Northwest Airlines Complaint - Stolen Camera - Flight from Portland ME to Baton Rouge LA

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-24:

Well, this one can't be blamed on the TSA agents. Unfortunately you are correct, without proof they will not reimburse you.

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-24:

Was she a really good, trustworthy friend? Really.

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-24:

See, that's the annoying part. Someone KNEW better than to check expensive items, was forced to do so, then the item POOFED. How exactly is that the Op or the travelers fault? they TRIED to do everything right.

Posted by Ben There on 2009-12-24:

I recommend to all to fly with a briefcase or purse-sized bag. I have a small laptop bag that can fit my keys, computer, iPod, meds and camera. It fits under the seat in front of me and in the tiny overheads on regional jets so I never have to gate check it.

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-24:

Strictly the airline doesn't owe you anything. Your roomate owes you the return of the camera which was lost while in her care. She can make a claim against the airline. If she packed everything in the backpack was it over the limit for carry-ons? Anyway, if her carry on was within the spec and she was still made to gate check it because of the small aircraft, that's the airline's problem. The airline having taken her carry on from her has to pay her for it. Let them explain why it took them two days for her carry on to reach her. That's enough opportunity for their baggage handlers to open it and take out the camera. She gate checked it because she had to, and now she can claim up to $3,300 for the bag. I'm sure the value of the camera falls under that. She doesn't have to provide a receipt. The airline can't demand to see a receipt for everything, especially gifts. That's a ploy airlines use to refuse claims. No one has receipts for everything they own. Yet if I destroy or take your property, I can't escape because you don't have a receipt. The proof is your word and your friend's word, also the person who gave you the gift. That person must know the value.

If the airline doesn't compensate you, your friend can take it to small claims court. You can get info on the Maine court website. Once you can convince a small claims Judge, the airline has to compensate you up to the $3,300 limit. Ask your friend to try hard and remember if she didn't also have some valuable items in the bag such as expensive perfumes that also went missing. I'm not suggesting she makes up things, just try to remember!

Posted by Ben There on 2009-12-24:

Northwest Airlink (like all regional carriers) does not allow the same carry on sizes as Northwest Airlines - this information is spelled out on its website. Unlike gate checking a bag on a mainline aircraft, bags gate checked on regional flights are returned on the jetbridge instead of sent to the carousel.

Northwest will cover your values up to $3300, but this does not include electronics: http://www.nwa.com/travel/luggage/delayed.html#liability

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-24:

Ben There, the airline took it from passenger. She did not check it voluntarily. They are responsible for everything in the bag. If it was supposed to be returned to the jetbridge and it was not, all the more reason to think it was a baggage handler who deliberately secreted it somewhere until he could remove the camera and then returned it to the passenger. If Northwest wants to hire thieves to work as baggage handlers, then they must compensate the passenger.

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-24:

To the OP, here is something I thought of in making a small claims court claim., but you have to check to see if your small claims court allows what is called the Third Party procedure (in some jurisdictions called the Ancillary Defendant procedure). You file a claim against your room mate claiming loss of the camera. She will name Northwest as a Third Party (or Ancillary Defendant) to your claim. You will give evidence that you lent this hardly used camera that you got as a gift that was worth $2,000 or whatever value you think reasonable. In court your roommate Defendant will admit that you lent her the camera and that it was in almost brand new in mint condition, and she had it in her carry on bag that was within spec. She will say that she packed this camera along with clothes and valuables, expecting to be able to keep it with her. When she checked in she showed the agent the carry on and asked if she would be allowed the carry it on board, and the agent said, "Sure no problem". Then as she was about to enter the aircraft, a burly mean looking Northwest agent demanded that she hand over the carry on. She protested, "But I have some valuables in here. At least let me get them out" The agent said roughly, "No time for that Miss. Your bag is safe with us, and he grabbed the bag out of her hand."

This is a good point in her evidence to start crying.

Then when she got off the aircraft, she asked for her bag and waited and waited. The agents told her they had no more bags to bring to the jetbridge, so she should look for it at the carousel in baggage claim. At the carousel she waited until all the bags had come off the aircraft from that flight, but hers wasn't there. She went to the agents and reported the loss. She told the agents, "What am I going to do? My friend's expensive camera was in the bag"

This is a good point again to let the Judge see her crying.

