devils advocate here
What's the bet the luggage was considered 'lost' by the airline due to some screwup, airline told owners to pound sand, the owners then claimed on their travel insurance and they got their cash back
I'd definitely be travelling with insurance if I had something like that sitting in my checked luggage, hate to think of the value of stuff they brought carry-on
I do get the feeling the airlines, or at least the Australian ones, do little to actually resolve issues such as lost luggage. They say 99% of lost luggage is found, but I am still a little dubious.
I reckon it's more of a case of them using a very broad definition of "lost". Like, someone's bag hasn't come through with the rest of their flights so they go to the desk to follow it up. Turns out it just got mixed in with the next flights and is on the carousel 30 seconds later. While a normal human would define lost as it went to Perth but you were going to Melbourne and up.
Similar Experience. New Orleans Delta Lost Luggage, No we don't have it.... PRESS FIND IT on my Tile app and suitcase starts ringing. Tell agent, "hear that, it is my suitcase.... Please get it for me". Like others about 10 feet away from agent. Tags intact, no reason, just handed my my bag and walked away. I attribute laziness not malice, she just could not be bothered.
I put a footy flag into checked in luggage once. It didn't come out so I queried it and they said they would look for it. Two days later I got a call which basically said "we found it, it's broken, now fuck off".
There are plenty of cases (ha!) like that where people tell employees “it’s literally right there/in that room I can see it on my app right now” and they still don’t get their shit back.
My luggage was not loaded once for a flight. Adelaide Airport claimed that couldn't find it. Relatives went to the airport to physically check - it was the only bag there. Yet somehow they couldn't find it?
Also, is there a reason lost property isn't being handed onto the police to be formally logged?
There would be something in the terms and conditions about so they don’t have to do that. You've just gotta read those little wrap things when you click the “I Accept” box online…….
I'll have to admit that if Qantas snuck "any airport on your trip may sell your personal belongings if not claimed within 28 days" half-way down page 7 of the T&Cs, I've definitely missed it.
But again that would seem to be unfair, since even when directly questioned (and it being the only damn bag there) they "couldn't find" mine, that would suggest they shouldn't have that power.
Let alone the additional barriers in getting responses from airports and airlines when you're overseas.
I don't feel that the airport should be getting good publicity for creating a difficult and uncooperative environment and then selling things people lose when they're under pressure.
I think its unfair to say the airports create a difficult and uncooperative environment.
They are obviously very busy places through no fault of the airport and proper security is a must.
There are plenty of staff to assist in the event you need assistance. The only stressful aspect is going through security - in which case be mindful that it will be stressful.
If someone is prone to stress, then take some responsibility and leave the expensive jewellery etc. in a secure location such that it can't be lost (lost baggage being a different story).
It appears lots of the property that they sell is not actually lost but rather abandoned. For truly lost items, as the article states, they assist in finding people's items. To lose an $11k necklace and not contact the airport in an attempt to find it falls squarely on the person who lost it.
When I said plenty of staff to assist, I meant assist in general terms (not solely to search for items) to refute the OP comment that airports are 'uncooperative'. The items being auctioned are the items that have been found. If you call up describing your lost item, then it would not be included in an auction. Also unreasonable to expect staff to find all lost items - other people may have found and kept such items or they get broken and thrown out etc.
As to the 11k necklace - If someone truly did contact the airport about the necklace prior to the auction, then I assume there is a much larger story here about the airports failing to return property - and rightfully so. Nothing of the sort has been alleged here though.
The lost property is different to lost luggage. I did distinguish this in my comment. The majority of the auction items appear to be loose items not taken from luggage
To lose an $11k necklace and not contact the airport in an attempt to find it falls squarely on the person who lost it.
I gathered the insurance company who paid out on it probably wants it back.
I lost my SSD in between Europe and Asia. I was told outright that it would go straight into the bin as no one is plugging in unknown drives into computers. So even if it was found, and handed in, it was as good as gone. If someone had picked it up, and was ballsy enough to plug it in, then they could score themselves a free SSD.
Also, isn't it the airlines that are responsible for the luggage. Correct me if I'm wrong but at Melbourne Airport you have the Qantas and the Virgin terminals - is the baggage handing done by the airlines in the backrooms, or is that the airport?
