Hudson River crash passengers get luggage back

[NM]

From news.com.au:

PASSENGERS, including an Australian woman, on a US Airways flight that ditched in the Hudson River in New York are starting to get their luggage back, dried out and neatly packed inside FedEx boxes.

Flight 1549 ditched in the river on January 15 and all passengers and crew scrambled aboard life rafts and rescue boats before the plane sank with their personal belongings.

 

[Flying Fox]

Nice job US Airways.

Looks like good customer service and PR to me!

 

[v8Statesman]

I wonder if it was washed/dry cleaned.

What about the GPS unit/other electronic gear people had in the bags

 

[NYCguy]

What about the GPS unit/other electronic gear people had in the bags

That's what insurance if for.

 

[Mal]

That's what insurance if for.

... or the huge payout the survivors received ($US5000+ per person)

 

[codash1099]

... or the huge payout the survivors received ($US5000+ per person)

.. and the insurance companies may want all or part of any payout back :evil:

 

[Maca44]

.. and the insurance companies may want all or part of any payout back :evil:

Insurers can only try and recoup that "if" the pax makes a claim against their policy.

 

[NM]

The $5000 payment made to passengers was to cover immediate expenses they may incur due to the loss or delay in getting their belongings back. Such things as immediate clothing needs, a new phone etc. It was not made as a payment for the loss of their belongings, just to cover the immediate expenses they may incur as as result of the accident. That payment should have no impact on travel insurance payouts. I expect very few of the passengers would have had travel insurance for such a flight. Some may have annual policies that may be applicable, some may have been on an international trip and hence purchased travel insurance, and some may be covered by their home or personal insurance policies. But I suspect most would be relying on the airline to cover the costs and losses they incurred.

Either way, it would seem that the airline is doing a great job at trying to do the thing by the unfortunate passengers involved, who must have undergone significant psychological impact from the accident.

 

[thegurio]

What about the GPS unit/other electronic gear people had in the bags

That's easy, they never got wet as they never made it on the plane due to the sticky fingers of the luggage guys!

 

[NYCguy]

... It would seem that the airline is doing a great job at trying to do the thing by the unfortunate passengers involved, who must have undergone significant psychological impact from the accident.

I'd be happy just to be alive. That, and I'd have the BEST topic for dinner conversation!

 

[NM]

I'd be happy just to be alive. That, and I'd have the BEST topic for dinner conversation!

Especially at friend's bon voyage dinners

 

[munitalP]

I'd be happy just to be alive. That, and I'd have the BEST topic for dinner conversation!

I agree, its funny how the simple things (like breathing) get clouded by $$$ or litigation....

Am I such a cynic?

Mr!

:shock:

 

[JohnK]

What a nice gesture by the airline to go to the trouble and return passengers personal belongings....

 

[drron]

US airways gets a lot of negative comment.this whole incident though shows up very favourably for them-from the skill of their pilots,the handling of the immediate situation,the $5000 ex gratia payment and now this result of getting their luggage back.Now would this happen with Air Asia?There is still a strong argument for flying a legacy airline.
As to insurance the pax did indeed all have baggage insurance,whether any knew about it is debatable.I posted on this before-
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...usa-airlines-and-baggage-insurance-16889.html
Anyway hats off to US airways.A magnificent job!