Baggage handler/thief stole our cash on Easyjet flight

Letscatchem

Flew to Barcelona on Wednesday 22 Feb 2012, Easyjet advised all passengers at the end of the boarding line that their bags may not fit in the cabin so we could check them in at no cost. In our suitcase was £450.00, in Euros. It was padlocked and in a white envelope hidden amongst the clothes. We were told to put the bag by the steps to the plane, where we watched it until a handler carried it away, and we boarded the plane. When we got to Barcelona, the suitcase had been opened and the money had been stolen. Reported the theft to Menzies at Barca.

This must happen EVERY day when hand luggage is put in the aircraft hold. These handlers KNOW that there are valuables in these bags as they were intended for the cabin. We expect a lengthy battle to get this money back, so does anyone on here know the best course of action to take.

We have gone direct to Easyjet, the police, and may claim on insurance, and expect it to take ages - but this is actual theft - by the looks of it - by dodgy staff at Menzies Aviation/Easyjet, not 'loss'. Cannot believe the revolting people who do this every day and get away with it. After all the security one goes through to get the bag onto the plane just for some random thieving bloke to open it and pilfer and do what they like. Surely the airlines have to take steps to protect luggage being opened etc?

Cannot imagine this happening in the US. So why here, in a massive airport like Luton?

malkie76

Sounds terrible
I think the airlines stance is in their small print which states no liability for items lost stolen or damaged in hold luggage.
This doesn't help you now, but you should have taken the cash out prior to putting the bag in the hold.
Report the loss to the police then claim on insurance - however your insurance might not cover loss of cash in hold luggage

aaroncaz

Surely the theft would had happened at the Barcelona end, when the cases would have been scanned and the metal strip in the notes would have shown up??

Biggles

malkie76 wrote: »

I think the airlines stance is in their small print which states no liability for items lost stolen or damaged in hold luggage.

The Montreal Convention covers you for loss or damage to hold baggage. Airlines will be defensive, may ask for receipts (difficult for cash!), and won't cover you for anything forbidden to be included in hold baggage. But they are responsible unless they can show otherwise.

Ponkle22

I didn't realise you are asked sometimes to put hand baggage in the hold. Was it compulsory that you put it in the hold? What about stuff you wanted or needed on the flight and didn't want to go missing? Confused.....


(sorry this happened to you and thanks for the heads up).

gardner1

Letscatchem wrote: »

Flew to Barcelona on Wednesday 22 Feb 2012, Easyjet advised all passengers at the end of the boarding line that their bags may not fit in the cabin so we could check them in at no cost. In our suitcase was £450.00, in Euros. It was padlocked and in a white envelope hidden amongst the clothes. We were told to put the bag by the steps to the plane, where we watched it until a handler carried it away, and we boarded the plane. When we got to Barcelona, the suitcase had been opened and the money had been stolen. Reported the theft to Menzies at Barca.

This must happen EVERY day when hand luggage is put in the aircraft hold. These handlers KNOW that there are valuables in these bags as they were intended for the cabin. We expect a lengthy battle to get this money back, so does anyone on here know the best course of action to take.

We have gone direct to Easyjet, the police, and may claim on insurance, and expect it to take ages - but this is actual theft - by the looks of it - by dodgy staff at Menzies Aviation/Easyjet, not 'loss'. Cannot believe the revolting people who do this every day and get away with it. After all the security one goes through to get the bag onto the plane just for some random thieving bloke to open it and pilfer and do what they like. Surely the airlines have to take steps to protect luggage being opened etc?

Cannot imagine this happening in the US. So why here, in a massive airport like Luton?

sorry for your loss but...
if i was told to put bag in plane hold there is no way i would have left the 450e in it

bagand96

Firstly, sorry to hear this, how awful. I assume you have followed the steps on this page http://easyjet.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4054

Most of the legislation I can find, including Montreal Convention, refers to Lost, Damaged, or Delayed baggage. Now I suspect the airline may argue that it does not fall into any of those categories and direct you towards your travel insurance. This page from the CAA http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=2211&pageid=12711 also advises about travel insurance.

You really need to wait for a reply from easyJet to see where they stand on the issue. You will also need to check with your travel insurance as there may be a time limit by which claims must be filed.

malkie76 wrote:

however your insurance might not cover loss of cash in hold luggage

An interesting point. This was hand baggage, that easyJet then stated had to go in the hold due to lack of room in the cabin. A grey area?

aaroncaz wrote:

Surely the theft would had happened at the Barcelona end, when the cases would have been scanned and the metal strip in the notes would have shown up??

