American Airlines Lost my Luggage- What do I Do? HELP

[DonaldsGrl103]

Hey everyone,
on the way home from a magical disney holiday trip, AA lost my luggage which unfortunately was carrying my new souvenirs and alot of brand new clothing which was all worth about 1000 dollars- so what do I do? do they compensate me? What aggravates me is they told us last night that they found it when we arrived in NY but now they have changed their story. Any help is appreciated as I am really upset!!

 

[safetymom]

It hasn't been long enough to receive compensation. Did you file a claim with AA? Have you checked on the AA website to see what the procedure is?

 

[safetymom]

From the AA website.

What do I do if I have damaged or missing baggage?
A: Missing/delayed baggage should be reported in person prior to leaving the airport. This notification must take place within 4 hours after the arrival of the flight on which the bag was checked.

For updates on missing/delayed baggage during the first 5 days after the flight call (within the U.S.):

Baggage Customer Service Desk (24 Hours):
1-800-535-5225

If your baggage has been missing for longer than 5 days, write or call:

American Airlines
Central Baggage Service
P. O. Box 619613 MD 1322
DFW Airport, TX 75261-9613
1-800-866-4010 (toll Free U.S. & Canada)
1-972-425-5240 (This is not a toll free number)




For further information see our Delayed Baggage page.

 

[NancyIL]

I hope you get your luggage back safe and sound. This won't help you now, but in the future...I would advise carrying anything of value on the plane.

 

[NotUrsula]

which unfortunately was carrying my new souvenirs and alot of brand new clothing which was all worth about 1000 dollars

The bag will probably turn up eventually, but be prepared for the possibility that those new items may be missing when it does. It's pretty likely that they will be gone. Your odds are better if you made sure to remove all of the tags and packaging before packing them, but those odds are still not good, this being within the 30-day Christmas return window.

If you purchased them with a credit card, make a loss claim now with your CC carrier; they may be covered under the loss protection coverage. It will take a while to pay back, and I believe that any compensation the airline pays you will be deducted from any settlement you receive.

A warning about this: Folks, never pack new items with the tags still on them in checked luggage, and be especially careful not to do it around Christmastime. Remove all tags and carry them separately in your carry on. If you have many new items and cannot carry them on, scatter the new items among the dirties to make them less conspicuous. Store tags are visible on x-rays, which means that an unscrupulous luggage handler may be very tempted to "lose" your bag just long enough to remove the tagged items, which can then be returned to the stores for cash refunds. There is even a black market for items with tags; the thieves sell them for a fraction of their value to a crime ring that will return them for face value. The crime rings sometimes hire illegal immigrants to do the actual returns, so that if they get caught, they end up deported, but the crime ring doesn't take the fall. It is a VERY big business, which is why stores are cracking down so hard on making returns without receipts.

 

[bavaria]

You've already had some good advice, but I can tell you that baggage rarely is lost forever.

Usually it does turn up, and usually within 24 hours of the flight.

The longest I waited was 7 days with BA (and that was when I moved from Europe to North America, and I was left with not much during that time. I received $50 for necessities)

I fly every 2 weeks and have only had luggage go missing once this year; it turned up within hours.

I hope that yours turns up as well.

 

[littleprissboutique]

So sorry to hear that this happened to you. Here is what we do.

When we go to Disney we always ship down things before we leave the house---food, extra clothing, ect. So, when we come home we always UPS the items we bought to the house. This way we have protection through UPS, and have always gotten our stuff---knock on wood!

Hope you get all of your items back safe...

 

[WIDisneyFan]

Let me add my support and agree that there has been some good advice already. That being said in an effort to help you relax a bit let me pass on that this unfortunately happens all too often. I fly on business at least 3-4 times a month and have my luggage lost or delayed on average 4 or 5 times a year. In the last 10 years I have probably been seperated from my luggage 20-30 times and in all of those events never lost anything from the bags. In most cases the bag(s) were found and returned to me within 24 hours but it can take longer (my worst was while on a business trip to Brazil - bags arrive 7 days after I did) So don't give up hope yet

 

[NotUrsula]

... when we come home we always UPS the items we bought to the house

Good plan, but if it is possible to have that package sent to your workplace, then that is even better, because it is less likely to be left unattended on the doorstep.

BTW, FedEx Ground is usually cheaper than UPS these days, it's a good idea to compare rates, too.

 

[DonaldsGrl103]

unfortunately it has been two days - going on the third and my luggage is still missing but thanks everyone for your support

 

[we3disneygo]

sorry this has happened to you....we returned on a flight got home at 2:30 am opened up our luggage and everything was wet...

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Just to throw in a little tidbit about Disney shipping -- when you buy things from a Disney store, and have them shipped outside of FL, you do not have to pay sales tax. There are times when the shipping is less than the tax would have been, so you could even end up saving some money.

(This tip works best if you save your shopping for one big spree in World of Disney)

 

[lovingthemouse]

Has your luggage been located yet? Hoping you had great success.