No more cameras for Christmas...

N

nickchew

Guest
Hi all, It has been a traumatic christmas thus far for me.

I flew over 23-24 Dec and was informed that I was only permitted one carry-on baggage. As a result I was "forced" to check-in my locked Pelican case with my entire DSLR system, entire Contax G2 system and my M6 + lenses.

At my destination some 30 hours later, I realised to my horror, when picking up an unusually light Pelican case, that the lock on the case was missing and my entire collection of camera gear is GONE.

So... for the first time in goodness knows how many years, I actually have NO working camera this christmas... sigh...

Spread some love brothers, this man needs some condolences....

Nick
 
What a terrible thing to have happen! My condolences. Whatever it takes, hold the airlines responsible (if you can). I don't know what country you were traveling in and what the laws are there. Hopefully they will have to reimburse.
 
Nick, I really wish I could say something useful, wise or helpful, but as I type this note, I'm really broken about your terrible loss. I hope you remember who was the person who insisted on your checking the bag with the luggage, because it will help if you have joted down all possible details in your claim against the insurance or the airline.

My heart goes out to you, brother! 🙁
 
Just stunned to hear about the loss of all that camera gear. I can imagine how you are feeling, I know how I would feel. Wish I could add something useful other than to say I really hope it works out in the long run for you. Man do I feel bad hearing this.

Bob
 
while i'm shocked at your loss i'm not really surprised at where or how it happened.

i believe thieves to be one of the lowest forms of life on the planet.
to think they can justify taking something that was earned by another is beyond me.
i hope they rot in hell or wherever after a slow painful death.

joe
 
Nick, I'm sorry to hear your camera gear got ripped off. Hopefully, you had insurance. Anyway, I always travel light and carry on stuff like cameras, but I haven’t flown for a while for fear of al-Qa’ida and maintenance cutbacks because of the cut-throat competition of the airline industry. Here’s what happened to my father-in-law.

THANK YOU FOR FLYING UNITED AIRLINES. WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR FLIGHT.

My wife's elderly father was flying United and had a small heart attack during an asthma attack, just before the jet landed in Vancouver. He had passed out and was given oxygen by 2 flight attendants . When he got off the flight via a wheelchair he felt much better but noticed that someone had taken his gold watch, slid his gold ring from his finger and snatched his hearing aid. Then he panicked, and went into his zippered pocket and discovered that 10, 100 Dollar US bills were missing from his wallet, which brought on another attack and went straight to Richmond General via the speedy flashing red truck. 🙁
 
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Nick, let me know if you want to get insurance to cover your cameras. I've got coverage which insures my collection, here in Singapore and also if I'm traveling abroad.

If you want to borrow anything, you best do it soon cos I fly off tomorrow morning.

Don't sweat it, what goes around, comes around. They're just cameras, easily replaceable.
 
Nick, I echo the earlier condolences and advice. Make no end to the pressure put on the Airlines. Let them know you are NOT going away and they can just get used to your phone calls, letters and emails. Anger is usually looked at as a temporary state and therefore, something that "will tire quickly and move on" after time. Calm, resolute persistence will convey, "You'll be hearing from me as long as it takes for me to be satisfied."

Good luck.
 
Nick, everyone on RFF will have shuddered reading your terrible story; there is nothing I can add except my sympathy and contempt for the wretch who stole your cameras - do keep pressing the airline and airport authorities. You might also find the local media/tourist board could help; such robberies are seldom one-off events as airports often have a culture of "pilfering", winked-at until enough voices are raised and bad pubicity results. Good luck.
 
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Do you have the serial numbers for all that went missing? If so notify the authorities at BOTH the destination and departure points of everything that was taken. The quicker that they are notified the more likely the culprit will be caught.

There is not much I can say to console you, but I echo the sentiments of the others.

Heath
 
Well

Thanks for all the condolences.
I have been in touch with very helpful staff at the Airport and they have given me claim forms to claim against the airlines. However, I'm not sure the airlines can be of much help here. I was told by someone that their reimbursement policies tend to be like a fixed sum multiplied by x number of kilos.

I think I'm gonna try the travel insurance company instead.

In the meantime, Terence, thanks for the loan offer

For now, I've dug up my old Seagull TLR heh heh... I'm still technically RF!!

Nick
 
My sympathies for your loss, obviously what happened to you is totally wrong and
the person responsible should be found and arrested. However I'd just like to say
as someone who works for the airlines (not in the US) that the checkin person was
just enforcing the airline rules, one peice of hand baggage is pretty much standard
now the world over, and has been for some time. It is not a money making scheme
or them trying to be difficult, it is there for a saftey reason (extra bags in the cabin are extra weight which is not accounted for on loading documents).

The real scumbag is whoever forced open a checked in bag after it was through
sercurity (also highly illegal in itself!) then proceded to walk away with all your gear.
Unfortunatly I don't fancy your chances of the guy ever being caught, but good luck to you, and I hope you had all that stuff insured! :bang:

Andy
 
As for getting your money back, get a copy of there liability and reimbursement policies (some of it should be attached to your ticket) and read it yourself - airlines
are notoriously tight fisted, but if you are clued up you will get you money back.

Thanks
Andy
 
Nick, first of all, I feel very sorry, actually sick about what happened. 🙁 Do be very assertive in pursuing all remedies!

I don't know if this is any help, but I looked this up the other day. Here in the States at least there's an obscure regulation that allows one bag of photo equipment IN ADDITION TO the one carry on. I can't find the link right now, but I did see this on one of the government travel sites. I was looking things up since I fly out in a few hours and am taking a couple cameras.

Maybe if Singapore has a similar regulation, and somebody made you check that camera bag in error, they could be liable, but IANAL.

Here in the States anyway, they also let you carry on one "personal item" in addition to your carry on. This is normally a purse, but guys can use this rule to carry on a tote bag or something like that. They usually don't confront you about the size of the "personal item" and I usually put my everyday purse inside a larger tote bag with other stuff and carry that on.

Anyway, I don't know if this will help but I hope it does, and please be squeaky and don't shut up until you get satisfaction! Ask questions, take notes, jump over heads, and go to the media if you can!
 
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