Convention Nightmare

[ginapier]

I have just walked in from my travel SLC through Dallas to JFK. I started at 6am and it is now 9:05pm ..

this was my first convention ever and I must admit I had a lot of fun. I did 100 convention swaps and 60 SCS dinner swaps. I have to say the swapping was great and the quality (scs dinner swaps- and a good majority of the convention swaps) were awesome.

I had to pack a separate suit case just to carry all the swaps!

Here is where the nightmare comes in... For the journey home, I had:
* 3 plastic shoe boxes full of awesome swaps,

* my 6 BRANDY NEW AWESOME stamp sets from convention (I won with my bracelet a set + oval punch, the 4 registration sets + the heart set everyone received)

* all of my make and takes and tecnique class work in my craft keeper

* The awesome backpack!! water bottle, lanyard....

* 3 pairs of shoes and thats about it! You get the picture...

90% of these items CAN NOT BE REPLACED!

THE AIRLINES LOST MY LUGGAGE! THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TRACK WHERE IT IS AND I AM HOME UNABLE TO ADMIRE MY SWAPS OR PLAY WITH MY STAMPS!

I am so upset, I cried at the airport as if tears would help the situation. I travel all the time and often arrive home without all of my luggage but today was different. They could not track where it was! That is really HUGE and scary because it may be consifered lost luggage and I will not and could not be re-imbursed monitarily for that!

After such a great time at convention I come home just so crushed and upset :(

Thought I would share cas' I know you ladies can always cheer me up and if I can help any session 2 ladies- ...YOU MAY WANT TO HAVE THESE VALUABLE GOODS AS A CRRY ON ITEM!!!!

[alicia79]

Oh sweetie I hope they find all your stuff!!! Thats awful!

[Corinna]

That is awful! They lost my daughter's luggage for about a week when we went to Mexico in December.. actually, it was over a week, since they found it after we got back. Oddly, I had packed a couple of extra clothes for her in another bag..

I hope they find it! I'll be thinking happy, luggage finding thoughts for you. ;)

Corinna

[calgramma]

(((((((((((HUGS))))))))))) I am so sorry for your luggage experience and will keep my fingers crossed that all your 'valuables' are located soon!!!!!!!! Luckily for me, I was able to drive from SoCal to SLC. Please keep us updated!

[wozi14]

omg...I am sick for you with a huge lump in my throat and wanting to cry right along with you!

{{{{{{{Hug}}}}}}}} .... and shoulder for more tears if they come again....

I hope the best outcome will happen for you. I will pray that it does.

Please keep us posted. I will be checking back frequently.

{{{{{Another HUG}}}}}...one is never enough!!!

[stampwithmax2]

My Parents were just here in SLC visiting me for the birth of my baby. They flew back to England and it took them THIRTY hours....Way longer than anticipated. They were told their cases were "Somewhere" and they had no clue where.........My Mom was so upset ! So from listening to her on the phone, I can understand how you are feeling and what you are going through. Her cases weren't full of the same goodies...FULL OF SHOES LOL!

Four days later they showed up!

Chin up and smile my friend....You will get them back!

Big Hugs
Max

[Theresa Romani]

My DH had his luggage 'lost' on a trip to Paris, but it was found the next day and sent on. Crossing my fingers for you that it comes soon!

-Theresa

[ginapier]

Thanks for the hugs ladies- just got off the phone with AA baggage service dept. and they are still unable to track it!

They advised it cannot be considered lost until 5 days have passed and advised me to continue daily follow up!

:(

I will not sleep well for the next 5 nights...

[clou72]

No!!! OMGoodness I hope they find it!!!

[clou72]

As a former travel agent, I just wanted to add a little tip, that I learned when I was in the business. Of course I am sure most everyone puts their name and address on their luggage tags. It is also a very good idea to put it on the inside of your luggage. I keep a business card zipped inside the mesh pocket of my luggage. Luggage gets really roughed up, so luggage tag can easily get ripped or broken off. Just this last time I traveled my luggage tag was broke in half!

