We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Why cant airlines manage baggage

Options
Not sure if this belongs here, but here goes. I went on holiday last week and had a lovely relaxing time in the sun away from gloomy depressing England. Only trouble is that Virgin and American Airlines failed to transfer my bags in time through Miami to the Turks and Caicos Islands. It was after all about 3 hours through Miami. So the bags arrived a day late and I thought well this is this part of the world, managed in my togs, had a spare pair of knickers and hey had a good time. On the way back, it was an 10 hour stop over in Miami, with AA arriving at 9:30 am and Virgin leaving at 8pm. On arriving at Heathrow my bags didn't arrive, still stranded in Miami. Can anyone tell me why with such a long time bags cannot be moved from one place to another. Virgin's call centre, another in India, left an incomprehesible message. I called and yes the bags would be delivered today. No they weren't. Another big brand I cannot trust. From now on it is cabin bags or my handbag only when I travel. Any other unreasonable people out there who expect bags to travel with them and arrive on the airport baggage belt? Or am I the only idiot?

Comments

  • Most airlines have a very low incidence of lost/misplaced baggage, around 0.5%, with the worstr offenders going as high as 2% or so. These are rough figures but the point is that when they handle thousands of bags every day, some, through human or machine error, will go missing as no system is perfect. No consolation when it happens to you but just a fact of life.
    And if, you know, your history...
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 74,125 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I returned from the Domincan Republic on Friday minus bags, and the worrying thing is as at this morning no one has found them and I've been told to claim from my insurance.

    It was chaos at Gatwick as there were two DR flights in and the baggage handlers were using the same baggage reclaim for both. My bags appear to be the only ones lost from my flight, but there were about 100 other pasengers from the other flight also with lost bags.

    I'm beginning to give up hope that I shalls see it again.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • butler_helen
    butler_helen Posts: 1,866 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    On a good note, I had two bags arrive on a Qatar airways flight from Malaysia, which had clearly been abused. They were smashed in the corner and dirty/stained.

    The airline were really helpful and within two days I had two new suitcases delivered to my door (which were bigger and better than the originals) free of charge with no claims to my insurance policy.

    I hope you get your bags back, I've had to wait for lost luggage before and it isn't fun!
    If you aim for the moon if you miss at least you will land among the stars!
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 244K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.