|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Fliers Beware! Did You Let Airlines Damage Your Property?If you travel with small children, you no doubt have taken a stroller, car seat or some other essential on board an aircraft. These days, with full flights, you'll most likely have to gate check the item. This means leaving your item at the end of the jet way as you board, and picking it up after your flight in the same place, or at baggage claim. We have found that this is a fairly convenient strategy.In the rush of boarding and keeping track of kids and your belongings, you were probably asked to sign a tag which was then attached to your stroller. Like us, you probably didn't bother reading the fine print. But after a recent flight on Northwest Airlines, we did, and we were surprised to learn what the airline's legal department is up to... The set up... When you sign that tag, you are absolving the airline of responsibility for any damage to your stroller, car seat, etc. How? By stating that your item was already damaged when it was given to the agent at the gate. Of course you never said this - but it is what the fine print you signed contains. Here is the text of what is on Northwest Airlines' Gate Luggage Claim Check: "In consideration of carrier(s) transporting my property which has been damaged previously, I hereby release carrier(s) from liability resulting solely from such pre-existing damage." Below this text is a line to enter a description of the damage, and one for your signature. You can see a picture of an actual Gate Luggage Claim Check by searching for 'check tag' at http://images.google.com/. Look for the pink tag. So what's the big deal? By signing the tag, you are acknowledging that the item is already damaged! The airline is saying they won't be responsible for this damage. That seems fair, but, here's the kicker: it is hard to prove when damage occurs. So they're covered if they ruin your stroller, because you said it was already damaged, and that gets them off the hook. In our scenario, we checked a brand new stroller, purchased just for this trip. If it was returned to us at our destination damaged, the airline would no doubt say that the damage occurred before we handed it over to them, and the tag that we signed is their proof that we acknowledged previous damage. Pretty sneaky! Again, on the surface the wording seems reasonable, as airlines can't be responsible for damage that really does occur before they take possession. And it isn't saying that they aren't responsible if they damage the item. But because it is hard to prove when damage occurred, and since you signed the tag saying it was damaged previously, the airline is in the clear for any damage that they cause. The form does have a legitimate use, as I'm sure airlines do get strollers and car seats with existing damage. But the form should be rewritten so that the gate agent must identify existing damage in order to absolve the airline of responsibility. So what do I do? The next time you're asked to sign a gate check tag, make sure you print 'NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE' clearly, above your signature. You can use the damage description line for this purpose. By doing this, you are establishing the fact that your item was not damaged when handed over to the airline. So if it comes back to you all mangled, it is clear that the airline must have caused the damage, for which they are then responsible. About the author: David Goldschmidt invites you to visit GreatFamilyRentals.com, a leading directory of href="http://www.greatfamilyrentals.com/">vacation rentals by owner. Find villas, beach houses, condos and cabins for your next vacation. Rent direct from owners and save. Free for vacationers. Owners can href="http://www.greatfamilyrentals.com/addrental.html">list vacation rentals for more bookings with no commission. Circulated by Article Emporium Have Laptop Will Travel Leave prepared when traveling with your notebook computer. Internet connectivity at your destination is one thing to think about when taking your portable office with you on your next trip. You might want to consider some of the following options: Make sure ... Golf on historic rice plantations of South Carolina for a special treat. Golf on historic rice plantations of South Carolina for a special treat. Plan your next golf vacation just 20 minutes south of Myrtle Beach! Nothing could be finer... Just a few short miles south of Myrtle Beach South Carolina, well known for it's 100 plus g... Florence in a Day Overflowing with history, art and culture, Florence is a city that's very hard to do justice to in a single day. A visit to the Uffizi museum alone could easily eat a day or two into any itinerary. If you're fortunate enough to visit Florence for the first time, but ... "How To Navigate the Bewildering Array of Internet Cruise Deals" Why do people love cruises ? Why do so many cruise vacationers swear they wouldn't go back to hotel vacations ? Cruise travel represents a pinnacle of luxury. You travel around the world, or your chosen area, in cosseted pleasure. Every whim gets cater... Fall Foliage Scenic Drive – Lakes and Leaves Maine Maine is one of the most heavily forested states in the nation, containing over 17 million acres of natural beauty, hikes, and magnificent summer and fall foliage scenic drives. This scenic drive is through Maine backcountry. A rugged environment of thick forests and impre... Is Purchasing Travel Insurance Smart? To answer the question "is purchasing travel insurance smart?" let's look at what insurance is. When you purchase insurance - health insurance, homeowner's insurance, car insurance, life insurance, or travel insurance - you're not making an investment. It's not the same as... Get Ready Fast For Fall Leaf Viewing Trips Whether its a driving tour, a cruise or a bus, leaf viewing is a great way to spend a fall vacation. It's also big tour business and the are many options. As you dream of that hot apple cider on a crisp afternoon do a quick check list before you leave home so you're ready for any t... Fliers Beware! Did You Let Airlines Damage Your Property? If you travel with small children, you no doubt have taken a stroller, car seat or some other essential on board an aircraft. These days, with full flights, you'll most likely have to gate check the item. This means leaving your item at the end of the jet way as you board, and pi... Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park has many wonderful attractions and a beauty that cannot be compared to any other on earth. People from all over the world come to Yosemite to vacation, camp, and to enjoy some adventurous rock climbing. If you love camping then you will really enjoy ... Ultralight Backpacking - Testing Skills On Lake Michigan, at the end of the Stonington Peninsula, there's a stretch of empty beach. Part of the Hiawatha National Forest, it's framed on either side by private property, with no easy access. To walk on the beach, however, is legal. Past the last cabin, the public land ... Home Away From Home on Hilton Head Island - Hilton Head Island's mild climate, slow pace, and beautifully forested landscapes are unique to the Atlantic coast. Deep-sea fishing charters, turtle watching, or riding a bike along the beach at sunset are some of the many wonderful outdoor activities available on the island. Spor... Ngorongoro Crater Maybe it was Mark Twain who said there are lies, dammed lies and statistics. This seems to be the case concerning statistics for Ngorongoro crater. As I checked my figures for accuracy for this article I could find no two sources that agree. So I will endeavor to keep statistics... The Exotic Country of Ecuador Ecuador has 270,000 km2 (around 99,000 square miles). This country has the biggest bio-diversity per area in the world. In a study by Conservation International, Ecuador ranked among the 17 Mega Diverse countries, alongside the United States, China, Australia, Brazil and ... Who should win the Oscar? Who, do you think, should win the Oscar this year? Who has been the best male actor in film this year? Should it be Don Cheadle, in Hotel Rwanda, Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland, Leonardo DiCaprio in The Aviator, Clint Eastwood in Million Dollar Baby or Jamie Foxx in Ray. ... How to Find Rare Music Box Collectibles Copyright 2005 Monique Hawkins Are you a collector? Do you happen to collect rare music boxes? Seeking to find the perfect ballerina music box for your ballerina room décor? Looking for beautiful inlaid music boxes and musical jewelry boxes? Maybe you need a wooden keepsake ...
|
|
|||||
|
||||||