[my4kidzmom]

Oh my, I'm sure you're just beside yourself! I'm hoping for you that the airlines will bring you your precious goods soon!

But, I'm glad to hear you had a great time at convention.

Hope it all turns out well.

[JILLIANTANNER]

oH I HOPE THEY FIND YOUR STUFF I CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT YOU FEEL LIKE. YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS FOR TONIGHT AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL FIND THEM

[tracy]

Take heart Gina, Your luggage will turn up eventually, it just may take awhile. At least it wasn't with your swaps on the WAY to convention!

That happened to me a few years back on the way to convention in Las Vegas. I had all my swaps in my carry- on luggage, fearful to check them...well the flight attendant informed me that there was no overhead storage available for my bag and so I would need to check it. Well, reluctantly, I handed over my bag...never to see it again in time for convention, and can I say I was HEART SICK arriving at convention without all my swaps!!!!!!! Each day of convention hoping for my lost luggage to arrive, but no! Finally after returning home, and about 2 months later, my baggage was found, sitting in an airport unclaimed in Hawaii- mind you!

My point is, your stuff will turn up....eventually : )

The moral is: always pack a carry on bag for your swaps and goodies and DON'T let them ever take it away from you!

[crazycatstamper]

Hang in there, they'll find it. When they can't track it, it usually takes about 36-48 hours to show up. Just make sure that if your cell phone # is what was on your luggage tag that you keep that phone on! Good luck.... Keep us posted!

[crazycatstamper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracy

The moral is: always pack a carry on bag for your swaps and goodies and DON'T let them ever take it away from you!

An addition to that advice - put them in the smallest bag they will fit in. Sometimes you end up on one of those little planes that a larger bag won't fit in the overhead. My sage advice - if your swaps won't fit in a bag you can put under the seat in front of you, SHIP THEM ahead of time to your hotel.

[h2j3]

PM with your address and I will send you copies of the 4 swaps I did for convention. I would hate for you to be without any.

[Wheeless]

Ok, I didn't read ALL the posts, just yours, and a thought popped into my head. Did you fly US Air? I only ask because when I landed in Philly this morning at 6:30 am, there was a SEA of unclaimed bags outside the US air office in Philly. I know it sounds strange, but something went wrong somewhere and it looked like a whole plane load of bags got on the wrong plane and ended up in Philly. I've never seen that many suitcases.

Good luck darling!

Cheryl

[Wheeless]

By the way, I remember meeting you at convention, so my heart break because you are such a happy and kind woman! I have extra swaps that I brought home with me. I actually got too tired to swap! I'll be happy to send you one.

Post a thread to keep us updates on the luggage.

[jmscoping]

fwiw,
carry it on anyway and then when you get at the gate - check it there. then when you get off, they have it sitting there waiting for you.

my dh and i do this ALL the time. haven't had them say anything to us about it.

[sharingmyartwork49]

They advised it cannot be considered lost until 5 days have passed and advised me to continue daily follow up!

OMG - unbelievable and I'm so sorry this happened to you.
CRY all you want - - only stampers understand this problem and who cares
about everyone else in the airport!! Please keep us posted and when it is found - - I know we'll all be CHEERING FOR YOU!!

GOOD LUCK !!

;)

[Sairabee]

That is insane! I feel for you, I really do! We have had our luggage "lost" once on our way to Vegas... It did turn up eventually - on a different airline entirely!!!

Hopefully your goodies will find their way home to you soon!

