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Last December, I wrote a post about how upset I was with American Airlines (AA) for losing our luggage. It wasn’t the fact that they’d lost it, it was the fact that they’d wasted our time (90 minutes) and cost me a lot more money because their baggage tracking app said our bags were on the plane, as did the LAX airport ground staff. However, in reality, they’d never been loaded onto the plane in Philadelphia.
I’m happy to report that AA has better technology but they still need to improve. Yesterday, we flew from Philadelphia (PHL) to Toronto (YYZ) and checked two bags. BTW: The Priority check-in line was the longest one I’ve ever seen anywhere. It had to be 40 people deep and the bag drop check-in was closed.
Even the Sky Caps line outside, where they now charge $4 a bag, was at least 15 people deep. When it was our turn to check in, the Priority agent was quick since we had already checked in the day before when we were in Nantucket. We then spent the night at the PHL Airport Marriott because I used miles and to pay the lowest amount (12,000 miles pp), it required an overnight stay. I also did it because it breaks up the trip and makes traveling more fun since it’s not just about the destination – it’s the journey.
The check-in agent said that Saturdays are always crazy busy and the general security line proved it. That line was over 100 yards long (pictured above), and the display stated it was a 27- to 31-minute wait. Fortunately, the PreCheck line (pictured below) had no wait.
This time, as soon as we landed in Toronto, my wife said that according to our Apple AirTags, one of our bags hadn’t made it. I was hoping it was just a lag in the system tracking, but then I checked the AA app and it showed that only one bag had been loaded onto the plane.
While walking to immigration, I received a push notification that one of our two bags had indeed not made it and to go to customer service. I appreciated it because I didn’t have to wait around for what seems like an eternity, waiting for a bag.
The Toronto airport was eerily quiet. In fact, I’ve never seen the immigration hall this quiet. There were no lines anywhere, including at the American Airlines baggage desk. The agent was nice and took down our address and said it should be on the next flight, which was in a few hours. It didn’t make it. It did get on the 9pm flight and they delivered it at … 2:30am!
When my mother-in-law woke me up to say that our baggage delivery was here, I thought it was a joke. Why would they deliver it in the middle of the night and wake everyone up? I was more upset about that than them misplacing our bag. But of course, in the end, just glad to get the bag back.
Here are some takeaways from the experience:
1. Use Apple AirTags
Always use Apple AirTags so you know where your bags are and make sure the batteries are working. The night before our big trip to Italy, my wife was going over our packing list (she’s very diligent). One of the things she checks is whether there are AirTags (at the time of this publication, they are $74.99 for a four-pack or $22.98 for one) in each bag and backpack. She also double-checks that they’re actually working. She realized the batteries were either low or dead in all of them and I really didn’t feel like going out. Natalie was adamant we weren’t traveling without working AirTags. So I logged onto Amazon and found a 10-pack of lithium coin batteries for only $7.24 with next-day delivery. FYI: If you’re not sure how to do it, I created a short video demonstrating how to change the battery in your Apple AirTags.
2. Download the airline’s app
Download the airline’s app and make sure they have your up-to-date contact information. Not only did I get a push notification that one of our bags hadn’t made it onto the plane, but they emailed me as well.
3. Be specific about delivery times
Be specific about when you want your bag to be delivered and state that you don’t want it delivered in the middle of the night (if you don’t).
4. Take photos
Take a photo of the outside and the inside of your bag. Put your name and phone number/email address on both the outside tag and on the inside, just in case the outer one gets ripped off.
5. Always pack extra clothes in your carry-on
Once you’ve filed the claim, some airlines will give you a little toiletry kit so you can at least freshen up (AA did not). But hopefully, you’ve at least packed a day or two’s worth of clean clothes in your carry-on, as well as a bathing suit if you plan on going swimming, since it’s not always easy to find an inexpensive swimsuit. TIP: Always pack your valuables and medications in your carry-on, as well as extra, in case you get stuck.
6. Know your airline’s rules/contract of carriage
Each airline has their own rules on what they cover and don’t cover, including information about compensation for lost, damaged or delayed bags. Below, I’ve listed direct baggage info links for the major U.S., Canadian, European and Australian airlines so you can brush up, depending on who you’re flying with: North America: Air Canada | American | Delta | JetBlue | Hawaiian | Southwest | United | WestJet | Air France | British Airways | KLM | Lufthansa | Qantas
KEEP READING:
–6 Expert Tips From the Unclaimed Baggage Center For Avoiding Lost Luggage
–8 Ways to Make Sure an Airline Doesn’t Lose Your Bag
–Airline Lost Your Luggage? Do This If You Want to Get Compensated
–Why Frequent Fliers Use Apple AirTags or Samsung SmartTags When They Travel
–An Airline Executive’s Number One Tip for Avoiding Lost Luggage When You Fly
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On a 19 day trip to South America last year, the Airlines (LATAM) lost our bag for 17 days! We started in our trip in Rio, where it was 80 degrees, went to the southern tip of Argentina to Igazzi Falls where it was snowing & freezing temps, then lastly to Chile. On day 17 our missing suitcase containing summer & winter clothes arrived at our hotel. We were in daily contact with LATAM air, horrible service, no one cared to do anything to help. The AirTag we had in the lost suitcase, the battery had gone bad. In the end, said lost bag had been in the Rio airport the entire 17 days of it being ‘’lost.”
Always check the AirTag battery life before going on a trip! And don’t fly LATAM Air!
Good advice!