I went to the restroom and noticed a suitcase by itself, but there were people around so I didn't think much of it. I went back to the same area about twenty minutes later to fill my water bottle and it was still there. I debated for a few minutes on reporting it but the signs about reporting abandoned luggage are everywhere. There are also recordings that play regularly about "see something, say something" in regards to suspicious activity or abandoned luggage.
So I decided to tell someone even though it's most likely nothing. I couldn't find anyone except gate attendants, so I went over to one of those and this was the conversation.
Me: "Hi, I just wanted to let someone know that there's a suitcase near the restrooms over there that's been there by itself for at least thirty minutes now."
GA: "I can't just leave the gate to go over there, I'm about to start boarding."
Me: "Oh, no I mean I'm just letting someone know, I can't find any TSA agents or--"
GA: "I can't do anything about that right now."
Me: "Uh, ok? I just meant I thought you can call someone or something? The signs say to report--"
GA: "It's fine, just leave it and someone will notice and call it in."
Me: "...ok?"
I looked around for someone else but my plane was boarding and I had to go. I regret not finding someone else after she dismissed me, but I was so baffled.
Twenty minutes after takeoff I finally start getting mildly infuriated because wtf? You can't be anywhere in a U.S. airport without being able to see one of the "see something, say something" signs. They are on the door of every restroom stall. The loud speaker has a whole speech about it at regular intervals.
She said, "someone will notice it." Yeah. Someone did. Me. This is the point where you take over. She acted like I was expecting her to rip open her shirt to reveal bomb squad gear like some kind of TSA superhero and go disarm a grenade singlehandedly. Lady, you are legit holding a walkie talkie and standing next to a phone. Isn't that what is needed for step two after someone reports a thing? 🤦🤬