Luggage Claims, Lost or Stolen

[Aviador]

Revealed: True scale of airline incompetence.. 1m bags vanish each year

AIRLINES are losing and damaging more bags than ever, says a hard-hitting report.

They mishandled 42million bags worldwide in 2007, compared with 34million in 2006 and 30million in 2005.

More than one million pieces of luggage were lost forever in 2007, figures from the UK's Air Transport Users Council showed - one for every 2000 passengers.

And when passengers make a claim, they often get far less compensation than the bag and its contents are worth.

The council warn the problem will get worse with passenger numbers set to double in the next decade.

They say Irish low-fare carrier Ryanair "often limits passengers to £15 whatever the length of the bag delay", while Jet2 "refuses to reimburse passengers for claims under £30".

Airlines often restrict the amount they will pay out if passengers don't have receipts for what was in the bag.

Council chairman Tina Tietjen said: "On too many occasions, passengers are not fairly compensated because they do not have receipts or because the airline are taking into account depreciation of the value of the items.

"And with delayed baggage, passengers are often left out of pocket because airlines will not reimburse them fully for expenses they incurred buying essential items."

She added: "Airlines should offer settlements that better reflect the loss. Airlines are still too quick to load risk on to the passenger."

Sourse

 

[Aviador]

Re: Baggage woes

I know that the ultimately the airlines are responsible but the loss of baggage must surely be caused by the airport handling agents cencerned.

 

[Sue Redesdale]

Re: Baggage woes

I find the always blame it on other people - the handling agents or the airport. Am I correct in thinking that it is the airline's responsibility?

 

[Aviador]

Re: Baggage woes

Welcome to the forum Sue!

True Sue you're right, the responsibility does lie with the airline but it's usually the airlines handling agent that handles the baggage on behalf of the airline. Does anyone here know if claims made by people for lost or damaged bags are past onto the handling agent from the airline?

 

[Aviador]

Airlines lose 42 million items of luggage in a year

Airlines mishandled 42 million items of passengers' luggage in a single year, the latest figures show.

Problems also arose when aircraft left before the luggage was loaded on, or when the airport code or flight number was misread on the luggage tags Photo: PA

An increasing number of bags are being delayed, damaged, mislaid or lost, according to the magazine Which? Holiday.

Experts fear that with air passenger numbers expected to reach 2.75 billion by 2011, the amount of mishandled bags could reach 50 million a year.

Air rage incident sparked by model 'catching boyfriend in compromising position'The majority of mishandling incidents occurred when bags were being transferred from one aircraft to another, according to SITA, a company specialising in IT solutions for the aviation industry.

Problems also arose when aircraft left before the luggage was loaded on, or when the airport code or flight number was misread on the luggage tags.

SITA said that baggage handling is at saturation point at many airports around the world.

The report by Which? Holiday also found that no-frills airlines such as Ryanair and Jet2 paid out the lowest amount of compensation to people affected.

It said Ryanair often limits payouts to £15, regardless of how long their bag has been delayed, and Jet2 refuses to reimburse people for claims under £30.

According to WorldTracer, which tracks missing luggage, 42 million bags were mishandled in 2007 compared with 34 million in 2006 and 30 million in 2005.

Which? Holiday editor, Lorna Cowan, said: "When you hand over your bag at the airport check-in you trust the airline will get it to your destination – preferably at the same time as your own arrival. Unfortunately this is not always the case."

Airlines are responsible for checked-in baggage, although their liability is limited so passengers are advised to obtain a special declaration for valuables from the airline, or carry them in their hand luggage.

After 21 days you can claim compensation if a bag still has not turned up but the maximum is just under £1,000 – which is often unlikely to cover the full cost of replacing the items.

Research published in 2007 from insurance company Insure and Go showed claims for items stolen from luggage was on the increase.

A BBC Inside Out investigation screened the same year highlighted the problems with baggage handlers and resulted in an Essex police inquiry and tighter security at Stansted airport.

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