DELHI (DEL)

I arrive at DEL on a straight-shot from SXR, gather my one bag, re-check the stamped claim forms, and set off for the lost luggage office. The line is short; I ponder what I'll do if this office has my snowboards - will I return to Srinagar, or go ahead with the booking to JFK?

Once more I describe the enormous (185cm) snowboard bag and list the contents lost on my outbound flight - Jet Airways FL 229 (JFK-BRU-DEL-SXR) 11 December 2007. Again the story how only one bag arrived with me at SXR 13 December, when the initial lost luggage claim was filed.

I hope that the bag will be found (if the bag were deemed stolen my loss would eclipse the standard compensation) but I'm not prepared for what I'm told: Instead of SXR, the missing bag was initially sent to SEA – Seattle, WA. It was discovered there and returned to Jet Airways on 13 December, where it remained the entire time I was at the Grand Hotel, resting in JFK, awaiting direction.

The bag is found but I'm torn - I want to blow a stack.
Photo credit: MHIP