Stolen iPhone4 from "Gate Checked Baggage" on UNITED

[Rajani Isa]

Thank you for your comments, I re-submitted my proof of submission to the United again, it is clear that they are just disregarding my emails.

Also, file a complaint with the BBB.

I think those of you who think there is the feeling in this thread that the OP deserved to be robbed are reading into the respnses. To the above poster...no woman, no matter where she is or what she is wearing DESERVES to be raped. However, you go alone to the wrong place, at the wrong time you will increase your chances of being raped.

To be fair, I don't think the person above you was saying that rape victims deserved to be raped; that she would be at ultimate fault. The poster was just taking bruinsrme & Jetaray's stances further. I will admit, I felt tempted to reply to bruinsrme with the line that - from the way his posts read - he would be the type of person to treat a rape victim as the criminal offender, not the rapist.

 

[Rajani Isa]

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Right. It's a easy win. They will not pay law fees to fight it. It would cost them thousands. You have a great case.

Also, try talking to the guitar guy 😀

 

[drummingcraig]

I disagree placing the majority of the blame on United.

OK - let's take a closer look...

The OPs admitted failure to arrive at the gate in a timely manner which was the catalyst of the ordeal. United then had to cater additional services to the OP.

They had to cater ONE additional service which was gate checking carry-on baggage, and its a service which United employees are paid to deal with on a daily basis. So using your apparent logic, if I ask the flight attendant for a second glass of water, she is now forced to perform an additional service which apparently gives her the right to steal from me. Correct?

if the OP was the third person to board the plane, would my opinion of the matter be judged as an attack on the OP, I don't think so. Because this never would of happened.

If the pilot fell asleep and crashed the plane would you blame the passengers for getting on the plane??? 🙄

As stated my others and me, the iphone would have never left my hand. As far as the apple bag goes, back pack.

And as was clearly stated by the OP/victim here, their bags were taken from them before they had a chance to collect any valuables. And FYI, while placing your valuables in a backpack is indeed a good idea, not everyone travels with one. They are not always the most practical carry-on, and lack of ownership/usage certainly doesn't cause one to forfeit the rights of ownership to their property.

I have had many things go wrong at the worst possible time.
I lost my wallet somewhere between my market checkout and my truck. 100 feet. $400 dollars in the wallet, credit cards, medical insurance card and license. this 20 minutes prior to leaving for an all day concert event.

I can't prove the checkout person put the wallet in their pocket just before leaving early for the day. Looking back I failed to put the wallet in my pocket.

Thats a terrible story, but how does that have anything to do with the OP's situation? 😕 He didn't leave the iPhones sitting on a park bench.

Everyone is allowed a bag that fits under their seat. That is why I have a back pack for travelling.

Do you ever check baggage? If you checked a suitcase and someone stole your clothes from it I highly doubt you would go to UnderWearForums.com and post about how you were such an idiot for packing your clothes into a suitcase and then checking it with a major US airline. Furthermore, it DOES NOT MATTER why the bags were gate checked. The only important issue here is that a United employee (or sub-contracted employee more than likely) committed a crime - end of story. The guilt is on the shoulders of that employee and their respective employer and not the OP.

 

[tigress666]

Baggage gets rifled through, whether you like it or not. If you have ANYTHING of value, you hand carry it with you. Theft of this type is a crime of opportunity. A valuable item will prove irresitable to a thief. The OP did not deserve to be robbed. He is not to be blmaed for the robbery. However, in the haste of gate checking a carry-on bag, he didn't think to take a valuable item with him. Had the iPhone been on his person, it wouln't have been stolen from his luggage (of course he could have been mugged for it).

Yes, I completely agree with you that it was not a smart move on his part and that it would have been better to remember to get the phone out of hte bag before they checked it in. I have no issues with what you are saying above. But, him not doing the smart thing does not relieve United of the responsibility or the thief of the responsibility (which from what I'm reading I think we both agree htere). United put the bag in their power and out of his power so they did put it in their responsibility.

