USAirways PHL Luggage Woes

[beccasmom]

Here's the link to an article about USAirways' Philadelphia baggage woes, which are the worst in their system. This is of no surprise to those of us who fly often from PHL.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/front/15708209.htm

 

[CarolA]

What a horror story...... I thought things had gotten better, but I guess not.....

(However the guy whining about his laptop needs to shut up... he was stupid to check it and whining only makes him look dumber.... there is no need to check a laptop on a domestic flight and to do so is stupid. Not only on USAir, but on any of them)

 

[maps]

I had a horror baggage story with USAirways from Philly. It was a last minute connecting flight through Philly to Orlando (never again).

On the way back home to NH, everyone on the plane waited around the conveyor for an hour. A SW flight walked right up and their bags were there immediately. Finally we all started to realize our bags were not coming.

AN ENTIRE PLANE"S WORTH OF BAGS WERE MISSING AND NO ONE TOLD US!!

We all spent another hour reporting our lost bags and were told that "this happens all the time from PHL" Luckily it was the return flight but we needed 2 kid's booster seats. They let us borrow some that were left there.

The luggage was delievered to our house within a couple of days but what a waste of money! The delivery person said she makes countless deliveries everyday!!

They really should work at fixing this problem a lot more seriously.

 

[TaraPA]

USAir lost DH's luggage last week in PHL AND the week prior...2 for 2 is NOT good! He's flying them again tomorrow....and we fly them from PHL to WDW in December...I'm convinced there is no customer service left at all anymore.

 

[j's m]

I read this article in the paper this morning. We fly out in 30 days, I hope the new system isn't working by then, because a new start-up software system may be even worse!

I did decide that this year, we will be bringing a least of change of clothes with us in carryon and any other must haves.

 

[cynic957]

I seem to recall stating these same thoughts about

1. How Horrible US Airways is as an Airline

2. Especially in PHL

3. and getting continually hounded by folks who thought I had a grudge or was whining when I tried to warn travelers about how bad is was......

This article and investigation has pretty much confirmed everything I said.

To those of you who attacked my posts..... any apologies?

To ALL else - avoid PHL at all costs......this article actually is mild compared to the reality........guy from Las Vegas got the snot kicked out of him by philly airport cops on Aug 23 for complaining about 90 minute late baggage....happened on 08/23/2006....twas that incident what started this reporters investigation.


Doug Parker you should be ashamed of your self.....

 

[cynic957]

What a horror story...... I thought things had gotten better, but I guess not.....

(However the guy whining about his laptop needs to shut up... he was stupid to check it and whining only makes him look dumber.... there is no need to check a laptop on a domestic flight and to do so is stupid. Not only on USAir, but on any of them)

Actually he does not.....whether he was stupid enough to check it - he still should be treated with courtesy by the guilty airline and not given the run around.


Or do you think the tsumani victums were stupid for leaving too close to the ocean in an earthquake zone also - maybe they should shut up too?

 

[CarolA]

No, but I think tsumani victims had a LOT LESS KNOWLEGE about the potential for a Tsumani then this guy did about his laptop.

Sorry, but checking your laptop is STUPID and what he fails to realize is that he has NO legal recourse. The terms and conditions you agree to as part of your ticket dramatically limit the airlines liablity. It basically becomes his word against the airlines. It's not different then when folks have posted on here "I left cash sitting on the bed and it got stolen and Disney won't pay me back" Why? Because Disney has no way to know that you really had the cash. The airline has no way to know that this guy really lost a laptop.

I feel sorry for tsuamin victims. I don't feel sorry for this guy and I think that your comparison is insulting to the victims of a natural disaster. But maybe you think a stolen laptop is equal to the loss of life?? I don't!

 

[CleveRocks]

I did decide that this year, we will be bringing a least of change of clothes with us in carryon and any other must haves.

I can't imagine deciding NOT to bring a well-packed carry-on, in case of ANY airline delaying my luggage, no matter where I fly.

 

[DebbieB]

I fly USAirways often, I'm up to 39 flights this year. Until last Friday, I had no big complaints. For the first time, I connected in PHL going to MSP (PIT/PHL/MSP, going east to fly west). I normally fly a Northwest non-stop but the price was high for last week. The trip to MSP was fine, my connection was on time, my luggage came with no problem. The trip home was horrible. We were delayed almost 4 hours in MSP due to weather problems in PHL, the plane was there but we were not permitted to take off. When we finally got to PHL, it was total chaos, wall to wall people. My original connection was cancelled, I was put on a different flight. However, my luggage did not make it, it was delivered on Saturday. Instead of landing around 7:00pm, it was 11:15, by the time I filed my lost baggage claim and got home it was 1:00am. You can say that the weather isn't their fault but it is their fault that they moved the hub from PIT to PHL and PHL can't handle all the traffic. PIT rarely has weather delays, has plenty of room, airport is only 14 years old. PHL is always having weather delays and the terminal is old and crowded. Yet they keep decreasing PIT flights and increasing PHL, which has cost Pittsburgh thousands of jobs.

 

[CherCrazy]

As we were waiting for our luggage at USAir in PHL from our last trip, I happened to notice several bags going round and round and round on the carousel. Having worked in travel for a lifetime, I recognized the codes for the airports from all over the WORLD for pete's sake. Probably 10 bags on the carousel marked for every destination but PHL.

Just saw a brief clip on TV about a company that drives your luggage to it's destination in advance of your trip. They charge $40 per bag, and haven't lost ONE bag yet!!

