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Lost baggage & Allianz Travel Insurance coverage

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If you need a refresher as to what happened to our lost luggage…then start here so you could get a clear picture. Otherwise, if you just want to know the results of my claim, go to “Final Update as of March 30, 2023”

 

The Backstory

Ok so here’s what happened. You all know we are Team Carryon so none of our luggage or bags were checked in for our flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu. We had 4 carryons, 3 backpacks.
Inventory of carry on luggage
  1. Delsey – Red (Caitlin’s stuff)
  2. Amazon Basic – Black (my stuff)
  3. Ricardo – Dark Gray (Nancy’s stuff)
  4. Samsonite – Glossy Gray (Evan’s stuff – this is the soon-to-be missing luggage)

Terminal 1 Map

To help guide you, I found a map for Terminal 1 at Los Angeles International Airport

We went through security, had all 4 luggage and backpacks scanned. Done. TSA Passenger Screening Area in RED. 

We left TSA security checkpoint with everything we had, and began making our way upstairs towards Gate 14. It was only 6:15 am. We had some time to kill before our 7:45 am flight to Honolulu. Boarding time was at 7:15am. We decided to go to the food court (GREEN #3), and grabbed breakfast at Chick-Fil-A. We sat down while we ate our breakfast, and we were done eating at 6:45am.

From the Food Court to Gate 14

We began making our way to the gate. I remember dragging “a” carryon, to be honest, I don’t know which carryon I dragged. I know for sure, Evan dragged the Delsey, Caitlin had the Amazon Basic.
On the way to Gate 14

 

Between me and Nancy, I honestly DO NOT remember which ones we had. I think I had the Samsonite (the one that’s missing), and Nancy had the Ricardo. It was only a short 3-4 minute walk to Gate 14 (orange box). I took short video clips and pictures of Evan and Caitlin with the Delsey and Amazon Basic luggage. I could only remember carrying the backpack on my back, wheeling down the Samsonite with my right hand, while taking pics/videos with my left hand. At this point, I remember Nancy was behind us, but could only imagine that she had the Ricardo with her.
We all made it to Gate 14 (orange box) before 7am. We found empty seats against the wall, and set our luggage down. Again, to be honest, I’m foggy at this point. For social media content, I went to the window to take pictures of the Southwest plane. I do not or could not remember dragging a luggage with me to the window. I couldn’t imagine needing to do that. I also needed to speak with a gate agent (who was on the phone) so I stood there for a few minutes (again, I do not remember needing to have my luggage with me). My inquiry was boarding-related, and the gate agent advised me to go another Southwest desk (right above Gate 14 picture with the clear box). Again, I do not recall having the need to drag a luggage with me.
At this point, Nancy went to Coffee Bean (Green #15). She does not remember having a need to drag a luggage with her. Nancy and I came back to Gate 14, and got settled. The two kids were at Gate 14 the entire time. Pre-boarding announcement was right before 7:15am. We got ready, we’ve got “A” boarding group.

Nightmare ensued

We realized there were only 3 instead of 4 luggage. The Samsonite was missing. The crowd at the gate was beginning to line-up, and it was a mad rush to find the Samsonite. I ran back to all those possible areas….the window, the Southwest customer service area above Gate 14, back to Chick-Fil-A….no Samsonite sighting. According to the cleaning crew near Chick-Fil-A, check with Lost and Found downstairs near Security. I ran down, spoke with 3 officers – no one turned in a Samsonite. I ran back upstairs, and Nancy and I swapped, I stayed with the kids, while she checked Coffee Bean. You have to remember, boarding was in progress. Nancy said, if we had to, for me and the kids to go ahead and board, and that she will catch up.

