On a flight from Philadelphia to New York my girlfriend was asked, as she boarded the plane, to "check" her carry on bag and put it below the plane because there was no longer any room in the bins in the cabin. When she arrived in NYC she was asked to retrieve her bag at baggage claim. Once it was apparent her bag was not showing up, the baggage department said that her bag would be delivered to her the next day. When she received her bag, her laptop was missing. Katy filed a complaint and received this letter.
Katy ended up losing thousands of photos that she had failed to backup (she won't make that mistake again). The laptop itself was not very valuable but that isn't the point. The point is that US Airways forced Katy to check a bag but will not guarantee the safety of anything inside. Sure, a laptop, phone, or jewelry, is easy to remove from a carry on bag (and she should have remembered to do that) but what if your carry on bag is full of camera equipment?
How can we travel safely with photography equipment?
I travel everywhere with a ThinkTank Airport Security V 2.0 roller bag filled with over $10,000 of camera equipment. On my back I carry a Lowepro Trekker 400 with more cameras, lenses, a laptop, and an iPad. I can always fit the backpack under the seat in a jam but about 20% of the time I am forced to check my roller bag because either the bins are too small or already full before I get on the plane. I cannot "remove fragile or valuable items" because the whole bag is full of fragile and valuable items.
So what are photographers supposed to do when we fly with gear? You aren't supposed to check it, but the airlines may force you to. I'm just waiting for the day when my roller bag full of photography gear never shows up at baggage claim, and apparently US Airways will not cover my loss.
I believe that US Airways should make a couple very simple changes. First, if you are forced to check a carry on bag, you should be given your bag back as soon as you land. Second, if they can't do this they should be willing to pay for damaged or stolen items. Do the right thing US Airways and replace Katy's laptop.
Here's a little trick I use to ensure I don't get hosed having to check my gear. Get a seat as close to the back of the plane as possible. This ensures you're always the first one on getting priority access to overheads. On top of that, when you get off the plane, you can sit and wait for everyone else to deplane. When it's your turn you can exit and by the time you get to the carousel to claim your baggage, it's likely already there.
I love how if I rent a camera from a cie, I'm responsible what ever happens.
When you give your camera to a cie, they are NEVER responsible for anything that happens... Really?
How are the law made so that it CAN'T go both ways?
Disregarding this thread, US Airways is consistently voted the worst US carrier for a number of reasons, for many years now.
Keeping up the good work, NOT!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRFcbWdn360
Nice Rant - way to score points with your squeeze. Nice
Pack a firearm. Checked bags containing firearms - even starter pistols- are inspected and SEALED by TSA in your presence. They are handled a different way.
I have had many, many things stolen over the years by TSA and customs. Always in its place is a "this bag was inspected by" piece of paper... It infuriates me; expensive shoes, clothes, electronics... It's complete bullshit. Just like UPS and FedEx assume responsibility of a package during transit so too should the airlines.
this is EXACTLY why I bought my Pelican cases and lock them when I fly. It wont be MY fault, thats for dang sure ... I hope Katie's ish gets sorted out and they hook her up!
That doesn't keep them from stealing the whole thing or if you check it then it has to be a lock that they can open.
Airlines have a long standing history of providing crappy customer service when it comes to lost/damaged baggage, but this really takes the cake. The situation reminds me of a couple years ago when Canadian musician Dave Carroll had his guitar broken by United Airlines... he wrote a song about it that went viral, and eventually the guitar was replaced and situation resolved ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Breaks_Guitars ) Social media works in interesting ways - lets hope this gets moving and sees a similar result! Good luck!
Why would you fly between Philly and New York though, more to the point. The train is faster once you factor in commute to/from the airports, and costs a hell of a lot less.
Someone had unrestricted access to baggage between the cabin after boarding and just after landing. Looks like there is a serious security risk here. I think Homeland Security needs to be notified. What if an evil person has put something in as opposed to taking something out. I say the flight and the airport are compromised due to the airlines inadequate security. Big risk here.