[Diddydot]

Hopefully it just missed your flight home. I pray it turns up. Keep checking with the airline so they won't forget.
Dorothy

[Joan B]

UGGGHHH. check out this link. it might be helpful.. Also, it says 98% off all LOST luggage shows up within a week. Best of cluck!

http://www.thetravelinsider.info/tra...gagerights.htm

[moppet]

AS A FLIGHT ATTENDANT,THEY HAVE MISPLACED MINE,BUT DON'T WORRY, THEY WILL FIND IT AND BRING TO YOUR HOME..WEATHER DELAYS,MECHANICALS, CAN ALL BACK UP THE LUGGAGE,BUT THE BAGGAGE CLAIMS REPS ARE VERY GOOD AT TRACKING BAGS.

[janicemarz]

Hang in there! My hubby and i flew from California back to Norfolk, VA. When we arrived home..all four of our bags were MISSING!! Rest assured they showed up the next day...but I know how you feel!!! Just keep checking.....they will show up!!!

[mlehmer]

I really feel your heartache. The last time I went to Germany, before I even left the states I was told that my luggage had been put on the wrong plane. I had bought allot of little goodies to make our new house a home till our household goods arrived so I was heartbroken, too. Luckily, I had packed some clothes for our 1 year old and my DH and I wore the same size so I could wear his. At 4:00 am the day after I arrived, a truck delivered my luggage 50 miles from the airport. Can you believe that! Try to have a little faith that all will come out well in the end. I'll be praying for ya!

Michelle

[Lisa Moore0626]

(((HHHUUUGGSSS)))... I'm confident that they will show up. Have faith and this will work.

Say a prayer (or 2 or 3 or 4.. you get the picture) to St. Anthony or Padua... He is the Catholic patron saint of lost items, the poor and travelers.You have 2 out of the 3. I usually hold my cross when I pray to him.

My wedding ring was lost... I searched and searced (looking under my stove no less than 5 times).... And cried for a whole day.. I started praying to St. Anthony and within an hour there it was, sticking out from beneath that stove. Have faith.. He's good to us.

[Qbee]

{{{{ Hugs }}}}
That just sucks. I hope they find it soon. Please post an update when you have one.

My dh just got back from DC and his luggage went to Minneapolis instead of Memphis. I thought in this day and age of computer labels these kind of mix-ups weren't supposed to happen. Just weird. In my dh's case his luggage was actually tagged to go to Minneapolis (it wasn't truly lost), but he did get in the next day.

I really hope they find yours soon.

[douthit5]

I am so sad for your loss! This is my first trip to convention as well, and although I do not have that many swaps to trade, if you would so kindly email me or post your address, I would love to send you my swap. I am attending session 2, and will happily photocopy and send any sample that I receive to you.

Maybe some of the ladies who attended the first session could band together and make you a copy of their swaps. It certainly won't make up for your loss, but maybe it will help to minimize it.

Take care and don't give up hope...;)

[kazie]

I know that lost luggage feeling - I was on my way to the Las Vegas regional this past spring and they lost my luggage on the way there...it had all my swaps in it. They gave me the same run around not sure where etc... My advice keep calling the air line. They will find don't worry. I had mine back within 24 hours. It is probably in Dallas and they will see it and stick in on a plane to NY!

GOOD LUCK!!!!

[Laurie FW]

I really feel for you, Gina! You are such a wonderful person, you have helped to spread so much happiness here on SCS! (RAK forum!) I have also lost luggage three times in my life and got them all back, ranging from less than 24 hours to 4 days, I will be saying a prayer and wishing you good luck, too!

[ScrappinGoodTime]

Gina my heart is breaking for you because I know how excited you were to go, keep heart sister, and hopefully after the dust clears in SLC, your bag will turn up!

[doxiejan]

Gina, So sorry to hear of your loss of luggage. I will be more than happy to send you copies of the cards that I did for convention and the SCS dinner. Just PM me with your addy and I will get them done tomorrow and in the mail! {{{{{HUGS}}}}} Janice

[ginapier]

WOW all these posts certainly are making me keep the faith..I called teh 800# for claims again and still no word so...I will have to wait until I can tray again tomorrow because I have to get up early for work (not that I will get uch sleep)

I travel once a month on business and I would say 1 out of every 3 trips this happens so one would think I would be used to it- or at least a smarter traveler! ( However, I have never been to convention before so I just wasn't thinking - I guess..)

