Former number one tennis legend Naomi Osaka shared on X and Threads that United Airlines had lost her luggage and she “literally can’t play” without it. Osaka was flying to Cincinnati to play in the Cincinnati Open, which takes place from August 11 to August 19. RELATED: Airline lost your luggage? Do this if you want to get compensated
There are several lessons to be learned here, which the Internet was happy to point out as well.
1. Use social media
Naomi was smart to tweet what happened and tag the airline. But what’s surprising is how nonchalant she was when she threw in LOL and laughing faces. Here’s her exact post: “lol United airlines lost my bags and if they don’t get them to me by tonight or tomorrow I literally can’t play Cinncinati 😂😂😂”
Post by @naomiosakaView on Threads
Within minutes, United Airlines replied to her on X (formerly Twitter) with, “Hi, Naomi. We’re sorry to hear this. We’d like to look into this and assist further. When you have a moment, please DM your bag tag number. ^NB”
Hi, Naomi. We’re sorry to hear this. We’d like to look into this and assist further. When you have a moment, please DM your bag tag number. ^NB https://t.co/Y6hG6u3i8R
— United Airlines (@united) August 9, 2024
United didn’t respond to her on Threads as far as I can tell so if you ever need help from United (and other airlines), I would post to Twitter.
2. Don’t ever check anything important
I’ve always reminded people to never check anything important, especially things like medication. But this rule applies to anything you absolutely must have with you when you reach your destination. As Threads user ben.sturner said: “Rule # 1 in tennis travel. NEVER check your racket bag. My 10 year old son knows this. It will get cracked or they will lose them. Thought this would be common knowledge.”
I’m not sure what Naomi checked that she “literally can’t play” but I’m assuming it was her rackets. I’ve flown with multiple pros before, including Caroline Wozniacki, who was really nice but a loud talker – I could hear everything she said from three rows away in first class and it was a night flight. But I digress. All the tennis players I’ve traveled with before all had their racket bag(s) on board. That’s how I recognized that they were tennis players. However, because Cincinnati is a smaller airport, I’m guessing Naomi was on a regional jet and that her tennis bag wouldn’t fit in the overhead or the seat in front of her. So that’s even more embarrassing for United if they lost her gate checked baggage.
One commenter, @photosbyemmah, said: “Uhm? How embarrassing for them to be the reason one of the greatest can’t play a tournament!!”
3. Ship your bags
Threads user @frmarty shared: “I learned the hard way to ship my bags UPS.” This is solid advice if you’re traveling domestically and you do it in advance if you want to save money. Always ship UPS or FedEx Ground but you have to do it almost a week before, which a professional tennis player could do since they play with so many rackets.
4. Track your bags
Don’t rely on the airlines or their app to tell you where your bags are. Pop either Apple AirTags or Samsung SmartTags in all of your checked luggage and carry-on bags. User @stickaforkinme shared this on Threads: “If you’re reading this – This is your sign to buy AirTags! 🙏🏼”
5. Shop when you get there
Unless you’re traveling to a remote destination, then you can pretty much get anything you lose at the last minute, especially in a city like Cincinnati. Have I ever told you the story how my dad forgot to pack his suit pants for my wedding and I found out an hour before we were leaving the hotel? He wanted to know if it was okay to wear shorts to the church. The hotel was able to have new pants fitted and hemmed in 45 minutes. It was expensive but anything is possible if you’re willing to pay.
User @jose_perth: “What do you need? Time for the local pro-shop to step up. Cincinnati”
6. Borrow what you need
If you can’t find a shop open, borrow from a friend or stranger if you’re really desperate. @limarnold5983 “I will lend you my Wilson pro staff racquet from the 90s!”
The good news for Naomi is that two hours later, United Airlines shared: “Hi, Naomi. We wanted to let you know we can confirm your bags have arrived in Cincinnati. Please send us a DM so we can finalize the plan to reunite you with your baggage.”
Hi, Naomi. We wanted to let you know we can confirm your bags have arrived in Cincinnati. Please send us a DM so we can finalize the plan to reunite you with your baggage. ^NB https://t.co/Y6hG6u3i8R
— United Airlines (@united) August 10, 2024
And this morning Naomi posted: “update : I received my bags 🙏🏾”
update : I received my bags 🙏🏾
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) August 10, 2024
You can bet United worked extra hard and fast since they were dealing with a public figure and what would have been a PR nightmare if Naomi really couldn’t play but these tips will help you avoid this situation.
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Great advice! I will say Cincinnati has really bounced back as an airport in the past few years. It’s not LAX or ATL or DFW. But, it has a few non stop flights to Europe. It’s a very convenient airport to fly in and out of (most of the time).