NotThePest_Too

see post #41

the OP has given up trying to retrieve her property & claiming on Insurance

no need to keep beating the dead horse

The horse may be dead but the he lives again through case study. LOL. For me this is a lesson in procedure and reminds me of the old couple (woman) who tried to swipe my boarding pass at ATL pretending to be senile and the husband who actually swiped someone's carry on at JFK. Both played that frail, senile game.

Ramona

Nope....I am trying to reiterate that this has moved from a possible human error into a criminal act. This has moved into a criminal/police matter. Let them take it from here. Getting the bag back would let the thief get away with her crime...which she was aware of as her actions clearly indicate awareness the she could be charged with a crime and wanted to get away with it.!!!.

 

No sarcasm.....just reality

I'm rethinking everything because I'm realizing we, I forgot a step/process that had to be gone through after pulling the luggage off of the carousal, Custom and Border Control. I know they don't ask everyone to open up their luggage, or do they at LAX, when passing through (I have Global Entry). If she had recognized she had collected the wrong luggage while she was in Spain and left the luggage spinning on the carousal, someone would have picked it up and looked at both the luggage tag and the name on the bag and this would have taken a different path, although the luggage would have both the "thief's" name tagged but the identifying luggage info would be the OP's.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Ramona

At this point you do not want the case returned to you, it is NOW Evidence and the police agency having authority will take it into custody, from there, proper charges can be developed against the criminal who took it. Jim and Stan were most correct in that the person showed her true colors bu attempting to get rid of the evidence of her crime( multiple ( Theft, transporting stolen goods, obstruction of justice attempt to destroy evidence. for starters.

 

This is a law enforcement problem investigation now. Contact Intpol if living abroad and then the LAPD and let them take it from here. Also get a good lawyer to sue for damages in addition to pressing criminal charges. Make this person an example and others

Quit trying to figure out how to get the bag back and focus of turning this over to law enforcement...They will and should take it from there not the OP.

Are you using sarcasm? LOL

Regulations put in place regarding luggage; travel; security, etc... has nothing to do with the airlines ...so no they can't bend the rules. Those regulations were put in place by the government, the Federal Government.

 

Ramona

I'm correcting my own post. No, the Government was planning on putting something in place, a law; however, the airlines put regulations in place without prodding by the Feds. Sometimes laws are not needed. All that is needed is the Insurance Companies demanding changes to limit what they have to pay out. i.e. Lockerbie Scotland bombing. Airline was sued.

Ramona

Oh, I never noticed you mentioned international, just said flights. I do realize this post is about an international situation though.

 

Still curious where I can find this law to read it?

If I said "law" it was a mistake; it's not a law but a regulation implemented after Lockerbie Scotland bombing, before 9/11. It's called PPBM (Positive Passenger Bag Match) and it's done on International Flights. Of course you can check a bag and go eat/bathroom/shop and miss the call and the door closes on you. Or the Baggage handlers can misdirect the bag.

From Flyers Talk: https://insideflyer.com/forums/threads/positive-passenger-bag-match.41106/

Pubsonline: https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/pdf/10.1287/opre.49.2.181.13529

Just enter PPBM into a search engjine you'll find a lot said about it.

Ramona

Can you point these rules out to us? I know with a certainty that my luggage has flown without me on multiple occasions since 9/11, and not as cargo.

domestic or international. The key word is international.

Ramona

Regulations put in place regarding luggage; travel; security, etc... has nothing to do with the airlines ...so no they can't bend the rules. Those regulations were put in place by the government, the Federal Government.

Ramona

Maybe this could work if the actual suitcase owner, the OP, provided some letter of authorization???

I'm not sure if you've read the OP's original post. If not go back and read it or reread it. After 9/11 suitcases CANNOT be places on a flight without an accompanying owner, or at least the person. If it is shipped freight, there has to be an inventory of the items in the suitcase. OPs live in Sweden ...so there is a cost benefit analysis. The cost of a round trip to LAX from Sweden or chalking up the loss with no recompense. I don't even know if travel insurance would cover this ...

One of the things people need to do when a mistake is made or someone is wronged is make the person whole. If you don't or are not thinking about that ...then your apologies are of no effect or impact.

