Damaged Glasses by Birmingham Airport Security

crocket

Unfortunately as I had to get up at 2am, I couldn't wear my contact lenses as my eyes were hurting. So I popped on my glasses.

At Airport security, I saw signs for any metal objects should be placed in a tray, my full rimmed metal glasses went into a tray (securely) there is no way they could have fallen out of the tray as the tray is at minimum 25cm deep. They were not placed on top of baggage but at the bottom of the tray.

Anyway, the magnets within the machine must have lifted the glasses out of the tray and through the rollers.

After they had gone missing within the security machine, the security manager advised I shouldn't have put in the glasses however later admitted liability after I advised one of their members of staff took the tray and looked into it. They also had to stop the line to disable some magnets that were holding it to the machine.

So they took photographs of my destroyed glasses (both lenses out) and snapped in 3 places and left me an address and email to write in for reimbursement.

When I emailed them, they are now advising it's my fault as I didn't put them into a glasses case.

Where do I stand with this?

I emailed the CEO with the same response.

Standard glasses from Specsavers at a cost of £165, I provided them the receipt too.

I write further to your emails of 29 May 2014 regarding the abovementioned.

I have now had the opportunity to discuss the matter with Paul Kehoe, CEO, who has advised that our stance has not changed in that if a passenger chooses to place their glasses/sunglasses in a tray, the responsibility is on them to ensure they are placed correctly/safely in a tray, in their protective case.

It is with regret that I am unable to progress your claim further.

bod1467

Can claim on home insurance?

crocket

No home insurance. Surely the care is in their hands? Do they expect you to put your coat in a bag to stop damage if it got caught in a roller? There is no signs stating this.

System

Anyway, the magnets within the machine must have lifted the glasses out of the tray and through the rollers.

What magnets? I thought they were X-ray machines?

crocket

They are x-ray machines however the rollers contain some form of magnets.

From another website: Some believe you should avoid the powerful magnets in the drive motors of conveyor belts.

The airport security manager said this happens all the time with glasses, but didn't explain why or how. Just that glasses should not be put through the machine! But no signage stating 'no glasses'.

peachyprice

I don't think my husband ever takes his glasses off when he goes through security.

honeybean

When my mum and I went thro airport security recently she never took her glasses off.

Caz3121

I go through airport security twice every week and never take my glasses off

AnnieO1234

Never ever taken glasses off unless I've set the alarms off somehow and it's last ditch attempt. And whenever something like that has happened they've always just been passed through rather than through the machine. Unfortunately OP I think you'll have to rely either on the airport/airlines generosity or paying for a cheap pair. FWIW Asda, tesco etc all do much cheaper but designer glasses.

X

jaybeetoo

crocket wrote: »

They are x-ray machines however the rollers contain some form of magnets.

The rollers are under the tray which has high sides. I don't understand how the magnets would cause the glasses to jump out of the tray and then for them to fall down through the rollers. I travel through Birmingham airport quite often.

If the magnets were that strong people wouldn't put laptops and other electronic items through the scanner.

stevemLS

I think it would have to be a very powerful magnet indeed in order that the magnetic force generated by the rims to glasses was sufficient to have them flying out of the tray.

Unless, of course, the frames were cast iron and in the style of Dame Edna Everage?