Airline Broke My Laptop...Any Recourse?

[saint]

Good evening fellow madjackers!

Today, after a horrendous day of flying and 4.5 hours of layovers in LaGuardia, I got home and opened my bag I checked. Inside was a slip of paper that said my bag had been picked to be screened by the NSA. Now usually I carry on my laptop, but for various reasons I checked it. I have a specific case for traveling that I've had for years and it completely protects the computer.

So back to when I got home. Open my bag, see the slip that the NSA inspected my bag. Find the laptop, take it out of its case, open it...and the screen is cracked in pieces. I know for a FACT it had to have been broken by the NSA during inspection. Ie...somebody had to have dropped it when they turned it on during inspection. There is no way that damage is possible with my case. Anyways, here I sit with my shattered 3500$ IBM Thinkpad (on my in-laws now).

What are my chances of getting any compensation? Who should I go through...American or the NSA? Right now I'm fawking furious, more at myself for checking it but also at the airlines because I know they broke it. My mother in law works for American and she will try her best.

Have any of you ever experienced anything like this?

 

[bjfinste]

Yes. And unfortunately, I had no recourse. They told me I shouldn't have checked my laptop in the first place. I was on an America West flight from Minneapolis to Vegas. It just really, really sucked. Do what you can, but just have low expectations when you do.

 

[BahamaMama]

sorry to tell you this Saint, but laptops are intended for carry on only

 

[SixFive]

tough break. I guess that's the risk you take when you fly?

Seriously, I hope you don't have to prove they broke it, but I bet you will. You need to report it immediately. I looked briefly, however, and could find no phone numbers or links under AA's website. I would think they have people try to pull this on them all the time?? I guess if they do compensate you for it, their insurance liability premiums will shoot through the roof! I bet you'll be out that laptop, and that really sucks! Sorry for your misfortune, and hope you get it worked out someway. Maybe your M-I-L will have some luck.

 

[fatdaddycool]

As a matter of fact saint, there are several postings at the airports and tickets counters as well as on the tickets that tell you about damage to articles in checked baggage and carrying valuables on.
I am sorry this happened to you and it just sucks for you. I hope things work out but I fear it will be a challenge

 

[BahamaMama]

6-5, what i got from his original post is that TSA (or NSA as they must call it there) are the ones that had to have broken it.... i swear i saw somewhere in *policy* that laptops must NOT be checked for AA or AE, but can't find it now to direct him to the page...... i'd be very shocked if AA did anything to cover it, although the gov't might.

 

[hedman]

How did you pay for your flight? Look into your credit protection if you bought it on a credit card.

 

[SixFive]

How did you pay for your flight? Look into your credit protection if you bought it on a credit card.

good idea, but again, he paid for a flight that he got, so doubt that will help. If everybody in the world was honest, and nobody else had ever tried to claim this in a dishonest fashion, saint could get his money back with no problem. However, we don't live in Utopia.

In my experience, TSA = clowns.

Did find one article where they broke a guys laptop right in front of him and didn't want to pay. http://www.elliott.org/technology/2002/laptops.htm Also looks like lots of good info on this same matter, ie, TSA breaking laptops. It says 2 in 192 claims were resolved.

 

[saint]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I basically know I am out a laptop.

The funny thing is I barely paid for the flight. My fiance and I non-reved because her mom works for american.

We drove the U-Haul to Cinci on Sunday to move our stuff. Just the two of us unpacked it in 2 days. Had to then rent a car this moring at 6am and drive 100 miles to Columbus for an interview my fiance had. Because we had unpacked and repacked to get back for my wedding I just threw it in the bags.

5 minutes into the 1st flight I turn to Katie and siad "shit, forgot my laptop was in my bag. It probably won't make it'.

2 delays and 9 hours later, it didn't. It's my fault and I guess one of those times in life that's a hard lesson learned. Maybe my mother in law can pull some strings but I doubt it.

Thanks again for the feedback :sadwave:

 

[BahamaMama]

how can you non rev with your fiance?? is she still a student for real non-revs, or did you both need to list as d3's?

and saint, i'm sure you know this now.... but never ever ever ever ever check a laptop!!!!!