 

[brendrek]

Great, just what I wanted to read! We fly USAir out of PHL this Friday. I had no idea this was a problem airline/airport until today. Of course we'll have the basics in our carry-ons just in case, but I'm not letting this put a damper on the trip. We're still going to use DME for our checked luggage too!

 

[ANTSS2001]

Great, just what I wanted to read! We fly USAir out of PHL this Friday. I had no idea this was a problem airline/airport until today. Of course we'll have the basics in our carry-ons just in case, but I'm not letting this put a damper on the trip. We're still going to use DME for our checked luggage too!

I guess I am one of the few who's lucky enough not to have experiended yet the horror of USAir in PHL. We live about 20 minutes away from PHL and been using the above airlines. But then after that Xmas event of luggages a couple of years back we have been only doing carry on luggage and only one not two so we can still have leg room. We just got back last Wednesday and for the 1st time checked in our luggages due to news about long lines with carryon... and again thank God we did not have any issues, luggages were on time to and from The Promise land!

brendek I hope you have the same luck. As a matter of fact it was DME who had lost some of our friends luggages last week when we stayed at POP since it was full they did not have enough CM to sort out luggages coming in the resorrt So yes I would suggest an extra change of clothes with your carryon. Some got their stuff as late as 3AM who had arrived the same time as we were which was 12 noon!

 

[CPT Tripss]

Flying out of PHL with some regularity has led DW and I to "cross pack." That is mix our clothes up between the two suitcases, if one gets hijacked, we'll still each have several days worth of clothes.
Just be careful which clothes you grab in the early morning!

 

[beccasmom]

Great, just what I wanted to read! We fly USAir out of PHL this Friday. I had no idea this was a problem airline/airport until today. Of course we'll have the basics in our carry-ons just in case, but I'm not letting this put a damper on the trip. We're still going to use DME for our checked luggage too!

Sorry for the bad timing of my post! But it really does pay to be aware of the issues at PHL; hopefully, you will be fine. We were fine during our June trip, but I hear horror stories from friends and colleagues on a regular basis. SWA does not seem to have these issues, to my knowledge. It is not uncommon to have 1 hour waits for luggage w/USAirways at PHL. If you have a ride waiting, that can be a major pain. There were HUGE issues during the holiday season of 2004 and many apologies from the executives that it would not recur. It is a bad situation and one that really does a number on customer loyalty. For that reason (and generally mediocre customer service for the most part, IMHO), I prefer SWA and am very glad there is an alternative in PHL.

 

[pbnjrockette]

I have to agree that PHL can be a nightmare, and especially USAir. Philly is our closest airport and we are thankful that SW is there now. The only problems we've had with SW is their changing gate #'s (and NOT posting it on the monitors).

Travel USAir?? Not if there is another choice!!

 

[cynic957]

No, but I think tsumani victims had a LOT LESS KNOWLEGE about the potential for a Tsumani then this guy did about his laptop.

Sorry, but checking your laptop is STUPID and what he fails to realize is that he has NO legal recourse. The terms and conditions you agree to as part of your ticket dramatically limit the airlines liablity. It basically becomes his word against the airlines. It's not different then when folks have posted on here "I left cash sitting on the bed and it got stolen and Disney won't pay me back" Why? Because Disney has no way to know that you really had the cash. The airline has no way to know that this guy really lost a laptop.

I feel sorry for tsuamin victims. I don't feel sorry for this guy and I think that your comparison is insulting to the victims of a natural disaster. But maybe you think a stolen laptop is equal to the loss of life?? I don't!

So It's ok for the airline to treat him like snot. Is that your answer? This is after all an aiirline which has ignored the bagagge situation in Philadelphia since 2004 which is 2 years and is only now addressing the problem. SO it's ok to do that.

I think you are stuck in the pattern of blaming the victim. A common tactic of those who want despreately to beleive "it can't happen to me......Because he was stupid!'

Try to go for a little self awareness.

 

[CarolA]

So It's ok for the airline to treat him like snot. Is that your answer? This is after all an aiirline which has ignored the bagagge situation in Philadelphia since 2004 which is 2 years and is only now addressing the problem. SO it's ok to do that.

I think you are stuck in the pattern of blaming the victim. A common tactic of those who want despreately to beleive "it can't happen to me......Because he was stupid!'

Try to go for a little self awareness.

I am SELF AWARE. As such I make sure I am EDUCATED about my rights and responsiblities. I don't blame others for my stupid errors. I realize that I have to accept responsiblities for IDIOT things I do. Why does this guy think the rules don't apply to him. Why is to OK to blame the airline for checking a piece of equipment that was clearly defined as not covered under the contract of carriage. I guess in your world self awareness means "I am always right??"

And I am also able to use the ignore button.. BYE!

(And by the way you still didn't explain HOW the loss of LIFE compares in ANY way, shape or form to the loss of a $1,000 laptop???? )

 

[cynic957]

I am SELF AWARE. As such I make sure I am EDUCATED about my rights and responsiblities. I don't blame others for my stupid errors. I realize that I have to accept responsiblities for IDIOT things I do. Why does this guy think the rules don't apply to him. Why is to OK to blame the airline for checking a piece of equipment that was clearly defined as not covered under the contract of carriage. I guess in your world self awareness means "I am always right??"

And I am also able to use the ignore button.. BYE!

(And by the way you still didn't explain HOW the loss of LIFE compares in ANY way, shape or form to the loss of a $1,000 laptop???? )

never said it did.

I think the tone of your language says all we need to know about Carol

if you put me on ignore - why ask me a question?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Yeah, this thread is done.