Airport 'security' is nothing more than an illusion of safety. All beefing it up will do is drain more tax dollars
I had the same thing happen to me (with AirTran), luckily it was a work laptop and not my gear. I complained enough that they gave me a voucher for a free round trip flight, but still was not enough to compensate for something like lost photos, data, etc. They told me airlines do not cover electronics. Since then, I've been told I've had to check my carry on lowe pro with my gear when the overhead bins where full at the gate. My response to them has been, " I have over $10,000 worth of professional electronics in my bag and am aware you do not cover electronics, so unless you will insure it, I cannot check it," saying this with a stern enough, yet pleasant voice. Needless to say, on more than one occasion they found some overhead space for me. I refuse to check my gear unless they will cover it.
Do we need another reason to dislike U.S. Airways or air travel in general. I will share this story with my peers. Hopefully, U.S. Airways will take notice of this post and come around to their senses.
I work for Delta Airlines Baggage so I have seen all kinds of crazy stuff get "lost" and stolen from gate checked bags...This is the policy for Delta: They are not liable for camera equipment and electronics that could be lost, among other things like jewelry and currency. Now if your checked bag gets lost, you can file a claim where they will require from you receipts and the most they will ever pay a passenger for a lost bag is $3,300. If they ask you to gate check your bag you can always tell them that you have very expensive equipment inside and when I have flown they helped me out and let me bring it in the cabin (they didn't know I worked for Delta so it's not like they hooked me up.) However, I wonder how photographers like Joe McNally do when they travel because they check thousands and thousand of dollars worth of stuff and if it got lost he'd be out of luck. It sucks for photographers because the policy directly excludes us from getting any type of compensation from lost equipment. Sadly enough.. and this comes from claim manager who will be the ones to say yay or nay... FedEx your stuff... Awesome huh!!! SMH
I work for Delta Airlines Baggage so I have seen all kinds of crazy stuff get "lost" and stolen from gate checked bags...This is the policy for Delta: They are not liable for camera equipment and electronics that could be lost, among other things like jewelry and currency. Now if your checked bag gets lost, you can file a claim where they will require from you receipts and the most they will ever pay a passenger for a lost bag is $3,300. If they ask you to gate check your bag you can always tell them that you have very expensive equipment inside and when I have flown they helped me out and let me bring it in the cabin (they didn't know I worked for Delta so it's not like they hooked me up.) However, I wonder how photographers like Joe McNally do when they travel because they check thousands and thousand of dollars worth of stuff and if it got lost he'd be out of luck. It sucks for photographers because the policy directly excludes us from getting any type of compensation from lost equipment. Sadly enough.. and this comes from claim manager who will be the ones to say yay or nay... FedEx your stuff... Awesome huh!!! SMH
What a sucky thing to have happen. Was her carry on bag locked? Even when I plan to only take a carry on bag I always lock it with an approved TSA lock.
Because TSA will never steal anything....
I'll remember to never fly Us Airways!
I travel every other weekend with equipment and share the same concerns as mentioned in this article. I travel with a Pelican 1610 hard case with wheels, fitted foam inserts and 3 strobes, softboxes, bulbs and cords, everything. I also have a soft case with light/background stands in it. After several incidents with my light stands being broken at the airport I purchased an 8in concrete post cardboard tube from Lowes, cut it to length and put a slit in it so I could slide it into the soft case to protect my aluminum light stands and knobs from being broken off, and they continue breaking regardless. I have a backpack with my laptop and second external hard drive (I would never dare place it in the checked luggage) and clothing in the backpack, as well as a carry on duffel bag with my camera bag inside it for double protection. It also has a 10x20 muslin backdrop, clamps, gaffing tape etc.
It makes me beyond nervous doing all of this every time I travel, but because I travel so frequently I don't have the option of shipping my equipment to each location I travel to, because then I would never have my equipment at home for the studio or anything else.
