Lost luggage leads the pack of readers' woes

Part 1 of 2

Last week, we reflected on some of the trials of air travel during 2007 and made a few predictions about what might happen during 2008.

Some of you had your own tribulations while traveling during the past year.

While each situation was unique, many of you faced similar obstacles while flying the friendly skies. Here are the most common complaints of readers during 2007:

• Lost luggage led the pack.

Vicki L. writes, "My husband and I traveled to Mexico. The flight was uneventful -- until we arrived and our luggage did not. We were in Mexico for 10 days and the luggage never found its way to us. … It appears it was stolen at O'Hare and never made it out of the airport. Every time we go on vacation, my husband buys new 'logo' shirts with our company name and phone number embroidered on the shirt. No one ever called the phone number. We had purchased the insurance, but it was a joke. By the time we finished, we received about $800 each for 10 days of clothing."

Vicki said she now puts her itinerary and the mention of a reward in all outside pockets of her luggage. And when she packs she increases their odds of having something to wear when they land by splitting their clothes between two suitcases.

Maureen M. has had similar problems. On a flight to Montego Bay, Jamaica, her husband packed his cell phone, CD player and several CDs in his checked bag. When he arrived, they didn't. But she had constant reminders from the phone company for several weeks while they haggled over a $1,200 cell phone bill that wasn't theirs.

A couple of months later, Maureen went on a cruise with her daughter and purchased some perfume as gifts. She forgot about the no-liquid rule in carry-on luggage. When she arrived at security, she had to either discard $80 worth of perfume or leave it in her backpack and late check it. She opted for the latter. But when the bag arrived home, the only thing Maureen smelled was a rat. Someone stole the perfume out of her backpack.

"I have no problem with airlines conducting searches of myself and my bags," says Maureen. "I do have a problem with baggage handlers 'shopping' through my luggage. When will the airlines conduct searches of their employees as they leave work? Obviously, some of them go home with heavy pockets filled with our possessions."

• Overzealous security agents came in second.

Senior citizen Bob H. appreciates the security agents carefully inspecting passengers and their luggage before allowing them on board. But he feels they sometimes go too far. Bob had a knee replacement three years ago and carries a card from his surgeon explaining that it will set off the detector. He doesn't mind the personal inspection. He does mind when it becomes more invasive.

"When they read the note and the handheld indicator goes off by my knee each time, I would think that would be sufficient," writes Bob. "Unfortunately, they then begin to grope and pat down my body, over and over again. This becomes uncomfortable and I feel offended by the inspectors."

Mary S. agrees with Bob. She has a hip replacement and at the age of 83 doesn't feel she looks like a threat. But when she went through security in New York before boarding her flight to Miami, she felt like public enemy No. 1.

"The agent groped all over my body. I felt violated. I don't think they have a right to be so personal when someone is obviously not a threat risk," Mary says.

While some of this attention seems over the top, most security agents will say they're just doing their job. But you do have some rights. Complaints about personal screening should be directed to the Department of Homeland Security's Office for Civil Rights and Liberties. You can reach them toll-free at (877) 336-4872.

Next week, we'll share more of what's up in the air with our readers.

Gail Todd, a free-lance

writer,worked as a flight

attendant for more than 30

years. She can be reached via

e-mail at gailtodd@aol.com.