Ramona

Some cruise lines previously would do anything to sail with all cabins booked, including last minute fire-sale prices, hoping to make up those discounts with the other revenue streams, But recently most have backed away from this and moved to better discounts for early (rather than last-minute) bookings in order to stop incentivizing passengers to wait until the last minute to book and in turn increase the perceived value of the product.

Thank you for this explanation. I'm new to cruising my upcoming cruise (Feb 2nd) will be my second one. My first was done through a group and I only went by the price for the group sailing. This upcoming was because of my own shopping around.

Ramona

Ramona

On debarkation day we were on the patio of our Havana cabin enjoying the view as we sailed out of Miami. Someone a few decks above us was on their balcony screaming obscenities at people in other balconies. It was actually a conversation, but every other word was "MF". This went on for a while, with several people obviously annoyed while others were joining in.

 

Then this guy ran his mouth so much that his teeth flew out....

Later in the week, my mother had trouble getting around a group of women who were preening in the reflection of the elevator doors. My mom got around them and glanced over to see what was going on. One of them gave her the finger.

 

We met a lot of really nice people and enjoyed getting to know some of our neighbors, people we met on excursions, etc. We even had interesting exchanges with people during elevator rides. The majority of the passengers were courteous, friendly, funny and a pleasure to deal with. But the obnoxious few can really make an impression.

O.K. that did it for me. I've been secretly envious of those who are able to have a balcony ...not any more:D I'm doing a 49 day S.A. Adventure in an inside cabin ...I'll take the cabin. Thank you very much. When I want scenery, going round the horn and surveying the glaciers ...I'll go on deck.

Ramona

I'm going to go back several years when my now 40 year old son was 16 and involved heavily in musical theater/theater in a Theater ensemble and in High School, LaGuardia High School for The Arts and Performing Arts. The Theater Company he was involved he committed 100% and helped with load-in, set painting, strike and load-out ever since he was 10 yrs old. He gained a great work ethic being involved with theater.

One day coming home from the theater helping out, one hour subway ride, someone pulled out a gun and demanded his money ...Between the time of the "attempted" stick-up and a couple of seconds of regret, the man (not a young man) had a moment of regret, or for me, an angel of protection stepped in, the man apologized and gave him back his $5.00. Now tell me, with the interaction between the gunman and my son ...because of the final outcome was this a "crime." I already know what I think ...for those who don't think this was stealing because of her contact with the owner, how do you read what I still call a crime.

Did it impact my son, yes!. Very much so ...he left something he loved ...join the Marines, specifically the infantry so he could learn how to fight. Although he benefits from both his theater and military experience ...he is a gun owner (not saying anything against responsible gun ownership).

By the way two people you may know who were in the same Theater Company as he was ...Jordan Peele (Get Out; Keagan & Peele) and Kerry Washington (Scandal)

Ramona

Ramona

Ditto on the car service to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. You want a driver that has actually been there before. We make the same recommendation for folks going from Manhattan to Cape Liberty in NJ. The car service will quote a base price. There could be an $8.50 toll if you go through the Hugh Carey Tunnel. Add 18-20% tip to the base price. Much greater peace of mind than sitting in a yellow cab with the meter running.

Base Fare begins @ $48 per hr., that's from 1min to 60 min., I don't think they prorate.

You can arrange a reliable car service that has much experience going to the piers. Dial7 is one that is used frequently.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

(212-777-7777)

Ramona

You don’t have to be on a cruise to get repeated menus, just stay at our house - I often cook the same meals ;p :D.

 

We’d love to do a long cruise but have to wait until we retire :(.

THIS

Ramona

What does it mean when a ship is ‘sold out’?

I am asking this in wondering why Carnival couldn’t put those displaced passengers in empty cabins.. it’s just a discussion my daughter and I are having at dinner. We are both students in hospitality and tourism (me graduate level, she undergrad). We are just having a discussion on this.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Your questions are bringing me back to some of my college classes. Are you thinking about capacity as a function of Max. Net Revenue? I'm remembering that financially it is never a good idea or fiscally responsible to be at 100% capacity as the expenses to maintain that capacity have a negative effect on revenue? Correct me or school me if I'm way off base.

Ramona

Possibly taking a 49 day trip on the Royal. Very curious how such a long cruise works. For example, do you get the same menu about every 14 days or so ? Fortunately, on the Royal, there is Alfredos, but even that is no enough to crate variety if the menu in the dining room is repeated often.

