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Delta Air Lines review: personal items stolen out of luggage 11

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6:56 pm EST
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On New Year's Eve, I was flying home from visiting family. I have to tell the first part of the story because it makes it so much better.

1- I had plans for that evening, so I had taken an early morning flight to be sure that I arrived on time. I was supposed to get in around 11:00am. After waiting for several hours, then hearing the pilots complaining of a mechanical problem, we were brought back to the gate, disboarded, and reboarded later on. To make a long story short, all of this caused me to miss my connecting flight, which in turn caused me to miss the bowl game that evening - the very thing I was flying home early for. Oh yeah, and when people complained, they blamed it on the "weather." Funny airlines always get away with blaming all delays on the "weather" so that they don't have to reimburse you. Even though we all clearly heard the pilots talking about a mechanical problem. Ok, so that stuff happens all the time with airlines. Frustrated, but I'll live. Then...

2- When I arrived, one of my bags was missing. Insult to injury. Ok, I'll get over it as long as I get my bag. I did. Moving on...

3- As I arrived 10 hours later than my original arrival time - yes, 9pm - I was exhausted and didn't unpack until the next day. When I did, I realized that several gift cards I had received for Christmas were missing. Granted, I usually keep things like this on my person when I am traveling, but I guess in the midst of catching the early morning flight, I had forgotten to take them out. REGARDLESS, I shouldn't have to worry about someone stealing my personal items after checking them with the airline! Somewhere between Buffalo & Nashville, the luggage handlers - AKA EMPLOYEES OF DELTA had stolen $250 worth of gift cards from me.

I called the Delta counter at the airport, and they refused to do anything, because it was "in their policy that they do not reimburse for stolen cash, and gift cards are considered cash." I called corporate, same story. How does this excuse the fact that one of their employees STOLE from me? It wasn't as though I had left the bags alone and some stranger stole from them. That bag was in my hand until the very moment that I handed it to the lady at the ticket counter. So I filed a complaint with the police, as it was the only thing I could do. My home owner's insurance covers such losses, but with a $500 deductible, it wasn't worth it.

So I started thinking about what else I had packed in my bag that they could have taken. About a day later, I realized that they had also stolen my $400 Prada sunglasses - the only thing of value that I have ever bought for myself. So I called Delta again. You won't believe the excuses they have for EVERYTHING! This time, they told me that any stolen items have to be reported within 48 hours of landing, and since it was technically after that by the time I called, they couldn't help me. I asked them to send me a copy of their supposed "policy." I never received anything of the sort.

I was frustrated to tears by all of this, and I will NEVER ever fly Delta Airlines again, and would persuade all of you to avoid them as well. You won't get there on time, they'll lose your luggage, and they'll steal your personal belongings!

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The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

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11 comments
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Brian Boucher
, US
Mar 18, 2023 4:03 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Same thing here. $4000 piar of binoculars stolen. Immediately reported it and filed all the forms they told me to do. The got back to me and said declined they wouldnt cover it. Im not sure why they even have people fill those forms out. They dont do anything about stolen items. Will never fly Delta again.

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Peachs Home
, US
Apr 09, 2019 1:46 am EDT

Delta Airlines went through my luggage took things out of my zipper pocket, then stole my fancy shoes and matching purse on opposite end of bag on 4/9/19 going from cruise leaving in San Francisco to Seattle. We were 4 hours early and used porters out front of the airport. They looked shifty and my neck hairs were most likely right. All my clothes had been gone through in my suitcase after I had everything neatly packed. Actually pulled out which cannot happen from bouncing around. Never happens at Alaska Air, so back we go!

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MichelleFlynnGraham
, US
Mar 22, 2019 7:28 am EDT

Like above horror stories, I too has a pair of binoculars STOLEN out of checked luggage! $1000, I have receipt and paperwork, baggage claim ticket #'s, and ll "the" info they require. How hard is it to find exactly WHO/WHAT/WHERE my luggage was handled when I (managed) to keep ALL my travel #;s and reciepts!
So frustrated, angry. Guess my next stop is filing a police report, but with who?

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AlyG
, US
Jul 22, 2018 11:01 am EDT

I just returned from Vegas, where on my arrival last Monday, we realized my purse/backpack was missing, We were the last people off the plane, the cleaning crew was already on board as we got off. I walked approx 20ft, realized I left my back pack and returned to grab it. They would not let me go back on board to look, they sent on a crew member to look, who said they couldn't find it, so they sent another crew member on board who also couldn't find it. They then told me they needed to board the passengers for the next flight. I was out of luck and would need to file a "lost item" report. I had all my ID/Passport, wallet, credit cards, gift cards, Rx's, cash, ipad mini, car key, etc. in that bag. I have called all week and got a consistent "aw, that's a bummer that YOU lost that", attitude from Delta all week. They act like I just misplaced the item, when in reality, I stowed it under the seat in front of me as they requested. It was either stolen by another passenger, the cleaning crew (we were the last ones off the plane and the cleaning crew was already picking up as we de-planed) or a crew member. Their utter lack of caring has been the most disheartening part of this situation.

