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Checked luggage liabilty
gavrc
Posts: 8,226 Forumite
Just a note of warning for anyone flying.
I recently had cash stolen from my luggage on a BA flight back from Alicante airport. Not a huge amount, just my sterling that I didn't need to carry around on holiday. It was in my hand luggage that was checked at the desk as it was a busy flight and it didn't occur to me to remove it. On arrival it was gone. One can only assume some less than trustworthy chap scanning bags spotted coins and opened the bag to pad his pay check.
After reporting it at the BA desk in Gatwick luggage reclaim and receiving appropriate sympathy and assurances that I would be refunded, I contacted customer services a couple of days later for an update. The representative told me there was nothing to be done, it was my fault for having valuables in my bag and their small print excludes them from all responsibility while carrying my luggage.
The outcome is your travel insurance is the only comeback against light fingered staff once you hand your bag over. The carrier will have nothing to do with it even though you're paying them to transport it. Make sure anything of any value is with you at all times.
gav
I recently had cash stolen from my luggage on a BA flight back from Alicante airport. Not a huge amount, just my sterling that I didn't need to carry around on holiday. It was in my hand luggage that was checked at the desk as it was a busy flight and it didn't occur to me to remove it. On arrival it was gone. One can only assume some less than trustworthy chap scanning bags spotted coins and opened the bag to pad his pay check.
After reporting it at the BA desk in Gatwick luggage reclaim and receiving appropriate sympathy and assurances that I would be refunded, I contacted customer services a couple of days later for an update. The representative told me there was nothing to be done, it was my fault for having valuables in my bag and their small print excludes them from all responsibility while carrying my luggage.
The outcome is your travel insurance is the only comeback against light fingered staff once you hand your bag over. The carrier will have nothing to do with it even though you're paying them to transport it. Make sure anything of any value is with you at all times.
gav
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Comments
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I think this is the problem when you have hand luggage that may be, at last minute, put into the hold.
I always ensure that I have a smaller bag (inside my main hand luggage bag if that is what the rules for the specific airline says) with everything I would not want to be separated from.
If I was ever asked to put my bag into the hold (I never have been) I'd whip out the smaller bag.
I guess you just have to put it down to experience.
Was your hand luggage actually checked in at the desk or at the gate?0 -
Just a note of warning for anyone flying.
I recently had cash stolen from my luggage on a BA flight back from Alicante airport. Not a huge amount, just my sterling that I didn't need to carry around on holiday. It was in my hand luggage that was checked at the desk as it was a busy flight and it didn't occur to me to remove it. On arrival it was gone. One can only assume some less than trustworthy chap scanning bags spotted coins and opened the bag to pad his pay check.
After reporting it at the BA desk in Gatwick luggage reclaim and receiving appropriate sympathy and assurances that I would be refunded, I contacted customer services a couple of days later for an update. The representative told me there was nothing to be done, it was my fault for having valuables in my bag and their small print excludes them from all responsibility while carrying my luggage.
The outcome is your travel insurance is the only comeback against light fingered staff once you hand your bag over. The carrier will have nothing to do with it even though you're paying them to transport it. Make sure anything of any value is with you at all times.
Apparently it's common practice for baggage handlers to go riffling through our luggage and have it away with items that take their fancy. Well...
I was stopped at customs at Heathrow Airport a few months ago.
I'd packed my Chromebook in my luggage and was told I was very foolish for doing so because items were often stolen from luggage.
I love my Chromebook, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if it was stolen. The data is worth more to me than the item itself; and that's all safely backed up.
After I returned home it occurred to me that if baggage handlers can take items from luggage, they could just as easily add items to it too. It's easy to see how unsuspecting travellers could be used as couriers for smuggling illegal items.0 -
Everyone had their hand luggage taken at the check-in desk.Was your hand luggage actually checked in at the desk or at the gate?
Now that's a scary thought. And very easy to arrange. If those guys in the back room can't be trusted to not take stuff out, how can they be trusted not to put stuff in?It's easy to see how unsuspecting travellers could be used as couriers for smuggling illegal items.
gav0 -
I wonder if you have a claim (though small claims) as you were not expecting to be told at the plane door that you could not take your hand luggage in to the cabin and you have been told that valuable should be kept with you. At £80 its worth a punt.Do you want your money back, and a bit more, search for 'money claim online' - They don't like it up 'em Captain Mainwaring0
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At the plane door?I wonder if you have a claim (though small claims) as you were not expecting to be told at the plane door that you could not take your hand luggage in to the cabin and you have been told that valuable should be kept with you.
The OP told us:Everyone had their hand luggage taken at the check-in desk.0 -
After I returned home it occurred to me that if baggage handlers can take items from luggage, they could just as easily add items to it too. It's easy to see how unsuspecting travellers could be used as couriers for smuggling illegal items.
Putting a package in a stranger's bag? Hardly a fool-proof way of ensuring that any consignment made it to its intended destination.Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam0 -
whatmichaelsays wrote: »Putting a package in a stranger's bag? Hardly a fool-proof way of ensuring that any consignment made it to its intended destination.
If I was a naughty boy, I'd just tie a big ribbon or something to the bag I'd put my contraband in. A phone call to my accomplice at the other end to tell him, what flight and what the bag looks like.
But I'm one of the good guys. (And I don't work in an airport).
gav0 -
...I always ensure that I have a smaller bag (inside my main hand luggage bag if that is what the rules for the specific airline says) with everything I would not want to be separated from.
If I was ever asked to put my bag into the hold (I never have been) I'd whip out the smaller bag...
I have been, once. When we got to the check-in desk we were told everyone had to put all belongings in the hold. The only things anyone was allowed to take on board with them were their travel documents, and I think your baby's bottle of formula if you had a baby with you. Nothing else under any circumstances, not even bought airside.
But it was that day there was all the palaver over a supposed liquid bomb plot. We had no idea what was going on until we got to our destination and saw the news, it turned out we were quite lucky we'd been able to fly at all really, and hadn't even been delayed much. Wonder what the airline would have done if anyone had anything go missing from their checked bag then?0 -
it didn't occur to me to remove it. The representative told me there was nothing to be done, it was my fault for having valuables in my bag .
I'm sorry, but yes, it is your fault, do you really need to be told not to leave cash or other valuables in checked luggage?
It would have taken two seconds to remove it from your hand luggage before it was put in the hold, you chose not to.Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear0
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