Alitalia - AIBU to want to fly to their Italian HQ and do a Falling Down on them all?

[MarmaladeTwatkins]

I will condense as much as I can and clarify later if needed, or else I will bore you to death...

Went to Italy on holiday last month. Alitalia delayed my baggage for two and a bit days after one flight was delayed thus only getting our connecting flight in Milan in the nick of time (bags did not)

On arrival at Brindisi, when it became apparent that my bags weren't coming, the Alitalia lost baggage man advised me to go out and buy essentials, as he couldn't say when, if at all, the bags would come. He quoted the maximum of 500E to spend on things. So I spent a day of my holiday shopping for tat. I spent 230E. I bought a dress, sunglasses, sandals for DS, swimming costumes for me and DS and a pair of earrings (which I was intending to pay for myself).

We sent off the claim form when we got home. Heard nothing for a fortnight, then they rang DH at 9pm last week saying that they are offering us £80 compensation to make up for lost baggage/time lost on holiday buying replacements/driving to and from airport to get bags. But even worse, they are saying that it is their policy to only pay 50% of costs incurred buying replacements?! Even though we were told 500E! I have searched the internet for their policy on this and it isn't actually anywhere to be found. We have rejected their offer.

They aren't going to pay up, I know it. AIBU to be fuming about this or have I been a bit naïve? I want to write to an omsbudsman but I don't know if there even IS one?! we bought the flights through Expedia and it wasn't a package deal.

They managed to wreck a fair chunk of our holiday and now they are trying to renege on what they said they would pay for.

YANBU. I hate hate hate Alitalia. I flew with them to Sicily, changing in Milan. First flight was delayed because their pilot was drunk and refusing to get off the plane. He had to be dragged off yelling. When I got to Milan, an hour before my connecting flight was due to leave, they said my flight had gone because it "left early" !!

I asked what I should do and they said buy another ticket. As I looked a bit tearful the check in man grumpily demanded my ticket and walked off with it. 20mins later he came back and said "my friend, he fly you." I was put on another airline (and got to watch the runway moving through a hole under my seat!). On arriving in Sicily, I was told my bags had gone to Germany. Both Alitalia and the new airline blamed each other and refused to talk to me for 2 hrs, until I was the last person left in the airport.

I had to book a b&b as couldn't camp when they had my camping kit! I got the b&b lady to harass Alitalia in Italian. My bags eventually turned up late the next day. I wrote to Alitalia complaining and they refused to pay for the b&b (£70) or pay any compensation at all, just sent me a rude letter.

For a while I seriously considered paying to have a t shirt made with 'I hate Alitalia' printed on it...

at drunk pilot. Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezus!

at hole under seat.

I have heard some stories about Alitalia since I started moaning about them but yours wins, I think, Landa!

some good advice here and here