Delta -> Qantas , no luggage

[thirteen]

Hi guys,
Posting here because I feel frustrated with Delta and I want to know if there's anything else I should be doing.

I got on a Delta regional jet at Rhode Island, to connect at JFK for QF108. Its an itinery booked on the same ticket, suitcase booked through to Melbourne according to the Delta claim ticket. QF10Late is very late indeed, I miss the QF94, and I get put on the QF108 again to go to Sydney, where my bags should be waiting for me (as I have to transfer to domestic).

The small duffle I checked at JFK (as you only get one HL item on Qantas economy) survived fine, though it emerged on the wrong carousel at Sydney airport. The large suitcase I checked at RI didn't appear. I filed a luggage claim with Qantas and sprinted to catch my connection back to MEL.

The Qantas luggage tracker has no information yet, and I called Delta as I know they had the bag for the first hop. Delta phone droid very unhelpful, and worryingly they have no information either on the location of the bag. Surely they should know if it reached JFK at least?? The outsourced Delta droid also pushed the responsibilty onto Qantas.

The last time I saw my missing luggage was when it was checked in at PVD, with Delta. Surely they should have some idea where it is?

Is there anything else I can be doing here? I've never lost baggage before. (Remind me never to fly Delta again.)

 

[parsonstrish]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I am always thrilled to see my luggage arrive on any carousel anywhere on my travels. I have recently flown back from US with AA.

For my last big trip I bought globalbagtag.com. I know it won't assist you now but something to think abt. for future trips. Very cheap and you can use the same tags forever and just need to refresh your iternary on web site.

Best of luck.

 

[thirteen]

For my last big trip I bought globalbagtag.com. I know it won't assist you now but something to think abt. for future trips. Very cheap and you can use the same tags forever and just need to refresh your iternary on web site.

Best of luck.

Thanks for the kind words, don't know how much additional tagging would have helped.

I called Delta again and apparently they don't carry any records of luggage once loaded, is this true?

My suspicion is that due to weather induced JFK baggage hell my luggage didn't make the Qantas connection at JFK at all, because my connection to the QF108 was tight. Qantas have no record, which would support this, but at least they're 'looking into it'.

 

[straitman]

How's your travel insurance :?:

 

[Mal]

It's Qantas' issue now to find your baggage, or compensate you for losing it.

I'm not sure there is much more you can do except wait. Airline luggage tracking websites are virtually useless.

At best you'll get your bag back in a few days delivered to your door. At worst, it will be declared lost, you'll get some compensation and it may end up at one of the huge 'luggage graveyards' when eventually found.

Like straitman indicated, I would be starting to talk with your travel insurance provider. They don't tend to provide much coverage for a bag lost on the way home (in the form of emergency replacement items etc) but should cover you if the bag is deemed lost.

Qantas aren't too bad with lost luggage. I was treated quite well when they delayed my baggage previously.

 

[thirteen]

It's Qantas' issue now to find your baggage, or compensate you for losing it.
I'm not sure there is much more you can do except wait. Airline luggage tracking websites are virtually useless.

At best you'll get your bag back in a few days delivered to your door. At worst, it will be declared lost, you'll get some compensation and it may end up at one of the huge 'luggage graveyards' when eventually found.

Like straitman indicated, I would be starting to talk with your travel insurance provider. They don't tend to provide much coverage for a bag lost on the way home (in the form of emergency replacement items etc) but should cover you if the bag is deemed lost.

Qantas aren't too bad with lost luggage. I was treated quite well when they delayed my baggage previously.

Ahh thats good to hear about Qantas. I'm glad its their responsibility not Delta's...
I do have insurance so I'll contact them. I was on a work trip so I kept receipts for almost everything in the suitcase at least.

Qantas tracking site says "TRACING CONTINUES. PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER" .

 

[Evan]

Who ever lost it and even if QF do compensate they have low limits, nowhere near enough to replace the items if you were one a work trip, if you only had shorts and t-shirts then you may not be so worried about cost.

This is where insurance really comes into play. Assuming you bag is not found.

Every time i hear a story like this i am thankful i can often just travel with hand luggage only. (Not every trip though)
It does however seem most bags do turn up.... just takes some days !

