Got my Emerson stolen from the airlines!

jesse2205 said:
You need to tell us the name of that airline so I dont fly with them!!!
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You will not always have a choice as all airlines do not go everywhere.

I have never had anything stolen but my cases were lost and damaged several times by different airlines and in each occurance I filed a claim and the airline repaired or replaced the damaged cases or found the cases. The longest wait for a repair was about three weeks. Also I declared the damages immediately at the airport when possible other times the luggage was deliverd to my place of stay.

Put some pressure on them and or file a claim for lost or damaged property.
 
Teague said:
I personally would never carry ANY of my expensive knives in my baggage on a commercial airline. Live and Learn!
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Exactly right.

To believe that any valubles are safe from theft when going through the hands of the bagbusters is incredibly naive.

As soon as they outlawed lock on bags, I quit putting any valubles in them. I have shipped things to and from my destination instead. It sucks, but not as bad as getting things stolen.

"Gee Officer, I only left my keys in the car for a second...."
 
waterdogs said:
Actually, since the new "9/11 Rules" were put in place, you really *don`t* have many rights as a customer, including the fact that you can no longer lock any luggage....
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This is false. First, enhanced airport security actually dates back to the Lockerbie bombing, not 9/11.

And second, you can witness the inspection of your checked baggage and lock it any way you want to. I always do both of these things. Just ask. Because the inspection of bags varies from airport-to-airport, the procedure will also vary. But it always begins with you asking. Sometimes, the ticket desk agent will reply that it is not possible or permissible; this is because doing so will require extra time and effort on the clerk's part and they just want to get you on your way and them onto the next-in-line. So, insist. Just tell the clerk that you have the right to and want to witness the inspection and then lock your bag. Ask for a supervisor. I have always prevailed in this in every major airport in the country.

Last week, I flew out of PDX which handles the problem quite easily. But, they were on some sort of alert and were doing the the full explosive-detection-swab drill on every bottle of wine in every checked bag. This is Portland, Oregon, the top of the world-famous Willamette Valley wine country. Everyone has wine in their baggage whether taking home from their time in Portland or taking to their host for their time away. I had five bottles. The bag ahead of mine had six bottles which, even from a distance, I recognized as $120/bottle wine. The TSA agent butterfingered one bottle and it fell to the floor. Fortunately, it was a short fall to carpet and the bottle didn't break, but it was a very tense moment. I noticed that he was rather careful with my bottles which I was thankful for since there was a 2004 Cancella Cellars Pinot Noir in there... irreplaceable.

Since the OP had a lawfully-checked firearm in his baggage, I assume it was a hardsided bag with a lock. That is impressive that the handler got into it. The enhanced security post 9/11 has now required background checks on baggage handlers and a lot of security cameras in the baggage handling areas. The dishonest handler has only a few seconds to get into a bag and get out. So, a lock is usually enough to cause him to select the next bag.

Oh, and why didn't he take the gun? Because if he got caught with that in the secure area, his head would roll.

There is always some risk when you check baggage. It's gonna get handled by a dozen or more people along the way. But you can insist on locking it with a lock of your choice.
 
Keep in mind that the bag in question was handled by employees of the airline, TSA, and by contractors hat move baggage around in airports. So, the criminal may not be an employee of the airline.

The OP should, of course, raise a huge stink with the airline. Also, raise a stink with TSA. And, finally, write to the Director of Security at each airport involved (names and addresses are on the websites).

The airline should pay for the knife; they will resist this, of course, but your ticket includes $600 (as i recall, maybe that' not the right number) worth of coverage for lost baggage. So, insist.

It took many, many hours of many phone calls and letters and forms sent in to finally get British Airways to cough up $600 for a bag of mine they lost which contained a $3000 W.D. Pease custom pocket knife.
 
Angus McGunnigl said:
With the declared firearm in the same bag, you may want to make an issue of this with the airline. It would be worth your time.

