Delayed luggage...

[michigancouple]

If my checked bag doesn't manage to arrive at the same time as me, how does it get to me on STJ when it finally does arrive? Do I have to go back to STT airport to pick it up or will they put it on a ferry for me?

I know a lot of people do carry-on only and I've read all the threads so I don't need that advice again. I'm just wondering about how to get my delayed bag if I do choose to check my luggage. We typically check one piece and have been lucky so far. We enjoying grabbing a cold one at the luggage claim tiki bar while we wait. We have a shorter connection in ATL this year and I'm a little concerned about our suitcase not making the connection.

Thanks and we'll see a bunch of you this weekend!
~ Nancy

[Lovermont]

Our experience with delayed luggage was pretty bad. (And, we'd flown non-stop from JFK, so I don't really know how one of our bags didn't make it!) We had to call the airline multiple times the first day it was missing to see if it had been located. Then, on the second day they told us that it would be arriving on the ferry, and that we should meet the ferry, but initially they couldn't tell us which ferry. We were staying out at Concordia that trip, so we wasted hours of our second day driving across the island to retrieve our bag. The only positive part of the experience was that they were actually able to drop the bag into a Maho/Concordia administrative office that is located upstairs at Wharfside, and that was where we ultimately picked up the bag. But, had we been staying at a villa, I'm not sure what would've happened to the bag once it arrived at the ferry dock, had we not been there to pick it up.

[michigancouple]

We're staying at Grande Bay so driving across island isn't an issue. I have the Delta app on my phone so I'll be able to "see" where my luggage is. I am just wondering if the airline will actually send it on the ferry for me if need be.

[stjchica]

You are worrying yourself with something that may not happen...and it sounds like there is no concrete answer
to the question. They might send it via ferry, they might not. I'm betting it gets there...We had 30 min. connection times and I was sure ours would not make it..but they did! Have a great trip!!

[Pia]

They put it on the ferry - sometimes people and sometimes car so just confirm which ferry

Pia

[michigancouple]

Thanks Pia. I'm not really worried about it, just wondered how it works if it does happen. I cross pack, so no big deal if I don't see it until the next day. And my polar bear will keep everything cold that I've put inside.

[AquaGirl]

Last May, we took USAir from Washington DC, to Charlotte (spent 4 looongg hours in the airport), then flew to STT. Our checked bg didn't make it. Hubby spent lots of quality time at the USAIr desk at the airport. They found the bag on its way to Phoenix. Why our bag of island stuff would want to go to Phoenix is a question . It went there from Washington, so a long layover in Charlotte didn't impact the success of the bag making it.

The next day, hubby called the airline several times and couldn't get a definitive answer on when it was arriving at the airport, nor when it would get to STJ. We hung out in Cruz Bay, not knowing when it would arrive. It was fine - did some shopping and lunch. Finally got a call from a person on STT who was hired to get the bag to us. He suggested he could put it on the Westin ferry, since it was leaving soon. We said fine, and went to the Westin for a drink while awaiting its arrival. It turns out the ferry Captain had it with him, so that our riff-raff bag wasn't mixed in with the nice Westin luggage . We were happily reunited with the bag. So its wasn't an awful experience, but we did wonder if it would make it.

We had enough stuff in carry on for a few days, but my hubby's dive fins were in the checked bag, so it was good to get it. I am guessing that most bags get to you eventually, although I have read stories here otherwise. I think one forumite's cooler full of food sat somewhere for a long time and it was too late by the time it was on its way, so the food spoiled.

[mindehankins]

so that our riff-raff bag wasn't mixed in with the nice Westin luggage

As a fellow riff-raff luggage carrier, that made me LOL!

[PaminMaine]

so that our riff-raff bag wasn't mixed in with the nice Westin luggage

As a fellow riff-raff luggage carrier, that made me LOL!

hehehe me too ! My checked bag is free this time with Jet Blue and it is filled with food! I bought the suitcase from goodwill for $4.00 .!! We are not allowed to have a checked bag on the way home...sooo will donate it somewhere.

[ronbo3107]

We took off from CLE late so our layover was a short 21 min.in Miami and we pulled up to gate 60 and left out of gate 2 and our luggage made it with us somehow.

[sailorgirl]

Flyinf JFK to STT one bag got rerouted to Santiago Chilie. My luggage is more well traveled than Me.

[luvinsun]

we usually take Delta out of CLE, and we've had layovers in ATL as little as 45 minutes. This last time, it was 45 minutes, and we had to get from Concourse B to Concourse E in that time frame. Our bags usually make it. I do worry about that most of the time, but it's out of my control (as my husband says), so I usually stop worring pretty quickly...

[lpowmacback]

It happened to us last year- and we worried & stressed for NOTHING... the airline (US Airways/Continental) brought it over from STT a few hours later and we picked it up at the ferry dock. Just don't put NECESSITIES (meds, phone chargers, etc) in checked luggage... it's all good mon.

[scoob]

Left STT yesterday,Delta was WAY overbooked and overweight (so they say).
We sat 1 1/2 hours at gate while they begged people to get off,stupid us we didn't take first offer while they took off luggage..
Anyway...
my checked box of booze never made the plane..
they never even checked it until 8 PM-my other bag was checked in at 1 PM when we got to airport.
just pissed that they had no intention of putting it on plane.
It is now enroute on a USAIR flight tonight-probably will be broken !
Anyway ...
even with a 2 hour layover in ATL we missed our flight- they put us up and gave us $$ for food- big deal ..
They really dropped the ball this time...
still a great trip !!

Scoob

[michigancouple]

So here's the rest of my story... Deicing truck in GRR broke. We had to wait. Arrived in ATL exactly 1 hour late.
They say as we arrive in ATL "we've already rebooked you"...
Me: "cool! What gate we go to?"
Delta: You'll stay overnite in Atl and leave for STT tomorrow.
Me: umm... seriously? How about you check another airline for us.
Delta: We'll give you food and a hotel
Me: How about you check another airline for us.
Delta: you can switch to American Airlines and connect in Miami and arrive STT at 10:30pm.
Me: We'll do that.

From there we went and had lunch. Then checked at another delta desk about flying standby on a fully booked delta flight. Everyone boarded and there was one seat left. I offered that I would sit on Dennys lap the whole way or hold someones little kid but they said no. They gave us $24 in food vouchers. Then they said if we wanted to extend a day onto our trip they could do that at no change fee. Hmmmmm

Arrived STT at 10:30. "Sorry.. your luggage is locked in delta office." Sunday morning phonecalls finally got it on the noon ferry to Cruz Bay. It was fine and the Polar Bear still had our frozen stuff frozen!

A phone call to Tracy in WI and she had one night available that we could stay! Thanks Tracy! Phone call to Delta... phone call to doggy sitter back home... phone call to park n fly hotel... phone call to kids. Whew! And we're staying an extra day/night!!!