Because this was hand baggage the only time it would have been scanned was when the OP went through security, with the bag. When the OP left it at the bottom of the aircraft steps, a baggage handler would have taken it and loaded it into the hold. It won't have been scanned on arrival at Barcelona, although I would imagine this is where the theft took place.

Very unlikely that a baggage handler at Luton could have done it between the steps and loading it.

Ponkle22 wrote:

I didn't realise you are asked sometimes to put hand baggage in the hold. Was it compulsory that you put it in the hold? What about stuff you wanted or needed on the flight and didn't want to go missing?

Some low cost airlines now do this. Due to the policy of charging for checked baggage, we all know people are taking much more hand baggage. On busy flights this often means space in the cabin runs out, and therefore they'll put some hand baggage in the hold.

Letscatchem wrote:

Cannot imagine this happening in the US. So why here, in a massive airport like Luton?

You don't know it happened at LTN, whereevr it did happen it was caused by some dishonest employees. Most businesses have bad apples. Not defending it, but its hardly indicative. There are also countless examples on the internet of baggage being completely ruined in the US by government agencies, all in the name of security. Please don't think I'm being funny, this must be awful for you, but in your correspondence with easyjet/Menzies/Insurance, you will need to keep emotion out of it and just keep to the known facts.

Westin

Why didn't you quickly take the envelope of money (plus anything else of value or needed for the flight) out of the case before handing it over?

ferf1223

bagand96 wrote: »

Some low cost airlines now do this. Due to the policy of charging for checked baggage, we all know people are taking much more hand baggage. On busy flights this often means space in the cabin runs out, and therefore they'll put some hand baggage in the hold.

Not just low cost airlines - we just got back from a trip to the US and on one of the internal legs with AA there were so many people with wheeled cases that the overhead lockers filled up and everyone else had to have their cases put in the hold if they were too big to go under the seat in front...a lot of people travel with hand luggage only if they can to avoid the wait/potential loss or delay of luggage.

I am sorry for the OP's loss, but have to agree with those who would have taken the cash out of the case before handing it over...being padlocked is irrelevant, it's very easy to get into a locked (zippered) case...I assume the OP either didn't think to remove the cash (perhaps in the rush and sudden request to put the bag in the old).

Edited to add that i had something stolen out of checked baggage in the US (several years ago now)...so I wouldn't assume it wouldn't happen there.

claire16c

ferf1223 wrote: »

Not just low cost airlines - we just got back from a trip to the US and on one of the internal legs with AA there were so many people with wheeled cases that the overhead lockers filled up and everyone else had to have their cases put in the hold if they were too big to go under the seat in front...a lot of people travel with hand luggage only if they can to avoid the wait/potential loss or delay of luggage.

I am sorry for the OP's loss, but have to agree with those who would have taken the cash out of the case before handing it over...being padlocked is irrelevant, it's very easy to get into a locked (zippered) case...I assume the OP either didn't think to remove the cash (perhaps in the rush and sudden request to put the bag in the old).

Edited to add that i had something stolen out of checked baggage in the US (several years ago now)...so I wouldn't assume it wouldn't happen there.

Thats happened with me too on AA as I think you can bring up to 23kg on board so sometimes if the plane is busy you have to check large items at the gate.

I feel bad you lost so much money but you were mad to leave it in there before checking it. I honestly can not believe someone would do that.

In the US, like here, they tell you not to put valuables in your suitcase. But some people dont listen and then go on tripadvisor and then compain their ipop/camera/laptop etc was stolen.

Would you leave valuables in a bag that was out of your sight anywhere else? I doubt it. So why is a bag going on an airplane any different?

You dont even need someone to steal your things - what if your suitcase just got lost?

luci

claire16c wrote: »

Would you leave valuables in a bag that was out of your sight anywhere else? I doubt it. So why is a bag going on an airplane any different?

You dont even need someone to steal your things - what if your suitcase just got lost?

It is easy to judge and take the high ground if you haven't been put in that situation yourself. Yes we all know, you don't put valuables in checked luggage.

However the OP didn't expect this piece of luggage to be checked into the hold. He was told at the last minute while boarding the plane that it would have to go into the hold and quite possibly didn't have time to think that there were valuables in it.

There was a similar situation on another forum. A couple were told they had to put their hand luggage into the luggage compartment of a coach on arrival as there wasn't room inside. When they arrived at their hotel the case was missing with all the elderly gentleman's medication. They ended up flying home 4 days into a 2 week holiday as they didn't know how to go about getting it replaced.

I think Easyjet have some responsibility here as they "instructed" the OP to put hand baggage in the hold. It wasn't by choice.