Flight From Hell Leaving the National
 

Just had a wonderful 2 days at the National. Met some great people and made some wonderful deals.
But just had the worst day of my life coming home from the National.
To make a very long story short, I was flying from O'Hare to Newark on Saturday. After 2 flight cancellations and multiple delays, it took me 13 hours to get home. But that wasn't the worst part. They lost my lugagge which contained baseball cards that I spent $6,500 for plus my laptop and of course my clothes, glasses, etc. I could care less about my clothes but losing those cards is very very painful.
I am sitting home now praying that they find my cards.
Just to let you all know, it was United Airlines. I always travel with Continental but because of the merger with United I was put on a Untied flight.

Hope the rest of you enjoyed the show!

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you!

I always take my computer and cards with my carry-on. Can't imagine placing those in checked baggage. Hope everything works out for you.

r/
Frank

My baggage always seems to show up a few days later whenever I've gotten it lost so I've got some hope for you.

I'm so afraid of that I won't even put them in the overhead. I like them under the seat in front of me in a backpack.

Good luck.

mine too, good luck!

Mine three!! Fingers crossed.......

Whenever I go to L.A. I pack 500 cards for review and always take them on the plane. I cannot imagine checking my cards.

My wife always prays to St Anthony (Patron saint for dummies?) when i lose something. Weird, but it works -though I remain atheist.

They'll turn up.

Howard, That sucks!
Hopefully they will be returned safe & sound shortly

Hopefully your luggage and cards will show up in the next few days. My wife and I were flying to Florida to go on a cruise about 10 years ago and our luggage didn't arrive with us. We had to get on the boat with only the clothes on our back. We found out from first-hand experience that Cruise Ship Companies are VERY GOOD at working with airlines to find luggage. After a full day at sea, our luggage was waiting for us in Puerto Rico on the second day of the cruise.

I hope you end up with a happy ending like we did.

Now I know why I come to this forum. I knew that I would get the support that I needed at this time. Yes, I was real stupid checking my stuff. That will be the last time. Then again, I would have been lugging around the heavy bag for 13 hours.

I'm praying to all the great balplayers that are now up in the sky to look out for my cards. Since some of those players are on those cards, I am sure they wouldn't want it getting into the wrong hands.:)

Thanks to all those who posted and gave me hope.

I really hope you get your luggage and cards back Howard.

Heck, I'm so paranoid about my cards being lost, I won't even mail 'em to PSA or SGC. I've got a bunch of cards just sitting here waiting to be graded, but I just can't mail them out. I've been waiting for three or four years for PSA to come back to a Texas convention to take submissions. SGC as far as I know, has never been to a show in Texas. The free submission vouchers for being a member of the PSA collectors club.....unused and expired :(

Steve

Suitcase arrived! All cards were still there. Thank God!!!

I appreciate all the support from you guys. I hope my experience prevents anyone from making the stupid mistake that I did.

Now, I can go list them on eBay.:D

That is good news, for sure. Not everything gets stolen or damaged in transit.

wow
 

WOW...that is great news Howard!! What a weight off of your shoulders too!! I have never checked my cards. On this trip back I bet they weighed 65lbs. It took me several minutes to pound the carry-on into the upper compartment in the plane. I truly thought I wasn't going to get it in, it was so full. Once again, so glad to hear the great news.

Whew! Great news.

Great to hear!

And now to celebrate the return of the suitcase, you'll be offering 50% off any purchases for N54 members who wished you luck in the return of the bag, right?? :D

And I am sure I will win a couple as I have done the last few weeks. :)

Glad everything turned out well!

Good to hear the news Howard, that can be a terrible feeling....especially with the cards.
RC

I friend of mine used to say that nothing is so bad that you can't learn from it. I think that is true, but $6500 per lesson would be a very steep tuition.

Great News! And a cheap lesson. FWIW, I used the USPS services at the convention center to mail back some pins that I was concerned might be confiscated at the airport and they arrived back at the office before I did.

Leon, I am with you there: my bag was so damned heavy I thought I was carrying rocks in it.

Great news. I am guessing the computer and cards will always be carried on from now on. :)
JimB

Glad to hear you got your stuff back! Next time take the train like me,everything can stay with you. Lou

I had a very lovely flight. :-)

Nice to meet you at the Net54 dinner (same table).

DanC

Howie,
It was great reuniting with you again at the national. I was saddened when I opened this thread, but was thrilled when your cards turned up by page two:). Next year I look forward to eating my overpriced, $6.00 a small slice, pizza with you in Baltimore and hanging out with you at Bagger's, Dave S.'s, table.
Take Care-
George

Thanks again for your concern.

I can't offer the 50% off like Scooter suggested but I can offer my thanks.

I didn't realize that USPS was set up at the Convention to ship out your stuff. That sounds like a better plan than putting them in my suitcase.

Hey George, It was great running into you also. Where else can you pay $6.00 for a meal and be among good friends. I expect to see you in Baltimore next year. You can get a great hot dog at Camden Yards for less than $6.00.

You're better off if the airlines lose your luggage than if the USPS loses your package.......always carry on computer and cards. Too much to lose.....plus the airlines will only typically pay you $1500 per piece of luggage lost maximum and I bet there would be issues if you claimed Collectibles........congrats!