destination. I had a bad connection at LA to Chicago due to a late

flight by the Vancouver to LA airline company. NOT UNITED. Now let

me state a few facts. I am a cardiac patient so I have to rest

every now and then while walking long distances, especially

between gates. Anyway, I thought I was late arriving at my gate to

Chicago. But in reality had plenty of time. United kept paging me

to pick up a courtesy phone in the terminal. I couldn’t find one.

So I walked as fast as I could to the Chicago bound gate. By the

time I reached the gate I was panting and puffing enough to cause

another grabber. Showed the agent my ticket and went up the ramp.

I was stopped by (2) airline personnel and was told that I would

have to “gate check” one of my (2) carryons. (You are allowed 2 if

one is a computer bag or smaller). I said I cannot gate check this

bag because it contains all of my company’s electronic equipment

worth thousands of dollars. BAD FRIGGIN’ MISTAKE !! The personnel

said it needed to be checked because the flight is totally full

and all space is taken in the bins. I stated my position again.

They stated theirs. It happened a 3rd time…they however assured

me that my bag would be waiting at the carousel with all my other

luggage. Needless to say when I got to the carousel, my (2) other

luggage bags weren’t there either or my promised ramp checked

carry on. Now these baggage people know that if you carry on a

bag, there must be something valuable in there. We’ll there

was…cameras, lenses, memory cards, internet gizmos, laptop, etc

etc…everything was electronics to the tune of $5,300.00 value. I

filed the claim and because this was considered an international

flight, airlines only need to pay pennies on the dollar up to

about 30% maximum. If it is a domestic flight, they pay up to

$3,500 based on your claim. So what did I learn on this trip….

1. Airlines are allowed to pay less in lost claims if its an

international flight.
2.ALWAYS, ask for your ramp checked bag ON THE RAMP. Don’t leave

without it.
3. Never agree to picking up your ramp check bag at the carousel.
4. File claims for lost luggage asap with the carousel agent or

your claim will be denied.
5. Save receipts for electronic equipment you buy.
6. Never ever fly UNITED OR THEIR AFFILIATES.

A MESSAGE TO ALL THE UNITED THIEVES…

YOU GUYS ARE PATHETIC. YOU THINK THAT ALL THE LUGGAGE FLOWING

THROUGH YOUR HANDS IS YOUR OWN PERSONAL SHOPPING MALL. YOU THIEVES

ARE HARD TO CATCH BECAUSE THE LUGGAGE IN YOUR HAND COULD BE

CONSIDERED PART OF YOUR JOB DUTIES EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE STEALING

IT. SOMEDAY, HOPEFULLY YOU WILL GET CAUGHT AND LOSE YOUR JOB. BUT

I HOPE IT’S WHEN YOU ARE IN YOUR UPPER 50′S CLOSE TO RETIREMENT SO

YOU HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH PAYING HIGH COBRA HEALTH INSURANCE AND

HAVE 5 YEARS LEFT ON YOUR HOUSE AND LOSE IT BECAUSE YOU CANNOT PAY

YOUR BILLS. YES, I AM BITTER FOR ALL THE HEADACHES YOU GAVE

ME…BUT YOU HAVE FUN WHILE YOU CAN.TECHNOLOGY WILL CHANGE TO

CATCH YOU.