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Other than my carryon and my computer, no luggage. My luggage decided it wanted to spend some time in LAX.
Lesson learned: NWA counter agents don't realize that Northwest does not have a luggage agreement with Qantas.
When I showed up at the counter with five pieces of luggage, my carry on and my computer bag, the agent says (in reference to the luggage): I'm checking these through for you.
"Great! I don't have to find them in LA and check them back in through customs? (I had to switch from the domestic terminal to the international terminal last time...that entailed finding my bags and lugging them down two terminals.)
No, you just check back in yourself. Your bags will go straight through.
"Great!"
In LA I checked with the counter agent there: "Do I have to go back and get my bags?"
"No, they're checked straight through."
Only on paper baby, only on paper.
When the five pieces of luggage were delivered two days later (always always carry a change of clothes in the carry on!) one of the pieces wasn't mine.
That one didn't show up until I'd been in OZ for a week! It was damaged...badly...but nothing inside was broken!
Qantas seems to be on top of the replacement process though, we dropped it off at their claim service and we're waiting on the settlement. The best part of the whole experience was when the poor luggage guy who I was dealing with the evening I landed said to me:
"You're the most reasonable woman I've ever dealt with in this situation, most of them are screaming by now."
Ah, but I was on the ground safely. Yes, I did pack things I wanted to have with me at the start of my new life, things I didn't want to have to buy again, things that had some sentimental value to me...but it wasn't his fault that they weren't with me. It was partially my own for believing the people at the ticket counters of two different airlines. It all worked out, and screaming just would have upset the nice dinner that Wisey and Kay brought over to share that night in celebration of my arrival.