What was in Evan’s luggage (the missing Samsonite)

I asked him what he packed:
  • Boys clothing (quite a few new shirts and shorts)
  • Water shoes
  • Snorkeling Gear
  • Toiletries
  • Electronics
Not that I was relieved, but I had to make a decision to board or not board. While we waited for Nancy to get back to Gate 14, I decided we would go fly to Hawaii without the Samsonite. We had everything else, and we could just buy Evan’s clothes when we land.
All 4 of us boarded the plane. Still hoping to find the Samsonite, Nancy asked one of the  flight attendants if she could go back to the gate again, and was given the okay. After 5-10 minutes of checking the gate area one more time, she went back in the plane, there was no such luck.

Because I thought “it will never happen to me”

We mostly travel with carryons and not go through the check luggage process. Our luggage had luggage tags, and we also had our basic contact info inside the luggage. For the life of me, I can’t remember if this missing Samsonite had a luggage tag (but for sure there was contact info label inside). T
No, this one did not have an AirTag. After our big trip to the Philippines, we only had enough AirTags for “most” of our bigger checked luggage.

What I’ve done since getting to Hawaii

I’ve called LAX Lost and Found 3 different times, and no Samsonite was found. I checked LAX’s Lost and Found website that shows the inventory of things found at the airport – no luck. It’s now the morning after, and I checked the website again…NOTHING. I’ve also filed a claim with LAX and reported the luggage missing.

Was it lost or stolen?

To be honest, I asked the agent, “okay, so do I have a case of a lost luggage or stolen luggage?” The agent said, if it’s not returned to you, it’s possible that it was stolen in purpose, OR picked up by mistake, and the person who did so would later realized that he or she got the wrong luggage. But it’s up to that individual to report or return the luggage, and there’s no telling if and when that will happen.

Travel Insurance coverage options

I have two possible insurance options:
  • Allianz AllTrips Premier – Baggage Loss Coverage when a baggage is lost, damaged, or stolen while on your trip. $2,000.00 benefit
  • Amex Business Platinum – Baggage Insurance Plan. I used this card to pay for the “fees” only since I used points. Plan is f or eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage.
So with Amex coverage it was specifically stated coverage is for the ENTIRE FARE for a ticket, I do NOT know if I will be covered since I only paid for the fees per person which was $11.20 round trip. I’m not sure if that’s enough to get me the coverage since the $11.20 was NOT the cost of the entire fare.
UPDATE: I have filed a claim with LAX Lost  and Found, and submitted a claim with Allianz.

Perspective

We’re in Hawaii. We’re safe, In the grand scheme of things, the items that were lost or stolen are replaceable.

Final Update as of March 30, 2023

Here’s what took place since I wrote this entry. The day after we lost the luggage, I filed a claim with LAX’s Lost and Found. Remember, the luggage NEVER made it to the plane, so in my mind, I should not file a claim with Southwest Airlines.
I also filed a claim with Allianz Travel Insurance. For the first time ever, we purchased an annual policy for $485 which covered 7 members of my household. I never thought I’d use this policy to file a claim.
It was a simple process of going to Allianz’s website, submit a claim detailing what took place, what was lost, etc. I uploaded proof of my filed claim with LAX, and itemized list of the missing items and approximate value. Since we had no plans on missing our personal belongings, we didn’t have any receipts, but according to Allianz, an approximate value would suffice.

Allianz Baggage Loss Coverage

Your baggage is lost, damaged, or stolen while on your trip.

Benefit $2,000.00

If your baggage is lost, damaged, or stolen while you are on your trip, we will pay you, less available refunds, the
lowest of the following, up to the maximum benefit listed for Baggage Loss in your Declarations:
i. Actual cash value of the baggage;
ii. Cost to repair the damaged baggage; or
iii. Cost to replace the lost, damaged, or stolen baggage.

