We hate Murphy and his law

[DFW]

I work my ass off for 11 months out of the year, getting little sleep, walking hilly cobblestoned cities in the rain and snow, often up at 4:30 and back home--on those days I get home!-- at 10 or 11PM if I'm lucky. When I get a vacation, I want to relax goddammit.

My wife and I left Düsseldorf very late yesterday (a hundred heads of state coming in for Helmut Kohl's funeral, much restricted airspace over Germany), but we still had over 3 and a half hours in Paris to change for the flight to Boston. When we got to Boston, ONE bag out of four made it. We filed the claim after an hour of waiting with 30 others who also missed their bags, and took a taxi to our hotel. Air France said the bags might be on the later flight from Paris, but didn't think so. I was given a tracking number for online.

I checked the tracking number online. It said we were missing one bag (we are missing three) and it was black (none of our bags are black). The Air France agent at Logan Airport apparently just filled in things at random. I got a live body on the phone (Air France has not descended completely to the level of American or United yet) and set them straight. One bag never even left Germany for Paris!! They are SUPPOSEDLY set to leave--on separate flights!!--for Boston today. They have the address in Truro where we'll be, but can't say when we'll get the luggage. There is heat-sensitive medication in there not to mention ALL our beach stuff and clothes. We are renting a house in a fairly remote area, and it is not easy to find.

Now, I am Platinum for Life with Air France. I take them a LOT. I'd hate to think how other people get treated! We WERE looking forward to a well-deserved relaxing vacation. This sucks royally, and not all the material compensation--if any!--in the world can make up for the time and mental energy we lose chasing down our bags. You HAVE to chase them, too. The airline will not get off its ass and just help you out of some sense of moral obligation.

[steve2470]

1. so sorry to hear, hope it gets solved quickly! nt

[Fla Dem]

2. Been there done that. Took a flight from Boston to Rome for a week tour of Italy

Luckily I had a carry on with changes of underwear, and my toiletries. But my bag with all my clothes never caught up with me until I arrived home in Boston. Spent the first couple of days on my vacation dealing with the airlines. This was before cell phones and internet. Had to make a couple of trips to the airline's office in Rome and out to the airport. Ruined the entire trip.

Relax and have a great time in Truro. Spent several wonderful weeks over the years in beach cottages right on the beach on 6A.

Hope all works out for you.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

3. You have my sympathy

Rule number 1 of air travel: never check bags.
They will often go somewhere different and regularly somewhere better you do.
It's all caused by software issues.

[DFW]

5. Not easy to follow. I'm going to be in the States for 7 weeks in 4 different areas.

Half vacation and half work. If I'm going somewhere for 3 days, that's one thing. I had two options here--check bags or charter my own plane. I like the "charter your own plane" idea, but it's a little over my pay grade.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

7. You could try adding a tag to your checked bags...

...with the red initials "AOG". If questioned/busted, just explain that they are the initials of a beloved relative who lent you the luggage.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_on_ground

[Phentex]

4. It really stinks!

I hope yours make it to you in a reasonable time.

My sister is about to fly domestically but had this happen to her the last time she flew. She'll be gone a week but plans to take a carry on only. Hard to do with overseas travel!

Good luck! Go naked. And have fun.

[DFW]

6. I had this happen to me once

A United flight from Washington DC to Pittsburgh. They lost our bags for 3 days and then had them brought to Pittsburgh by TRUCK! An Airline needed to bring bags by TRUCK??

[steve2470]

8. hey, things better yet my friend ?

You're normally exceptionally calm, so this did make me sit up a tad

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. My dear DFW!

How awful for you both!

I hope that your bags have arrived safely with you by the time you read my post.

for you both!

[DFW]

10. Update--no update.

No bags. Supposedly 2 out of the three are on the flight which lands tonight at 8:35 PM in Boston, now a 3 hour drive from here. The third one is probably in Papeete by now.

[riderinthestorm]

11. I never check meds. They always go in carry on

So sorry about this. I once had my bags make a loop from NYC to Dubai to Istanbul before they made it 3 days later to my hotel in London.

Oh and I departed from Chicago.

Hang in there. Hope they turn up soon.