[attyjimgreen]

Have you recently flown somewhere, paid the airline to take your luggage and on arrival find that luggage damaged or destroyed. I have flown a dozen times in the last year and every time time I arrive my luggage has been damaged. Seems as though the airlines would have to compensate you as they accept your baggage in one condition, take compensation for transporting it and then deny responsibility when it is damaged upon arrival. Would you expect this from the USPS, FEDEX or UPS. No, because the law protects you and you have property rights but that is apparently not the case and especially not the case at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, AZ.
My wife flew into Sky Harbor to be treated at the Mayo Clinic and I drove over to meet her as I am stationed at Fort Bliss, TX. Her bags arrived on a flight later than she did so I had to return to the airport to retrieve them. Upon entering the baggage claim office, I noticed that one of her bags had been ripped open across the entire top seam and down a few inches on each side. This bag was brand new and this was it first use. I asked the staff person about a claim form and procedures and he immediately denied any responsibility and walked away. I persisted and he then brought back another person who immediately denied responsibility, claimed it was overstuffed and poorly constructed and through her manner and actions was rude and insolent to me. I persisted with her and asked for a supervisor. She made a call and then indicated that the supervisor was too busy with a more important matter but might come later if I waited. I persisted and she then inquired about the cost of the bag and then offered a travel voucher for half, all the while maintaining a rude posture and demeanor. I then picked up my damaged back and walked out into the claim area and addressed the crowd awaiting their bags. I asked them if they thought it proper that Continental Airlines could charge you to carry your bags, accept those bags in new condition, destroy them in transit and then refuse to compensate you or provide you with a claim form. I used a tone loud enough only to be heard within 30 feet and made no threats and did not use any foul language. At that time, the Continental employee called the airport police reporting me as a security threat and 4 armed officers then surrounded me, defended the airlines and intimidated me to a point that I asked to depart without further pursuing my claim.

[The_Judge]

Police officers don't take sides. They determine who's wrong and take the appropriate action.

As far as your bag........did you end up filing a claim before your show? If not, you may be out of luck. If you did, continue your claim with their headquarters and bypass the local office.

[attyjimgreen]

Thanks for your opinion Troy but as a 52 year old professional and an attorney, I can attest that police officers do take sides and it appears that you must be an officer or you would not have be so offended as to paint my actions as a show. I assure you that I did not make a show and to answer your question, I did not get to file a claim because these people would not take my claim, hence my frustration. It is Continental Airlines stated (published) procedure to make the claim at their baggage claim office and that was the procedure I attempted to follow before being treated so rudely and unreasonably.

Nobody in the public will believe that police officers do not takes sides as that is absurd on its face and does not stand up to the weight of public experience. That is not the point of my complaint but it should be alarming that 4 armed and armored officers could surround a citizen that is behaving within the legal realm of propriety and be used to intimidate me rather than take my claim as I rightfully attempted to enter.

[attyjimgreen]

Judge,

Why do you use the title "The Judge" when you are not entitled to it? Instead, you should use something that truthfully represents you as a current or ex airlines employee. Your offensive characterization of my complaint as a show clearly demonstrates the same rude conduct I encountered last night. I was within the law for time, place and manner and was intimidated from exercizing those rights.

I am going to drop this unless my UTube video catches on or the media contacts me as it is not worth my time. I was mistreated and I lost a $100 dollar piece of property but we are all losing our rights and that is the issue I want you and others to notice.

[ChrisH]

I used to work for Continental Airlines. I left for my own sanity, because I couldn't put up with the airlines and their increasingly uncustomer friendly policies, and the overall direction the airline industry is headed.

Unfortunately, Continental has a policy in place that basically states if a bag is torn along a seam or zipper of any kind, they are not responsible. They are also not responsible for a bag that is considered "overstuffed". To who makes this determination of a bag being "overstuffed"? Unfortunately that is the rude employee, as you encountered. The defense you will have there, however, is that they did not have you or your wife sign the waver on the bag tag. There is a waiver on the back of the bag tag that the airline agent can have you sign, waiving the airline having any liability for your bag, if it looks fragile, already damaged or overstuffed. This would be done at check-in. If it didn't happen, they have no claim to say it was overstuffed.

As per the police. Yes, the airport police tend to take sides with the airlines. If an airline employee calls the police and reports someone as being a security risk, the police often times do not care what happened to result in anyone's behavior. Unfortunately, all it takes is an airline employee calling someone in as a threat, and the police, armed and all, will come running.

[The_Judge]

Thanks for returning, attyjimgreen. So few complaintants do. I'll try to address each of your concerns. If I miss something, please feel free to notify me so I can put your mind at ease.

Originally Posted by attyjimgreen

Why do you use the title "The Judge" when you are not entitled to it?

Well, I initially chose The Judge because it is one who will form an opinion or estimation after careful consideration. I like to think I give fair answers and advice. Also, I have requested, by a private message to the admin here, for a name change but my message went unanswered.

Originally Posted by attyjimgreen

Instead, you should use something that truthfully represents you as a current or ex airlines employee.

Look just below my name. It's been there since the day I registered here.

Originally Posted by attyjimgreen

Your offensive characterization of my complaint as a show clearly demonstrates the same rude conduct I encountered last night. I was within the law for time, place and manner and was intimidated from exercizing those rights.

What was offensive? I merely said law enforcement doesn't take sides. Or was it the fact that I asked you if you made a claim before your show? And it certainly was that. You wanted attention from other customers and you probably got it. Why is that not a show?

Bottom line for me......I've had to call the police on only 2 occasions in over 20 years. First one, they came and asked me some questions, asked the party which I called law enforcement on some questions and ended up arresting him for assault. Second time, law enforcement asked me several questions on the phone and never showed up. My experience, which is obviously little, indicates to me that they investigate first then take appropriate action.

[tmcpheet]

My wife and I had the same experience only in Greenville, SC with US Air. Our carry-on luggage was destroyed and property broken and when we complained US Air agent got a large policeman in riot gear to intimidate us. The airlines don't give a damn about their customers or customers property.