United Late Baggage Couriers Need Cell Phones

We have spent the last 20 hours trying to get our luggage from United. After a ~7 hour stop at O’Hare in Chicago, we finally made it in to Dayton to the realization that our luggage was left in Chicago. After filling out the paperwork we started our trek home with a brief pit stop for some toiletries since the TSA thinks toothpaste and deodorant are explosive and these were sitting in Illinois we arrived home at 4:20 AM.

This morning I spoke with a United baggage tracking rep who like the other 10-15 individuals we have spoken to muttered a name and lacked the ability to carry on a conversation, using ok as a question, pause, break and statement. We have been told so many different stories with delivery times ranging from 4-6PM EST to 4-6 CST to 8-12:30 EST, which according to the rep we spoke to last is the same as 4-6 in “his” time zone.

The kicker is that each time we call, we have to re-verify our info which has lead to about 10 different spellings of FINDLAY, our city. For some reason spelling eludes the CSRs at United, even when I literally spell it out as in F as in Frank, I as in Isabelle, N as in Nancy, D as in Dumb, L as in Larry, A as in Awesome, Y as on Yolanda, the reps can’t get it right.

It is currently 10:15 local time and the reps are unable to reach either the driver or the courier department, but they assure us that the luggage is almost here. Imagine a world in which some piece of technology existed which worked like a home phone but was portable! Imagine all the possibilities this would bring to companies trying to track down individuals and cargo. If someone could invent this tech and sell it to United Airlines they could probably make some decent money.

Finally, United refuses to reimburse any of our replacement expenses or offer anything other than broken English apologies for the delay and the time I had to take off work to be present for the initial delivery. It would be great to be treated like a real person when a problem occurs and it would be even better if airlines took responsibility when they lose or mishandle your luggage!

Next time you need to get rid of a cell phone donate it to United Airlines, maybe then they can get in touch with their delivery drivers.

(Photo Credit Matt Hintsa)