Finally -- A Sane Refund Policy for Lost-Luggage Bag Fees

I smile every time a mail-order company offers a "100% money-back guarantee" for its products.  They always pitch it as though you’d never, ever, think of returning it!  "We’re so confident that this ointment will grow you a full head of hair, that we’re offering an unconditional guarantee!" 

Most people fail to realize that companies are required, by law, to offer such a guarantee when it comes to mail-order items.  Whether you grow a full patch of hair on your head or little afros on the tips of your toes, you’re entitled to a full refund if the product doesn’t live up to your expectations.

That rule applies to most legitimate companies and to their services (mail order or not), with very few exceptions. Airlines are one of those exceptions.

'Handle' This!

Have you ever paid an airline a $50 fee for them to "handle" your luggage?  Of course you have.  Have you ever experienced the airlines losing your luggage after you paid the fee?  Have you ever attempted to get reimbursed for that fee when your luggage failed to make it to it’s ultimate destination? 

Until very recently, your pleas for a refund would have fallen on deaf ears.  In the worst case, they may lose your bag entirely, and then you’ve paid them good money for the "service" of losing your stuff!  You might as well confront the ticketing agent and ask, "Would you please throw away all of my family’s essential belongings so that we’ll never find them again?  Here’s $200 for your trouble!"

Fortunately, the government has intervened.  U.S.Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has implemented a series of rules aimed at protecting passengers. 

Ray was responsible for limiting how long passengers can sit on planes during ground delays to three hours (we like Ray!).  Now, Ray is pushing for legislation that would require airlines to reimburse passengers for their fees if they fail to provide the service of delivering the bags to their proper destinations on time.

Seems fair and simple, doesn’t it? 

Common Sense Comes Crashing In

Naturally, the airlines (who "bag" more than 3.3 billion dollars annually in baggage fees) don’t support such legislation.  In fact, they’ve come up with an argument that shows how such legislation would actually serve to increase the existing fees!  Regardless, Ray is making headway. Under the existing rules, passengers can ask for a refund of their baggage fee as part of the "lost property claim" they are required to file when an airline loses or damages their luggage. 

You’re still out of luck if your bag is simply delayed, but some airlines are starting to hand out daleyed-bagged credits, and that’s a step in the right direction!  Alaska Airlines offers a $20 credit for future travel, or 2,000 frequent flier miles if your luggage isn’t sitting in the claim area 20 minutes after the plane is parked at the gate.  Similarly, Delta airlines will give you a $25 credit per bag if the luggage doesn’t appear within 12 hours of your arrival.  In each of these cases, you’ll need to fill out a form.

The lesson here is simple; educate yourself on your airline’s rules for baggage loss and reimbursement.  Be prepared to fill out some forms, and it wouldn’t hurt to write your congressional representative. Ray LaHood needs our support, right?  Finally, remember not to pack anything that’s too essential in your checked luggage.  Its better to operate under the assumption that any bag you check will get lost.  That assumption has served me well!

EXTRA:  Please feel free to leave comments on this article! If you have questions for Ken regarding business travel, hotels, airplanes, etc, please send him a "Tweet" on his twitter account.  You can also follow Ken on Twitter @foodbreeze!