You can purchase TSA certified locks, to which they have keys to remove them. But, I had 2 of those on my Pelican, they left one on and cut the other one off, they were the exact same locks. Just say your prayers and hope for the best when traveling, that's about all we can do. :(
When ever I travel domestically with my checked photography equipment I pack a gun inside. YES a gun, Ok its just a starter pistol, it's legal in all 50 states, you don't need a license nor training courses or to register it, and you can get them at any sporting goods store or online. I've done this now since 2007 with very little stress, You must declare that you have a gun, you go in a back room to show it's unloaded they lock it with your ken and hand the key back, they tag it, you fill out a form, lock it and done. I got a hard handgun case off of craigslist for $8 and a small key lock for $10, and spray painted it bright orange for a total of about $50. It is ALWAYS the last bag loaded and the first one off the plane, even transfers. Super cheap insurance while playing on the airlines paranoia because they track weapons in airports very closely. I learned this trick from a professional photographer with S.I. that had been doing it for years, It's puts mind my at a little ease.
US Airways is a piece of shit. I hope they tank. In general there seems to be a lot of incompetence on behalf of the American airline companies these days. I've had numerous blunders when flying with US Airways and American Airlines. The American airline companies could learn a lot from paying attention to how the Asian and European airlines treat passengers, manage schedules, etc.
For what it's worth, Delta gives you your force-checked baggage the second you walk out of the plane.
Also, make enough ruckus and you may be able to find a place for it.
Just posted this on the US Airways facebook page. Maybe if more of us do, this will get resolved properly.
Im sorry to hear that, Im furious with US Air, I took my kids on a trip and flew from Phoenix to Ohare 2 days ago and they made us check our carry ons. I only thought of grabing my camera bag out (most value) but when we got home I realized they had oppened both bags and took my Ipad, Ipod, kids DS and games. I cant believe this can happen! Im in the process of filing out their property loss but Im not sure I will get anything back. My cc insurane only covers clothing... uh!
Here is the problem, companies are allowed to waive themselves from taking responsibility for the service they give you.
If the law would hold them responsible for their service in this case, making sure someone elses stuff they take possesion of while in flight, to keep it safe, they would put better measures in place to avoid something like theft.
- Derrick
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This TSA agent got caught..
TSA and US Airways come up with all kinds of ridiculous excuses to shrug all responsibilities when it comes to our lost items from inside our checked in baggage. Just yesterday, my checked in luggage was delayed for almost 8 hours (NYC - Boston) and when I tried to open my lock I could not because it had been tampered with. I had to borrow a wire cutter from the hotel staff and when I opened my luggage I realized I lost a brand new Kate Spade handbag I bought just 2 days ago. Since they are so smug with coming up with their excuses of not being liable for any lost items in our baggage which we ENTRUSTED them with a CHECK-IN FEE, why don't they just state under their US Airways logo "WARNING: CHECK IN YOUR BAGGAGE WITH OUR CARRIER AT YOUR OWN RISK"? That would have been much more reasonable if they had wanted to disregard any form of responsibility! Check-in baggage theft is so common in USA for the past 6 years that there are youtube videos and news reports all over the internet. The airport security is extremely flawed. Based on all the hard evidence I have read and watched via news, victims' encounters, police interviews, I have every reason to believe and accuse (without a doubt) their airport staff of explicitly being the culprits; TSA staff that rummage through your items WITHOUT YOUR PRESENCE and POCKET THEM (when you DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE) - IN WHAT RIGHT DO THESE DISHONEST, UNETHICAL PEOPLE WITHOUT MORALS HAVE TO RUMMAGE THROUGH OUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS NOT IN OUR PRESENCE? Dishonest and unmonitored baggage handlers that have access to your baggage WITHOUT YOUR PRESENCE. I am from Singapore (Asia) and I have never ever in my 30 years of traveling experienced such ridiculous unethical behavior in China (even the more dangerous mainland China filled with crooks and criminals), Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Milan, Hong Kong & etc. This is absurd and utterly shameful, the US government has to step up the security of its airports. USA is a first world country for heaven's sake! Learn from Singapore.
The biggest mistake was flying US Airways. They are absolutely horrible and show no respect for customers. Check out Delta or Southwest, they know how to treat a customer!
was there ever a resolution to this?