 

I am sure that they bring in some local shows at some ports like they do in Hawaii etc., but they are usually forklolio shows with young people or even kids. How many production shows are there ? We have seen many of the production shows numerous times. It would be boring to be stuck on a ship that long, and have the seen the same old British, Magic to do, a show about a dream, Motown etc shows a number of times.

 

In other words, is Princess able to keep the food and entertainment fresh, or does it get very repetitive and boring on such a long trip ?

Don't know if it will get boring, I thought about it but I'm taking my chances. I'm doing this cruise and it will be my second ever and I'm doing it solo and single. I'm ambitions and take risks. I'm hoping to take lots of pictures and keep a journal to pass on to my granddaughter. I'm currently looking for a nice large South American map for her to hang up and track my movements. She is home schooled (she is six and technically in Kindergarten.) Hopefully this will be a History/Social Studies project for her.

Both her parents, my son and dil are aerospace engineers so she is very good in math.

If you decide to take the risk and jump into the "waters" come over to the Roll Call and I'll see you in the Meet & Mingle/Great

Ramona

If I did decide to spend the night in Manhattan do all of the taxi drivers know the way to Red Hook Cruise Terminal? Will they know it as the Brooklyn or the Red Hook Cruise Terminal?

NYC Yellow metered cabs have, or should have, GPS systems. Download Waze App so you can follow along, just don't aggravate them by being a back seat driver, :D

Ramona

Why didn't the woman do everything should could to get the suitcase back to the people who owned it. Telling me that you did something but not rectifying what you did is ..well useless. We need to be responsible and fix our messes. Informing and fixing are two different things.

Ramona

Ramona

Sure, there are thieves out there. Of all ages. But I do think it's going a bit too far to ASSUME that this person was a thief. If she were, she wouldn't have contacted the proper owner, would she??? And where is HER luggage?

 

I agree that we should all check the luggage tags on what we think is OUR luggage. It has been at least 30 years since anyone asked me (when I was leaving an airport or a cruise port) to prove that the luggage was mine. We have pretty common looking luggage, with only a few personal identifiers, so we always check the tags to make sure. Everyone should do so.

 

I'm just not as eager to call this woman a thief as some of the rest of you are.

 

I also agree that since she caused the error, she should have done what she could to get the luggage returned to the owner ... that is, MORE than just telling them what had happened.

 

Hope this never happens to me ...

 

We usually leave the ship as late as possible so there isn't much luggage left at that time ... and so far all of our luggage has still been there! But we're going to have to leave the ship very early in Venice on May 25th in order to get to the airport, and so we will have LOTS of luggage to search through ... Wish us luck.

 

And that we don't take someone else's suitcase destined for Moscow when we're going to NYC.

 

Mura

You're assuming that she didn't have her own luggage. Whose to say she didn't have her own plus someone else's? I also believe the word "thief" was used because the only thing she did was to contact the owner, she didn't do anything to get the luggage back to the owner. She needed to contact the cruise line and the airline she flew into. Because of that the owners luggage is being looked at as abandoned.

Ramona

Since she , the thief, ( and yes she was a thief) is a us resident and you know her details I would press charges and contact both the police in your and her town of residence as well as retain a good lawyer and ask for damages.... There is no excuse for her and dumping the bag in LAX is totally a cop-out. She has not taken responsibility and is acting as a criminal .

 

Again press charges for felony theft because she transported it to LAX and dumped it in the USA to avoid being arrested in possession of stolen property,

If it was over $1000 in value that is a felony and she needs to be charged as a felon. She had the option of taking responsibility but opted to dump the evidence of her crime to avoid being arrested.... She had no interest in returning it to you only making things right.

You are so right. We tend to give "older" folks a pass and label them forgetful, slight dementia. etc. Maybe, but it ain't always true.

An older woman tried to steal my boarding pass while I was talking to two other woman. She at first began subtlety stroking my suede jacket draped across my carryon. (maybe she needed some tactile stimulation, so I thought). She then began easing out my boarding pass that I had folded the two lapels over. I stopped her and said nicely, "that's not yours, what are you doing,? She mumbled something about not having her ticket and then moved to another bank of seats and sat down next to an older gentleman.. The woman I was talking to chuckled that chuckled when you think someone is possible senile.

