying to rummage through a bag, while TSA just screens it and knows exactly where to go to get a particular item. And I learned from TSA agents who live in my neighborhood (poker buddies), surveillance is at a minimum. Which would explain how one agent was able to steal an HBO camera (or CNN camera, I forget), only to get caught trying to sell it on eBay.

[PHXFlyer]

Originally Posted by jimworcs

Phx,
Not sure there is any evidence that TSA are "more likely" to steal than airline employees. Both sets of staff have been caught and prosecuted for theft.

TSA screens every checked bag through x-ray and has the authority to hand search any bag. All I am suggesting is that the TSA agents know the contents of the bags. They can see watches, jewelery, electronics and other things of value. They know which bags contain these and which have your run of the mill underwear and socks.

While I agree that baggage handlers have been prosecuted for theft the TSA has way more time and opportunity and can cherry pick bags that actually contain valuables. A baggage handler would have to rely on pure luck of the draw that in the few seconds he had to rifle through a random bag that he might find something of value. Also you never hear the actual numbers of dishonest TSA employees because those incidents are all handled "internally" and details about what happens to those agents are swept under the rug. Remember the TSA falls under the Dept. of Homeland Security, the super-secret agency created by GWB with powers that seem to exceed the confines of our own Constitution!

[jimworcs]

I hold the TSA is equal contempt with airline employers.. I am an equal opportunities hater!!

The TSA should require that all bags which are opened are filmed as they are being opened, in the same way that some supermarkets have a camera trained on the till at checkout. When something is reported stolen, at the minimum the filming should be checked.

The quality of TSA staff is very poor.. and when you talk to them, I wonder if some of them have graduated high school.

[tsky]

I only speaks for my own experience, I fly international at least twice a year, domestic at least 4 times a year from the same airport but different airlines(Delta,United,AA,US airway,China airline,,northwest airline, japan airline airline,Canada airline )This is my first time trying continental airline, and first time stuff got stolen. so I was lucky all the time that they didn't found anything valuable from my bags?

The thing is I understand now, this maybe or may not be the airline's fault, however how many people knows that? The regular people will just like me, blame the airline. Can you say that airline has totally off the hook even it's TSA's crime? Can't they have better management to prevent? such like put a huge sign that says don't put your valuables in checked bag!

jimworcs: thanks for the suggestion.

[tsky]

Originally Posted by PHXFlyer

TSA screens every checked bag through x-ray and has the authority to hand search any bag. All I am suggesting is that the TSA agents know the contents of the bags. They can see watches, jewelery, electronics and other things of value. They know which bags contain these and which have your run of the mill underwear and socks.

While I agree that baggage handlers have been prosecuted for theft the TSA more has way time and opportunity and can cherry pick bags that actually contain valuables. A baggage handler would have to rely on pure luck of the draw that in the few seconds he had to rifle through a random bag that he might find something of value. Also you never hear the actual numbers of dishonest TSA employees because those incidents are all handled "internally" and details about what happens to those agents are swept under the rug. Remember the TSA falls under the Dept. of Homeland Security, the super-secret agency created by GWB with powers that seem to exceed the confines of our own Constitution!

I agree, I think TSA has better chance.

[PHXFlyer]

Originally Posted by jimworcs

The quality of TSA staff is very poor.. and when you talk to them, I wonder if some of them have graduated high school.

I believe the TSA only requires a GED for employment as a TSO. I've encountered many TSO's who can't even use proper English in a brief conversation. It's a very sad state of affairs. When the TSA was first formed not long after 9/11/2001 it was discovered that in their rush to staff all of the positions required that quite a few people with criminal records had "slipped through the cracks" during pre-employment screening. I wonder if this is still happening today.

[The_Judge]

Originally Posted by jimworcs

I am an equal opportunities hater!!

Maybe there should be a new label made for that.

[ACscaper]

The evening of 7-7-11 through the morning of Friday 7-8-11, I flew from San Diego CA to Newark NJ and on to Portland ME. I'd put my camera bag (which I normally carry-on), containing my camera and all its accessories, in my checked luggage. When I arrived in Portland ME my destination, I discovered my camera bag was missing. It had been removed during the time it was checked. The checked luggage bag had no holes, all zippers had been closed. The camera bag and contents were valued at more than $2000. I still have the receipt to provide proof of this. Btw, my super old laptop was also in the checked luggage in its case, and it was left alone! I tried to contact CO immediately on the missing baggage hotline but was unable to wait for the long time they put me on hold. I called later that night and a woman named Deena took my claim (including details on the checked luggage and the baggage payment ID), and told me to fill out the claim form online and fax it, which I did, and faxed the next day.

CO received it 7-11-11. I called again a week later and was told it takes 6-8 weeks processing time. On 7-26-11 I received a letter saying they were unable to reimburse because the items fall on their list.

This is unacceptable. They should still be liable because:

A) CO was responsible for my bag during time it was checked,
B) locks are forbidden, practically inviting thievery,
C) they say on the phone line they'll reimburse up to $3000 for damaged or lost property, which it also states on this site, http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-...tml?id=2383005.

Since 3 airports are involved, the left could have occurred at any one of them, but it may have been likely Newark, based on this story, http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/438155...tolen-airport/

Costumer service on the phone refuses to reimburse me on the claim of their liability exceptions, however they cannot be allowed to turn a blind eye when their employees steal from their customers. Continental and/or TSA must be accountable for their employees' actions. My property was removed from my luggage, possibly during a screening, and not returned. I have no assurance that the employees and baggage handlers are searched before being allowed to leave, so any one of them could have walked out with my property and no one would look twice at them. I expect a settlement of $2500 reimbursement. I have already filed a claim with BBB and, adding insult to injury, was offered a $300 travel certificate for future flights, which is worthless to me since I will never flight Continental again, so it is still unresolved. I have been advised to take it to small claims court.

[Gromit801]

A. EVERY airline states clearly on their contract of carriage that they are not responsible for valuables in checked luggage. Check luggage goes through too many hands that don't belong to the airline.

B. Locks are NOT forbidden. You can buy TSA locks at any store that sells travel accessories. These are locks that you se the combination on, but TSA has a master key. Anything gets taken, you can then point the finger at TSA.

C. See point A.

Sorry for your loss, but you did something that you shouldn't have done.

[cortney]

All airlines claim that they are not responsible for valubales in checked luggage...including electronics.

you say that the airline and/or TSA should be held responsible....i agree...IF you can prove who stole the stuff. you say you wont fly with continental again (which all airlines hear over and over again, yet people come back cause they have the cheapest tickets) but you cant prove it was a CO employee, it very well may have been TSA. Why should CO reimburse you if they think that their employee didnt do it. (im not saying they did or didnt)...but im hoping you get my point on that statement.they wont reimbures you if they say they didnt do it. you can also file a claim with the TSA as well.