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Exer · 09-30-2010, 08:22 PM

This is slightly off-topic, but I thought I'd leave my 2cents here.

I've "found" a total of 3 Kindles while working for an airline here at the Anchorage International Airport. All 3 of them had been left behind on the plane after the passengers had already left. We have a policy that we aren't allowed to invade the privacy of any passenger, so if a cellphone is left behind, we aren't allowed to answer the phone or check the address book to see who the owner is.

We have to put each item in a lockbox and hold it for 2 weeks while waiting for the owner to call in and claim the item. It seems kind of ridiculous, when you can so easily find the owner with a quick look, but that is the policy. The manager has to personally check a wallet or purse, for example, and contact the owner, but us little guys aren't allowed to do the same.

After 2 weeks, whoever found the item (anything aside from wallets / purses / passports, etc) in the plane is allowed to claim it.

Luckily, all 3 kindles were quickly reclaimed by their owners, but you wouldn't believe the amount of things that are never called in for. I've seen an ankle length "real" fur coat go unclaimed, dozens of laptops, cellphones, portable DVD players. Tons of iPods, headphones, earbuds. Literally thousands of pairs of glasses and sunglasses, hundreds of books. Shoes, earrings ... the list goes on and on.

Now, I know some people would be reading this and saying "How could you keep something that isn't yours, when you could easily find the owner?" Once again, I have to point to the fact that it is company policy. If I came home and started to personally research the owner of a lost iPod, and return it to them -- if that grateful traveler then called in to the airline to leave their thanks and well wishes for an honest airline employee, I'd lose my job. Literally. I've seen it happen more than once. It is a completely unfair and backward policy, but it is policy nonetheless.

So, all I can say to you travelers: put your name on things. Sounds simple, but it works. If we see a sticker on the OUTSIDE of your items, with your name, we can quickly run it up to the ticket counter and have you paged to come back for it. Believe me, we get through these planes quick, we usually find your lost items before you are even gathered around the luggage claim. Do yourself a favor, buy some little removable stickers, write your name and seat # on it, maybe even the flight #. Stick it on your laptops, books, iPods, etc. Put it on a spot that we can see without needing to open anything and violate that stupid privacy policy. A couple quick seconds with a sticker can save you hundreds of dollars.

Help me help you. As the saying goes.

09-30-2010, 08:22 PM	#45
Exer I see Russia! Posts: 205 Karma: 234787 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Alaska Device: Etch-A-Sketch	This is slightly off-topic, but I thought I'd leave my 2cents here. I've "found" a total of 3 Kindles while working for an airline here at the Anchorage International Airport. All 3 of them had been left behind on the plane after the passengers had already left. We have a policy that we aren't allowed to invade the privacy of any passenger, so if a cellphone is left behind, we aren't allowed to answer the phone or check the address book to see who the owner is. We have to put each item in a lockbox and hold it for 2 weeks while waiting for the owner to call in and claim the item. It seems kind of ridiculous, when you can so easily find the owner with a quick look, but that is the policy. The manager has to personally check a wallet or purse, for example, and contact the owner, but us little guys aren't allowed to do the same. After 2 weeks, whoever found the item (anything aside from wallets / purses / passports, etc) in the plane is allowed to claim it. Luckily, all 3 kindles were quickly reclaimed by their owners, but you wouldn't believe the amount of things that are never called in for. I've seen an ankle length "real" fur coat go unclaimed, dozens of laptops, cellphones, portable DVD players. Tons of iPods, headphones, earbuds. Literally thousands of pairs of glasses and sunglasses, hundreds of books. Shoes, earrings ... the list goes on and on. Now, I know some people would be reading this and saying "How could you keep something that isn't yours, when you could easily find the owner?" Once again, I have to point to the fact that it is company policy. If I came home and started to personally research the owner of a lost iPod, and return it to them -- if that grateful traveler then called in to the airline to leave their thanks and well wishes for an honest airline employee, I'd lose my job. Literally. I've seen it happen more than once. It is a completely unfair and backward policy, but it is policy nonetheless. So, all I can say to you travelers: put your name on things. Sounds simple, but it works. If we see a sticker on the OUTSIDE of your items, with your name, we can quickly run it up to the ticket counter and have you paged to come back for it. Believe me, we get through these planes quick, we usually find your lost items before you are even gathered around the luggage claim. Do yourself a favor, buy some little removable stickers, write your name and seat # on it, maybe even the flight #. Stick it on your laptops, books, iPods, etc. Put it on a spot that we can see without needing to open anything and violate that stupid privacy policy. A couple quick seconds with a sticker can save you hundreds of dollars. Help me help you. As the saying goes.