BA - Reasonable expenses when lost luggage
Discussion
Does anyone have any (unfortunate) experience of having to go out and buy 'reasonable' essentials due to lost luggage?
Arrived in Slovenia with BA last night, large cycling contingent on the plane with bikes and my guess is they unexpectedly hit a weight/volume limit when loading the plane due to all the oversized luggage. 30 of us never had our luggage loaded onto the plane (all the bikes arrived though!)
I'm here alone to go hiking/photographing for a few days and the photo kit took up my hand luggage allowance, so I literally have the shorts and t-shirt I was wearing and my cameras.
Filed a luggage report, a few people mentioned luggage could arrive at the weekend, but officially all I know is I can buy reasonable essentials for now. Obviously toiletries etc required, but does anyone have experience of claiming for something a little more specialist that's still 'essential'? I'm going to have to drive somewhere to find clothes as there is nothing locally, but I need a jacket, clothes to hike in and walking shoes as an absolute minimum otherwise I may as well not be here. I'm not exactly going to be able to shop around (I'm already losing today by needing to do this) so costs could add up quickly, maybe £150-200 if I'm really lucky and find the equivalent of a Sports Direct!
I've already written off certain 'essential' items which have effectively ruined the trip (such as ND filters, which were in my luggage) as I simply won't be able to buy them anywhere.
Arrived in Slovenia with BA last night, large cycling contingent on the plane with bikes and my guess is they unexpectedly hit a weight/volume limit when loading the plane due to all the oversized luggage. 30 of us never had our luggage loaded onto the plane (all the bikes arrived though!)
I'm here alone to go hiking/photographing for a few days and the photo kit took up my hand luggage allowance, so I literally have the shorts and t-shirt I was wearing and my cameras.
Filed a luggage report, a few people mentioned luggage could arrive at the weekend, but officially all I know is I can buy reasonable essentials for now. Obviously toiletries etc required, but does anyone have experience of claiming for something a little more specialist that's still 'essential'? I'm going to have to drive somewhere to find clothes as there is nothing locally, but I need a jacket, clothes to hike in and walking shoes as an absolute minimum otherwise I may as well not be here. I'm not exactly going to be able to shop around (I'm already losing today by needing to do this) so costs could add up quickly, maybe £150-200 if I'm really lucky and find the equivalent of a Sports Direct!
I've already written off certain 'essential' items which have effectively ruined the trip (such as ND filters, which were in my luggage) as I simply won't be able to buy them anywhere.
Edited by ch37 on Thursday 15th June 04:36
No idea sorry, but if you’re in Ljubljana there’s a fisrly well stocked intersport in the centre of town and a decathlon and other outdoor shops on the ring road.
Also this shop is in the centre, no idea if any good for your kit/needs.
https://www.foto-klik.si/sl/foto-oprema/filtri/siv...
Also this shop is in the centre, no idea if any good for your kit/needs.
https://www.foto-klik.si/sl/foto-oprema/filtri/siv...
Edited by shirt on Thursday 15th June 06:06
Not recent experience with BA as it was 11 years ago. I was told I could purchase a winter jacket as it was winter when mine was delayed, so essential clothing which in your case I would suggest is a second set of clothes possibly including a jumper if it’s getting chilly at night, underwear toiletries and laundry costs. That’s what they consider essential as far as I know and it matches the CAA guidance. If you have travel insurance try them, your cover should be better but likely incur an excess.
It really sucks especially on a short trip, you have my sympathies.
It really sucks especially on a short trip, you have my sympathies.
Yep I've filled out the missing forms and have a number. The next BA flight arrives tomorrow evening so fingers crossed.
I'm in Bled, having just walked around for an hour there isn't much here so will drive towards Ljubljana this morning to see what I can find.
Need to track down a travel adaptor and USB charger too, my phone running out would kill me off!
I'm in Bled, having just walked around for an hour there isn't much here so will drive towards Ljubljana this morning to see what I can find.
Need to track down a travel adaptor and USB charger too, my phone running out would kill me off!
Edited by ch37 on Thursday 15th June 06:42
ch37 said:
Arrived in Slovenia with BA last night, large cycling contingent on the plane with bikes and my guess is they unexpectedly hit a weight/volume limit when loading the plane due to all the oversized luggage. 30 of us never had our luggage loaded onto the plane (all the bikes arrived though!)
I'm here alone to go hiking/photographing for a few days and the photo kit took up my hand luggage allowance, so I literally have the shorts and t-shirt I was wearing and my cameras...
does anyone have experience of claiming for something a little more specialist that's still 'essential'?