I ZIP-TIE my knives to the metal frame of my luggage.
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Whoa! That is excellent advice on both counts! Thanks.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
why wouldn't you name the airline?
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Waiting to see how they respond to my request for recompense. Will name it loud and clear when they decline. I am sure, buried in the fine print, is some reason that that won't work.
 
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Tried to merge all my posts. Too techno impaired to make it work. Sorry.
I'm waiting for the airlines to respond before naming them.
Excellent advice on protecting my stuff and even not carrying good knives. Too soon old...
Firearm was in a Center of Mass safe and the baggage was soft.
It's still my understanding that we are not allowed to use non TSA approved locks.
Having watch as security checks is a good idea. Now, all I need to do is show up early enough for them to do that...

While I'm at it, two more questions:
Guessing we can no longer use Paypal for a Gold Membership? Always have my wallet in another corner of the house when I want to contribute.
Anyone know if there is an Emerson Commander, stainless and plain for sale?
 
If i had to fly, i would not carry luggage with me, none! I would put everything into a big pelican case with a LOjak tracker inside, lock all the latches with padlocks, and ship it via a courier with a tracking number.
 
Bushman5 said:
If i had to fly, i would not carry luggage with me, none! I would put everything into a big pelican case with a LOjak tracker inside, lock all the latches with padlocks, and ship it via a courier with a tracking number.
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Nice idea. I've been meaning to get a couple of the bigger Pelican cases. :thumbup:

Sorry to hear about your knife. :(
 
aznav said:
It's still my understanding that we are not allowed to use non TSA approved locks.
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You may use whatever lock you like... AFTER the inspection is complete. Just tell the nice TSA person that you want to lock the bag after the inspection. I always do this and have never been refused.
 
Angus McGunnigl said:
With the declared firearm in the same bag, you may want to make an issue of this with the airline. It would be worth your time.

I ZIP-TIE my knives to the metal frame of my luggage.
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So how do you cut them loose when you arrive (since your knife is zip tied to your luggage)? :)
 
Gollnick said:
........snip.....
It took many, many hours of many phone calls and letters and forms sent in to finally get British Airways to cough up $600 for a bag of mine they lost which contained a $3000 W.D. Pease custom pocket knife.
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The worst airline I have ever dealt with for that sort of stuff was British Airways. They did everything they could to blame some one else from the word go, when they finaly ran out of people to blame they just prevaricated around the subject. They did finaly pay for the lost bag after literally months of games. They also grudgingly payed the hotel costs I had to pay after their flight was delayed and I missed the connection. :rolleyes:

I will never fly with them again even if it costs me 100x extra. :thumbdn:
 
Gollnick said:
Keep in mind that the bag in question was handled by employees of the airline, TSA, and by contractors hat move baggage around in airports. So, the criminal may not be an employee of the airline.
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I've been meaning to comment on cargo handlers in airports...local Transit Authorities, and major airlines, hire the laborers who cart luggage and cargo around...In the past, there were no background checks..."Cargo" includes US Mail...These cargo handlers are, for the most part, good workers...but they don't give a rats a$$ about your property, they only want to get that jet loaded and GO!!! I worked at the Buffalo NY airport in another capacity, and watched from a distance as Transit Authority cargo handlers unpacked 5 pods of mail and parcels and squeezed it into the four pod nacelles that were available on the aircraft...punching, kicking, throwing, jamming...even gently placing (:eek:) boxes and bags into the pods...It's unavoidable that some spilled open, and when that happens, all bets are off... :(

With the cutback in flights, and frequent delays and cancellations of flights, the problem has blown all out of proportion...There's only so much room/tonnage available for cargo, and pax and fuel are strictly controlled...

So don't be so quick to blame the baggage inspectors; there's lots of other people who are only too happy to make off with your valuables... :rolleyes:
 
waterdogs said:
Actually, since the new "9/11 Rules" were put in place, you really *don`t* have many rights as a customer, including the fact that you can no longer lock any luggage....
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This is not correct. My sister works for British Airways and they do not have problems with you even wrapping your bag in plastic, ziptying etc to protect your property. They encourage it!
 
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