What to do When the Airlines Lose Your Bag

July 28, 2010 — -- When United lost his bag last March, Dartmouth professor Charles Wheelan didn't panic. After all, something like 98 percent of all missing bags eventually turn up.

So he waited. And waited. "Basically, there was no progress finding it whatsoever for nearly six weeks," said Dr. Wheelan. "Then, it suddenly turned up."

Suddenly? Well, right after the professor filed suit in small claims court.

Wheelan wasn't looking for instant-millionaire status; all he wanted was his $25 bag fee back, plus court costs (total: $97). And it worked. Said the professor, "I suspect that the bag would never have turned up were it not for the lawsuit," not to mention the subsequent news coverage.

If that sounds a bit extreme, then maybe you haven't heard about the Washington state woman who's filed a $5 million class action suit against American Airlines over a "lost bag." But the airline says there's more to this story.

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American Airlines says the woman behind the $5 million dollar lawsuit did get her bag back, the day after it went missing.

By the way, American Airlines allows you to put in a claim for the bag fee if your luggage is lost. And the Department of Transportation is proposing that bag fees be refunded in the event of delays, flight cancellations and lost or delayed bags.

So here are some ideas on what to do -- or rather, what not to do -- if your bag is lost.