BA British Airways Lost Luggage

BA_Lost_Luggage

Hello All,

I just want to share with you my nightmare experience with British Airways losing my luggage.

I paid an extra 41 Euros to check in an extra bag, actually it was a box of wine, BA lost the checked in bag and won't refund me the extra fee that I paid.

I then submitted a claim for the value of the wine and British Airways denied my claim on the grounds that wine is fragile "as stated in their terms and conditions". When I was checking in this box of wine, I did inform the agent that it was wine and she put a fragile sticker on the box. I think that would have been a suitable time to inform the customer (me) that they are not responsible for loss or damage to my box of wine.

I have travel insurance, but travel insurance doesn't cover wine either because it is considered a perishable item (I didn't know this). This wording is mis-leading, I am sure most of us don't consider wine a perishable item, especially German Rieslings which is what I was bringing back.

So the lesson is, IF YOU PAY TO CHECK IN AN EXTRA PIECE OF LUGGAGE AND BRITISH AIRWAYS LOOSES IT, THEY WILL NOT REFUND YOU THE FEE FOR THE EXTRA BAGGAGE.

DO NOT BRING WINE OR FOOD FROM YOUR HOLIDAY COUNTRY AS THIS IS NOT COVERD BY BRITISH AIRWAYS AND MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES.

montyrebel

You should have drunk it all and brought it back inside of you, much cheaper that way

voiceofreason

BA_Lost_Luggage wrote: »

Hello All,

I just want to share with you my nightmare experience with British Airways losing my luggage.

I paid an extra 41 Euros to check in an extra bag, actually it was a box of wine, BA lost the checked in bag and won't refund me the extra fee that I paid.

I then submitted a claim for the value of the wine and British Airways denied my claim on the grounds that wine is fragile "as stated in their terms and conditions". When I was checking in this box of wine, I did inform the agent that it was wine and she put a fragile sticker on the box. I think that would have been a suitable time to inform the customer (me) that they are not responsible for loss or damage to my box of wine.

I have travel insurance, but travel insurance doesn't cover wine either because it is considered a perishable item (I didn't know this). This wording is mis-leading, I am sure most of us don't consider wine a perishable item, especially German Rieslings which is what I was bringing back.

So the lesson is, IF YOU PAY TO CHECK IN AN EXTRA PIECE OF LUGGAGE AND BRITISH AIRWAYS LOOSES IT, THEY WILL NOT REFUND YOU THE FEE FOR THE EXTRA BAGGAGE.

DO NOT BRING WINE OR FOOD FROM YOUR HOLIDAY COUNTRY AS THIS IS NOT COVERD BY BRITISH AIRWAYS AND MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES.

What's "nightmarish" about this? Clearly stated in T&Cs of both BA's ticket sale and your travel insurance - mind, it's puzzling that you can't see in any case that bottles of wine are both fragile and perishable (and why should Riesling be any less perishable than any other wine?).......

Only moral of the story here seems to be "read the small print" - and surely you should do this anyway?

pinkshoes

voiceofreason wrote: »

What's "nightmarish" about this? Clearly stated in T&Cs of both BA's ticket sale and your travel insurance - mind, it's puzzling that you can't see in any case that bottles of wine are both fragile and perishable (and why should Riesling be any less perishable than any other wine?).......

Only moral of the story here seems to be "read the small print" - and surely you should do this anyway?

Then perhaps the check out chick should have pointed this out to the OP...? (given she knew what it was, and labelled the contents as "fragile").

When checking extra bags in on the way home, you don't often have time to read the small print...

I would be writing a stiffly worded letter to the MD of BA (sent recorded delivery). You're not claiming for a damaged bag, you're claiming for a LOST bag, so the contents of it should be irrelevant, and at the very least they should refund the 41 Euros.

BA_Lost_Luggage

I finally spoke to the Airport Transport Users Council (the consumer watchdog for air travellers) and they said that I have a case. BA should have never accepted the box if they felt it was too fragile for travel. I am waiting for them to contact BA and hopefully have this problem resolved. Thank goodness for consumer watchdog groups!

The problem with small print is, as thorough as I usually am, I didn't think of reading the small print at the airport. The 6 bottles of wine weren't a planned purchase. Also why should wine lovers be punished for loving wine and not being able to bring some back with you on your travels. People by souvenirs, I buy wine.

In response to the voiceofreason, I don't count wine as perishable, it certainly doesn't decay and high quality Rieslings are one of the longest lived wines in the world. They would out live me.