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December 10, 2011

Baggage Handling Jobs Available—JFK

12 Comments/ 2457/ 0

Seems that there is a problem at JFK.  Victor Bourne, a baggage handler at Kennedy International Airport, came up with a plan.   A plan to make money.  Mr. Bourne and the associates, and I use that term lightly, that he recruited were able to afford many luxury items despite their low wages.  The plan?  Smuggling cocaine inside international flights and stealing high ticket items from luggage.  According to a witness at Mr. Bourne’s trial 80% of employees at American Airlines engages in some kind of unethical and illegal activity.  Me thinks American Airlines has a problem.

Of course it is not limited to American though that seems to be the airline in the spotlight at the moment and the airline with the most reports of this type of activity.

In 2009, the last year for which there is complete data, the Transportation Security Administration received about 6,750 reports of property missing from checked baggage. Passengers reported the total value of their losses as nearly $5.3 million. Clothing was reported most often as missing. Digital cameras also disappeared with some frequency.

Even the defense lawyer, Mr. Savitt, said that he believed part of the witnesses’ testimony. “It became very obvious that everyone in American Airlines’ baggage services is dirty,” Mr. Savitt said. “If they don’t steal commercial cargo on a regular basis, they are going to rifle suitcases. It is astounding the kind of valuable items they were able to steal.”

I have traveled a bit and of course, the hubby travels all the time.  (He just made Diamond status last week so you know that his butt, and the rest of him, has been on a plane a lot these days.)   When we say goodbye to our luggage we hope to see it again.  Hopefully in the same condition it was in when we handed it over.  Now that is not always the case.  My luggage has been on vacations of its own–visiting places I have never been.  One time on a return trip to Australia my big red duffle came back a week later via a Qantas airplane.  I had flown New Zealand Air.  Now explain that one!!!

So what is the take away here?   Hmmmm—–people are dishonest?  Your luggage is not safe?  How many times have I seen random suitcases fall off of luggage carts and see them scattered all over the tarmac as we taxi out ?   I guess when it comes to traveling you need to use common sense—-don’t pack anything irreplaceable in checked baggage.  When you see the TSA card inside your suitcase you know that someone has been looking through your items but did you know it happens more commonly and that items may get lifted???   Keep an inventory of what all you travel with if you are concerned.  Know that your luggage passes through many hands before it reaches its final destination –if it ever does.   It kind of explains why more folks are cramming huge carry ons in the overhead bins, doesn’t it??

I would like to think that people are honest but I guess that is a myth.   Travel safe, my friends, and know that what you left with may not arrive with you at your final destination.

Cocaine Smuggling Case Shows Airline Baggage Handlers’ Misconduct – NYTimes.com.

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12 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. Ann in the UP
    December 10, 2011 at 07:45 am

    Well, that’s alarming. Not to mention being really bad PR for American! Travel light!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 10, 2011 at 08:06 am

      It was quite a sobering article for me to read! I just “assume” that my stuff is safe. And we both know what happens when you assume…

      Reply
  2. Feeling Beachie - Hilary
    December 10, 2011 at 09:38 am

    One of the many reasons I like carry on – or in the case of going to Florida, leaving clothes at my moms

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 10, 2011 at 10:11 am

      Yep—makes sense to me!!! I am never too good at the carryon thing, tho! I have too many other electronics/necessities that I “think” I need to have!!! 🙂

      Reply
  3. poemsandponderings
    December 10, 2011 at 10:08 am

    I have an idea…Pack your dirty laundry in your check-in bag and have it done after you get there…Personally speaking nobody wants to go through my bags..lol

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 10, 2011 at 10:12 am

      Good idea! I have found that dirty laundry weighs more, too, so maybe that strategy would work because I would have more weight available to buy buy buy on the trip!

      Reply
  4. paula kay
    December 10, 2011 at 10:48 pm

    I know I have not traveled as much as you, but I feel so blessed to have had no luggage issues. Reading this story, though really makes me think about how I will pack next time I fly!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 11, 2011 at 07:03 am

      It does make you wonder and rethink how you pack, doesn’t it? I am just waiting to find a special package of cocaine in my suitcase that someone forgot or something!!! Geez.

      Reply
  5. Mary Ellen
    December 11, 2011 at 09:27 pm

    I actually had a nice experience with Southwest Airlines. I had picked up our son at the airport. We got in the car at the airport and he realized he had left his wallet on the plane.
    We dashed back to the counter. The gentlemen there saw that the plane was taking off again in 10 minutes. He was going to run to the plane; then asked Michael to accompany him since Michael knew where he sat. They took off running. Michael came back all smiles. His wallet had fallen on the floor under his seat. Everything was there. I was so happy I sent a thank you to the man’s boss and his boss sent me a letter and said he was able to compliment his employee. In this day and age, I love being able to find someone going out of their way to help. What a mess it would have been if Michael had lost his ID and everything else. Yea for honest people, like Ted, who go out of their way to help!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 12, 2011 at 06:32 am

      Mary Ellen–that is an awesome story! I know that there are still great people and good service out there and it is nice to focus on that sometimes instead of the negative! I think Southwest is a decent airline from what Micah says. He does not fly them as much now that he is back in JAX but in his Austin days he used them all the time. And good for YOU for thanking the guy through his boss–that is the kind of stuff that people don’t do either but knowing you—–you would!!!

      Reply
  6. pattisj
    December 13, 2011 at 12:08 am

    I’ve only flown once, but it was a good experience (Southwest).

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann
      December 13, 2011 at 07:43 am

      Southwest is a pretty good airline from what I have heard. Our oldest used to always fly Southwest when he lived in Austin and he had good experiences with them.

      Reply

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