A tale of lost luggage
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (37709)
January 16, 2023 3:19pm CST
Have you ever arrived at your destination, to discover that your suitcases did not? That the airline messed up AGAIN, and actually have no idea just where they sent your belongings? I have had this happen more times than I can count. I can understand why so many people who fly want to cram everything they can into a small carry-on bag. I do find if I am going to stay quite a while at my destination, usually to visit family, I cannot get everything into a carry on. So, I usually check my bag.
I learned long ago to not only tag my luggage, but to put a full-sized sheet of paper INSIDE my luggage stating my name, address, phone number, and then the address of my destination and the phone number there, if applicable. I have always had my luggage returned to me, once not for over a week, but it made its way to me. My best friend travels some, and I told her years ago to do the address paper inside the suitcase thing, and she does.
Back in September, she had to fly to the Miami area to help a family member. The flight was delayed and chaotic, she finally arrived--without her luggage. It didn't arrive, not even after a week. She filed a claim of course, did everything she could, but it was just gone. She had to purchase needed items while she was there. She left for home after a week, and still had not received her suitcase. She has been waiting on a check from the airlines, she got it last Friday. An hour after she got the check, she got a call from the big luggage place in Scottsboro, AL. It's the place they send luggage that's never claimed. Her bag had been opened for sorting and selling, and they found the paper she wrote all the information on! So, after all this time, she is gettting it back. She called the airlines and said, now what, they found the bag after all this time, and you sent me money that I received last Friday. They told her the money was hers and they would not be requesting it to be returned, and that they were sorry. She is supposed to get her suitcase delivered to her home later today.
What a mess. If you fly a lot, put your info in your bag! It's saved me before, now it returned her belongings to her. Link below is where the luggage ends up.
https://www.insider.com/unclaimed-baggage-center-alabama-sells-your-lost-luggage-2016-10
20 people like this
22 responses
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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16 Jan 23
Don't say that too loudly...it seems the airline industry is short handed and not really very efficient now. Probably won't improve anytime soon.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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17 Jan 23
@DianneN
I have learned, when I fly I take my giant purse with compartments. The basics are in there as well as a phone charger, a little bag with an emergency kit of toothpaste, deoderant, small hairbrush, etc. and some clean undies! I guess I can wear the same clothes two days in a row if my luggage is lost, but I refuse to wear my undies two days! You are brave.
3 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
16 Jan 23
@MarieCoyle I agree and so many other issues as well.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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16 Jan 23
@CarolDM
I realize it's a hard industry to operate and that they have many problems, weather, lack of staff, and so forth. Our world counts on that mode of transportation now, and as much as they charge for it, it should be better than it is.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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16 Jan 23
I find it amazing that there are so many vehicles owned by airlines just for the specific task of delivering luggage that didn't arrive when the passenger did. Huge waste of money that could be improved on by the airlines.
3 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37357)
• Toccoa, Georgia
16 Jan 23
It has never happened to me thank goodness. But because I know some lose their luggage a lot. I refuse to have luggage checked in. I carry a small enough suitcase that can be the carry on bag.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37357)
• Toccoa, Georgia
16 Jan 23
@MarieCoyle Oh goodness I never thought about that.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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16 Jan 23
It's good if you can do that. I was on a flight last summer that was somehow decided there was simply too much carry-on luggage in the plane, no room for any more bags and we weren't even all the way loaded up. Some officials stepped on the plane and informed everyone that some would have to be treated as checked baggage. Oh, the moans and groans. They didn't even have to pay, but I guess if there isn't room in the cabin, there just isn't room.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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16 Jan 23
@LeaPea2417
It does happen, not often I don't think but with the charge for the luggage, more and more people cram everything they can into a carry-on bag. I sure don't blame them.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471553)
• Switzerland
17 Jan 23
We used to fly A LOT and we tagged our luggage outside (more than one tag), but we also placed a large tag inside with our names and destinations. The only time we were very annoyed has been during a trip to the Caribbean. Our luggage remained in Paris and we were on the Island during 4 days without most of what we needed to change our clothing and shoes.
