Woman Claims She Found Luggage Outside Apartment Complex After United "Lost" It

A United customer claimed the airline lied about the location of her bag, which she discovered after checking out her Apple airtag location.

Source: Getty

Twitter user Valerie Szybala (@vsyzb) went viral on the social media application after claiming United Airlines lied to her about the location of her checked baggage. She claimed that United doesn't know where her luggage was and that a customer service representative stopped responding to her once she requested information on the company's lost baggage policy.

Valerie went on to say that after checking in on the location of the Apple airtag she placed inside of her luggage, she saw that it was located in a residential apartment complex "for over a day."

She added that she found other "emptied United Airlines bags" placed near the dumpsters of the same apartment complex.

She urged other users on the platform to share her tweet so that other United passengers who may be missing their bags can be aware of what could be potentially happening to their own belongings.

I’d just like everyone to know that @united has lost track of my bag and is lying about it. My apple AirTag shows that it has been sitting in a residential apartment complex for over a day. Out back by the dumpsters, I have found other emptied United Airlines bags. pic.twitter.com/fcoq4nj3zb

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 1, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

Valerie would go on to say that her decision to air her grievances on social media stemmed from a conversation she had with a United Employee, which she provided screenshots of in a follow-up tweet. After informing the customer service rep that she found empty United Passengers' bags by a dumpster in the apartment complex her Airtag sent her to, she was told to "calm down."

Folks please share so other United passengers who lost their bags know this may be their fate.

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 1, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

The worker would go on to say that her bag was at "the delivery service" and when she queried why her Airtag is saying it's at the apartment complex, the worker replied with, "We will deliver the bag to you, don't worry."

Update: I was having a DM back and forth with @united, but their rep stopped responding when I pressed them to send me the details of their lost/stolen bag policy, so I can understand my rights and what I am owed.

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 1, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

Anyone wondering why I felt compelled to take this to social media, check out my most recent chat with one of their support reps through the @united app: pic.twitter.com/hxUu3jQaxj

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

Valerie repeatedly asks the employee why her Airtag is showing her bag as being at the apartment complex, who eventually tells her that they don't have an explanation as to why it's there. Valerie did notice that her bag had moved which she hoped meant would ultimately end up at her house.

MAJOR UPDATE: for the first time since Friday my AirTag (and hopefully luggage) appears to be on the move… it’s at a McDonalds? The plot thickens… cc: @united pic.twitter.com/y8pDwb6VDd

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

ANOTHER MAJOR UPDATE: My luggage AirTag has left McDonalds and returned to the apartment complex where it is being held hostage!

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

That turned out to be a false alarm, however, as the bag ended up back at the apartment complex for another night, then it ended up at a McDonald's, then back at the apartment complex. She would ultimately get a text message from someone who said that they worked with DCA Couriers United apologizing for the delay in her receiving her bag.

I’d love to provide more updates, but my AirTag seems to have settled into the mystery apartment complex for the night. I’ll check again in the morning.

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

According to the employee, the reason why it took them so long to get her bag delivered to her was because it was under a different passenger's name.

Good morning all. Here’s an update: my AirTag is on the move! It’s about 16 miles outside of the city in the suburbs. Hopefully this means it is on a delivery run? 🤞

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

She contacted the individual to get her bag and says that she brought two separate news crews with her and that she didn't really push questions into what she felt was a "sketchy" experience as she was so happy to be reunited with her long-lost luggage.

Although, it’s been sitting at this shopping complex for the past half hour so maybe it’s just out for another meal… pic.twitter.com/zexN1dL6W3

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

UPDATE: It was not a delivery run! After going shopping in the suburbs my AirTag has returned to the apartment complex!!

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

However, Valerie added that she didn't believe the courier was telling the truth and she had heard from another resident of the complex that the empty luggages she initially found near the dumpsters weren't thrown out with trash collection. Rather, they were brought back inside.

WHEW this has been a wild ride y’all. I’m happy to report that I got my bag back!!! I’ll give more details & lessons learned later. For now wanna say thank you for all of the support, and shout out to the building resident and local news crews who came out to help =) pic.twitter.com/hCDXMreiDC

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

Ok here’s what happened at the finale. This morning after my suitcase went to the suburbs on another shopping trip and then back to the apartment complex I went to see if I could track it down.

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

She ended her tweet saga with a few suggestions for folks who are planning on checking their luggage with an airline while traveling: stating that folks should most certainly use a tracking device like an Apple Airtag. She added that photographing the inventory of your luggage will go a long way in the event you need to file an insurance claim for lost luggage or personal items.

After creeping around the building’s garage with a little posse trying to get a signal, I stepped outside for service. That’s when I received this text message. It’s sketchy, and it doesn’t really match with what my AirTag tracking said, but I immediately called the number. pic.twitter.com/5IAs4cQq2u

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

The dude who picked up was around the corner, so he drove back to meet me near the building. He looked a little surprised to have two news crews filming. He asked if he was in trouble or something, but at that moment I was too happy to have my bag back to ask more questions.

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

Her final bit of advice is to never elect to have a delivery service bring your bag to you as her experience with the courier service was "sketchy."

I don’t know that this guy was telling the truth, I suspect he was not. Nothing I’ve been told by this guy or @United explains why my bag spent 3 days in an apartment complex garage, with occasional shopping excursions. I’d still like some answers.

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

The two empty bags I had seen by the dumpster were gone today. The helpful building resident said they weren’t picked up by trash collection, she saw someone bring them back inside! Which adds to the sketchy factor for sure.

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

Thanks again for all of the interest and support. If I get any further interesting details I’ll report back, but for now I’ll end with some lessons learned: pic.twitter.com/R7OimNfwvV

— valerie szybala. (@vszyb) January 2, 2023 Source: Twitter | @vszyb

Have you ever had to deal with retrieving checked luggage from an airline? Did you use a delivery service to get it back?

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