I've been skiing on a BA flight where one of our group's bag never made the plane and BA didn't quibble at him buying things that are escential for skiing - so new salopets/ski jacket/ski socks, in addition to 'normal' things like toiletries/underware.I'm here alone to go hiking/photographing for a few days and the photo kit took up my hand luggage allowance, so I literally have the shorts and t-shirt I was wearing and my cameras...
does anyone have experience of claiming for something a little more specialist that's still 'essential'?
Basically if you can't hire it and must have it for the purpose of your trip then it should be covered. That's also the reason your bags didn't make it but the bikes did - reimbursing you for new walking boots and socks will be cheaper than reimbursing someone else for hiring, maybe even buying a new technical bike!
I seem to remember that once my friend had fought his way their the customer service process to get the missing bag officially reported contact with the support team beyond that was quite good and he was able to say why he'd taken the flight/what was in the bag that was escential they were able to confirm what would/wouldn't be considered 'necessary'.
What?! What on earth would they do with worn clothes, half used toiletries etc?
I spent €280 yesterday as it was just plain dangerous up on Mount Vogel yesterday morning with what I had. Luggage still showing as missing when I headed out for the day at 5.30am, assumed at that point it was a write-off as the next BA flight had been and gone on Friday afternoon.
Got a text from my AirBnB owner at 6.30 this morning (I was up on Vrsic Pass by this point, over an hour away), "your suitcase just showed up"
4hrs later it's still "missing" on the tracker, no text, no email. Great system.
I spent €280 yesterday as it was just plain dangerous up on Mount Vogel yesterday morning with what I had. Luggage still showing as missing when I headed out for the day at 5.30am, assumed at that point it was a write-off as the next BA flight had been and gone on Friday afternoon.
Got a text from my AirBnB owner at 6.30 this morning (I was up on Vrsic Pass by this point, over an hour away), "your suitcase just showed up"
4hrs later it's still "missing" on the tracker, no text, no email. Great system.
Back in the early 1980s SAS lost my case on a flight to Sweden. I was given a form to fill in to give my sizes. I was then given a bag containing trousers, blazer, 2 shirts, 2 x sets of underware, razor, toothpaste/brush, etc.
As I was travelling around Sweden all that week my case never caught up with me & was delivered 2 days after I arrived back home on the UK. The delivery driver (in a SAS livererd estate car) also collected the loaned bag & contents.
The next flight SAS damaged my cheap case (fibre board?) & replaced it with a good quality moulded item that I still use.
As I was travelling around Sweden all that week my case never caught up with me & was delivered 2 days after I arrived back home on the UK. The delivery driver (in a SAS livererd estate car) also collected the loaned bag & contents.
The next flight SAS damaged my cheap case (fibre board?) & replaced it with a good quality moulded item that I still use.
Edited by Glosphil on Saturday 17th June 10:06
ch37 said:
What?! What on earth would they do with worn clothes, half used toiletries etc?
I spent €280 yesterday as it was just plain dangerous up on Mount Vogel yesterday morning with what I had. Luggage still showing as missing when I headed out for the day at 5.30am, assumed at that point it was a write-off as the next BA flight had been and gone on Friday afternoon.
Got a text from my AirBnB owner at 6.30 this morning (I was up on Vrsic Pass by this point, over an hour away), "your suitcase just showed up"
4hrs later it's still "missing" on the tracker, no text, no email. Great system.
Underware and toiletries you keep everything else needs returning to themI spent €280 yesterday as it was just plain dangerous up on Mount Vogel yesterday morning with what I had. Luggage still showing as missing when I headed out for the day at 5.30am, assumed at that point it was a write-off as the next BA flight had been and gone on Friday afternoon.
Got a text from my AirBnB owner at 6.30 this morning (I was up on Vrsic Pass by this point, over an hour away), "your suitcase just showed up"
4hrs later it's still "missing" on the tracker, no text, no email. Great system.
Lufthansa offers its customers the option of receiving 100% reimbursement for interim purchases of clothing, toiletries and undergarments if the clothing items (excluding toiletries and undergarments) are returned to Lufthansa. If the customer prefers to keep the purchased items, then we offer reimbursement at 50% for clothing and 100% of toiletries within liability guidelines and insofar as they do not exceed the maximum limit (corresponds to 1,288.00 special drawing rights) established by the Montreal Convention.”
