Horrible beginning to a hopefully not so horrible vacation

[jillybeene71]

We flew out of New Orleans Saturday morning on Airtran. My daughter’s boyfriend packed, in his checked bag, the promise ring he planned on giving her one day on vacation. We got to Orlando at 1 pm and Disneys magical express picked up all our bags. We didn’t receive our bags until after 5, over 4 hours later. When he went to his bag for something he opened the ring box and it was gone. The ring box was there inside the cardboard box but no ring. I assume the baggage handlers in New Orleans or Magical Express (which I seriously doubt) stole the ring…also stolen 2 bottles of almost empty Hollister cologne and a half empty bottle of Clinique’s Happy perfume, along with 3 packs of cigarettes from a full carton.
I called airtran they connected me with New Orleans airtran, who then connected me to Orlando airtran, who then connected me to TSA (they only randomly opened 4 bags that morning and our last names were not one of them). I’m mad that they keep shifting the blame, I’m mad that he packed it instead of guarding it with his life, in his defense, he has never left the state much less flown before and I’m sure having something stolen from his was the last thing he was thinking of at the time. I do feel sorry for him; I am extremely ticked that someone would go through someone else’s bag and take what doesn’t belong to them. Yeah, I know it happens all the time, but when it happens to you…it’s not a good feeling.
But before we discovered the stolen stuff, my ds (8) left his Nintendo DS game holder and about 8 games on our plane, we called Orlando, then orlando told us the flight went Moline IL. It took an act of Congress to get in touch with someone in Moline, finally I did. I spoke with a lady who told me it had just landed, and radioed a flight attendant who was cleaning up. OMG it was there on the floor under the seat. The woman told me it would be sent back on the next flight to Orlando and would be put in Baggage claim to be picked up when we leave Friday. Crossing my fingers on that one.
Anyway, the moral of this story is..…buy a TSA approved lock and use it. Oh and I forgot…Airtran doesn’t take claims 4 hours after your flight lands…AND, they don’t cover jewelry. So he is screwed, but it’s a great life lesson for him, just wish it didn’t have to happen to him on his first ever out of state vacation.
….another thing Port Orleans Riverside and AAA messed up my ressies and it took us over an hour to check in…we received the furthest away from civilization room you can get… and that death on the monorail...wow, so so sad.
Now we are “home” at Royal Pacific and spent the day in the parks with hardly any waits.
Sorry for the long read, I’m just venting and warning to watch what you put in your checked bag or just buy a lock

 

[damo]

That's so very sad! Did the boyfriend, by any chance, purchase the ring with a credit card? He could claim it then.

 

[dogodisney]

Hope the rest of your vacation is better.

 

[czycropper]

Hope the rest of your vacation is better!

I would definitely put a claim in with TSA - something similar happened here in one of the NYC airports and it wasn't until after a claim was put in that they found out that some of the workers were going through and stealing.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Did you get trip insurance? If you did, then you will need to call both TSA and Airtran again and file a formal complaint. Insist on a complaint #. Also file a complaint with Disney Security. Get copies of your complaints. And then file a claim with the insurance company.

When we went to WDW, 3 yo son's first trip, I stupidly packed my camera in my carry on. I must have been brain dead when I did that, and I didn't lock it. I know, I know...crazy of me. I know better. But I did it. And someone opened my bag, removed the camera, extra memory card and extra 12 pack of batteries from the camera case, then rezipped the case and reclosed my luggage. I was devastated as I couldn't replace the camera in time to take pics of our trip. We had to use my mom's little crappy camera, but thankfully we got some decent shots so I have at least some memories!

Insurance reimbured for the camera, battery AND the mem card. And we traveled Airtran as well. From HPN to MCO. And used Magical Express.

 

[Josh Hendy]

On my last trip when we arrived in MCO our large suitcase had its zipper opened to exactly the size of opening one would use to insert an arm and sweep it around inside to look for lootable stuff. Fortunately we had nothing in it but clothes and nothing was missing.

When we returned home our small suitcase which contained toiletries and medicines had a note in it from the TSA, "Dear Taxpayer, we have just rifled your bag in the name of keeping you safe." Or words to that effect. Nothing was missing but they jammed the zipper from rough handling and we had to throw the bag away.

I think that probably nothing has changed much since this article in salon.com from a few years back, except now you have legions of gummint employees as well as airport baggage handlers pawing through your stuff.

salon DOT com SLASH travel/diary/hest/1999/10/19/hester/

 

[jillybeene71]

We had no trip insurance...TSA has washed their hands of it since the record of bags opened that morning said 5 and she gave me all the last names of ones that were opened and randomly searched, none were ours.
I filed a "curtousy (sp) claim" with airtran, cause it was after 4 hours of receiving the luggage and you cant claim jewelery anyway. Whats the use. Im making a claim with Magical Express but really dont expect anything.

DAMO: No, he didnt buy it with a cc, but did fill one out for Kay's jewelery while he was there to start his credit, luckily he was approved and will purchase her another one on his cc. A funny story...he just bought her one at one of the US stores for 3.50 and is giving it to her when they go eat out at Hard Rock tonight (she doesnt know about the new "fake" ring, yet). Ah, young love... Hes just going to let her believe he cant afford another one and try to surprise her again when we get home with a good ring.

side note...when did they remove the van and stuff outside of Twister? I was very disappointed with that...also Monsters cafe is still closed, Im guessing seasonal is HHN? Blue man group is offering 25.00 kids tickets, but adults are still 64-74.00
The Marilyn monroe looks like a tranny, most of the rides are still pretty much walk on (using fast passes of course). Im trying to remember all the "mental notes" i was taking on how much its changed here.
oh ok...the kids clubs, if you are interested are only offered at one hotel during the week and all 3 on the weekends. My son will be going to the PBH tonight even though were staying at RP. A little inconvienent, but oh well.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

what a horrid experience.. I feel for all of you. If your DD and her BF do eventually marry and have children, this will be one vacation that you can look back on and eventually laugh at.... just not now...

I have heard from my cousins & friends that the Magical Express had taken very long to get their luggage to them. In fact, my cousins didn't get there's until the next day & they had small children with them.. they didn't have enough packed in the carry on for the both kids either. They were really PO'd and told guest services off that night. No PJ's no extra clothing for the next day etc.. the kids were 2 & 3 at the time too. There flight arrived somewhere around 4pm-ish so there was no excuse.

As far as the ring, I would definatly keep pursing that all ends, you just do not know which end is guilty of it. That is so sad to think your things have been gone thru.

Now on the lighter side.. you are here, safe.. I hope you have a great time.. and a safe trip..

 

[Tizzy_Meliss]

That's terrible Jillybeene. Sad thing is it happens all too often. DH and I rarely fly and when we do, we carry on for this reason.

Hope your trip turns around, looking forward to a trip report!

 

[macraven]

Jilybeane, this is happening all over.

It is not the TSA employees that are the thieves.

My son had his Japanese watch stolen by the baggage carriers at O'Hare airport not too long ago.

I bought him a special order, one of a kind, watch from Japan.
ubber expensive. Since he was already wearing one watch, he had the watch tucked inside other clothing in his checked bag.

After a thourough investigation, we found out, it was the baggage employees at the airport that stole it.

no recourse for us. We were told we needed to "prove" it was in the checked luggage.


I feel horrible this has happened to your dd's bf.
what a let down it must have been for him!


btw, the tsa locks don't prevent theft necessarily.