Lost Luggage

How does an airline lose luggage on a direct flight?

By Annette Beach

A mishap in 2006 created a medical crisis causing me to seek expert care in another state. Since there was a sense of urgency in the matter, I wasn’t able to pick and choose operative dates based on my convenience. I received a much anticipated phone call informing me I was scheduled for surgery on December 26, so traveling alone, I flew out Christmas morning at 7 a.m. on a direct flight, arriving at my destination two hours later.

In pain (physically because of my health and emotionally because I wasn’t able to spend Christmas with my family), I stood at the luggage carousel waiting, but my bag never arrived. When it was apparent that my suitcase was not coming down the shoot, I went to the baggage claim office. There, I was told [by a less than caring woman] they had no idea what happened to my luggage.

Using my holiday voice, I commented, “It was a direct flight. Can it get any simpler? How do you loose luggage on a direct flight?”

After waiting in the airport for four hours, there was still no clue as to the whereabouts of my luggage and it was time to catch my ground transportation to the hospital’s hotel. I filed a claim with the same woman as before. Her way of showing compassion was to present me with a pre-printed letter of apology, along with a $25 discount off of my next flight with this airline. (Yeah, that’ll make up for the inconvenience!)

Around 2 p.m. I checked into my hotel and was asked by the bellhop if I needed assistance with my belongings. With only a room key in my hand and a fanny pack around my waist, I looked around at my personal space, then back at him. He tipped his hat with understanding.

Later in the day, I called the airline. Good news! My luggage had been scanned two states over and was scheduled to fly to my state, arriving at my hotel by cab around 8:30 p.m. At 9:30, I called the airline and was told my luggage left that city, but there was no record of it arriving any place else. But somehow, the airline felt there was still hope it could make it that evening (although they didn’t know the current location).

After hanging up the phone, I went to the hotel desk to ask if they could supply me with items for personal hygiene – deodorant, brush/comb, toothbrush, anything. The girl returned from the back room to inform me the only thing she could find was a toothbrush, but I could have my choice of colors, purple or yellow. I chose purple.

The girl offered to drive me to the store, but given the holiday, everything was closed. I returned to my room, brushed my teeth and went to bed.

I was scheduled to report to the hospital the following morning, at 5:45. Upon check in, I was issued a large plastic bag and told to place my personal belongings inside. I dropped my purple toothbrush in the bag and handed it back to the nurse.

Surgery went as scheduled, followed by recovery, then I was moved to a hospital room. Upon awakening that afternoon, there was still no suitcase. Since my arm was suspended from the ceiling, I was not allowed to get out of bed so I had to use a bedpan.

Being my 31st operation, I had mastered the usage of a bedpan and no longer felt embarrassed. Or so I thought!

While sitting on the alternate means, a cab driver walked into my room, stood beside my bed and said, “Mrs. Beach, I have your suitcase.” Since my throne didn’t seem to affect him, I replied, “Thank you. Just put it over there.” He set it by the window then hesitated for a moment, as though he was waiting for a tip. When I waved with my non-operative hand, he got the message and left.

Thinking back, I should have given him my purple toothbrush.