ISO Suggestions for Tracking Lost Luggage on Airline (United)

Passenger flew to Paris following multiple delays, switched flights, etc. Luggage is lost. Lost baggage Report filed. Calling Lost Baggage # at United is completely useless. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Try using Twitter. United seems very on top of their Twitter account and reply to queries quickly. I think this works best if you have a very specific question concern. So just tweeting "I am in Paris with no clothes because United lost my bags!"@united is not going to be as helpful to you as something like, "Who at United Airlines in Paris can help locate my luggage that United lost? @united

Good luck.

You do not say how long it has been lost in this case, so not clear what, or whether, you should do anything at this time.

I have had suitcase 'lost' about a dozen times over the years. In most cases, it was found and delivered within 24 hours. In a single case it took 3 days. It was never lost for good.

It'll comeback just fine. It is almost always found. When it is, it will be delivered to your house. Unless it's been a week or more, I wouldn't give it another thought

I am sure this isn't the case, but there's a special procedure for identifying and having luggage from the time of the FLL airport shooting. Info online

Next time use one of these:

http://nerdtechy.com/best-luggage-tracking-locator-2016

How long has the luggage been missing? It may be too early to even consider it lost. When there are delays and you eventually are rebooked on a different flight, the same can happen to your luggage. Don't despair and give them some time to let them reunite it with you. In the interim, there are rules about providing passengers with toiletries, etc., until the luggage is returned. United has multiple ways to notify passengers with status updates--text, email, etc.

check cc coverage as well. We had a bag lost for 2 days in Amsterdam a decade ago and got reimbursed up to $600!!! It was awesome!!!

We've had bags lost several times (always found, but sometimes days later, necessitating emergency purchases), and always got vouchers out of the deal. It's very annoying not to have your bag, but on balance, it's not really a bad bargain. Look at it this way: your next flight is already half paid for!

I'm assuming they have a file ref number for their case - they should be checking online on United's delayed baggage site. If they aren't getting any info there often the last resort is to return to the airport.

https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/travel/baggage/tracing.aspx

United has an online tracker for missing luggage.

https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/travel/baggage/tracing.aspx

Thanks all; yes, lost baggage claim filed and passenger has been checking website for status and has called United. Airline provides o information other than "we're looking for it."

I will attempt to get reimbursement for replacement wardrobe if possible through cc.

You still haven't said how long it's been missing. I wouldn't waste my time calling or checking. If it hasn't been located yet, "we are looking for it" is the most logical response. They won't know until it's on your way to you and they'll let you know.

In my very recent experience, the airlines outsource recovery and delivery of missing luggage. They are responsible for your luggage but aren't actively looking for it; that's being done by a separate company. Communication between the two may not be up to date. Don't despair. International luggage doesn't typically get "lost."

If it winds up lost, reimbursement is usually much less than the value of the contents and the luggage itself. If you have receipts to support items in the luggage, that could bolster your claim (at the appropriate time, if needed). If you bought travel insurance, see what your policy says about lost luggage.

it is highly unlikely and extremely rare it'll be completely lost. I wouldn't worry.

Thanks all. Suitcase arrived today (3 full days after arrival). We're very thankful it showed up. I'm now looking for compensation for inconvenience and cost of replacement items. (Initial flight delayed 6 hours and then cancelled at 1 am; 2nd flight next day delayed 2 hours for weather and luggage was lost; spent $300 on replacement items) Anybody have success with this?

Thank you.

insurance or cc coverage is where you need to look. The airline doesn't pay out for delayed luggage. And no one will pay for "inconvenience" but many cards or insurance will cover a certain amount of replacement items with receipt. What card did you book with, start there. You should have called them right away so you knew what you were working with.

The flights delays due to weather are irrelevant and do not result in compensation.

conandrob240 said:

insurance or cc coverage is where you need to look. The airline doesn't pay out for delayed luggage. And no one will pay for "inconvenience" but many cards or insurance will cover a certain amount of replacement items with receipt. What card did you book with, start there. You should have called them right away so you knew what you were working with.

The flights delays due to weather are irrelevant and do not result in compensation.

Thanks but I actually did notify them right away. I've heard from others that airlines often give travel vouchers, etc for these types of inconveniences and certainly for replacement items. Just hears a story about delta providing a passenger with a voucher for shopping for items. I'll search further.

I mean notify the insurance company if you had it or look into the cc protection/insurance offered. Airlines generally don't give vouchers for weather-related problems. If you write a nasty note, they may throw some mikes into your account or give you a $50-100 flight voucher to be nice.

They cover baggage loss (poorly-low reimbursement, tedious process) but generally not delay.

I still think you should employ Twitter - takes only a few seconds to set up an account - United is responsive!

what will twitter accomplish? I don't understand? The luggage is found and returned and he had weather delays. C'est la vie.

I can sympathize, though. Losing a bag for even a day is a pointy lesson in how to pack a carryon.

conandrob240 said:

what will twitter accomplish? I don't understand? The luggage is found and returned and he had weather delays. C'est la vie.

Twitter helps make your issue a public problem for the airline and not just a private one for you. United is very responsive on Twitter, and it take very little effort to Tweet something about wanting help with lost luggage, so quite possible worth the effort.

Agreed on Twitter. On an unrelated matter, Verizon kept giving me runarounds and wouldn't make good on a $300 gift card for new service. For weeks I was ignored, hung up on, told there was nothing to be done, based on a technicality that had nothing to do with me, their hands were tied "it's the system, it won't allow me" they said until I threatened to take the matter online. I asked them how I could reach their VP of communications via Twitter. Wouldn't you know a few supervisors later, my gift card found its way to me? All you need is the right person to take on your issue. For what it's worth, I do not accept NO for an answer from a representative who has no authority to override the decision and say yes anyway. Go for it, you're already out $300, you have nothing left to lose but 140 characters . They may surprise you. Good luck.

finnegan said:

conandrob240 said:

what will twitter accomplish? I don't understand? The luggage is found and returned and he had weather delays. C'est la vie.

Twitter helps make your issue a public problem for the airline and not just a private one for you. United is very responsive on Twitter, and it take very little effort to Tweet something about wanting help with lost luggage, so quite possible worth the effort.

Thank you. I did get an immediate reply through Twitter. Not a check, but a response that told me who to call. Apparently United does reimburse passengers for the cost of a few days of replacement items when luggage is delayed. Our credit card also offers that benefit if the airline denies the claim. I'm hopeful that we will get reimbursed for the out of pocket expense.

Just to be clear, a weather delay was only one of the issues. The first flight was cancelled following daughter waiting at airport through 6 hours of delays, boarding and unbarring twice, changing gates/planes, and an aborted take off all due to "maintenance issues, not weather. Once the flight was cancelled, she was rebooked for a flight the next day which was delayed for only about 90 minutes due to weather.

Glad for you and your daughter, cubby!

With luck spring travel will go easier!

I've been reimbursed by United twice for delayed baggage.

conandrob240 said:

I mean notify the insurance company if you had it or look into the cc protection/insurance offered. Airlines generally don't give vouchers for weather-related problems. If you write a nasty note, they may throw some mikes into your account or give you a $50-100 flight voucher to be nice.

They cover baggage loss (poorly-low reimbursement, tedious process) but generally not delay.

United does cover baggage delay so I filed a claim. They also sent daughter a $200 airfare voucher.

nice! Glad to be wrong on this!