Losing your phone can be a stressful situation, regardless of where. What are the chances of getting your phone back? Well, in the case of flights, the chances are close to zero, suggests a survey from Consumer watchdog Which?
To test if the airlines would return the lost property diligently, in this case, the phones, a team set out on a journey. Their team members deliberately left behind their iPhones in seat pockets or behind the tray tables of four airlines: British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, and Ryanair.
All the phones had Apple’s Find My Phone tracking system in place, so they could monitor, the airline’s efforts. Also, each phone displayed a message on the screen that read, ‘This phone is lost’ and provided a number to call.
The results?
Three days after leaving the first phone on British Airways from Cyprus to London Heathrow, the Find My Phone feature said that it was turned up at a cottage near Winsdor, The Sun reported.
British Airways, like other airlines, has outsourced its lost property handling to a third party. The team was unable to connect to anyone who ‘cared enough to help’ them in the crucial first hours.
From the BA website, they were directed to Heathrow’s lost property handler Smarte Carte. This facility had a list of 36 iPhones lost at Heathrow. But this was only one hour after they lost the phone and they were sure that this facility couldn’t have received it. The next day, however, the phone’s location was in a cottage near Windsor, which is 14 miles away from Heathrow.
The team thought the phone’s battery must have died. Or was it stolen? But as they had set the account ‘lost’, it is of no use to anyone. However, there are reports of the parts being sent abroad.
When they connected to BA yet again, the airlines asked to speak to Smarte Carte, but the latter said they never received the phone.
According to the team, the airlines later said, “Our crews remind customers upon arrival at their destination to check they have all their belongings before leaving the aircraft. In the unlikely event that belongings are left behind, we follow a process managed by Heathrow Airport and their third-party supplier, Smarte Carte, like other airlines at the airport.”
Upon reporting to the police, they visited the cottage, but couldn’t find it.
Lost your phone on a flight? Here’s what to do
Losing phone on flight can be distressful. While this incident that happened on the British Airways is definitely a nightmare, there are guidelines that you can follow to get back your phone, in case you left it behind in the cabin.
As soon as you realize your phone is missing, inform the airline crew or ground staff. If you’re still at the airport, head to the airline’s customer service desk. Provide details like the flight number, seat number, and a description of your phone. Airlines often check the aircraft thoroughly after passengers deboard.
Most airports have a Lost and Found section. File a report with all relevant details, including your flight information and a description of the phone. Some airports, like Delhi (IGI) or Mumbai (CSMIA), also have online portals for lost items.
Use the Find My Device (Android) or Find My iPhone feature to locate or lock your phone. If the phone is still on, this can help pinpoint its location.
Contact your mobile service provider to block your SIM card to prevent misuse. Also, file a police complaint (FIR) to safeguard yourself if the phone is misused.
Stay in touch with the airline and airport authorities for updates. Provide any additional information they may need.
By acting promptly and leveraging available resources, you increase the chances of recovering your phone. Stay calm, act swiftly, and secure your data immediately!
(Pic courtesy: iStock)
