QF staff buy lost items

[markis10]

These seems to be a very biased article however the fact that Qantas did not tell the truth obviously left the Tele with a feeling there was a lot more to the story. I have lost two items at the airport and a good effort was made to return them to me on both occasions.


QANTAS staff routinely keep thousands of dollars worth of cameras, mobile phones, computers and other valuables left on planes by passengers.
The Sunday Telegraph reports that Qantas hold regular staff auctions to distribute the valuables.
Qantas does not actively attempt to return lost items even though travellers sit in allocated seats and leave contact details with the airline.


Read more: Qantas staff buy lost property, 'sometimes enough to fill a van' | News.com.au

 

[kamchatsky]

Now I know where QF's record profit comes from!

 

[Skoogle]

There are plenty of places where pax items can be left and not pinned to a specific pax.

How about we start talking about items left in hotel rooms and never to be seen again.

 

[markis10]

The story has got legs, today are now featuring it in their news segment.

 

[pauly7]

Meh.... Every customer service place does it. Previous places I've worked we've donated to charity, sold or just given out (after a period of time)

 

[Dave Noble]

If items remain unclaimed for enough time, seems only reasonable for the airline to dispose of the items. Selling them off seems a perfectly logical approach

 

[Blackadder]

Just like the Railway holds regular auctions of unclaimed lost property.
Another let's kick Qantas story.

 

[nlagalle]

**Yawn** nothing to read here...

I've only ever lost a wallet on BA once and I realised at the baggage plane and managed to get back on the plane, but it was already stolen by someone. Not even 15 minutes.

I've got no issues if QF sells items, heck the police have auctions too!

 

[markis10]

I think there are two issues:

1. The sell off is not public like many other lost property auctions are such as the rail and police auctions that often draw large crowds, everyone knows the more public an offering is the better prices you will get.
2. The proceeds go to charity but the nominated charities claim they have not seen them, so where does the money go.

 

[nlagalle]

I think there are two issues:

1. The sell off is not public like many other lost property auctions are such as the rail and police auctions that often draw large crowds, everyone knows the more public an offering is the better prices you will get.
2. The proceeds go to charity but the nominated charities claim they have not seen them, so where does the money go.

* better price for the buyers or seller? Perhaps for QF it's easier just to have an inhouse auction?

* It seems only one charity was spoken to,

I still don't think there is anything untoward. but I could be wrong.

 

[Homer]

This is pretty dodgy reporting. For example, there is no attribution for this statement:

"Qantas does not actively attempt to return lost items even though travellers sit in allocated seats and leave contact details with the airline."​

I have direct experience which contradicts this statement, which is presumably just the journo’s opinion anyway. A couple of years ago I left a video camera under the seat in front of me on a QF flight from SYD to OOL and a QF staff member found it and handed it in. Then another staff member matched the seat number to my name and profile in the QF system and telephoned my mobile number. I hadn’t even left the airport - I was still lined up at the Avis counter - so I was able to go back inside and get the camera.

 

[markis10]

* better price for the buyers or seller? Perhaps for QF it's easier just to have an inhouse auction?

* It seems only one charity was spoken to,

I still don't think there is anything untoward. but I could be wrong.

Better price for the seller, and therefore the charity gets more $$$ (in theory LOL)

You might want to reread the article:

"But neither charity had received donated items from the airline for more than a year.
Mission Australia spokesman Paul Andrews said he received the last donation of lost property from Qantas two years ago, but "we don't receive those donations any longer".
The Salvation Army's area manager Geoff McCartney said his charity receives items from Sydney International Airport, but nothing on a regular basis from Qantas."

 

[medhead]

I've got no issues if QF sells items, heck the police have auctions too!

It is hardly relevant to compare the police and qantas. The problem is this can be considered to be theft. There was a case of some people who found a sum of cash in a house shortly after they purchased it. They were charged with theft because they just kept the money.

Obviously it is different for companies that can set up a lost property process to deal with the issue of reporting found items to police. But based on some of the quotes from the story one would have to question if qantas is following such process or even the effectiveness of the process in fairly considering the rightful owners.

