ITEMS STOLEN AT VENICE AIRPORT - HELP!!!

I can't offer much help but it sounds like a police report may be the logical next step. Then explore any insurance claim options (though I suspect there may not be many options there). I'm not sure what you can do with the airline, it may be worth consulting a lawyer after you do the first two steps.

You need to file a police report straight away...probably start with your local police and ask how to file it and with which police department. Call your insurance company, and file a claim if you're covered. Call the airline. Call the TSA and ask if you need to file a report through them or the EU equivalent. I'm not sure if you'll ever be able to recover the items, but hopefully you'll at least be able to be reimbursed through insurance or the air carrier's liability. Frankly, I'm not sure a lawyer will do any good, but a small claims action might be an option. Good luck and best wishes!

Most homeowners policies will cover theft or loss of your personal belongings while traveling, up to certain limits. With items as valuable as yours, it's good to have a personal items rider (or whatever your insurance company might call it) that increases your coverage limits for specifically named items, such as expensive jewelry. Your post wasn't clear as to whether you actually filed a claim with Iberia. If not, you might do that too, although once you leave the airport it might be too late. (They could say there's no proof the theft occurred while your bag was in their possession.)

A Class Action lawsuit is not going to help you; a class action or a representative action is a form of lawsuit in which a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court and/or in which a class of defendants is being sued. What you will need is a person who works in international law, more specifically Italian law. It also might help to contact the Italian consolate near your area (Boston or New York} and see what they recommend.

I'd start with the police and then get a good lawyer to go after the airline. You have photos of your wedding where you are wearing the items. It's up to the airline to catch the thieves and have them prosecuted. Sounds like a ring and the airline hired the individuals or the subcontractor. Some people were bashing lawyers on a different thread, but this is when you want a good one.

'IBERIA gate to file a claim and the worker told me......' If you got that guy's name/signature, you're off to a good start. He admitted that the carrier screwed up. Use it to your advantange.

I think you should also write the Conde Nast Traveler and other similar magazines that have articles for complaints. It will possibly help you and also get the information out there for others departing from Venice. You might also post your experience on Fodors, Frommers, Trip Advisor, etc. The more exposure
the better. I feel for your loss.

Duplicate post http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/84855/stolen-items-in-venice-airport--help.html

Thank you all for your advice. I did file with Iberia as soon as I discovered the items missing at O'Hare in Chicago. I called O'Hare and filed a police report with them yesterday evening, and now I play the waiting game for a week or two. I tried to call the Italian Embassy in Boston, but they are only open Mon - Wed until noon - so will have to wait until Mon morning for that one. I also have a friend in Italy who is trying to contact the US Embassy in Rome (there doesn't seem to be one in Venice) to see what else we can do. I am also contacting home owners today. As for Class Action Suit - I was more being sarcastic, but truly think that it would be no problem to get a lot of people behind that, especially with the recent news about JFK and other big airports dealing with stolen items etc. I do plan to blast this all over every travel related website that I can find! It wont do anything to help me out, but it might make me feel better and help others recognize when they are targeted and to stand up for themselves, not be intimidated by the so called airport authorities. Thanks Again

Someone reported something similar on Fodors forum. They lost their laptop. The airline was Virgin America and the airport JFK. The forum moderator came on and said JFK is known for that. People responding the thread said he should have taken his laptop out before giving his bag upmto the flight attendant but he didn't have time. So it isn't just Iberia or in Italy where this happens.

I should probably warn you that the Italian consulate in Boston are very difficult to deal with (I'm speaking from experience). As far as consulates here, there are none in Venice. I believe they're located in Milan, Florence, Rome and Naples.

Thanks Rik. You are correct - I have a friend in Italy who is going to call the consulate in Rome for me to find out what the next step is I need to do. I see you are in Vicenza, I have a friend who lives there too - Alberto Canale...

Thanks Sasha, the JFK thing has recently been on the news, something like 200 items stolen each day. How safe should we feel if the airports can't even control their own employees...

Filing the police report was your logical first step, and it sounds like you've got the ball rolling on everything else. If your items end up being covered through your homeowner's policy, your insurance company will take it from there in terms of trying to get Iberia or whomever to reimburse them for the claim they paid out on to you (to the extent they decide to go after the liable party...Iberia will say they're not responsible for jewelry...I'm sure they have that noted in ther contract of carriage somewhere). Individual people have had success recently in small claims court suing huge corporations, such as AT&T, and winning (over those mobile phone contract early termination fees). So, if nothing else works, keep that in your back pocket...your damages aren't significant enough for anything other than a small claims action anyway. You won't need a lawyer...just a few bucks for filing fees. Let everyone know how this turns out, and good luck!

Thanks Again. I will post updates as I get information this way everyone will know how to navigate this situation should it happen again. Cheers

This is from Iberia's "contract of carriage": "Destruction, loss or damage to baggage: The air carrier is liable for destruction, loss or damage to baggage up to 1 131 SDRs (approximate amount in local currency). In the case of checked baggage, it is liable even if not at fault, unless the baggage was defective. In the case of unchecked baggage, the carrier is liable only if at fault. Higher limits for baggage: A passenger can benefit from a higher liability limit by making a special declaration at the latest at check-in and by paying a supplementary fee. Complaints on baggage: If the baggage is damaged, delayed, lost or destroyed, the passenger must write and complain to the air carrier as soon as possible. In the case of damage to checked baggage, the passenger must write and complain within seven days, and in the case of delay within 21 days, in both cases from the date on which the baggage was placed at the passenger's disposal." "SDR" stands for "special drawing rights." The value is set daily. Today (May 4) one SDR = 66 cents.