 

[saint]

how can you non rev with your fiance?? is she still a student for real non-revs, or did you both need to list as d3's?

and saint, i'm sure you know this now.... but never ever ever ever ever check a laptop!!!!!

Yeah, I'm usually anal-retentive. Look what happens when I'm not!

Yeah unfortunately since she's no longer a student we fly as D3s. We've been doing it a while though so as long as the patience is there it's worth it. Of course, we get bumped but we check beforehand to see how open flights are but it usually works out.

LaGuardia suspended landings for 3 hours today due to weather and since everyone got bumped, we almost didn't make it home :sadwave: We got the last 2 seats on a weight-restricted flight

 

[yyz]

"Act of God".............

 

[BahamaMama]

"Act of God".............

just to clarify here... who are you calling gods, YYZ?? TSA's or American Baggage handlers?

 

[yyz]

Mama,


I'd say "this sucks, nothing I can do at this point but ride it out." I went to the airport knowing the risk of getting my laptop smashed is always there. I know that people have been shown to get their laptops smashed when packing them. To me it would have been an acceptable risk to take, and if I got a smashed computer as a result, I would realize this instead of playing the blame-game. I'm an adult, I like packing my laptop, I know it can get smased, but I accept that and fly anyways. It's not my personality to have the 'woe is me' mindset. What does it solve? Does it make me feel better...no.

The same way a person who signs the dotted line to undergo surgery. They are informed that there are risks involved. If they didn't understand them, then it's their problem for not piping up and asking. When they consent, they legally accept those risks. Yeah, it sucks when it happens. But guess what, sometimes it does.

 

[kneifl]

but never ever ever ever ever check a laptop!!!!!

One of my friends in Arlington, VA who used to work for the Pentagon and now works for a gov't contractor that deals with airport security now makes sure that one in ten "check-in" bags gets lost or destroyed. Isn't it great that we have the government getting involved in all of our affairs now a days??

For those non-believers I'd be happy to post the name of the company he works for

kneifl

 

[saint]

Mama,


I'd say "this sucks, nothing I can do at this point but ride it out." I went to the airport knowing the risk of getting my laptop smashed is always there. I know that people have been shown to get their laptops smashed when packing them. To me it would have been an acceptable risk to take, and if I got a smashed computer as a result, I would realize this instead of playing the blame-game. I'm an adult, I like packing my laptop, I know it can get smased, but I accept that and fly anyways. It's not my personality to have the 'woe is me' mindset. What does it solve? Does it make me feel better...no.

The same way a person who signs the dotted line to undergo surgery. They are informed that there are risks involved. If they didn't understand them, then it's their problem for not piping up and asking. When they consent, they legally accept those risks. Yeah, it sucks when it happens. But guess what, sometimes it does.

Yeah, a broken laptop and MRSA are equivalent...nice try with the analogy. As if I needed further proof of what a complete idiot you are, you show up.

If you had read any of my previous posts I said how it was my fault for doing it and that I knew better. If you want to pick fights than I will do the same in all of your lame ass posts. Look in the mirror, you're a loser. I'm sorry your life sucks enough that you have to spend all day trying to be mr witty on the internet.

Go fuvk yourself.

 

[yyz]

What goes around, comes around.

I wouldn't doubt you were a mouthy, prima donna prick at the airport, too, and someone fixed your fukking wagon!

 

[The Boys]

Check your Homeowners policy if you have one, might have some coverage in it?????? Not sure........

 

[The Judge]

If you had purchased your laptop at Costco, would they have replaced it? :142smilie

 

[ScreaminPain]

As good as flying "non-rev" is, it has its drawbacks.....as you found out.

I flew non-rev last week to Vegas from K.C. My Luggage didn't make the flight. Usually they will bring it to the hotel when it arrived, but being "non-rev" I had to PAY for courier service to deliver the luggage and golf clubs. To top it off, I had to leave money with the bell staff or the airline wouldn't leave the bags...

You have to take the good with the bad, it seems.