Delayed, lost luggage and damaged luggage

skywanderer

Hi,

I flew back to Ireland after a recent trip to Asia and my baggage was delayed for 2 days, when I eventually received it today the suitcase is completely destroyed. I contacted my travel insurance who were unhelpful and basically fobbed me off.

I have 3 issues here;

Issue 1;
I was delayed over 4 hours arriving into Cork much later than I had been scheduled to, this caused numerous issues to my planned itenerary.

I flew from SE Asia from Manila to Hong Kong to Amsterdam to Cork, 3 flights, due to a delay in Hong Kong I missed my connecting flight in Amsterdam to Cork and got rerouted back to Cork via London Heathrow. I thus arrived over 4 hours late and minus my checked baggage.

Issue 2,
My baggage was delayed and took over 48hrs to arrive, thankfully they found it.

Issue 3,
When said luggage arrived I discovered the suitcase has been wrecked and completely slashed but the inside lining held and thus my belongings were ok.

I flew with Aer Lingus and Cathay Pacific and British Airways from Amsterdam to London Heathrow.

During my missed connection at Amsterdam I was given nothing after getting off a 13.5hr flight, only the choice of wait 12hrs until 9pm for the second flight or route via Heathrow which I opted for. I was given no food voucher or anything; really shoddy customer service.

I really feel I should be compensated, I had to buy a whole lot of toiletries as I had nothing for 2 days, and now my suitcase which cost €70 has been wrecked and my travel insurance are refusing to coveranything due to a €75 excess.

PS. I'm a new user as I often read the forum but this was the first time I needed to ask a question, Thanks.

Atlantic Dawn

What did the airline(s) say when you asked them for compensation?

skywanderer

Just an update on this; Aer Lingus have issued me a cheque to the value of a new Suitcase which I had to purchase since my old one was so badly wrecked. Got nothing for the delay or the toiletries however.

average_runner

skywanderer wrote: »

Just an update on this; Aer Lingus have issued me a cheque to the value of a new Suitcase which I had to purchase since my old one was so badly wrecked. Got nothing for the delay or the toiletries however.

But you can still use your toiletries that you bought, so not sure why your complaining about that.

Was the delay in Hong Kong the airline fault?

grogi

skywanderer wrote: »

I really feel I should be compensated, I had to buy a whole lot of toiletries as I had nothing for 2 days, and now my suitcase which cost €70 has been wrecked and my travel insurance are refusing to coveranything due to a €75 excess.

You seem very touchy for someone called skywanderer...

You got compensated for the suitcase, you could probably get some compensation for reasonable unexpected expenses (do you have receipts) if you push it. Noway you'd get any compensation for this horrible 4 hour delay

My advice - enjoy the weather instead.

skywanderer

average_runner wrote: »

But you can still use your toiletries that you bought, so not sure why your complaining about that.

Was the delay in Hong Kong the airline fault?

The original delay of 1 hour was the fault of Cathay Pacfic, this then incurred another delay of 1hr which was the fault of Chinese Air Traffic Control, their convoluted routing up the East Coast of China before turning North East into Mongolia and Russian Siberia. Yeah I still have the toiletries but my point is they were an unnecessary expense for me at the time; but will balance out over time as I use them up and saves me not having to buy them at a later date as they are not perishable items.

grogi wrote: »

You seem very touchy for someone called skywanderer...

You got compensated for the suitcase, you could probably get some compensation for reasonable unexpected expenses (do you have receipts) if you push it. Noway you'd get any compensation for this horrible 4 hour delay

My advice - enjoy the weather instead.

I got paid for the suitcase so I'm relieved at that, got a nice one too which wasn't cheap so I'm looking at it like this; I got a new suitcase for free when I'd have had to buy a new one later in a few years when my old one would be finished and worn out anyway. The new one has a five year guarantee which is handy too.

coylemj

If you had adequate travel insurance you could have claimed for the money you spent on essential toiletries in the event of a missed connection, delay due to weather or your bag not showing up but I have no sympathy for someone who travels on a three-leg trip from Asia to Europe with no emergency supplies in a carry-on bag, what were you thinking?

skywanderer

coylemj wrote: »

If you had adequate travel insurance you could have claimed for the money you spent on essential toiletries in the event of a missed connection, delay due to weather or your bag not showing up but I have no sympathy for someone who travels on a three-leg trip from Asia to Europe with no emergency supplies in a carry-on bag, what were you thinking?

My travel insurance refused to pay out blaming the airline, also refused to payout on the bag due to the excess. I actually had plenty emergency supplies in my carryon including my medication and some clothes, as I was returning home it wasn't as big a deal as it might have been compared to had it happened when I was on the outward leg.

The 100ml liquids and gels rule sees me carry full size toiletries when I go long haul in my checked luggage as I only use the small ones if I go short-haul on Ryanair with only carryon for a weekend etc.

ProudDUB

skywanderer wrote: »

Just an update on this; Aer Lingus have issued me a cheque to the value of a new Suitcase which I had to purchase since my old one was so badly wrecked. Got nothing for the delay or the toiletries however.

What did they say when you asked them for compensation? Did you file a claim for your out of pocket expenses with them?

My bags went AWOL on an Aer Lingus flight from Chicago. I filed a claim at Dublin Airport before I left the terminal building. The bags turned up the next day, but I spent 80 quid on pjs, a change of clothing and some toiletries to tide me over until the bags showed up. I got the money back from them.

It's been over 4 years since it happened, so I can't remember the exact specifics, but I think I followed a link on their website on what to do. I mailed them in my receipts and I got a check about a month later. I also included the taxi fare to/from town in my claim, as there was no effing way I was going to be messing about with Dublin Bus at 8am on a Monday morning, jet lagged out of my brain.

percy212

You could claim for any clothing, essentials that you needed to purchase during the 48 hour wait. Contact the airline at fault. If you persist they will refund.

skywanderer

Just a final update and closure for this four months later, Cathay Pacific finally compensated me for the delay and expenses, it took a few emails and receipts etc. but it was handled to my satisfaction thankfully. As a result of their good customer service I am now very likely to fly with them again in future.