 

[nlagalle]

It is hardly relevant to compare the police and qantas. The problem is this can be considered to be theft. There was a case of some people who found a sum of cash in a house shortly after they purchased it. They were charged with theft because they just kept the money.

Obviously it is different for companies that can set up a lost property process to deal with the issue of reporting found items to police. But based on some of the quotes from the story one would have to question if qantas is following such process or even the effectiveness of the process in fairly considering the rightful owners.

I was only pointing out that they and other groups hold lost property auctions too.

Yes it can be, but if due process is followed then it wouldn't be theft. Of course QF may not be following that process and just saying "it's lost" etc. I don't know, I have lost anything on a QF flight and fingers crossed I don't!

I am guessing the most likely thing lost would be a mobile phone or wallet - wallet is easily identified. if i lost my phone I'd be ringing my carrier to IMEI block it, then it is useless to anyone.

 

[Blackadder]

This is pretty dodgy reporting. For example, there is no attribution for this statement:

"Qantas does not actively attempt to return lost items even though travellers sit in allocated seats and leave contact details with the airline."
​

I have direct experience which contradicts this statement, which is presumably just the journo’s opinion anyway. A couple of years ago I left a video camera under the seat in front of me on a QF flight from SYD to OOL and a QF staff member found it and handed it in. Then another staff member matched the seat number to my name and profile in the QF system and telephoned my mobile number. I hadn’t even left the airport - I was still lined up at the Avis counter - so I was able to go back inside and get the camera.

Likewise left my wallet behind in the men toilet at CNS (baggage claim side), and it was handed to a QF staff member who checked my details from my FF card and called me as I was outside waiting for the airport shuttle.

 

[markis10]

It is hardly relevant to compare the police and qantas. The problem is this can be considered to be theft. There was a case of some people who found a sum of cash in a house shortly after they purchased it. They were charged with theft because they just kept the money.

Obviously it is different for companies that can set up a lost property process to deal with the issue of reporting found items to police. But based on some of the quotes from the story one would have to question if qantas is following such process or even the effectiveness of the process in fairly considering the rightful owners.

The recent charges in Victoria were "theft by finding", its also important to recognize that the police and rail examples are of government bodies, while the airline is a private company. Its certainly at face value theft under the Crimes Act 1958 for Victoria and the recent case was under this provision I believe:

Crimes Act 1958 - SECT 73

Further explanation of theft

73. Further explanation of theft

(4) Any assumption by a person of the rights of an owner amounts to an
appropriation, and this includes, where he has come by the property
(innocently or not) without stealing it, any later assumption of a right to it
by keeping or dealing with it as owner.

 

[medhead]

if i lost my phone I'd be ringing my carrier to IMEI block it, then it is useless to anyone.

A topic of a today tonight report, police auctioning IMEI locked phones.

 

[Mal]

This article is strange. First off it makes a host of claims (which I hope they have proof for ... otherwise lawyers could be chatting to them shortly!). It seems they asked Qantas a question originally regarding lost property, and then spun a story out of the response.

It's almost Today Tonight type journalism.

If I leave a mobile phone on a plane (for example), I believe the extent that Qantas owes me is to log it in a book as found property, retain it for a set period of time and then dispose of it if I haven't claimed it. Anything better than that is a positive.

Some airports and public transport operators charge a "lost property handling" fee where someone claims lost property. Perhaps that would make a better story if someone in Australia does it (Not sure if they do ... the examples that come to mind are from overseas)

 

[Jobu]

I once forgot my brown leather belt at the security screen in domestic Sydney. On my way back, went to lost property and asked if my belt had been handed in. They asked me what it was made of..."leather"... and then what colour it is..."bown"... at which point they brought out a box full of rolled up brown leather belts for me to examine.

Unfortunately it wasn't there but needless to say I was amused at how many brown leather belts they had and wondered how much else they had back there...

Cheers

JOBU

 

[TheInsider]

Well i never knew of ANY of these auctions? I'd like to bid on a few items! I know that the lost items are passed on to charitys about 6mths if they do not get collected.