The evening of 7-7-11 through the morning of Friday 7-8-11, I flew from San Diego CA to Newark NJ and on to Portland ME. I'd put my camera bag (which I normally carry-on), containing my camera and all its accessories, in my checked luggage. When I arrived in Portland ME my destination, I discovered my camera bag was missing. It had been removed during the time it was checked. The checked luggage bag had no holes, all zippers had been closed. The camera bag and contents were valued at more than $2000. I still have the receipt to provide proof of this. Btw, my super old laptop was also in the checked luggage in its case, and it was left alone! I tried to contact CO immediately on the missing baggage hotline but was unable to wait for the long time they put me on hold. I called later that night and a woman named Deena took my claim (including details on the checked luggage and the baggage payment ID), and told me to fill out the claim form online and fax it, which I did, and faxed the next day.
CO received it 7-11-11. I called again a week later and was told it takes 6-8 weeks processing time. On 7-26-11 I received a letter saying they were unable to reimburse because the items fall on their list.
This is unacceptable. They should still be liable because:
A) CO was responsible for my bag during time it was checked,
B) locks are forbidden, practically inviting thievery,
C) they say on the phone line they'll reimburse up to $3000 for damaged or lost property, which it also states on this site,
http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-...tml?id=2383005.
Since 3 airports are involved, the left could have occurred at any one of them, but it may have been likely Newark, based on this story,
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/438155...tolen-airport/
Costumer service on the phone refuses to reimburse me on the claim of their liability exceptions, however they cannot be allowed to turn a blind eye when their employees steal from their customers. Continental and/or TSA must be accountable for their employees' actions. My property was removed from my luggage, possibly during a screening, and not returned. I have no assurance that the employees and baggage handlers are searched before being allowed to leave, so any one of them could have walked out with my property and no one would look twice at them. I expect a settlement of $2500 reimbursement. I have already filed a claim with BBB and, adding insult to injury, was offered a $300 travel certificate for future flights, which is worthless to me since I will never flight Continental again, so it is still unresolved. I have been advised to take it to small claims court.