Airline lost my firearm

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Seminole

Seminole

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I guess I'm looking for advice on what to do now. I just arrived in Philadelphia on a Southwest Airlines flight. I didn't change planes, though there was one stop in STL. My family left with 4 checked bags, but only three arrived. The missing one is mine, which contained a properly declared pistol. The baggage claim office was most uncooperative, did give me a Lost Luggage Report receipt, with a number to call for information and told me that if they found the bag I would have to return to the airport to pick it up because it contais a gun. The receipt says the don't accept liability for the lost bag.

Now what? Do I just wait patiently for them to search for it? Do I have another option?
 
Screw airlines they are ****heads. They loose my bags 1 out of 5 times i fly.
 
That happened to me once. I don't remember if the airline was Southwest or Alaska.

Anyway, the case with two rifles had missed the plane that I was on, and it arrived a couple hours later with the next flight.

No legal advice here, but I hope you also have a happy ending.
 
First, be patient. Bags get misrouted sometimes. If it doesn't turn up in 24 hours then call the number they gave you. If it still doesn't turn up, you might have to report your gun lost/stolen. I hope it wasn't too valuable.
 
I always heard declaring a firearm in checked baggage was a great way to ensure your bag did NOT get lost. Something about the airline NOT wanting to deal with a lost firearm, ATF issues, bad publicity, etc made them extra special careful to make sure it arrived. Unless it was stolen off the luggage carousel in pick-up before getting down there...
 
I'd touch base with the ATF immediately, to at least let them know that a gun is missing. Get them involved ASAP, whether the bag is just "misplaced" or not.

Don't let the airlines dick you around. Some baggage handler may be stroking your gun as we speak.
 
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I've had that happen to me a couple of times on international flights. In both instances (United Airlines) the case was delivered to my home the following day. On the other hand, about twenty-five years ago, I had a gun case lost on a domestic flight (NY/St. Louis/Seattle). Never did get that one back, but the airline's (TWA) insurance paid me $1,000 for the loss. Mind you, that was back when any item containing a firearm had to be so-marked on the OUTSIDE of the case(!), talk about asking for trouble!
 
I'd touch base with the ATF immediately, to at least let them know that a gun is missing. Get them involved ASAP, whether the bag is just "misplaced" or not.

Don't let the airlines dick you around. Some baggage handler may be stroking your gun as we speak.
Click to expand...

Thats what I would do. It might make the bag "appear", or at least get someone's attention.
 
Ditto.

This is one of the few times I'd WANT to get F Troop involved in something.:)

I'm quite sure that they'd make things a real PITA for the airline; they're really not supposed to "lose" the firearms that are declared and checked.
 
I'm glad to see that others are thinking the same thing I am. ATF
They may not be able to be the end all-be all in this situation, but they would certainly want to know about it. State Police for that area perhaps? Airport Police or TSA? Definately get law enforcement involved. The airlines would really be remiss if they didn't have a policy in place for this.
 
Ha! if THEY lost the bag THEY should get it to you on their dollar, ASAP. Or, at least you should get a free ride back to the other airport on their dollar.
The ATF and any other law enforcement that deals with this needs to get involved and should most definately be on the airlines case about it.
THEY lost it, THEY need to find it.
 
If it does not show up in 24 hours also call the FAA consumer report line at 1-866-835-5322 and tell them they lost a bag with a gun in it, also the type of service you get from the air carrier if it is not satisfactory -or email at http://www.faa.gov/passengers/.
You will find the e-mail link there.
I can guarantee you Southwest does not want a lost bag with a gun in it.
 
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To save money many airports have stopped checking claim checks against picked up luggage. Here in Arizona they caught a guy with over a thousand stolen suitcases. He would walk into the baggage claim area at Sky Harbor, pick out a nice suitcase, and walk out. The paper stated the police found guns, cameras, jewelry, Passports and even adoption records. Also they found empty suitcase piled in every room. When my luggage comes off the conveyor I'm standing there waiting
 
It may be misrouted. Knock on wood, I travel every week and have never lost a suitcase forever. Sometimes three days though. The problem is the baggage handlers don't care and the airline doesn't seem to fire incompetent workers.
The fact that it had a gun would worry me. I'd notify TSA and give it a day or so.
 
That "we are not responsible" schtick is just that. I've stuck it to the airlines before for damaging a $1200 bicycle frame before (well packaged...I saw them use it as a landing pad for other luggage, thus the damage). It almost went to court, but they finally gave me the value plus my legal expenses, lost wages, and I stuck them with taxi fare since the trashed bike was going to be my method to go without a cab.
 
Ron James said:
To save money many airports have stopped checking claim checks against picked up luggage.
Click to expand...

I flew out to client sites all over North America 2 or 3 times a month for over 10 years. I never once saw any airport that checked bags against claim tickets. It was always a free for all at the carousel.
 
I flew out to client sites all over North America 2 or 3 times a month for over 10 years. I never once saw any airport that checked bags against claim tickets. It was always a free for all at the carousel.
Click to expand...

Yes, the luggage pickup areas were a hassle, I made sure I was the the first there to pick up my luggage. I worked for a very aerospace company and traveled world wide on a monthly basis for close to 20 years and never experienced a lost piece of luggage. I must admit that I did experience a lot of luggage damage that required there replacement.
 
Ron James said:
Here in Arizona they caught a guy with over a thousand stolen suitcases. He would walk into the baggage claim area at Sky Harbor, pick out a nice suitcase, and walk out.
Click to expand...

I noticed this last year when I flew into Sky Harbor to visit my family up in Prescott for the holidays last year. ZERO security of any kind. Heck, it would be a great way for a terrorist to blow up an airport. Just slip a bag full of C4 in and drop it on the carousel. :rolleyes:

Thankfully, the "system" is currently set up that we can usually get to the luggage pick-up area before the bags start coming out from our flight. But, that won't work for the bags that DO get lost and end up going 'round and 'round forever somewhere else until the airline employees (or a thief) notices...
 
Good news! They found the bag and delivered it to my hotel late last night. Sorry I didn't give an update sooner, but I was unbelievably busy today. Don't know why they decided they could deliver it to the hotel and I have mixed feelings about that, but all's well that ends well....

Thanks for all the input!
 
Don't know why they decided they could deliver it to the hotel
Click to expand...

This is SOP for lost and found baggage. In most cases, when found, the airline will deliver it to your hotel or home. Much better than having to make arrangements to go back to the airport to pick it up.
 
mgkdrgn said:
I flew out to client sites all over North America 2 or 3 times a month for over 10 years. I never once saw any airport that checked bags against claim tickets. It was always a free for all at the carousel.
Click to expand...
McCarran in Las Vegas used to require claim checks when leaving the baggage area. Not sure now with the economy the way it is.

Stu
 
The problem is domestic airport design in the USA.

In some other countries and in the international section of USA airports, the baggage claim is within the passenger restricted zone. So random strangers can't walk into the airport and steal luggage.

Passengers can steal other people's luggage, but that's a lot less likely.
 
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