E

 

[simongr]

On a positive note I had significantly delayed luggae into LHR in July. The online tool consistently showed "we are looking for your bag" with no indication that anyone had any idea where it was. It was only when it appeared at my hotel that the status changed to "on route to hotel". I would be hopeful and relax. At least you are home so you have other stuff to wear

 

[Reggie]

At least you are home so you have other stuff to wear

Not one suit and tie day in day out like someone else

 

[thirteen]

I spoke to QF on the phone yesterday and learned that the Worldtracer system in use is one QF have been using in production for two or three days. That could be good, or could be bad. The Worldtracer page for QF is linked from qantas.com/baggageservices . I gave them some more data on the bag, but other than that, no updates yet.

They think that because the bag is supposed to have been on the QF94, and I was on the QF108, it's won a stay with the TSA but won't be delayed much more than 48 hours, and they feel they'll know where it is by lunchtime today.

And I might be home, but my good work clothes are in there ! I have some souvenirs and stuff in the case, but really, missing the clothes is the part that annoys me.

 

[thirteen]

I called Qantas, no info. The bag doesn't exist. At this point I guess I need to start calling the local Delta offices at JFK and PVD, assuming I can get the numbers.

Turns out that said new tracking system is less than useless. All Qantas say they can do is wait until someone scans the bag and enters it in (like hell, at this point). I can click 'refresh' all by myself on the tracker page, thanks very much.

Its been gone 48 hours so the odds of it being found are not good at all.

As I said, the bag I checked onto QF108 made it to Sydney, so DL or JFK are the weak links.

It's completely ridiculous that nobody has any records on where it went.

 

[simongr]

Seriously I would advise not to panic.

My two instances of bag loss resulted in both bags being found. The first one (airlines fault) was on a SYD-HKG-FRA-HEL-LHR flight - for two weeks no-one knew anything about my bag - at all! The tracer system was updated to say "bags found - to be sent to the pax" two days AFTER they arrived at my hotel

 

[Myrna]

You have probably heard what Delta stands for? "Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive!"

Seriously, I hope your luggage will be found soon.

 

[thirteen]

You have probably heard what Delta stands for? "Don't Expect Luggage To Arrive!"

Seriously, I hope your luggage will be found soon.

Yeah I found that saying while Googling to see how many people got bags back in the end.

I've advised my workmates to just fly QF all the way to Boston if they have to make the trip.

 

[serfty]

You won't get QF all the way to BOS, but AAeagle have a nice RJ service 3, 4 or 5 times a day.

 

[thirteen]

You won't get QF all the way to BOS, but AAeagle have a nice RJ service 3, 4 or 5 times a day.

You're correct.... I recalled there being a QF-offered route to BOS but the ride from LAX is on AA 264 . Its still a better routing And no terminal change at LAX.

*Not* routing via LAX would be even better, but more tricky.

 

[NM]

You're correct.... I recalled there being a QF-offered route to BOS but the ride from LAX is on AA 264 . Its still a better routing And no terminal change at LAX.

*Not* routing via LAX would be even better, but more tricky.

SYD-SFO-BOS can be done with QF/AA thus avoiding both LAX and JFK.

 

[Chook legs]

I've done Syd-LAX-BOS twice with Qantas and AA and had my bags delayed after the recheck at LAX twice.
To the credit of AA they did turn up the next day but still frustrating

 

[thirteen]

Good to hear you got your stuff back, Chook legs

Well I called in for an update and the helpful QF guy agreed with my assessment that Delta probably never loaded the thing, he confirmed that if QF had ever seen it when it reached JFK, they'd have a record. (Thanks. Only took me a few days to reach someone who could confirm that).

So he's now pinging JFK... and PVD. The nice thing is that if there's an update they'll page my phone. *sigh*.

//Hoping my bag missed the connection at PVD, better chance of it coming back!

 

[robertz]

This does raise an interesting question.
What actually happens to your bags when the plane is gone and your put on the next flight?

Theoretically, the converyer spits it out But

1) Luggage man downstairs see QF94 and thinks 'Oh that flights gone' and finds the flight 'Thirteen' has been booked and reprints tags to QF108.

2) Luggage man says "This bag must be 23 hours early, lets wait for the next QF94"

3) Luggage man says 'QF, whats that' and sends it to Alabama - Unclaimed Baggage Center

I recon as long as the tags didnt fall off and you have your name on and in the bag, it will turn up one day...(Which day, I dont know)

Bob