The following conditions apply:
a. You have taken reasonable steps to keep your baggage safe and intact and to recover it;
b. You have filed a report giving a description of the property and its value with the appropriate localauthorities, travel carrier, hotel, or tour operator within 24 hours of discovery of the loss;
c. You must provide original receipts for the lost items. For items without an original receipt, we will cover up to 75% of the actual cash value; and
d. High value items are covered up to the maximum benefit for high value items shown in your Declarations.
The following items are not covered:
1. Animals, including remains of animals;
2. Cars, motorcycles, motors, aircraft, watercraft, and other vehicles and related accessories and equipment;
3. Bicycles, skis, and snowboards (except while they are checked with a travel carrier);
4. Hearing aids, eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses;
5. Artificial teeth and prosthetics;
6. Wheelchairs and other mobility devices;
7. Consumables, medicines, medical equipment/supplies, perfumes, cosmetics, and perishables;
8. Tickets, passports, deeds, blueprints, stamps, and other documents;
9. Money, currency, credit cards, notes or evidences of debt, negotiable instruments, securities, bullion, and
keys;
10. Rugs and carpets;
11. Firearms and other weapons, including ammunition;
12. Intangible property, including software and electronic data;
13. Property for business or trade;
14. Property you do not own; and
15. Baggage while it is:
a. Shipped, unless with your travel carrier;
b. In or on a car trailer; or
c. Unattended and in an unlocked car.
IMPORTANT: Please refer to your Declarations to confirm your applicable limit.
If your baggage is lost by your travel supplier, we can work with the carrier to locate your baggage. We can
provide you status updates, inform you when the baggage is found, and coordinate delivery of your baggage.
You will be responsible for any delivery charges not paid by the travel supplier.

Common carrier?

After filing my claim with LAX and Allianz, I received an email from Allianz asking for “The original claim determination from the common carrier.” I knew what they meant – they needed a letter from the airline (Southwest). I called Allianz and explained to them that Southwest was NOT involved. The luggage was lost inside the terminal, this all happened BEFORE we even boarded the plane. Long story short, the rep was adamant that he could not remove that requirement (the letter from the airline). Ok, fine.

File a claim with Southwest

Yes, even though the luggage never made it inside Southwest, I still had to file a claim with them. I uploaded a proof of the claim filed with Southwest. Over the next 3-4 weeks, Southwest sent me a claim update.
Dear Edward Jason,

Thank you for flying with Southwest Airlines. We received your lost item report and have begun our search to match your item’s description to found items we have received. In the event we find an item that closely matches the description of your item, we will contact you via email, providing you with a link to our shipping page so that you may be reunited with your item.

If within the next few days you need to update your lost item report or have additional information to provide, such as a serial number, please log in and edit your lost item report through the Southwest Airlines login page. As a courtesy, we will send you periodic email updates to advise you of the status of our search. If after 30 days we have not found your item, we will notify you via email that the report is closed. Pursuant to the Carrier’s Contracts of Carriage, we do not accept liability for lost items; however, please rest assured that we do our best to reunite our Customers with their belongings.

They must’ve sent me 3-4 of the same email updates. I called Allianz again to make sure they got my updates. In order for them to finalize my claim, Southwest would need to close the claim. That final email finally came on March 25.

Dear Edward Jason,

We are sorry to report that, despite our best efforts, our search for your lost item was unsuccessful, and the report is now closed. We are grateful for your business and we hope to welcome you onboard again soon.

Sincerely,

Southwest Lost Item Recovery Team

I quickly uploaded that email and sent it to Allianz. After 4-5 days, I received this email:
Allianz

Update: Allianz claim check arrived within 10 business days

The check came in the mail…it took a little while. Knock on wood, if I have to file another claim, I’ll opt for a more expeditious reimbursement.

Allianz Claim Check

 

Takeaways

I never thought I needed travel insurance. To be honest, I was skeptical, but I just had to go with my gut, and give Allianz what they needed. What was the amount that Allianz paid me? I won’t be disclosing that, but since I did not have any receipts for any of the items I reported, Allianz stayed true to their promise, For items without an original receipt, Allianz covered up to 75% of the actual cash value. That was more than enough to pay for my first year’s policy with Allianz.

 

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Editorial Disclosure – The editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the credit card issuers, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuers.

 

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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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