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Sherry belle
, US
Mar 07, 2018 11:15 pm EST

On Delta from Pensacola to Atlanta and then to Asheville and entire makeup bag full of expensive skin care products was stolen.
Not happy.

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Pat Grainger
, US
Jan 02, 2018 3:24 pm EST

Delta Airlines - Stole items from my checked luggage flying from Charlotte to Palm Beach International through Atlanta. The items I know I had stolen were, a very unique silk scarf which was still in the box that it was in when it was given to me, another silk scarf, a personal picture in a very nice frame, two double packs of playing cards ...all were given to me as Christmas gifts. I have travelled a lot over the years and have not had anyone steal from my checked luggage. What a bunch. I am thinking they did not have time to steal them in Charlotte as we did not have a long wait for our flight. Our flight was delayed an hour in Atlanta so it probably happened there. It is not my job to figure out who the thieves were but they would have to be within the Delta system.

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mstmeber
, US
Jun 03, 2016 8:24 am EDT

Today was the first time that my child was ever treated this way by an airport agent. My ex-wife was taking my daughter to the airport to visit me in DC. Due to weather conditions the agent refused to send her to MSP because the flight from MSP to DCA might be cancelled. My ex-wife then tried to rebook with the agent, but the agent then said it would cost her over $500 for another flight two days later, because she had the option of sending my 9 year old daughter to MSP where she would be alone and stuck in a strangle airport. By this time my daughter was in tears and she didn't even know if she would ever make it here. I tried to call Delta myself, but they were not taking calls on 12/26/10. I tried back numerous times both during and after the incident, but I still could not get through. Can't even get though now by the way. They definitely need some more call center staff. Because my ex-wife could not get anywhere at the airport, and my daughter was beyond distraught at this time, we decided to have her just go home. Because I could not get through to anyone at Delta, I decided to purchase another ticket leaving in two days at a cost of $818. The original ticket was $580. I tried to file for a refund of the original ticket, but apparently that can't be done on-line, so I will have to wait until Delta starts answering phones again. I would think that Delta would be more sensative when it comes to unaccompanied minors, but Delta's greed knows no bounds.

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Europedame
, US
Feb 18, 2014 10:31 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Delta employee(s) stole jewelry out of my luggage yesterday. I've been trying to get someone at Delta to LISTEN to me! But to no avail. Everytime I get through, the operator sends me to someone else. I've called multiple phone numbers--they even gave me a number to call and the number reached Aetna Insurance Company! (They do NOT handle Delta's insurance clamins!) Go figure! I am totally frustrated! Disgusted with Delta

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Tamatha Clay
, US
Jun 21, 2022 4:58 pm EDT
Replying to comment of Europedame

This happened to me May 2022. I am hurt that Delta says the policy don’t cover jewelry but sent me an ecoupon for $200 off my next flight. BS. MY suitcase had a TSA LOCK on it and the opened it and took all my jewelry 😫

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Ol4ka
Hansville, US
Dec 21, 2010 8:32 pm EST

same story for me! just happened last week In Detroit! Jewelry expensive sun glasses got stolen. Was told that i was suppost to call them within 48 hours but i had no way of calling withing 48 hours. Very upset! first time i flew Delta we always used alaskan airlines never had any problems. Will never use them again and dont recomend them to anybody! they should not have any excuses that their employees steal from people!

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dolezel
Delhi, US
Feb 18, 2010 12:26 pm EST

The exact same story for me. They held me over night in Detroit but some how my luggage arrived at my destination of LAX before I could even get there. I came home to find out that somewhere along the line a delta employee had stolen 500 $ + worth of Nintendo wii system and equipment. Delta told me to file a paper with the complaint. Then they used every excuse in the book claiming I need to show all my receipts for the system and if you read the fine print at the bottom of the property lost claim form it says delta is not liable for loss of money, jewelry, computer/ computer equipment, camera, ..ect the list goes on the list just about everything accept clothing. Why should I feel so violated by a company that I now pay to stow my luggage and trust and they clearly don't take responsibility for their employees actions... America needs to stand up for our fellow flyers and end this sinfulness once and for all.