But yes, there have been a few responses that blame him. Some saying it was his punishment for being stupid. Or that United shouldn't be responsible for his stupidity and that it was his own fault for the phone being stolen (hey, gee, I guess that means I hsould look for stupid people. And when I steal from them it totally wasn't my fault, it was their fault for being dumb). And those are the people I directed that comment at. Because they are the ones that will blame the victim for tempting the thief/rapist (oh, you were stupid so it's your own fault. Oh, you were wearing a dress so it's your own fault). There is a difference between you made it more likely (but that doesn't excuse the thief) and it was your fault so you should just suck it up (the latter is what I'm responding to).

 

[curly14]

Why bring religion into this? Are you insecure and have to force your beliefs on others?

has nothing to do with religion

maybe for a lack of better words how about his mommy loves him then😀

 

[Jetaray]

Let's say all facts were the same, except instead of an iPhone, it was a $400 suit that was missing. Do you still think United doesn't pay?

Actually United will pay for a stolen suit. Simply because it is not listed as one of the items United prohibits from being placed in checked baggage. Now if it was a $5000 suit you are still SOL because liability is limited to $3300.

Look at it like this; you put a $1000 bill in an envelope and then pay postage (44 cents US first class mail) to have it shipped some place. If that letter is lost or stolen do you think the post office will replace that $1000 bill? They will not replace the bill if you fail to declare the value of the envelope. If you declared the true value of the item they will charge you a lot more then 44 cents to deliver that envelope. The price you pay has direct results in the type of service you receive.

Like the OP I learned the hard way, I had an expensive item destroyed inside a checked bag. After reading the rules I clearly understood any complaints I made would fall on deaf ears. I made the mistake and took my lumps. For some reason people like to think the rules don’t apply to them. I think the OP is one of those people. Most likely some time during the purchase of the ticket the OP accepted the rules placed upon him or he would not be allowed to fly that airline.

 

[xdhd350]

If the passenger was on time it probably would not have happened.

Too many people here blaming the guy for being late as the reason for having his bag 'gate checked'.

Someone earlier said it best. You can be sitting in the friggin' terminal for 3 hours before your flight keeping YOUR VALUABLES in your CARRY ON and just as you get ready to step on the plane.. "I'm sorry, you'll need to gate check that bag."

Too many idiots here didn't read all of the circumstances in the first post and want to come off real cocky and smug.

The OP had EVERY INTENTION of KEEPING HIS VALUABLE new iPhone with him IN THE CABIN. He got screwed as he boarded the plane. The theft was a United worker because it already passed through TSA security screening and they would not be involved at that point. Not that they (TSA) don't steal stuff from people's luggage. There have been documented cases of this happening by both airline baggage handlers and TSA screeners.

 

[simple20]

All you guys saying he deserved it because he was late really need to place yourselves in his situation. Just because I park my car in the city at night while I go to a movie doesn't mean I deserve to get it broken into. Ridiculous logic by some of you cats.

If your **** was stolen by an airline, the last thing you would take as an answer would be, 'Well sir, according to our records, you were the last one to board. Have a great day 🙂'.

 

[Nero182]

That sucks hard man 🙁!

 

[sevimli]

Here is the end of the story:

After more than two months, UA didn't bother to respond to my lawyer's letter.

I was able to only get the same response with my own efforts 2 more times stating that I failed to report the case within 24hrs of landing. Therefore no detailed investigation for my case.


On the other hand...

American Express just approved my claim submission today.

I simply want to thank everyone who shared their opinion and AMEX Blue Cash for their 5-star customer service!!!! 🙂

Happy Halloween Everybody!

 

[tigress666]

Here is the end of the story:

After more than two months, UA didn't bother to respond to my lawyer's letter.

I was able to only get the same response with my own efforts 2 more times stating that I failed to report the case within 24hrs of landing. Therefore no detailed investigation for my case.


On the other hand...

American Express just approved my claim submission today.

I simply want to thank everyone who shared their opinion and AMEX Blue Cash for their 5-star customer service!!!! 🙂

Happy Halloween Everybody!

Thanks for the update.

Too bad United Airlines never took responsibility (or were made to) for their part. It's nice to know Amex really does stand behind their claims though (since I have an Amex 😉 ).