We discovered how little the airlines care to check the tag INSIDE. In Phoenix, one of our suitcase arrived damaged. At the counter they gave us an "unclaimed suitcase" (that they had emptied) and told us to come back to get our repaired suitcase when back to Europe. Well INSIDE the "unclaimed suitcase" there was the name, full address and phone number of the owner.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471553)
• Switzerland
17 Jan 23
@MarieCoyle - We noticed the name inside when we already left Phoenix, but when back to the airport we showed the name inside the suitcase to a representative of Delta Airlines. I hope that person got his suitcase, I wonder what they did of what was inside.
We had so many replaces because damaged when we came back home. Delayed luggage several times, but when it was coming back home we did not care, they brought the delayed suitcases to our apartment.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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17 Jan 23
Oh wow...that was not acceptable. I have been putting my name and contact info in my suitcase for years now. It's outside the bag too, of course, you should have been able to get the contents back as well as the bag...and they should have replaced the bag since they broke it.
I always see how some of the airlines throw those bags on the carts for loading and unloading and I wonder how the suitcases can even hold together.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137261)
• United States
16 Jan 23
I'm scared of heights so I've always driven where ever I wanted to go. Yes, it takes longer to get there and longer to get home again but I've never once lost my luggage. (It takes me 24 hours to drive from my house to the West Coast and the same back again. It took me 19 hours to deliver Pretty to her college in Pennsylvania. )
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137261)
• United States
17 Jan 23
@MarieCoyle When I drove to the West Coast the first time, I was by myself so the company was tolerable. The second time, Pretty was with me and 7 years old and the company was excellent. (We took her sleeping bag with us and I "put her to bed" in the back seat in her sleeping bag and seat-belted in.) She normally got to ride in the front seat seat-belted in. She was tall for her age and could see out the windows just fine. I did have to adjust the seat belts for her so they didn't cross over her face, but some things are just worth doing. 
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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17 Jan 23
I'm not big on heights, but I did manage to get over that at a young age since we had to fly a lot of places. I like some road trips for sure, it just depends on who I am with and if the weather is good.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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17 Jan 23
@DaddyEvil
Car rides can be a lot of fun when the company is good, or when you really want to be alone, and you get to be. My kids were all good travelers in the car or on flights, etc. so I was fortunate. I have seen some traveling kids who were not taught manners on a plane or how to not kick and scream in public, and they were not babies. Old enough to know better, but unfortunately, I am sure were not ever taught good behavior.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (103084)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
16 Jan 23
Good idea to place the information on where lost luggage that gets lost in an airport from time to time.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (103084)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
17 Jan 23
@MarieCoyle I have heard some horror stores of lost luggage from the news stories.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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17 Jan 23
@Deepizzaguy
I have a feeling all the horror stories concerning lost luggage are true. 
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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16 Jan 23
I think it happens way more often than we even realize, George.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136761)
• India
17 Jan 23
It happend only once in my case. I was flying form Denver to New Jersey. We arrived late and the luggage went through a thorough check and that meant keeping it behind. It was sent to me on the next flight.
2 people like this
@allknowing (136761)
• India
17 Jan 23
@MarieCoyle It was for quite a while and those who came to receive me got the brunt of it too (lol)
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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17 Jan 23
Not at all convenient for you, but thankfully you didn't have to wait for too long to get it.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (70120)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Jan 23
I've been lucky that hasn't happened to me. I've only flown a handful of times. Once with my wheelchair. Thankfully me, my luggage and wheelchair made it to and from in one place.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (70120)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 Jan 23
@MarieCoyle Me, too. I kind of need it so it's good mine wasn't damaged.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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16 Jan 23
I have heard nightmarish tales of folding wheelchairs being beat up and destroyed on planes, because they were not treated carefully. Glad you arrived with yours in one piece.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (106607)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Jan 23
She deserves the money after waiting that long. But glad she gets her stuff back too
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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17 Jan 23
She was very glad, there were things in there she really wanted to keep. We were both surprised that they told her to keep the refund, Miracles happen.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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17 Jan 23
Yes, it's a big place. It's good to put your information inside your luggage as well as outside. If she had not done that, her stuff would have been sold there.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Jan 23
Yes, it happened to my family, but it was partly our fault. We were on our way to Guam with the military. My daughter was ill on the flight from San Francisco to Hawaii, so we got off and went to the infirmary. Our luggage went on without us, as it should have. However, when we didn't arrive on Guam as expected, they sent our luggage back to Hawaii, and then returned it to Guam. We waited a week for our luggage.