Then one of the agents told her, "Sorry about this, but we have had many incidents of theft here. Some of these baggage handlers were caught red handed, but the airline keeps them on." [By the way, that does not infringe the rule against hearsay. That's original evidence of what she was told by Northwest's representatives at the time]

She got her bag two days later minus the camera.

Northwest is not going to send anyone to defend the case. Their insurers will issue the check to you.

Best of luck and Merry Christmas.

Posted by goduke on 2009-12-25:

Make a video about it and put it on You Tube. Worked for the guy with the guitar.

Posted by jktshff1 on 2009-12-25:

+10 goduke

Posted by Ben There on 2009-12-25:

Wow James236, you sure know how to "work" a small claims court. You are suggesting that she "remember" other "expensive" items that were in the bag to add to the claim. You are also coaching her to lie... The OP never mentioned that the friend or any of the gate agents said any of these things, yet you suggest to say all these things in court: http://www.my3cents.com/showComment.cgi?cid=577404 . You also think she should cry for the judge - I guess small claims court judges really are stupid.

It is stories like this that make so many people not bother with small claims courts... Too many fraudsters, scammers, liers combined with judges that are moved by crying girls instead of laws and contract. Just look at all the Court TV shows - a showcase for ignorant and trashy people that could not make it on Jerry Springer. Sure it is easy money to sue a big company that probably won't show up and make up stories since they won't be there, but many don't think that is ethical. It makes you no better than the individual that stole the OPs camera.

Posted by Ben There on 2009-12-25:

Also, the airline did not take the bag from her... she brought a bag that was to big to be carry on. How is that the airlines fault? Just because you assume something will fit, or your bag has fits on another plane before does not mean that it is true for every plane.

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-25:

James326, its one thing to violate the spirit of law but to advocate embellishing/lying in court....classy.

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-25:

Ben There and VF-213, I do not advocate anyone lying to a court. My description of what will happen in Court is an example of how the evidence should go. I was not there and do not know who said what. But the passenger knows, and I trust she will truthfully set out her case if she does decide to take it to court if the airline doesn't pay for the camera. In my first post when I suggested that she tries to remember, I said that she should not make up things but try to remember. I have had the experience in listening to someone give an account of what happened, and they leave out details that are helpful to their side and then when prompted to remember, they do remember and sometimes what they remember is of assistance to them. Ben There I am not seeing where the bag was too big (according to the specs the airline gives). It may have been too big to fit, that is another thing. If the airline did provide carry on specs for that specific flight and hers was too big, then the electronics will not be covered. I don't know how you can tell from the review that this particular carry on was too big. If the aircraft for a particular flight is small, with small spaces for carry ons the onus is on the airline to bring that to the attention of the passenger. BTW no Judge is stupid.

Judges are among the smartest and most perceptive persons you can find.

About lying, I can tell you that airlines are the ones who train their CSRs to lie to avoid paying complaining passengers. Yes, I said "train". And I got that from someone on the inside of a Consumer Relations department of a major airline.

I have nothing against airlines. They provide us with reasonable service at very low fares compared with 20-30 years ago when you consider the relative costs of living then and now. But I am making the point here that when passengers like this OPs friend are denied justice from airlines whose agents talk about this policy and that policy the answer is to take them to small claims. You the passenger have the upperhand in small claims. You file in your home state and they are put to sending witnesses and lawyers across the country and it's just not worth it for them, especially when they are likely to lose anyway.

The reason why people don't go to small claims court has nothing to do with not fraud and scammers. The reasons are:
(1) They think the airlines have "big" lawyers
(2) They don't know about court
(3) They can't afford to take the day off from work to attend court.

But small claims judges often "shush" lawyers who try to use their knowledge of the law to get the upperhand against the lay litigant, to ensure a level playing field. It is a forum for the simple man of average intelligence to state his case. The procedure is very easy, and clerks at the small claims court gladly assist in filling out forms. It often costs nothing. You pay about $50 to file the case and then if you win the Judge adds that to the damages the defendant has to pay. You don't have to pay lawyers, whereas the big companies often pay lawyers. Furthermore they try to avoid the bad publicity.

