Where are thou, my bags?

I assume that most, if not all Canadians know that when they fly with Air Canada, they'll be getting sub-par service. No matter how friendly you are when you check-in, or how closely you follow their suggested guidelines (check-in online... be at the airport at least an hour in advance), the flyer will no doubt walk away with a bitter taste.

I have the most bitter taste right now.

Byron and I flew from Halifax to Victoria on Wednesday. The weather was nasty, and we were delayed leaving Halifax. That left us with maybe 30 minutes to connect. As the time melted off the clock, I said to Byron that our bags aren't making it. That was in Halifax. I hadn't even stepped on a plane yet! Sure as shooting, when we arrive in Toronto, we had 15 minutes to make our next flight. As we settled in for the flight to Vancouver, I said to Byron again that our bags are as good as gone. We laughed it off and said we'd see our four bags waving on MuchMusic. When we arrived in Victoria many hours later, we stood in vain around the luggage carousel. Then we gave up the ghost and made a claim with Air Canada.

Now, a few years ago, I worked for more than a year at an airline, then I was a travel agent. I know Air Canada's secrets. I know why they bump bags (to take on more fuel so they can fly longer). I know the system and how to manoeuvre it when your bags are lost. So we made our claim for our four lost bags, using the Air Canada jargon. Our black suitcase on wheels was now called a "BK22". See? Don't play me, Air Canada. I am on to you!

They gave us a number to call and sent us on our way. I called that number several times yesterday, only to get a busy signal. Then when I spoke to someone, not only did I have a hard time deciphering the thick accent (a post for another day), he told me that our bags are not in the system anywhere. In other words, Air Canada has NO IDEA where our luggage is. For all we know, they could, indeed, be waving on MuchMusic! I called again last night, 12 hours after I first got through, and still the same response.

Do you know how hard it is to wash your hair with body wash, and no conditioner? I had to do that yesterday morning, since my shampoo was in my luggage. And my shampoo was in my luggage because we can't carry liquids in our carry-ons anymore. My work shoes are in my luggage, so I wore sneakers at work yesterday. All our clothes and gifts and cameras and shoes and toiletries are missing!

Last night in bed, while Byron was trying to sleep, I kept rolling over in my mind the worst case scenarios. What if our luggage broke open and all our belongings were flung across the tarmac and ruined? What will have happened to the lovely cream-coloured dinner jacket my mom gave me for Christmas? What if we never get our bags back? What will happen to the camera with Baby George's pictures on it? What if the bags were opened and we were robbed? What about the books and video games Byron and I exchanged at Christmas? I'm freaking out.

Since I like to think I know the system, I've been trying to be cool about it all. But now the panic is setting in. What if? What if? What if? I have no hope for our bags today. Maybe tomorrow?

By the way, I broke down and bought new shampoo and conditioner, so I won't have to look like Don King. A gal needs her conditioner.

Panicingly Yours,
xoxoSallyt