I did go once to one from lost property from the train. Pallets full of umbrellas and I have scarves to last me a lifetime. There was also a fancy violin that people were interest in. Surely you ask for that when you loose it
Years ago I lost my sunnies on a train and went to lost property.
“Prescription or non-prescription?”
“Case or no case?”
They then pulled out a huge tub and I was rifling through, could see mine weren’t there so selected a pair I liked the look of (knockoff Ray bans) and signed the form to take them.
Figured it’s the sunnies economy- mine are out there somewhere probably being worn by someone else, I got a pair back to me!
There's a running joke in the military. Someone is missing a piece of their uniform/equipment, so they pinch someone else's, and they in turn liberate the item from the next guy. But in reality, all the original missing items stem from one guy who steals someone's kit for no reason and just has this hoard of random equipment.
Would be interesting questions around legal ownership, particularly with something like that camera, or Apple devices that can easily be tracked and tied to the original owner.
It's not just the airline involved. The airport has a lot of different companies operating there. Baggage handlers, security, airport security, multiple airlines through code sharing agreements, and various other subcontractors may be involved. The airline might only have a few people at the airport depending on how many flights they operate from there and rely on companies like Dnata or Swissport for their ground operations.
I had a pair of earbuds confiscated from my checked luggage from NZ once. There was no options given to me to claim them in any way, no attempt to communicate with me at the time, even though the airline knew exactly who I was and who the bag belonged to. Not sure if this translates to Australia 100% (I suspect people will have similar stories), but even if close, I'd hardly call these items "lost". They were taken from their rightful owners in some cases.
Just casually misplacing your $11k necklace at the airport. You know, normal people things..
devils advocate here
What's the bet the luggage was considered 'lost' by the airline due to some screwup, airline told owners to pound sand, the owners then claimed on their travel insurance and they got their cash back
I'd definitely be travelling with insurance if I had something like that sitting in my checked luggage, hate to think of the value of stuff they brought carry-on
I do get the feeling the airlines, or at least the Australian ones, do little to actually resolve issues such as lost luggage. They say 99% of lost luggage is found, but I am still a little dubious.
I reckon it's more of a case of them using a very broad definition of "lost". Like, someone's bag hasn't come through with the rest of their flights so they go to the desk to follow it up. Turns out it just got mixed in with the next flights and is on the carousel 30 seconds later. While a normal human would define lost as it went to Perth but you were going to Melbourne and up.
thanks for the reminder to buy some more airtags
I saved this comment from a US thread…
I remember my bag being delayed a day from Germany to New York, I had to find the bag myself in a pile.
On the other hand I left a Kindle on a plane to Brisbane airport and they had it for me the next day without issue.
I put a footy flag into checked in luggage once. It didn't come out so I queried it and they said they would look for it. Two days later I got a call which basically said "we found it, it's broken, now fuck off".
There are plenty of cases (ha!) like that where people tell employees “it’s literally right there/in that room I can see it on my app right now” and they still don’t get their shit back.
My luggage was not loaded once for a flight. Adelaide Airport claimed that couldn't find it. Relatives went to the airport to physically check - it was the only bag there. Yet somehow they couldn't find it?
Also, is there a reason lost property isn't being handed onto the police to be formally logged?
There would be something in the terms and conditions about so they don’t have to do that. You've just gotta read those little wrap things when you click the “I Accept” box online…….
So you think it would be in the terms of the individual airline, although you don't have a contract with the airport?
I imagine the T's and C's that you click yes to in the wrap covers all of that and more.
I'll have to admit that if Qantas snuck "any airport on your trip may sell your personal belongings if not claimed within 28 days" half-way down page 7 of the T&Cs, I've definitely missed it.
But again that would seem to be unfair, since even when directly questioned (and it being the only damn bag there) they "couldn't find" mine, that would suggest they shouldn't have that power.
Let alone the additional barriers in getting responses from airports and airlines when you're overseas.
I don't feel that the airport should be getting good publicity for creating a difficult and uncooperative environment and then selling things people lose when they're under pressure.
I think its unfair to say the airports create a difficult and uncooperative environment.
They are obviously very busy places through no fault of the airport and proper security is a must.
There are plenty of staff to assist in the event you need assistance. The only stressful aspect is going through security - in which case be mindful that it will be stressful.
