Don't Give Up The Bag

[seashoreCM]

I just read on another forum that someone, told he couldn't bring his suitcase on board, gave it to the gate checker "in good faith" and lost $15,000. of computer equpment.

So I suggest:

(1) Going back out to the check in counter and buying additional baggage insurance,

(2) Going back out to the check in counter and taking the next flight hoping that flight crew won't be as strict about baggage.

All this is assuming the baggage complies with size and weight in the first place.

You can raise a fuss and dispute with your credit card about the last minute change in reservation and its costs a lot more easily than going to court (the other forum suggested court) about the lost baggage.

For a family, one family member can stay behind with the valuables while the others board.

(This last comment is not Disney related: Biztravelers should minimize the carrying on of valuables, for example have the company being visited prepare a computer and you just bring the diskettes.)

More Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[ducklite]

How about just flying carriers with some common sense.

Anne

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Or....how about keeping your valuables out of your suitcase, then checking your suitcase and carryon your valuables.
I have been in situations where I have seen passengers ,told at the entrance to the plane, that they cannot bring the luggage on board as all the overheads are full. Why take that chance? Check the luggage and use carryons that will fit under the seat. Under the seat storage is about the ONLY guarantee you will get for taking stuff on board.
I have not read the thread mentioned, just a general statement.

 

[CarolA]

I will put it this way. My laptop will NOT go under that plane without a LOT of assurances from the airline that they will not give me. I carry it in a piece of luggage that will fit under the seat. (I would take it out and carry it solo, if that was requried) If the airlines want to do this then they must increase their bag claim limits.

The airlines that are doing this are NOT doing it for security reasons in spite of their great spin. They are doing it to speed take off and landing. However, if they had ever inforced their old rules they would not be in the postion where people think steamer trunks are carryons!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Carol,
You can still take your laptop on board,no problem there. The problem, as I read it, was that this person had it in his luggage and his luggage was too big to be a carry on or they had run out of overhead room and it would not fit under a seat.
Personally, I would love to know what equipment he had that fit into luggage that was worth 15000.00. That is the equivelant of 5 TOP of the line laptops. OR>>>>> 15 decent PCs.
The only airline at this time that is banning carry ons is Pan Am.
I do belive it is in part for security, but also believe it is for time. And, Carol you are totally correct, it would speed stuff up if they would insist on real carry ons, NOT suitcases for a month's worth of travel.

 

[lisapooh]

I can only figure he is a musician. A violin can easily cost many thousands of dollars. One of my daughters' profs has a Strad. No way that goes in baggage. Plus he has his laptop.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Lisa,
It was computer equipment, not an instrument.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Carol,
<snip>
Personally, I would love to know what computer equipment he had that fit into luggage that was worth 15000.00. That is the equivelant of 5 TOP of the line laptops. <snip>

I have a top of the line laptop from my employer (I am an IT pro) that is worth maybe $5000. Even if I added a DVD player, portable printer, etc., it only adds *maybe* another $1000 to the value. There is no way that a laptop, printer, Zip Drive and assorted cables, etc., is worth $15,000. Just not possible.

Anne

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Anne,
Exactly my point!!!!! My s/o is an IT pro also, we sell them ( we are a full service house) and we know just what they cost these days. I would love to see the thread on this one.
Wonder where it is. Even at the minimal cost of my laptop, I would not put it in a position of not being with me. Who, in their right mind, puts something like that in luggage?

 

[CarolA]

I can't figure that out either. Who knows?


However, Pan American did announce on their web site that you could not carry on laptops. (Of course you can carry on diaper bags so I guess you could smuggle your laptop in with some diapers!) However, since it appears that Pan Am has a limited flight route this does not directly effect many people.

Does anyone here ice skate? I wonder what will happen when an ice skater tries to carry on his or her skates. I am fairly sure that the top level skaters (like Michelle Kwan) do not trust their skates to the baggage handlers!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Carol,
RE: ice skates, not sure they are on the "no no" list. But, I am sure since they are a blade, it would have to be in baggage. I expect even Ms.Kwan will have to check her skates. Or, send them ahead UPS or FedEx.

 

[CarolA]

Well, this should be interesting. If I was someone like Ms. Kwan my skates would go with me. I remember reading something about this several years ago when one of the skaters had problems with an international flight. They finally talked their skates aboard.

 

[xplor144]

I don't want to sound cold- but flying an airline is not necc a right. If the airline makes it a rule that you can't carry ice skates, or laptops in the seating, then that is the rule. If you don't like it, you don't have to fly. So I guess if you wouldn't fly without your Strad with you, then you might not fly- KWIM? I think so many times we take for granted that we are just "allowed" to do things, or that people can't tell us we can't do something. But the reality is is that they can in most cases!