Getting off the plane, the older man took someone else's carryon ...the owner loudly shouted excuse me as he squeezed though the people cued up to deplane running after the couple. Young thieves ...become old thieves. Older doesn't mean cute, nice and honest.

Ramona

My thinking is that EWR offers less hassle to get to a nice, probably less expensive, airport hotel that is very popular with cruisers. The route to Brooklyn is all Turnpike and Interstate driving with local street options in Brooklyn if traffic delays. No chaos of LaGuardia or having to deal with the infamous section of the BQE. If the total price is competitive, I think it's worth considering. IMO total distance doesn't always matter in the NY metro area if you can avoid the routes that consistently headline the traffic reports.

I'm new to this form and really not familiar with all it's bells and whistles. If the op can message me about a week before her travels, Oct 11-13th, I can look to see if there are any plans for street closures, Street Fairs, Parades, etc. . The plan is to come to NYC on the 19th, a Friday. Now she may luck up as many people might be heading away from instead of coming into NYC, I don't know. I also get NYC Alerts to inform me of any water main breaks, rapid and commuter break downs, fallen trees and missing folk (that was an add-in) Plus I tell anyone and everyone, unless there are no flights in or out of LGA, don't go there.

My neighborhood, Canarsie, Brooklyn, is currently going through a massive street/underground overall from the effects of Sandy ..Sewer, Water and Gas line are being laid all over the place, OMG! So a residential neighborhood is effectively jammed with traffic and backups. My neighborhood is not the only one experiencing this right now. That is why I'm cognizant of traffic flows so my suggestion was to stay as close to Downtown Brooklyn as possible because that area is only 2miles from the pier.

We are all trying to look out for each other.

Ramona

By the way, Global Entry application cost when I signed up for it (you're paying for the application only because if you are not approved, you don't get your money back) was $100 for five years. That comes out to just $20 per year to speed through US Customs and go through the Pre-Check Line.

Ramona

Does Global Entry help with customs in other countries besides the US?

I received an email from the ministry in United Kingdome, Great Briton (?) that deals with travel (Immigration?) was offering a easy entry into England but it was only valid or efficacious if you traveled through at least six times a year ...if my memory serves me correctly. I wonder if the US State Department would have that info regarding reciprocity.

Global Entry is overseen by the U.S. Department of State so it is only valid for the U.S. However, it probably gives weight if you enter countries with favored nation status with the U.S. ...possibly.

Ramona

Did you consider flying into Newark? Yes it's in NJ, but IMO you should at least price it out.

1). Newark has the largest pool of acceptable hotels of the 3 New York airports. We never recommend staying at a JFK hotel. Embassy Suites, which is one of the most popular hotels for cruisers from Cape Liberty, is showing a AAA or Hilton Honors rate of $160 plus tax. This hotel is next to the Jersey Gardens Mall with restaurant options like Ruby Tuesdays, Applebees, IHOP, Johnny Rockets, Chilis, and the Mall food court,

2). Get a quote from Dial7 and Carmellimo for car service transportation to Red Hook. On top of their base quote figure tolls of $15-17 plus an 18-20% tip on the base rate. Your route to Brooklyn will likely take you across Staten Island and the Verrazano Bridge to approach Red .Hook from the South.

 

I'm suggesting NJ because you say you're trying to plan a less stressful experience. Many cruisers have flown into EWR, gotten themselves to Embassy Suites, and enjoyed their pre cruise stay.

But they are embarking out of Brooklyn, NY. How would Newark make it easier? The greater the distance between Hotel stay and Port, the greater the chance to be delayed by Street closures, traffic delays, parades, etc.

Ramona

One caveat, if you are one the people with more that one passport, designate the one that has the furthest out expiration date as "primary." When the "primary" passport expires, your Global Entry stops working at the kiosks.

That video is on a loop and is no way part of the interview process. The agents are trained to recognize "tells" body language, voice stressors, etc. When I interviewed for my Global Entry three years ago @JFK, I live about 45min from the airport, I thought I would be grilled, I wasn't. However there was a expensive suited businessman who did get grilled. From entering the office to getting my fingerprints took no more than 45min if that.

They begin a background check from the moment you submit and pay the fee. The interview is to match you up with your answered questions and your body language.

Ramona