Was on DL4072 last night, and when we arrived at PDX, we did the usual blocking-the-walkway-waiting-for-baggage routine. After about 5 minutes, the ramp agent appeared and informed us that the hold was empty, and that the good folks in SLC must have forgotten to load our gate-checked carry-ons. There were about two dozen of us, shaking heads in disbelief. Several people were missing documents, laptops, car keys, medication, even two pax with infants with missing supplies/strollers. Total chaos at baggage claim, DL agents apologetic, but unwilling to offer support to those stranded (e.g., missing car keys), no exception to the usual $0/24hrs policy (I personally don't care what a DL leaflet says what I'm entitled to buy/do after they lost all my stuff, but the young mother was -understandably- in panic). Not a great performance by the PDX staff, but they did keep their cool, and that's more than can be said for a lot of the passengers.

Is this type of thing common? I would like to think that such incompetence is rare (forgetting one bag, ok, but come on, two dozen?) Aren't there any mechanisms in place to prevent this type of thing from happening? (Note: I'm relaying a story and not asking for (advice on) compensation, so there's no need to bring out the big guns.)

If it happens several times a week, it's common. But no one has ever mentioned it happening in this forum, so it is not common.

I doubt it is at all common. Exceptional situations call for exceptional measures. It'd be great if the DL staff could have gotten on the phone with someone with the authority to make a decision and come up with a solution that goes beyond the pamphlet and make sure that people are taken care of (and worry about compensation later/whenever).

peace,
~Ben~

Agreed. This is a first I've heard of such a situation. On the bright side, it could have been worse... the ramp agent appeared and informed you that the hold was empty, and that the good folks in SLC must have forgotten to close the cargo hold and carry on luggage is spread around Utah.

I was on a NW DC-10 from BOS to DTW. We were finishing the taxi and about to power up when the engines shut down abruptly and pilot came on - very agitated - to announce that they had failed to load six entire containers of checked luggage. My flights since then have been better organized or less honest.

So, what ended up happening? I see it was the last flight of the night!

Also what about teh weight balance check they are always saying they have to do?

This was not "Delta."

It should be reminded now that the real Delta is focusing more on international travel and chasing merger partners, they are outsourcing a lot of their more mundane domestic traffic to (mostly) inferior "Delta Connection" operations. Flight 4072 is SkyWest Airlines and despite the DL flight number, operates under a separate OC.

To the OP's point, yes it is a rare occurance of a lazy ground crew forgetting to load the gate checked luggage. The OP should make sure their complaint is heard by both Delta and SkyWest.

That's what surprises me. There should have been a count of gate checked luggage. I guess someone really, "just forgot."

Absolutely no excuse for not providing some exceptional compensation for an exceptional situation.

The problem is, most flyers don't care who is doing the actual flying. They just know that they bough a Delta ticket and Delta messed up.

Not so uncommon for these puddle-jumper connector-airlines to do. Same kind of thing happens sometimes IF someone checks in way too early for a flight -- example, checking in early or mid morning for a late afternoon or evening flight.

However, I doubt that the cargo door wasn't closed. The stuff is probably still at SLC if not already being routed to PDX by the time this post is read by OP.

Always a good idea to put an itinerary and contact address inside and also outside of all luggage and gear including carry-on, NOT necessarily your home address as you want your stuff to be delivered WHERE you ARE going to BE, not where you came from.

Good Luck. Hopefully your stuff will find its way to you tomorrow or the next day if it's not already been delivered to you.

Normally I find the SkyWest operation at SLC to be somewhat efficient compared to the other regionals.

They all make mistakes I guess, this one rather terrible. They should issue $100 vouchers or something for this. I would be writing letters.

Skywest is generally a class act. This is very unusual. However, was nobody on the left side of the plane looking out the windows? I'd think this oversight would be accompanied by some very visible evidence on the tarmac.

Yes, shame on Skywest (!) but ....

If SLC left off that many bags why didn't anyone advise PDX so they could be prepared for the situation upon arrive???? Were the bags left on a cart and unnoticed?????

Baggage Service Agent here.....

not to get off topic but wanted to comment on this....

DO put your home address (or address on your Skymiles acct.) inside and outside of your baggage NOT the address you are going to. Your bags will not automatically be sent to the address on the ID tags....agents are smarter than that

If your bag tag falls off the information from your ID tag will be put into the computer. Your Skymiles address will auto-populate into the missing bag claim. World Tracer (used by most airlines) will match the address in the file. The file will have your delivery address.......