2 people like this
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
17 Jan 23
@MarieCoyle Yes, it was. I'm glad it didn't take long before we got it back.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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16 Jan 23
To have to deal with a sick child as well as lost luggage doesn't make for a good trip. I'm glad you did eventually get it back. So frustrating.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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17 Jan 23
I always have to wonder how the airlines can mix things up the way they do.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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17 Jan 23
It is very upsetting, I agree. All we can do is label our belongings well, inside and out, and hope for the best.
1 person likes this
@MakOwiti (73)
• Nairobi, Kenya
17 Jan 23
Maybe the airlines should just organize themselves in a way that your luggage get to where you are no matter how big or bulky it is. It might save them big time from handling claims.
Its frustrating to get to your destination only to be told that your luggage can't be found or it was routed to another destination. The act of putting the written paper inside the luggage is a bit innovative way to guarantee that the luggage will come back to you.
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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17 Jan 23
I do have to agree that there is way, way too much luggage lost. Some for a day or two, and some forever. I figured putting the contact info inside the bag would help if the bag ever reached the point of return, I've done it for years. She knew I did it so she started doing it as well, and she says now she will never forget, it saved her belongings, even if she did have to wait for them.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180979)
• United States
17 Jan 23
That's a good tip.I will have to remember it.
2 people like this
@marguicha (223297)
• Chile
16 Jan 23
Once, many decades ago, we went to visit my parents in Puerto Rico. Our baggages went to Madrid and back. All this happened in new Year´s Eve when every store was closed. My crildren were small then and my mother had to make knots to a couple of her clean underpants so that they could change. The suitcases came back 4 days later.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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16 Jan 23
Your mother was resourceful, a wonderful thing. I recall a time the airline lost our luggage years ago, I was flying with a new baby and a 4 year old. They had to make an unexpected stop to change planes due to some problem, and overnighted us in a hotel in Seattle. We only had what was in that diaper bag, it was very hard. We got the suitcases a few days later, I was very thankful.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80030)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Jan 23
Good that she finally got back her suitcase. I lost mine once but got it the next day.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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17 Jan 23
I can live with a day or so, but longer than that when we are on a trip is hard. Some things we just have to have!
2 people like this
@xFiacre (13047)
• Ireland
16 Jan 23
@Mariecoyle I'll be flying next month and I'll take your advice. My luggage was "mishandled" twice. Once it didn't arrive in Italt along with us but turned up 10 days later at our home. Other time it was loaded onto a plane in Moscow headed for Pakistan while I was on a plane headed for India. It then had to return to Moscow to be forwarded to India. Took 5 days.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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16 Jan 23
Oh, good grief. At least mine didn't end up in another country, for that I am thankful. I also cannot even count how many nice pieces of luggage the airlines have ruined over the years--or they knock the wheels off the rolling suitcases. My kids bought me a really nice, hardshell and lightweight suitcase a few years back, and so far (knock on wood!) the airlines have not destroyed this one.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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16 Jan 23
As the grandmothers used to say, an ounce of prevention helps...I will continue to leave my contact information in the suitcase as well as the outside tag when I travel.
2 people like this
@JESSY3236 (19968)
• United States
17 Jan 23
My mother's luggage went to the wrong address when she rode a train to here once. She did get her luggage back though.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (37709)
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17 Jan 23
I've never lost mine on Amtrak trips, but I rarely do those anymore except for the shorter runs, so I can just take what I need in a backpack. Glad she got hers back.
1 person likes this
