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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

easy jet won't replace my ipad that they broke on the hold

254 replies

carmellas3 · 05/08/2015 15:56

I had a short flight with easy jet. However I was told as boarding the plane my hand luggage would have to go on the hold. I said I couldn't do this as was carrying delicate and fragile items (musical equipment). They told me I had no choice.

So I took on board what I could hold in my hands and the rest had to go on the hold. Every thing was fine apart from my iPad. Cracked screen so unusable.

I've been chasing them for 4 months and still they count it as resolved and won't replace it for me. Aibu to think that they should.

OP posts:
MistressMia · 05/08/2015 22:40

You do know insurance companies aren't a charity doing this out of the goodness of their heart? They are just there to make money

With that sort of attitude I'm surprised you even use conventional medicine. Don't you know its all just a racket to increase profits for big Pharma ?

Polarbearpolarbear · 05/08/2015 22:43

IN the hold. IN.

You're an idiot for not taking out travel insurance.

Original poster
carmellas3 · 05/08/2015 22:56

I'm hardly the idiot for making an informed choice about insurance.

Looks like many of them are pretty useless when it comes to repatriation anyway -www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/insurance/travel/10895307/Travel-insurance-policies-and-the-17000-cost-of-dying-abroad.html

OP posts:
LassUnparalleled · 05/08/2015 22:56

1200 for a scan after falling off a bike in an American hospital in Italy

It was worth every penny for the peace of mind. As it turned out the sickness and dizziness was inner ear disturbance which was what I suspected but I wasn't prepared to take a chance. I don't speak Italian. They checked out all risks and explained it all clearly to me in English . And total cost to me was probably around £30 for the insurance premium.

MillionToOneChances · 05/08/2015 22:57

Insurance companies spread the risk across lots of people and cream a pocket off the top. For most people this is a price worth paying. If you're one of those who'd rather pay as you go then pay as you go and stop blaming Easyjet. You don't put delicate (uninsured) items in the hold, end of. You should have removed it from your bag when you realised it was going in the hold.

JohnCusacksWife · 05/08/2015 22:58

Carmellas, I've not been brainwashed but I have seen the effects of what can happen when someone travels uninsured. Have you? The person I knew suffered a devastating brain injury whilst abroad with no insurance. She was in hospital for months, only some of which was covered under EHIC, and then had to be repatriated, under medical supervision, whilst paralysed. Sadly her family was left with the burden of having to raise many, many thousands of punks in order to bring her home. If you are happy to take that risk (for you and your friends/family) for the sake of a few pounds then fair enough. But I think it's naive and, if I'm honest, a bit stupid to dismiss travel insurance as being only for the "brainwashed".

JohnCusacksWife · 05/08/2015 22:59

Punks?? Pounds, obviously!

Epilepsyhelp · 05/08/2015 23:01

Happy I read it as OP had one item. I have noticed EJ and Ryanair doing this lately, insisting on checking hand luggage. I had my DP medication in mine so I just repeatedly said no, they gave up in the end as there generally is plenty of room, they just want to move you off the plane faster at the other end.

GingerCuddleMonster · 05/08/2015 23:18

well as someone who has worked in the travel industry I can tell you, no your not going to get your iPad fixed/replaced by the airline.

in very small print somewhere it will say that they are not liable for fragile items checked in to the hold without appropriate paperwork or notification, and even then it's at there discretion to cover it if they feel like it.

I just flew British Airways and checked a load of liquid baby milk in to the hold, the lady at the check in labelled up the bag with fragile stickers but still said, this does not guarantee it's safe arrival and we are not held responsible for any damages.

My baby milk arrived intact and was handed to me by a BA worker it didn't come off the courousel so they must have put it to one side or something.

Whathaveilost · 05/08/2015 23:25

I've got travel insurance from Debenhams for £38 for the year.
I got £10 gift voucher + £8. Something by going through TopCashback.

I go away for about 5 separate weeks a year + day trips and weekend breaks to Europe.

Well worth it!!

( just saying!)

Want2bSupermum · 05/08/2015 23:33

We had travel insurance through our expat package and the airline paid zero towards he cost of replacing the stroller they snapped the wheels off and bent the frame. I paid $950 for my citi select and the airline didn't care one bit. I was told it was our fault for travelling with such an expensive stroller.

That was with a 'legacy' airline. If you expect anything back from a discount airline keep dreaming. Best case you get it covered on your home policy.

I can't echo enough what others have said about needing travel insurance. STA has great rates which have excellent coverage.

msgrinch · 05/08/2015 23:53

No sympathy for anyone who doesn't buy travel insurance.

msgrinch · 05/08/2015 23:56

Thank god my 18 year old sister brought insurance as she's currently recovering from emergency surgery in Cyprus.

bestguess23 · 06/08/2015 00:03

All of you proselytising about travel insurance might want to read the small print. Did you inform them of all illnesses that warranted a doctor's visit (genuinely some want you to declare ALL illnesses that required a visit to a medical professional in the last 5 years)? I'd hazard a guess at no for many. Try claiming a large sum for medical expenses and see how that goes...

