Turkish Airlines - Delayed and then damaged luggage

theguzman

Am currently traveling around South East Asia and going home to Ireland in the next two weeks. I flew with Aer Lingus and Turkish Airlines connecting in Istanbul before arriving in the Philippines for a spot of island hopping around the various islands.

Long story short, I flew from Cork to Heathrow to Istanbul to Manila, I had one piece of checked in luggage 21kg out of a potential 30kg allowance. Luckily enough I had placed my apple airtag inside this piece of luggage.

When I arrived in the Philippines a day later my luggage was lost, I tracked the airtag and the suitcase was still in London Heathrow. Communication was abysmal from Turkish Airlines. I had packed very little carryon and 99% of my stuff was in my checked luggage. I decided I'd give it a day or two since I was staying close to the airport anyway. Nothing came and no updates, I then went and bought some toiletries and basic clothes like shorts and t shirts. I bought them in department stores and have my receipt.

By day 3 still no update and I was departing for my grand tour of boating and island hopping so I had to buy alot of stuff, shorts, small backpack, proper toilitries, basically nearly everything i had packed only in lesser amounts plus new runners and sandals. I spent over €400 to reequip myself whilst my suitcase was still sitting in Heathrow.

During my week of island hopping eventually my suitcase was found 5 days later and delivered to Manila and sent to a friends house here. After I returned to the capital 9 days after arrival I was eventually reunited with my luggage, with my hardshell suitcase thrashed, wheels broken off and it is only fit for the dump.

Turkish Airlines now owe me close to €600 for a new suitcase plus all my out of pocket expenses for clothing, footwear, backpack and toiletries. Unsurprisingly they are not answering my emails and the live webchat is abysmal. And to add insult to injury I must now buy a second suitcase here to transport all the new stuff I bought home since it wont all fit in my current existing and heavily damaged suitcase. I know if I rockup to the airport in 2 weeks time with 2 suitcases instead of 1 they'll be looking to charge me nearly €400 in excess baggage when they should be adding a second bag to my booking over their own mistake.

I have travel insurance but haven't done anything with it yet, I am really annoyed and it is looking like I will have to get a solicitor involved or the small claims court when I get home.

Has anyone ever found themselves in this situation before? I had my suitcase wrecked by Cathay Pacific before on the homeward leg and they compensated me and paid for the cost of the new one.

Citrus_8

You said long story short in the second paragraph and then wrote a long story of 6 more paragraphs...

theguzman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121192162#Comment_121192162

You must live a very sad life, thanks to the kind boardsie who gave me a direct number in Dublin which is not listed on their website, I got through to them within minutes and they are agreeing to play ball anyway so lets wait and see.