Big problem - BA! Suggestions?

[Josey]

2 months ago I did a long-distance flight on BA. 1 pce of luggage arrived torn open, sev. pieces of good clothing were gone. The high damage,$2470.00, was reported immediately.

Till today I haven't seen a penny. Sev.faxes to BA 'arrival' + later headquarter resulted in SILENCE, except for a letter telling 'sorry for the inconvenience + hope to see you again soon...'. sure!!!
I talked with some journalists, one of them has been told the same type of experience before, also reg. BA. One starts wondering...
Does anybody have a suggestion for me? I've never experienced that before,it was my 1st BA-flight.
This situation starts causing me a sleeping problem.


[/LIST]

[DeltaT]

Contact a TV consumer programme, see if they will do some prodding for a story

[G.Khan]

Did you report the full facts at the time to BA? Did they see the damaged case etc? BA, like all airlines, carry insurance to cover such situations and you should have been asked to fill out the claim form by the Customer Service person that you reported the damage and loss to, at the airport. You say you reported it "immediately" so, hopefully, you did report it to BA staff at the airport?
Airlines are always reluctant to pay out as the amount is quite likely to fall within their retained deductible. i.e. the airline will have to pay itself rather than their insurers.
Somewhere in your ticket, in the small print, it will proboably tell you what the carriers, (BA in this case), liability is and I doubt it will come anywhere near $2470:00! But they should definitely be paying you something, go after them.

[Lucifer]

By reporting immediately, did you go to the handling staff BEFORE clearing customs, otherwise if they have not seen it and filled you out a damage form at the time, then you are going to have problems, as it is harder for them to verify what happened. I do not have the number to hand for claims for baggage damage, but it is not based in their headquarters so chances are that it may not have found its way to them. Get in contact with those at the airport at which you arrived and start from scratch. Make sure you have all evidence of travel etc. They won't be trying to avoid you, but patience may be needed still.

I was informed when I had damaged baggage that it would take at the very minimum 4-6 weeks to process (1 month ago), so 2 months is not really that much longer than they advertised.

[Josey]

Thanks a lot for your advise. BA's just offered to cover 50% of the loss, calling this 'generous'...

[Kermit 180]

Be thankful it wasnt South African Airways.

[Pandora]

Josey,

BA are indeed being generous. All BA tickets are supplied in an envelope which carries the following statement:

------------------------------------

Notice of baggage liability limitations.

Liability for loss, delay, or damage to baggage is limited unless a higher value is declared in advance and additional charges are paid.

For most international travel the liability limit is approximately US$20 for checked baggage and US$400 per passenger for unchecked baggage.

------------------------------

No-one said it was fair but the information was presented to you before your flight and it was your decision to carry the valuable baggage you did without informing BA and paying the higher premium.

[flyblue]

Josey,

I fly a lot and subsequently had lots of problems with lost/damaged luggage throughout the years. I must say that the most efficiently handled were the ones I had with BA. Keep the faith, if you correctly followed the procedures everything will be ok.

[ 29 January 2002: Message edited by: flyblue ]

[ 29 January 2002: Message edited by: flyblue ]</p>

[Boss Raptor]

1. Write to CEO telling of situation and as to how his company is about to be reported to IATA as in violation of its' IATA membership cc. IATA local office...

2. If in UK recommend Small Claims Court addressed personally to the CEO, BA, this will really get them moving...

3. The 'dissemination to the press' action...

[Nihontraveller]

By way of comparison:-

LA-Tokyo Narita with All Nippon two weeks ago.

At check-in, 1 hour before departure, my reservation was not found. (I had changed it but it got lost in the system). "Very sorry sir, but we will get you a seat!".

Arrived in Tokyo and I am met by ground staff at the gate. "Very sorry sir but your bags did not make the flight". I am escorted through immigration to the baggage claim desk and processed. Escorted through customs.

Missing bags are delivered to my home by courier the next day (about 3 hours after the next flight arrived in Tokyo).

Now that is service.

[Josey]

Thanks everybody. Of course, more suggestions welcome.. .Boss Raptor, great ideas - very inspiring! <img src="tongue.gif" border="0"> <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">