Any UAL non-revs traveling through Singapore/Changi airport soon? (Bag recovered)

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Mig

My husband is a retired UAL pilot. We lost our small carry-on Nike backpack at Singapore/Changi airport back in February. It has finally been found but we are back home in Oregon. It will cost us almost $400! to FedEx or UPS it back to us and UAL cannot help us since we hadn't checked it with them and didn't lose it on the plane. Baring flying over there and back to retrieve it ourselves, we have exhausted all of our ideas to try to get it back so are giving this forum a try. It is about 12 lbs and contains a new iPad and some other personal items we would like to get back. If anyone out there is traveling to/from/or through Singapore and would be willing to bring it back to the U.S. we would be eternally grateful.

What does it cost for one person to fly nonrev to SIN? I doubt anyone here would even consider dealing with an unknown pkg--would you do that? I think you're way off-base asking.

What was that about opinions??? Yes Opinions are like ...... and everyone has one and they all be quite a funky!!!

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Originally Posted by riverliver

I guess we believe in the honesty and integrity of fellow UAL employees and retirees and would verify the identity of both that person and ourselves before proceeding. All items in the backpack are categorized by the Changi Airport lost and found & security depts, so the person retrieving it for us would know exactly what is in our bag. In addition, they require passport numbers, both ours and the person picking up our bag in advance, as well as additional security measures. And, yes, I would certainly do a fellow employee a favor such as this if all questions were answered to my satisfaction so that is why we asked. Lastly, did we ask for your opinion??? I think all we were asking for is a favor.

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Very risky situation River. Although it sounds great, I cannot see the " Hello, I'm here to pick up a bag for a friend of mine who is 5 timezones away". So like they say on Shark Tank, "I'm Out".

A person wouldn't just randomly show up. There is a very specific protocol that would be followed which was given to us by Changi Airport management & security with whom we have been corresponding. They know exactly what is in our bag because they examined and itemized everything. So would our representative who would be authorized by both us and Changi airport management & security to pick it up on our behalf. This truly isn't that big a deal and all parties are protected. We're just a couple of retired UAL seniors trying to get our stuff back without flying halfway around the world roundtrip to do so and hoping a fellow employee/retiree would help us out.

Just curious, have you tried talking to whoever handles UA's luggage office at SIN? If the bag is checked-bag ready, they might be able to send it back for you as a rush bag (like what they do to forward a delayed bag). Don't count on it, but it may be worth a try.

Personally, I honestly wouldn't have a problem doing it all things considered (I'm sure SIN officials wouldn't keep a bag without some kind of inspection) and if there is a protocol where they were aware of my arrival, then that's all the better. Sadly, I have no immediate plans to visit SIN. If you cover my expenses (including hotel and missed time at work) I'd be happy to help out, but that would probably cost much more than the $400 to ship it ;)

Yes, we have been in contact with UAL in Singapore. Since there never was a United bag tag assigned to this item, they are unable to help us be it revenue or non-revenue, and for obvious security reasons they cannot ship an unaccompanied bag. Appreciate your response and suggestion though and wish we could help you with that all-expense paid trip...would be a win-win for both! :)

I'll be honest with you. I wouldn't do it unless I maybe even knew who you were. That seems like a big hassle to go through for a complete stranger with all other stresses of travel combined. However I think you are doing the right thing asking here. Maybe someone would be willing to do this for you but good luck. I'd say its quite a long shot though. Its just that taking packages, and or bringing packages from an unknown person is risky and a big hassle. I had a friend ask me to ship something for him because he knew I had an airline discount with Fedex, and I denied it because, I knew he was unemployed, and who knows what he sticks inside a television??? I told him to use the post office. Maybe with certain friends, I don't need enemies eh? The way I figured was like this. I would rather lose a friend that doesn't pay my bills than a job I need to have to pay my bills. I would do this.....


A. Forget the items, not worth it...


B. Send it by slow boat instead of Fedex. You'll get it when you get it.


C. Go take another vacation to SIN and use your belongings as an excuse to do it all over again even for just a few days. The Lion City is great.


D. See "A".


I know you asked for favors, and not opinions, but I hope you take this more like a good few suggestions....and great luck to you.

Thanks for the suggestions but have already thought of them all. Appreciate your input & thanks for your time.

Hi riverliver,

If your former employer deemed your bag as security threat even a retired pilot (searched by the local authorities) because it's unaccompanied item and it wasn't originally tagged item... I would love to help you but knowing SIN authorities have some bad apples more than here at home, I'm scared of hearing a bad news at the US Customs upon arrival home.

Being a bit younger, my thought would be find local UA guys, paypal the money for the shipping cost via Boat and have them mail you what you really need and purge other items that are heavy such as backpack itself. Then the cost may come down even more via UPS or FedEX. I had packages shipped from this region via both UPS and FedEx nternational Priority or so called overnight, it wasn't that expensive for a few pound package and UPS and FedEx take care of the custom paperwork. 4-5 days and it will be on your door step.

if you can't make it all the way to SIN, may be ship it to NRT or other United's asian hub so your trip will be a lot shorter and less burden on your health. As your husband being a retired pilot, he gotta know someone in those routes to help you out in a part if they can't help you all the way. Just a thought...

Wish you GOOD LUCK!!!