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Laptop Travel Damage - Who's at Fault?

Posted by Cliff on from the yet-another-price-of-increased-security? dept.

Denagoth asks: "Due to increased security measures, airport personnel are now directly handling everyone's laptop, PDA, and other electronic gizmos. Who is at fault when (not if - but I've been lucky) an airport employee drops, damages, (or even worse) loses one of these devices? Has anyone had any experience in this area and are there any legal precedents to fall back on?"

1 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. This happened to my electric razer by Eivind · · Score: 4, Interesting
    The short answer is: the company who destroys it is responsible, but they don't like to admit it.

    When I was travelling to Darmstadt rigth after 9/11, my hand luggage was searched. Inside was, among other things, an electric razer. Brute security-guard looks at it, tries opening it, but ends up instead breaking it apart. I'm told to report the damage to their "arrival office" upon arrival.

    Office says it must have been badly packed. I inform them that I *saw* the guy literally breaking it apart and that the packaging doesn't really play a part. They then claim electronic devices are not covered. There's nothhing "electronic" about it I say, sure it uses electricity but there's a difference between electric and electronic. And in any case, what *should* I bring for shaving, you don't particularily like razer-blades now do you ? And are you telling me I can stand and watch one of your employees break my things apart, and then you will claim that I have to cover the loss myself ?

    In the end they paid for it, but not without making a lof of unneeded fuzz about it.