Baggage theft at airports? That's your problem.

Read aguanomics http://www.aguanomics.com/ for the world’s best analysis of the politics and economics of water In August 2016, we flew Amaszonas from Bolivia to Paraguay. On the way, my checked bag was robbed. I wrote this complaint:

Today, I took Amazonas from Rurrebaque to La Paz, then from La Paz to Asuncion, via Santa Cruz

When I arrived in Asuncion, I discovered that things were missing from my baggage:
USB wireless keyboard (value USD $35)
Souvenir cash from Argentina, Chile and Bolivia (value USD $35)

My bag was not locked, but I was unable to take it inside the plane because it weighted 9kg.

The items were stolen at Rurrebaque, La Paz, or Santa Cruz airports, as the bag came within 15 minutes of our arrival in Paraguay.

I know that someone was in my bag because it was “strangely” repacked.

Please tell me how you would like to proceed.

The reply was:

Thank you for contacting us. Inform you that we are sending your email to the person in charge to investigate the case. We also provide the following information so you can contact:

Ernesto Gutierrez: 71012115 [email protected]

Estimado Sr. Gutierrez: Buenas noches, solicitamos su colaboración al pasajero, gracias.

There was no reply. Two months later I emailed:

Hi Ernesto

It’s been 2 months.

When are you going to send me $ to compensate for theft from my baggage?

Best

David

To which I got this reply:

Mr Zetland

Unfortunately we cannot make responsible for loss reported after leaving the airport.

Amaszonas S.A. in accordance to the Air Regulation, (as it is at most airlines) is not liable for damage or loss to any electrical appliance, fragile items, money, medicine, jewelry, mobile telephones, documents in general, and others that must remain in the passenger’s custody within carry-on baggage at all times. According to procedure claims claims as lost, pilferages, damages should have been done before leaving the airport in order to make them valid.

Amaszonas S.A. is not liable for any damage cause by the airport administration personnel during screening checks. For instance, we are sorry to inform you that the claim cannot proceed as it was not declared at the moment of checking at La Paz.

This reply was frustrating, as it denied me any compensation based on (1) not making a claim before leaving my destination (meaning I would need to unpack my bag on arrival to look for theft); (2) me checking “others that must remain in the passenger’s custody;” and failing to declare a theft in the middle of my flight (La Paz), when I didn’t even have the bag.

These excuses/limits are obviously written to defend the airlines against the costs of theft from other staff, but they also give the airlines no interest in protecting their clients against theft. #toobadforyou

Bottom line: Don’t check anything that might be valuable or stolen when traveling in dodgy countries where the ground crew robs bags. (The US is on this list!)