A few years ago, my brother and his fiancée had their wedding aboard ship before setting sail on an 8-night Caribbean cruise with family and friends, departing from New York City. And, yes, I was the travel planner for the event. – thank you!
My flight was delayed and then rerouted due to weather but I wasn’t particularly concerned as I was flying into New York a day early. So, while I might miss dinner or some down time with friends and family, I knew there was no problem making the sailing.
Which turned out to be true – for me. Not so true for my checked bag. I flew into LaGuardia instead of the originally scheduled JFK. After deplaning and watching the “last bag” sign make its revolution on the carousel, I proceeded to the airline’s lost luggage desk. That isn’t what they call it, but we all know that’s what it is.
My bag went to its original destination – LaGuardia. The agent assured us that the bags would be sorted out that evening and delivered or held for pick-up, depending on traveler request. I was neither upset nor concerned as I could see that bags might end up at the wrong airport due to the circumstances. I requested the bag be delivered to my hotel. No problem!
Upon check-in, I apprise the hotel staff of the situation and they assure me they’ll let me know as soon as it is delivered. Wonderful! Now I’m off for a fun-filled evening in Manhattan with friends. Later that night, when I return to the hotel, I am informed the bag has not yet arrived.
I call the airline for a bag status and get my first dose of telephone un-service. First, there is the ubiquitous prompt menus – why is it that my choice is always way down the menu? And requires two or three different menus? Then enter the claim number – and if you enter it incorrectly too bad. You get to start over! When I finally get a live person, they need my name, claim number, and promise of my first born. OK, just name and number. But, why did I enter it if they are going to ask me anyway?
I am informed that my bag went to Newark – wait, what? I thought it was at JFK. And they’ll deliver it to LaGuardia. I very politely inform the agent that no, the bag is supposed to be delivered to my hotel, not the airport. She acknowledges this is in my “record” and that yes, indeed the bag will be delivered sometime tonight.
Wedding Day. Embarkation Day. Yay! I wake up very excited for my brother and his fiancée, plus anticipating a wonderful cruise vacation. I call the front desk to have the bag delivered. Yep. No bag.
No worries – I’ve got this. I have everything I need to get dressed and ready to go in my carryon. I’m forever telling clients to pack 24 hours’ worth of clothes in their carryon, just in case. Glad I followed my own advice. All is good.
Call to airline. Prompt menu. Claim number. Hold 5 minutes. Live person. The bag is still at Newark. Umm. I’m leaving on a cruise. How are you going to get the bag to me? No problem. We’ll deliver it to the ship.
OK – now I’m starting to get a little concerned. But, I have my wedding clothes with me, so if I don’t get the bag until we’re aboard, no harm no foul.
We get to the pier and checked into the ship (early boarding for wedding party and guests) and I notify the purser’s desk of the lost bag and planned delivery by the airline. They’re very gracious, tell me not to worry, that it happens all the time and when it arrives, they’ll deliver it to my stateroom. Feeling better.
The wedding and reception are beautiful. After the non-sailing guests disembark and we complete the muster drill, I check back with the purser’s desk about my bag. No joy.
Top-side to call the airline (better cell service). Prompt menu, request for claim number, 10-minute hold, etc. This time the agent tells me the bag is on its way to the pier and will be delivered prior to departure. I’m skeptical, but hopeful.
You know what’s coming, don’t you?
One, last call to airline as we set sail. Prompt menu, request for claim number, hold, I’m losing bars as we sail. Yikes!
Have you ever sailed past the Statue of Liberty while on hold with an airline’s lost baggage department?
Well, I wasn’t going to miss this, so I hung up and enjoyed the view. And it was a magnificent one. One of my sailing bucket list items: Sydney Harbor past the Opera House, under the Golden Gate Bridge, New York Harbor past the Statue of Liberty, past Piazza San Marcos on the Grand Canal of Venice. I’m lucky, I’ve hit three of the four!
Did I ever see the bag again? How did I manage without it?
Tune in next week to find out. Same bat time, same bat channel!
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