Thanks so much to the ladies offering to send me one of their swaps! That is awefully nice of you! I am going to wait and see if my luggage is found- I honestly dont want anyone to go out of their way for me... POSITIVE thoughts and teh luggage will make it to my door step.

On a brighter note, I did come home to 2 BIG BROWN boxes. hahhah so I cant say I didnt get new rubber this week, I only wish I could have been home to hide them before hubby saw them!

Thanks again for all your kind words putting my mind at ease... I appreciate it and will keep you all posted!

[TJStamper]

I have no words of wisdom for you but just wanted to tell you that I'm so sorry this happened to you. I really am ... I would be really sad about it too.

I hope that your luggage is found ... soon!

(((((HUGS)))))

[The Dahl House]

I can't help you with the lost stamp sets, but if you don't get your swaps back, let me know and I will RAK you with duplicates of the ones I had at SCS!
At least, you could recover some of your swaps with everyone pitching in.
I had a fabulous time, it was my first convention and I was so disappointed they didn't show my wrist band. But, I am glad I went and I can't wait for Denver next year! only 60 miles from home! WOO HOO

[stampinsuzy]

I'm so sorry to hear that. You know there is still a chance they will find it. I've known people who lost their luggage and it ended up taking a few days before it turned up. So don't lose hope yet! I'll be crossing my fingers for you.

In the meantime, I'd call SU and let them happen. They are so kind and generous they may be able to help you replace your convention bag, lanyard, bracelet, etc... I mean, you might have to purchase it, but at least you'd have it and maybe the airlines could help you out? But you never know. I've heard of similar stories in the past of peoples convention bags that went missing and SU was able to help them out. It wouldn't hurt to see what they can do.

[stampkinz]

My luggage has been lost before and I always got it back. Hey, its matter, right? It has to be somewhere!!

[Str8Fan]

Gina,

While returning from overseas last year, all four pieces of our luggage was lost. I checked back the next day at the counter and they still had no word.

Well, something inside me kept telling me to check baggage claim area. So I went to the carousel that was unloading luggage from the same flight I had taken the day before and lo and behold there was all my luggage. It was going around as if we had just gotten off the plane.

I would say, for you to find out what are the next few flights coming from the last airport you were in and if you're not too far from the airport, check the baggage claim as if you had been one of that days' travelers.

Good luck and I'm sure they'll find it!

[ScrappyVal]

Oh, I will say prayers that your bag is safely found and returned to you. That is the worst thing that can happen.

Last year Southwest Airlines gave us an option to switch flights as they were overbooked. I thought it was an awesome offer, the price of our tickets plus $300 each - so for the three of us it was something ridiculous like $1500...as it was me and the two boys and we were in no hurry, I had hubby pick us up from Ontario airport instead of LAX ...I thought it was worth it until we found out our luggage was at LAX...UGHHH

They said theyd pick them up and have them takento our home another hour from LAX by the time we'd get home from Ontario (2hrs away) ... when we got home (which was way more than 2 hrs as we were in CA traffic all the way home) there were no bags ...I called and called and finally they stopped answering ...needless to say I was sick to my stomach...two days later we finally had the doorbell ring and it was our luggage ..yes,he wanted a big tip..HA!

I contacted SW and told them how upset I was and will never volunteer my seat again it was totally not worth the stomach/heart ache of having your stuff somewhere without you.. They ended up giving me three more vouchers for $50 each for my inconvenience ...All in all it worked out and eventually I can now laugh but it took a long time..

Pls keep your chin up as I'm sure it will show up ...and I'd really hope you'll call them or write the airlines about the stress and heartache you've gone through..it just might get you a ticket that you can use for next years convention

Hugs ~ Scrappy Val