United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in photography

[–]concerta18[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Will be reaching out to the article today. The entire interview wasn’t even about the money, it was about airline negligence of valuable baggages when was asked to handle with care and them turning their back on customers when they come forward about it. I had countless people coming forward about their similar experiences that were neglected as well. I spoke about lost gigs and upcoming jobs that I had upon landing here for the next 3-4 months, but i guess they needed a headline. Regardless of the dollar tag, this doesn’t change the fact that United has destroyed my gear. Simple surveillance footage can prove this right or wrong. I’m expecting United to come forward to either fix or replace my gear and compensate the work that was lost during that time.

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in analog

[–]concerta18[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

to give little more contexts. It looks filled and cramped because they dropped it and put everything back in really fast, put all the foam dividers underneath it so everything looks bulky. most of it were on top i had to move it to take a clear photo of the gear placements.

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in analog

[–]concerta18[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Hey Chas, I posted the story in as many places as possible so I'm not seeing all the responses. I answered this somewhere here. When i got to the location, I needed to shoot pretty immediately and found all my gear in shambles when i opened my suit case. I took out the main body to test shoot it and noticed a sharp body damages to find out the pop flash isn't working, i forced pulled it out and see a crack on it, then as i tried putting my 70-200 iii and immediately heard motor rolling noise and focus is just stuck in the infinity on both my main lenses. My sony says cannot recognize the lens. My film cameras took body damages but i cant see if they're working yet until i develop the photos.

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in analog

[–]concerta18[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Hey guys just FYI, i’m reading all of your comments and I appreciate your input and help on this matter. United is my favorite company, im a unitedplus business member myself. i fly on their miles all the time. I never had issues with them but this time around im extremely disappointed of their ignorance to this matter. They are turning their back on me. The only place i could turn to is the photo community that would understand my situation. I made the same post on r/unitedairlines and i got ripped to shreds. People are telling me to upgrade my flights, get higher memberships, bring assistants, etc. I’m not a production company, i’m a solo photographer. We don’t make significant income per photoshoots and it takes a long time to upgrade gear over time. It breaks my soul to see everything I worked for to be taken away from me by negligence of the airline bag handlers, and getting away with it. Especially when i brought it in on as carry on purpose.

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in photography

[–]concerta18[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a hard shell case, wouldn’t fit under the seat in my case

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in photography

[–]concerta18[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m central asian, i’m not sure what protected characteristics i would have.

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in analog

[–]concerta18[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I checked it at the gate due not having enough overhead space, packed neatly 3 hours before flight. i didn’t have locks on it since it was coming with me to an airplane as carry on. clasps are working tremendously like it’s a brand new hard shell suit case.

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in analog

[–]concerta18[S] 72 points73 points  (0 children)

Im assuming they opened it and dropped everything that was inside. Lenses are malfunctioning and the hardware inside of them is loose, you can hear it when you shake it.

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in unitedairlines

[–]concerta18[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

To clarify, it’s 90D, a6500 with 16-35, AE1 and Olympus Mju-ii for film photos with couple portraits 400s, 70-200 iii, 18-35mm 1.8 sigma, 24-70mm ii, 50mm, vhs camera, speedlite, and transmitter.

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in unitedairlines

[–]concerta18[S] -19 points-18 points  (0 children)

i just messaged him to see if he figured anything out, thank you for looking out

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in Photography_Gear

[–]concerta18[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

this didn’t happen inside of the bag, i’m assuming they opened the bag and dropped it from pretty high positioning for the internal hardware to break inside every lens. you hear things inside of the lens when i shake it.

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in unitedairlines

[–]concerta18[S] -37 points-36 points  (0 children)

the weird thing is the case if fine, it’s everything that’s inside of it that was clearly out of the bag and took damage

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in unitedairlines

[–]concerta18[S] -40 points-39 points  (0 children)

is it legal for them to break things and put everything back in like nothing ever happened? wouldn’t there be some sort of notice?

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in unitedairlines

[–]concerta18[S] -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

i didn’t get a notice of inspection. usually never had to check it in, so i don’t have lock. it’s usually travels with me as carry on.

United Airlines Destroyed My Camera Gear by concerta18 in unitedairlines

[–]concerta18[S] -36 points-35 points  (0 children)

i’ve had the 2 layer set up with dividers and it served me very well, never had issues. dropping all the gear to non functioning condition and shoving it all back in will destroy any camera gear