Sunnyjohn
4th Jul 2012, 20:31
Oh, dear . . .
When the last Friday the school pupils from La Eliana (Valencia) flew to Dublin to enjoy a summer program with host families, they did not imagine the ordeal in which they would make the trip. Days later, most of them expected their suitcases to arrive in the Irish capital; however their luggage did not arrive with their flight. The group of schoolchildren made a stopover in Madrid and Iberia, the company responsible, asserts, "the bags are still missing there."
It appears that the confusion is due to a problem with loading luggage on airplanes. According to Alejandro Monzonís, director of IALE, " the tickets were bought with Iberia but we delegated the Iberia flight to Iberia Express, the 'low-cost' arm of the company. These new aircraft support less load, so this caused a jam of bags'. So far, only 6 of the 100 students have their suitcases with them.
Because of the setback, "there are children who are desperate," he complains. The host families had to buy the necessary garments, "in the form of pyjamas or underwear, which could be washed every day for children to wear", says Alexandro.
Also, to come to some agreement with the airline on compensation is an additional difficulty: "We do not agree that the responsibility is Iberia' an Iberia Express spokesperson says. 'We can not undertake to return the bags'. For now, each pupil has been allocated 50 euros a day, although "we are told that you can only recover the money by placing a claim," says the director, who also expressed a sense of powerlessness. "Parents of students are very rebellious and ready to go to Madrid to demand an explanation."
On Monday another group of 50 student arrived at the Irish airport from Valencia via Madrid and Iberia Express, of which 31 have not yet recovered luggage. For its part, the head of Iberia has declined to comment for this newspaper about the issue.
From Las Provincias, translated by Google and me.
When the last Friday the school pupils from La Eliana (Valencia) flew to Dublin to enjoy a summer program with host families, they did not imagine the ordeal in which they would make the trip. Days later, most of them expected their suitcases to arrive in the Irish capital; however their luggage did not arrive with their flight. The group of schoolchildren made a stopover in Madrid and Iberia, the company responsible, asserts, "the bags are still missing there."
It appears that the confusion is due to a problem with loading luggage on airplanes. According to Alejandro Monzonís, director of IALE, " the tickets were bought with Iberia but we delegated the Iberia flight to Iberia Express, the 'low-cost' arm of the company. These new aircraft support less load, so this caused a jam of bags'. So far, only 6 of the 100 students have their suitcases with them.
Because of the setback, "there are children who are desperate," he complains. The host families had to buy the necessary garments, "in the form of pyjamas or underwear, which could be washed every day for children to wear", says Alexandro.
Also, to come to some agreement with the airline on compensation is an additional difficulty: "We do not agree that the responsibility is Iberia' an Iberia Express spokesperson says. 'We can not undertake to return the bags'. For now, each pupil has been allocated 50 euros a day, although "we are told that you can only recover the money by placing a claim," says the director, who also expressed a sense of powerlessness. "Parents of students are very rebellious and ready to go to Madrid to demand an explanation."
On Monday another group of 50 student arrived at the Irish airport from Valencia via Madrid and Iberia Express, of which 31 have not yet recovered luggage. For its part, the head of Iberia has declined to comment for this newspaper about the issue.
From Las Provincias, translated by Google and me.