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by xplor144
I don't want to sound cold- but flying an airline is not necc a right. If the airline makes it a rule that you can't carry ice skates, or laptops in the seating, then that is the rule. If you don't like it, you don't have to fly. So I guess if you wouldn't fly without your Strad with you, then you might not fly- KWIM? I think so many times we take for granted that we are just "allowed" to do things, or that people can't tell us we can't do something. But the reality is is that they can in most cases!

Yup! Or we can take carriers that have logical rules.

Anne

 

[BansheeBlue]

FYI, multimedia projectors can cost upwards of $12,000. I work for the multimedia department of a major investment bank, and our roadshow technicians carry these babies with them as part of a standard package, which also includes a couple of pimped out laptops and speakers and all sorts of laser pointers and air mice and controllers-- and I kid you not, one kit can total over $30,000 by the time you're done packing. We have all our equipment registered with the NYPD and insured, as you couldn't always be sure you could carry them on a flight. But 95% of the time the technicians did carry it all on.

Since our company was the largest tenant of the World Trade Center, there's not much business-related travel going on right now. But I do wonder what's gonna happen when the technicians have to start hauling equipment for presentations all over the world with them. My guess there's gonna be a lot of clients with billion dollar deals riding on our presentations that are gonna have to be flying private jets to get their show on the road.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

BansheeBlue,
I understand and know what you are saying, but, this "stuff" you mentioned would not all fit in your luggage, right. And, that is the point of this topic. He/she had the computer equipment which he/she claims to be 15000. worth in his/her luggage.
I have seen some of these "road shows" and the equipment. Microsoft has some amazing stuff as does Creative Labs, and frankly, I would hate to be on a flight where the employees carried it all on. There would be NO room for pax at that point.
I do wonder what the rules are going to be now (for your company) regarding what they can carry on, registered or not.
BTW, I am sincerely sorry for your company's loss and hope they are up and running again and soon.

 

[BansheeBlue]

Actually you'd be surprised how much equipment they can fit in a 20" case! I'm just glad I'm not the one who has to deal with hauling that stuff around, nor the passenger who is behind them trying to board LOL!

But lemme tell ya, I'm so NOT defending the folks who would bring on two or three huge carryons and a garment bag and then get huffy when told they had to check something! Let's face it, the carryon situation had been out of hand for a long time. It got to the point that I would specifically get seat assignments at the back of the plane just so I could be assured of finding space in the overhead bin for my ONE properly sized carryon! Agh!

With some smart packing skills and a clear sense of what is absolutely necessary and valuable, I bet 99% of the time folks can get their stuff under the seat in front of them.

Oh, and about those ice skates! I figure skate, and there is no doubt that skates would NOT be allowed as carryons now. Those blades could be easily used as a weapon, I've cut my hands more times than I could count just stripping the slush ice off my blades. However, on professional quality skates, the boots and the blades are separate, and it's the boots that would have been custom made to fit Ms. Kwan's feet, for example. Screw out the blades, check them in the luggage, bring the boots on with you. If the blades don't make it with the luggage, you might be out $300, but a new set of blades could easily be found (and professional/competitve skaters go through blades very quickly anyway).

<font size=-2>And thank you Gail for your kind words for the folks of my company. Although we had 3500+ employees at the World Trade Center, in Tower Two, miracles happened. Only six people are missing. Six people is still too much, but it is truly miraculous when compared with the 3500 lives that could have been lost. On the telethon they had for the September 11th Fund, Robin Williams spoke about our security officer who made sure everyone got out, telling people to keep moving with authority and good humor, and that amazing man is one of the six people now missing.</font>

 

[seashoreCM]

Interesting question, if your laptop gets stolen from checked baggage, when you have to replace it may you buy just the bare machine and re-use the software that the old one had, thus saving some of the costs?

This assumes you made and kept backups and your proof of purchase of the software at home.)

(hint to Banshee Blue, can the employees of the company run all their old software (assuming backups were kept) on the new machines they had to purchase?)

 

[ducklite]

I used to do road shows. We shipped all the equipment in its own specially designed flight cases via FedEx. The only things we carried with us were lap tops (even some of those were shipped!) and the misc. wires for them. Frankly I don't see LCD projectors fitting into a case and fitting the sizer bins. In all honesty I've had no problems with pilferage over the years from FedEx. I have seen it with checked luggage though...

Anne