If someone is prone to stress, then take some responsibility and leave the expensive jewellery etc. in a secure location such that it can't be lost (lost baggage being a different story).
It appears lots of the property that they sell is not actually lost but rather abandoned. For truly lost items, as the article states, they assist in finding people's items. To lose an $11k necklace and not contact the airport in an attempt to find it falls squarely on the person who lost it.
If they cant find the belongings then id argue
This is wrong.
Do you really think a person who lost $11k jewellery didn't contact the airline...
When I said plenty of staff to assist, I meant assist in general terms (not solely to search for items) to refute the OP comment that airports are 'uncooperative'. The items being auctioned are the items that have been found. If you call up describing your lost item, then it would not be included in an auction. Also unreasonable to expect staff to find all lost items - other people may have found and kept such items or they get broken and thrown out etc.
As to the 11k necklace - If someone truly did contact the airport about the necklace prior to the auction, then I assume there is a much larger story here about the airports failing to return property - and rightfully so. Nothing of the sort has been alleged here though.
Id say luggage is a general need for a flyer
The lost property is different to lost luggage. I did distinguish this in my comment. The majority of the auction items appear to be loose items not taken from luggage
This is entirely the fault of the airports though, they control the security, and this claim of "proper security" is a joke at best.
I gathered the insurance company who paid out on it probably wants it back.
I lost my SSD in between Europe and Asia. I was told outright that it would go straight into the bin as no one is plugging in unknown drives into computers. So even if it was found, and handed in, it was as good as gone. If someone had picked it up, and was ballsy enough to plug it in, then they could score themselves a free SSD.
That's a matter between the insurer and the insured. Nothing to do with the airport.
You lost an SSD between Europe and Asia? So not an Australian airport which is the subject of the article?
Also, isn't it the airlines that are responsible for the luggage. Correct me if I'm wrong but at Melbourne Airport you have the Qantas and the Virgin terminals - is the baggage handing done by the airlines in the backrooms, or is that the airport?
Too many people wanting to hate the airport and conflating the them with airlines. Can't change the mind of emotionally irrational people
I did go once to one from lost property from the train. Pallets full of umbrellas and I have scarves to last me a lifetime. There was also a fancy violin that people were interest in. Surely you ask for that when you loose it
Years ago I lost my sunnies on a train and went to lost property.
“Prescription or non-prescription?” “Case or no case?”
They then pulled out a huge tub and I was rifling through, could see mine weren’t there so selected a pair I liked the look of (knockoff Ray bans) and signed the form to take them.
Figured it’s the sunnies economy- mine are out there somewhere probably being worn by someone else, I got a pair back to me!
There's a running joke in the military. Someone is missing a piece of their uniform/equipment, so they pinch someone else's, and they in turn liberate the item from the next guy. But in reality, all the original missing items stem from one guy who steals someone's kit for no reason and just has this hoard of random equipment.
It could be that some kid dropped it, had a panic attack when they realised they didn't have it anymore, and told their parents it was stolen.
Maybe. Or a professional musician claiming on insurance because he wanted a new one
This is not a sign of goodwill, airports being too lazy with lost property then feeling guilty about it, donate the proceeds to charities.
Would be interesting questions around legal ownership, particularly with something like that camera, or Apple devices that can easily be tracked and tied to the original owner.
Way to ignore airlines failing to do the job you pay for.
How are the airlines failing when this is all about the airports? Two different things
It's not just the airline involved. The airport has a lot of different companies operating there. Baggage handlers, security, airport security, multiple airlines through code sharing agreements, and various other subcontractors may be involved. The airline might only have a few people at the airport depending on how many flights they operate from there and rely on companies like Dnata or Swissport for their ground operations.
I had a pair of earbuds confiscated from my checked luggage from NZ once. There was no options given to me to claim them in any way, no attempt to communicate with me at the time, even though the airline knew exactly who I was and who the bag belonged to. Not sure if this translates to Australia 100% (I suspect people will have similar stories), but even if close, I'd hardly call these items "lost". They were taken from their rightful owners in some cases.
Amazing really... I bet a large chunk of these "lost" bags still have the barcoded luggage tag on them. Disgusting they are allowed to sell struff.
Where are people going to bid on lost luggage?