Case of the Missing Vuitton

He doesn't look like a Vuitton-toting guy to me, what do you think?~
He runs a motorcycle parts business in Orange County, hence all the tats I guess. His bag of choice is the Louis Vuitton monogram roller, I forget the name of the style; Pegase?~

Meet Per Lindby. He boarded a flight in Orange County recently with checked bags of a Vuitton roller and duffel, and mysteriously, the luggage never arrived. Hmmm.
He bought more Vuitton, and got on another flight a few weeks later. Again, poof, no luggage when he arrived. About $13,000 in Vuitton luggage & shoes have disappeared. The airline (Delta, both times) says they will give him $3,000 and don't expect it to turn up.
I have a pair of 1950's hard-sided cases. I bought them in NYC with the idea of taking a romantic weekend getaway by car with my sweetie. They have French labels inside from the Vuitton store in Nice and the old French rail tags on the outside; the tag says "home delivery" and "paid." I guess they trusted the baggage handling at that time~
another sticker is from Cunard; these went on tour by rail and boat in the '50's. I would never ever ever check them. Lest you think I am a high roller, I will divulge that I paid $350 for them, but that was 20 years ago.
I have two pieces of soft-sided Vuitton luggage I have used as carry-on on just about every business trip for years. The size and the design for pockets and compartments and suits is perfect and like no other luggage. Sometimes, as I got on a plane the stewardesses tried to say the baggage racks were full and I'd have to check them.
Stuff it, I politely yet firmly told them. Check a Vuitton? Never!! Btw I also have all of my Vuitton monogrammed with my initials, to prevent my three sisters from borrowing them. That works GREAT. Vuitton will do it for you.

Have you ever had anything disappear from your suitcase on a flight? We had R's Ralph Lauren alligator belt evaporate once on a return from Geneva through JFK. My stewardess friends tell me, don't ever pack anything of value in your checked luggage. Let alone carry an expensive case, I suppose. Nowadays, we all check crappy-looking luggage, including Per. His last flight, he brought a $30 Walmart suitcase. Guess what, it arrived just fine....

first two photos, Orange County Register. You can read the whole story at www.ocregister.com