Stolen Luggage on Business Trip

I'm not sure about the best sub-forum for this message, so if there is a better one, I apologize and please let me know.

I was on a three week business trip to Atlanta several weeks ago and I took a direct flight from San Antonio (SAT). When I arrived at the gate, I had to walk for a while, then take a small airport subway to baggage claim. The subway made several stops, the last of which was baggage claim.

I didn't realize this at the time, but while I was commuting to pick up my luggage, all of my luggage was stolen directly off of the baggage carousel by a black guy who came in off the streets. I didn't know it at the time, but as I was waiting for my bag, the bags were still just coming out. Mine was among the first.

As I was inquiring about my luggage to the airline baggage claim representatives, everyone insisted that someone had accidentally mixed up their bag with mine. I knew this wasn't the case, because looking around, the baggage claim area did not look like a safe, secure environment. My bag was decently high end, and it looked quite unique. I knew the likelihood of someone accidentally mixing it up was slim.

As the first week went by, I was continuously persuading the security, the airline, or anyone to just help me out by at least looking at the video surveillance. All along, they were assuming the whole thing was a mix-up. When they finally looked at the video, sure enough it happened exactly as I assumed all along. The detectives said that a black guy wearing a Kangol hat purposely stood far away and darted right out into the baggage carousel, then took off with my bag.

He stole everything--two weeks of business attire, fitness clothes, some of my prescriptions, my whole 48lb bag with everything in it. So I was stuck in Atlanta with nothing more than the clothes on my back and my carry-on stuff. Getting the the airline staff and security to help me out was like pulling teeth. Everyone had an apathetic attitude, unsympathetic in the assumption that I'll eventually file a claim once I rounded up all my receipts and stuff.

The officer who pulled the luggage thief up on the video said that the guy was a pro. He said that he purposely wore a hat really low on his head, kept his head down the whole time, and was in and out of there. The officer admitted to me that once they make it from the baggage carousel to any one of the 12 exits (one of which is like 50 feet away), it's over. It's a claims loss by then. They don't even bother trying to look into it when they're out the door in front of the airport.

So the reason why I'm sharing this experience is because I just don't want to see the same thing happen to others. Apparently the officers were telling me that it is a common thing at the Atlanta airport (ATL) for people to come in and grab one of the first few bags to reach the carousel because they know the subway makes many stops and the likelihood of someone being down there is slim to none. They already know they can get away with it every time. They said they do that type of thing every day in ATL because they know once they make it outside, they're free.

They stole everything from me. Nobody helped me out until it was too late. I was right all along. I just don't want the same type of thing to happen to anyone else.

Sorry that this happened to you, but unless if ATL airport (it is the busiest airport in the world) better secures the area, there's not much that anybody can do! The weight of your luggage would probably be too heavy to carry on, so you would have to check it in. Its just one of those things that's out of your control unfortunately.

So, there was no one there at the baggage claim area to check for matching baggage tags?

So, there was no one there at the baggage claim area to check for matching baggage tags? Originally Posted by Mokoa

You would think they would but I have never been checked anywhere in the US. Ive never lost one here but did get my bags rummaged in Argentina, seems I should of shrink wrapped them.

If they rummaged through them, they'd have cut through the shrink wrap. I've had my bags rummaged through. I've even tied everything up in big plastic trash bags and they've sliced them open, then rummaged through them, then left everything out of order all over my bags.

In response to the bag tags, you'd think they would do that. I asked them about it and they said they refuse to do that unless the FAA forces them to. Not exactly proactive. What they need to also do is restrict people from just walking in from the ghetto and grabbing whatever bags they want. People can literally get off the Atlanta subway and they're right in front of baggage carousels as luggage starts coming out. They need to keep the luggage section of the airport as a restricted area too. That's how one of my friends said it is in some countries too. They shouldn't let just anyone walk around the baggage carousels. The detective told me bags are getting grabbed before people reach the carousel every day, and you can't always control getting there on time in such a big airport! I can't believe this problem. It just seems outrageous. Nobody would think it would happen to them--even I thought this way before. But man they got EVERYTHING and I was stuck there with nothing. I had to work under those conditions. It was a horrible feeling. You just feel violated when that happens. I don't know man I'm just really upset about this bad security loophole.

When I was doing a lot of flying back in the 70's, '80's and 90's the baggage claim areas in most airports I visited were sealed off and only passengers with baggage tags were allowed in and then only passengers who baggage tags in their hand matched the baggage tags on their bags were allowed out. This was way before 9/11. I find it hard imagine that things have become so lax in the post 9/11 world, especially in such a large and busy airport like Atlanta home of one of the largest airlines in the world.

Not saying you are wrong, Mokoa, but in my experiences, in my whole life (not that I fly very often) I have never had them check tags. Everyone just grabs their bags of the carousel and goes. The Airlines are just too greedy/lazy to do it right (and too busy charging for all other petty nonsense). Sucks that it used to be that way but they probably cut it due to expenses.

Yeah, if they aren't gonna check tags, the least they could do (no expense) would be to WAIT to start the friggin carousel!!! (the amount of time it takes the majority of an average crowd to get from said plane to said carousel)

As a business, Airlines Suck....But hey, beats all other forms of transportation. Whataya gonna do?

