Winging It

US Airways luggage thefts was a great article about the worst airline in the country. Philadelphia to Shannon on 8/5/2007 over $300 in new clothes was stolen from my wife's bag. Her mistake: leaving the tags on. Between jet lag and no receipt we didn't bother to report it. If luggage handlers have the time to search out new clothes they certainly have time to put something in a bag. What happened to background checks for employees?
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>The past year I have had to fly US Air out of PHL 3 times (8 flights with connections) Surprise!!! there was a problem on every flight. The only good thing about US Air is that if you are late for a connecting flight you probably won't miss it because it will be delayed as well.

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>Larry Kardon
>Malvern
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If you must check anything of importance, you can still lock checked bags using TSA-accessible locks: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/locks.shtm. For laptops and consumer electronics, I find it safer to ship them home insured via FEDEX or UPS.

Flying out of Philly, I have long assumed that anything in the bags is fair game once it gets downstairs. I had dress shoes (do you beleive SHOES), golf shirts and cigarettes stolen, but always on a outbound flight. US Air claims in every instance was totally uncooperative.
They have a monopoly at PHL, have a management team that is inept and a workforce that is surly when not being downright incompetant. I hate to fly with them (never on time anywhere) but they are the big dog for now, so what can you do? I keep hoping they will go belly up for good so we can get someone else in their place.
Absolutely the worst carrier in America.

I just want to say I have been flying US Airways for about 15 years. I have had my fair share of problems. The most important fact is they always have departed and arrived safely. On the baggage problem, I have met many employees in operations. The veterans are great people. The new people they bring in are not paid very well. US Airways needs have a total mangement makeover in PHL. Perception is reality and they need to treat people as human beings not just objects. Listen to your most loyal customers. Customer Service goes along way!
Marty Miller

I will never forget waiting on an idling jet, on the tarmac, doors closed, for 45 minutes because US Air couldnt find "worker' to spend thirty seconds connecting the jetway to the jet. Then on the outbound flight, listening to USAir flight crews discuss the worst most dreaded stop in the USAir system, you guessed it, Philly.

i flew US Air ealry June and i had my watch stolen, watch was worth about $1,300 besides my car it's was the only thing i owned that had any value. :) I am sorry it's happening to others, but it's sort of good to know i wasn't the only one. Needless to say i didn't fill out a report.

Just flew out of philly two weeks ago, my electric shaver was stolen along with an ipod charger. The problem wasn't the fact they were stolen, it was employees of US Airways who were so rude and turned everything towards me as if it were my fault. Poor management, poor quality control and poor customer service equals a poor company!!!!! By the by if you can't find my luggage please tell me the truth and say "I don't know where you luggage is" instead of saying it will arrive by this time everyday when in fact it did not! Do not own stock in any airline companies - 3rd quarter earnings are going to be horrible!

I just want to say after my recent experience i flying out of Philadelphia, I will never fly on US Airways again. I I flew out of Philadelphia about 3 weeks ago I had a new camera, Ipod chargers and charger cables for a portable DVD player stolen out of my checked baggae in Philadelphia. I was going to file a claim on line, but the Us Aiways web site is very vaugue and could not find any stolen items forms to file. When I flew back in last week, i would have filed a claim at the airport, but our flight arrived over an hour late, and the line at the US airways baggage claim office was longer than the lines at halftime at the eagles game to use the bathroom. I did not bother to wait, as I knew they would do nothing about in anyway. I have been flying over 20 years, and have never had incidents like this occur before. They only care about making their quarlerly profits.

It's ashame that the airport and airlines are unable to do a better survalience job on thier own employees. To anyone reading this, carry on any baggage of value on your person.

I travel over 100K miles/year and ultimately have to use US Air because of the schedules. I travel with tools and invariably have to replace several items when I reach my destination city every 3-4 trips. I've only had this happen with US Air and only in PHL. Never a problem in Detroit, Chicago, LA, or Phoenix. US Air claims do not care and fingerpoint to others who have access to the tool bag after it's checked (which is a valid point), however someone needs to be accountable. I never check personal items any longer.

Sad isn't it, that we have little choice but to accept horribly substandard service. I'd change airlines in half a heartbeat if I could get a resonable schedule that didn't fly through Chicago or Atlanta.

I recently traveled on British Airways and had items missing from luggage that was delivered to my house due to delays arrivng from London. My daughter and son also had the problem. We suspect it was the delivery company. We were missing jewelry and designer handbags.

Have been traveling on USAirways for years at least once a month and never had a problem. Thanks US Airways.

I had an aisle seat on a full redeye from LA to Philly. Due to USAirways Zone boarding policy, I was in the last zone to board the plane and there was no room in the overhead bins for my bag. The plane was ready to go and I, along with a few other passengers was forced to check my bag at the gate ramp. I physically handed my bag to the baggage handler and when re-boarding the plane, I saw him put it the cargo hold. He mentioned before leaving: “Since yours is the last on, at least it will be the first off”. As soon, as I settled in my seat, the door was closed and we were taxiing for take off.
Upon arrival in Philly, waiting some 15 minutes after all the bags the flight were claimed by fellow passengers, my bag never came up. I went to make a lost luggage claim. After this, which took about another 15 minutes, I was dejectedly walking to the offsite parking van pickup station and saw my bag on the carousel. While I was fortunate that nothing of value was in my bag (remember this was intended to be a carry on and it was affixed with a hand-filled out tag), it had been clearly opened (zippers open, clothes falling out and everything inside in disorder). I know that this could have only happened Philly. I was so wiped out from the flight and did not feel like going through the hassles to fill out a report. I just wanted to go home and go to bed.