So all this "Sorry Sir" and "Sorry Ma'am" crying passengers get from call centers in India changes when it reaches Court where the airline finds itself on its knees before a "stupid" Judge.

I don't know how I am like the thief who stole the camera. He tried to enrich himself with someone else's property. I am trying to guide the OP to get justice from an airline if they refuse to compensate her.

I say if the airline want to hire thieves, so be it. The job interview for a baggage handler must go like this.

Human Resources Manager: So you want to be a baggage handler
Applicant: Yes, I would love that job
HR Manager: Why is that?
Applicant: I would like to be able to hide a bag or two for a few days as the bags come off the aircraft, and when I get the chance, open it and see if I like anything
HR Manager: What experience have you had?
Applicant: Well I've worked for Slippery Sam until we got caught and spent some time in jail for burglary
HR Manager: Well you are just what we need. Can you start tomorrow?
Applicant: Sure
HR Manager: Just don't get caught. I'll get some of our seasoned baggage handlers to give you some tips.

Posted by Ben There on 2009-12-25:

Northwest Airlink planes have different carry on sizes than Northwest Airlines. This is spelled out on the website, and the codeshare and aircraft information is given to the customer when buying the ticket. The gate agents in Memphis also explain what they are doing. The airline did not take her bag out of spite or because the plane was full... The OP just showed up with a bag that was too big for the aircraft she was flying on... Thousands of people are prepared to valet check bags every week. It is a fact of life when flying into smaller airports. The OP had the choice of flying into New Orleans if she wanted to be on a large airplane.

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-25:

The bottom line is that the bag wasn't small enough to fit under the seat in front of her. Too large!

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-25:

This is what I got from website:

"Northwest Airlink flights operated by Pinnacle and Mesaba on CRJ aircraft allow each passenger to bring onboard two personal items. As always, items must fit in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you."

It doesn't say how big this overhead compartment is. But maybe I missed it. Right now I'm on my third shot of Johnny Walker Black so I'm prepared to say you are correct and it's there on the website.

Hope you guys are having a merry Christmas.

Posted by Ponie on 2009-12-25:

James, if you're old enough to drink Johnny Walker Black, you're old enough to know better. But I guess some people never grow up.

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-25:

Whatever, Ponie ... hic... No mood to argue with you ....hic...hic....

Posted by YunkaG on 2009-12-26:

The OP can't sue anyone except her friend. The OP did not fly so how could the op possibly sue the airline? She can only sue her friend and her friend can sue the airline. Sounds like a Judge Judy show.

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-26:

YunkaG, at least Judge Judy is a real judge, not some wannabe trying to impress (yawn) an anonymous bunch on the internet.

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-26:

"....I can tell you that airlines are the ones who train their CSRs to lie..." James326 prove this statement with some more details please. Name the person, airline, and circumstance this would occur.
A few regulars here are former airline employees and I doubt they received this "training."
As a legal poser what are you doing making unsubstaniated claims, you know that is a legal no no

Posted by Ponie on 2009-12-26:

VF-213, you'll never get details from James. He's either busy putting together his next work of fiction or passed out from imbibing. However, his use of the teen expression 'whatever,' leads me to believe he's illegally hoisting a few.

Posted by Phalkyn on 2009-12-26:

Responding to a few comments, yes, I trust her in the utmost. No, I can't see why the bag would have been prohibited, we're not talking about a duffel, we're talking about a regular sized bookbag. Maybe 1 1/2' by 1' by 10" and crushable. It's super fishy, and she told me that when she was making the connector switch in Detroit.

Posted by Ben There on 2009-12-26:

If she valet checked her bag for the Northwest Airlink flight in Portland then she should have collected it in Detroit. Unlike gate checking a bag on a large plane where it gets sent to your final destination, gate checking on a small plane is just temporary and it is returned to you when you land at the next city.

If she exited the jetway in Detroit without her bag, that is why it didn't arrive in Baton Rouge with her. It was sitting in a jetway...

Posted by Anonymous on 2009-12-26:

VF is right James. I am a former airline employee. We were not taught to lie. I worked in reservations for 3 years and was a supervisor for half the time I was there. The employees get monitored regularly by their managers. If they got caught lying, they could lose their jobs and in some cases the airline could get fined.