I'm six months on from Lufthansa losing my case altogether. Despite endless chasing and submitting a list of the contents months ago, I got an email a few days ago saying I wasn't due anything at all because I don't have receipts for everything lost.
Who keeps receipts for shoes, jackets and boxer shorts etc?!
Who keeps receipts for shoes, jackets and boxer shorts etc?!
Snow and Rocks said:
I'm six months on from Lufthansa losing my case altogether. Despite endless chasing and submitting a list of the contents months ago, I got an email a few days ago saying I wasn't due anything at all because I don't have receipts for everything lost.
Who keeps receipts for shoes, jackets and boxer shorts etc?!
This was making me nervous as BA seem to have a similar policy, anything bought online would have been fine as I could find order confirmations etc, but much of my hiking stuff has been Christmas presents over the years.Who keeps receipts for shoes, jackets and boxer shorts etc?!
onlynik said:
Went on a skiing holiday in 2022. BA didn’t load the bags for the whole plane. Spend €1100 on new kit (snow boots, thermals, underwear, ski wear (no one was hiring due to Covid ) for my wife and son. Bags turned up 5 days later than the plane. BA reimbursed it all.
I submitted my claim about 10 days ago, had all receipts etc, about $450 worth in total. Haven't heard a thing yet but fingers crossed.I suffered from BA’s awfulness in 2022.
February 2022 outbound - flight to Milan for skiing holiday - zero bags loaded on plane - requirement to purchase winter clothing and underwear - total cost £1100 - BA paid up.
February 2022 inbound - BA IT systems failure - as I had a complex ticket they wouldn’t book me a flight back (they did however book my wife and children - separate ticket) I had to purchase a one way ticket on KLM to get home. BA refused to pay the EU261 compensation or to reimburse the cost of replacement flights. Eventually took them to CEDR which sided in my favour and I eventually received the money for the flights and compensation due in December 2022.
There’s guides on Flyertalk
February 2022 outbound - flight to Milan for skiing holiday - zero bags loaded on plane - requirement to purchase winter clothing and underwear - total cost £1100 - BA paid up.
February 2022 inbound - BA IT systems failure - as I had a complex ticket they wouldn’t book me a flight back (they did however book my wife and children - separate ticket) I had to purchase a one way ticket on KLM to get home. BA refused to pay the EU261 compensation or to reimburse the cost of replacement flights. Eventually took them to CEDR which sided in my favour and I eventually received the money for the flights and compensation due in December 2022.
There’s guides on Flyertalk
We had this when flying to New York to get married - of all the suitcases to lose BA managed to lose the Bride (incl. dress) and my mums case (incl. hat).
We flew out 72hrs before the wedding (which was 24th December).
Reasonable expenses constitued a whole new wedding dress, fitting, shoes, accessories, etc. for the bride plus non-wedding clothes, toiletries, makeup, straightners, etc.
Similarly for my mum, a whole new wedding outfit, hat, shoes, accessories and non-wedding clothes, toiletries, makeup, etc.
They also funded replacement luggage to trnasport it all back home as the bags hadnt turned up before heading back to the UK on 1st Jan.
It was a bit of a nightmare and they did pay up easily - this was in 2013 (and into early 2014)
The cases did actually turn up a couple of weeks later, and strangely whoever had them had rummaged through them, stole my new-wifes garter and in its place left a small yellow fabirc purse / bag with a skull bandana and some extinguished cigarette ends (so everything reeked of smoke - lovely).
We flew out 72hrs before the wedding (which was 24th December).
Reasonable expenses constitued a whole new wedding dress, fitting, shoes, accessories, etc. for the bride plus non-wedding clothes, toiletries, makeup, straightners, etc.
Similarly for my mum, a whole new wedding outfit, hat, shoes, accessories and non-wedding clothes, toiletries, makeup, etc.
They also funded replacement luggage to trnasport it all back home as the bags hadnt turned up before heading back to the UK on 1st Jan.
It was a bit of a nightmare and they did pay up easily - this was in 2013 (and into early 2014)
The cases did actually turn up a couple of weeks later, and strangely whoever had them had rummaged through them, stole my new-wifes garter and in its place left a small yellow fabirc purse / bag with a skull bandana and some extinguished cigarette ends (so everything reeked of smoke - lovely).
This is exactly why I try and only fly with carry on bags now. I normally travel to hike and for photography and will almost always take my 40L hiking pack in the cabin with all my gear. I do pack very minimally now though, but I do travel with a A7IV, tripod, and all my hiking gear I will need (not camping).
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