PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Dozens of American Airlines travelers said they had to wait hours for their luggage after landing at Philadelphia International Airport Saturday night – and many never got their hands on their bags.
Passengers departing from Seattle, Washington, told CBS News Philadelphia they were initially informed that there were not enough crew available to land their plane, so the flight had to taxi around for about 25 minutes before it could park at the gate.
Passenger Roy Gettle said travelers waited for hours for their luggage in Terminal C after disembarking from the plane.
“There were people waiting four hours for their luggage,” he said. “They say that’s just the way it is. They don’t tell us why or what’s going on. But then a flight comes and they get their luggage right away. So I have no idea what’s going on.”
“We just want to get our luggage and go home,” said another passenger, Dennis Markopoulos, on Saturday evening. “We’ve been here two and a half, three hours now. And not a word.”
CBS Philadelphia
Some travelers reported that their luggage never arrived. When American Airlines offered to ship their luggage home for them, they learned that they lived outside the 150-mile shipping radius.
“It’s difficult to get answers,” said Tommy Morello, who lives in Tacoma, Washington, and traveled to Philadelphia to visit family. “Obviously they’re going to have our bags sent to us, but I feel more comfortable just waiting for it,” he said.
More than 100 unclaimed bags were still piled up in Terminal C on Sunday morning. According to an airport official, there were not enough staff to unload three flights full of luggage that arrived Saturday evening. Philadelphia airport says the airlines are to blame for baggage problems.
CBS News Philadelphia has reached out to Philadelphia International Airport and American Airlines for more information and is now trying to confirm whether the bags belong to the passengers who were unable to claim their luggage last night.