This is unfortunate and I'm sorry. Generally, Atlanta is no more prone to this activity than any other airport. Unfortunately, you can experience this in most, if not all, airports around the world.

The tram in Atlanta usually will get you to baggage claim prior to the arrival of your bags. The only strategy to employ is to carry on whenever possible and if you do check bags, hustle to BC. Baggage theft off the carousel began just a few hours after airlines first started accepting checked bags. A little investment in technology could nearly completely eradicate the problem but for now, airlines find it less costly to pay claims.

I travel all the time and that sucks. Sorry about that man, hopefully it was just the clothes like you said and nothing important. When traveling make sure to carry all important documents and electronics, anything you can't stand to loose as carry-on with you.

ATL in my opinion is one of the worst airports I have to go in and out of. The shear size and lack of manpower to oversee anything there makes it a haven for crooks to come in and steal your stuff at baggage claims. The only time I've ever had a bag checked with the tags is when something was going on at an airport you could tell cause the cops were all over the place. So unless something is happening your basically out of luck especially at ATL.

Sound like you encountered the same rudeness I get there at times from the employees, guards etc. I remember asking for help there and was continually greeted with "What you want?" as a reply. Yup I avoid ATL as much as possible.

Not saying you are wrong, Mokoa, but in my experiences, in my whole life (not that I fly very often) I have never had them check tags. Everyone just grabs their bags of the carousel and goes. The Airlines are just too greedy/lazy to do it right (and too busy charging for all other petty nonsense). Sucks that it used to be that way but they probably cut it due to expenses. Originally Posted by GentlemanCaller007

No worries, mate. More than likely the airlines simply cannot afford it.

As a business, Airlines Suck....But hey, beats all other forms of transportation. Whataya gonna do? Originally Posted by GentlemanCaller007

Drive. My travels in the past 10 - 15 years have all been by car. When I was a kid my family would pack up the station wagon and head out. We did quite a bit of cross country traveling back then. All of it in station wagons. It was great! To this day I love traveling that way and will always choose that method unless it is absolutely not possible.

I use to like traveling by car until my health and the cost of petrol got in the way.

I fly extensively because of my job and I have compiled a few practices you should follow to avoid the airlines bullshit and of course the possibility of baggage theft.

1 Take pictures of your bags/contents and have them on a jump drive you carry with you. This makes it easy to give to an airline rep in any country and give them the jump drive to copy photos to find/recover your luggage.

2 I personally don't like checking anything anymore so I carry a backpack with my valuables like laptop, ipod, ipad, camera, etc.... and just use and overhead bag for my normal 2-3 days trips.

3 If I have something of extended duration I have a pelican case. ( If you don't know what that is look them up. They are freaking amazing and cannot be destroyed! ) I then put my clothes in it and lock it up securely and ship it air cargo. It is fully insured by the airlines and they pick it up at your house and deliver it to your hotel/destination for you. You don't have to touch a thing. And on the return it is delivered to your house the same way. The cost is usually equal what the airlines are charging for checked baggage anyway and if you are like me you can pass that charge on to your client as part of cost of doing business.

You can continue to carry your valuables in your backpack and maybe an extra shirt in case you get caught otherwise.

4 When dealing with airline personnel make sure you have your cell phone out and take their photos so when later someone asks you who told you whatever BS you know is wrong show those photos to the next higher person up. You'd be amazed how fast shit gets done because they are now accountable and jobs start being an issue. Always take photos of each person you deal with good or bad. As much as I bitch about uncooperative people it is also important to reward and compliment the ones who help!

Hope this helps everyone.

...

1 Take pictures of your bags/contents and have them on a jump drive you carry with you. This makes it easy to give to an airline rep in any country and give them the jump drive to copy photos to find/recover your luggage.... Originally Posted by Rakhir

Very good idea.

Thanks for your advice. I've learned several lessons in this case. First, the detective told me that many luggage thieves are looking for certain specific brands. My stolen luggage was, so I was told, among the brands they look for. The reason why I say it like that is because in my mind, it was not, but that doesn't mean the thieves won't target it anyway. Also, they don't care about the bag itself, they care about what's IN the bag.

They didn't get any electronics. Most of my stolen items were garments, easily replaceable. But it was still a big loss for me, because I was on a trip for several weeks and I like to wear different things each day, I don't ever wear the same things for two days in a row. Several weeks worth of clothes and exercise clothes, some of which were designer, some where not. I am not doing that anymore. From now on, all of the clothes that I pack on the trip are NOT going to be Versace and Gucci stuff. If it gets stolen, I don't want them to have ANYTHING nice!

Just so everyone knows, I hate those thieves and the only person who was helpful in this entire nightmarish experience was the detective who I finally convinced to even look into the problem over one week after the luggage was stolen. The only reason why that was fortunate is because it proved that I was right all along. Before then, everyone was telling me that someone probably accidentally mixed up my luggage. I've expressed my appreciation for his help and also emailed his boss.

They do have a serious luggage theft problem at the Atlanta airport though. If bags are beating passengers to the carousels and thieves know about how once they reach the exit, they're scott-free, that's a serious issue. I hope they resolve it but there is nothing I can really do to encourage them other than share my experience with others.