Whathaveilost · 06/08/2015 00:11

Actually best yes I did even though it seemed inconsequential. I have told them that I have suffered from depression and that I was in a RTA three years ago even though I wasn't injured.

I even made my 18 year old DS declare he had two broken arms 4 years go.
It didn't make any difference to the policy but at least they know everything.

I have drummed it into DS who is currently travelling around Europe that it likely to be invalid if he has an incident if he is pissed!

bestguess23 · 06/08/2015 00:21

That's great but you are in the minority. When I worked as a call handler for an insurer whilst at uni many claims were being rejected based on ridiculously tenuous links. I remember one vividly of someone who had a huge bill for meningitis treatment in USA or possibly Canada and the claim was rejected for an undeclared severe flu about a year earlier. Travel insurance isn't always quite the safety net people think it is. I am just bitter because I can't get travel insurance and despair at the industry! Grin

ReginaFelangi · 06/08/2015 01:14

OP, please stop with the "had of, could of, would of". Coupled with the lack of any useful insurance it's making you look like a complete idiot.

Sapat · 06/08/2015 02:02

I fly regularly around Europe and never buy insurance. However I do pack an extra bag (like a fabric beach bag) in case my hand baggage goes in the hold, so the expensive/fragile/important stuff stays with me. I have not needed it though as I never pack so big it can't go under the seat in front (I am short so can't reach the overhead).

I think it was hard luck OP.

WorktoLive · 06/08/2015 07:04

Well I for one am glad of this thread. It has always been at the back of my mind that the airline is within its rights to force you to put your hand luggage in the hold due to lack of space. I am travelling on a diving holiday next month with Ryanair so will have lots of luggage and they always say that you should take your diving regulator as hand luggage (expensive/delicate/sensitive to changes in temperature) and this was some thing I worried about a bit

Due to high charges of hold luggage many people travel hand luggage only and there simply isn't room in the cabin for everything if lots of people have a small suitcase. I know that Ryanair only guarantee the first 90 cases or something.

I can imagine the inconvenience/panic of trying to pull out all your valuables with a Ryanair person standing over you waiting to whisk your case away because they want to get the plane loaded and moving. And then you have to get on juggling everything in your hands/pockets.

But thanks for the tips about carrying a carrier bag or folding reusable bag which will make it a bit easier to pull out everything into the bag so you have your expensive delicate things on the flight.

I do think not having travel insurance is mostly a false economy. And the OP is within her rights to not have home contents insurance - but it would appear that she has plenty of assets and would be able to replace everything if she lost everything after a fire?

Self insurance is a valid choice - I never insure white goods for example and just replace as and when - some people pay a fortune for this type of insurance. But I had one item stolen and the value of the claim was equivalent to about 15 years of home contents premiums - well worth it in my opinion.

NewFlipFlops · 06/08/2015 07:26

Obviously OP should have had travel insurance. Obviously when asked unexpectedly to check in her hand luggage she should have removed valuables and breakables. Obviously everyone carries a couple of plastic bags for this eventuality. Haven't read past page 5.

slithytove · 06/08/2015 07:35

Insurance wouldn't necessarily cover this.

My dad has comprehensive insurance, and when stuff was robbed out of his cabin bag placed in the hold against his will, both the insurance and the airline refused outright to pay as it was his responsibility to keep it safe.

Dicks.

Roussette · 06/08/2015 07:36

No travel insurance and no home contents insurance either? I am Shock at this. Perhaps those of you who just don't bother haven't had experience of knowing someone who needed it big time with repatriation etc. Please tell me you wouldn't even contemplate this outside of Europe..

Considering some pp's have posted saying they pay about £30 for an annual policy, why would you not do this ?

My insurance covers any illnesses, it took a long time to fix up, (my DH has had ops in the past and all that is covered). I find it bizarre and you may as well drive round in an ininsured car while you're at it. Oh hang on, it looks from your post OP, like you already do that! You say you don't get breakdown insurance, is that whilst hiring a car abroad?

I do know all about how the insurance companies work, how they try and wriggle out of paying, how they make a profit etc but having seen an elderly relative repatriated with a nurse onboard all paid for, I wouldn't dream of travelling without.

bruffin · 06/08/2015 07:39

bestguess

It also works the otherway round. I worked in a city insurer and rejected a claim because the man had 4 previous identical claims. Days before mobiles and he would be making a call at a payphone with his briefcase between his legs, which would be snatched by a passerbye. Every time there would be a very expensive watch in the briefcase Hmm

SoupDragon · 06/08/2015 07:42

Travel insurance is a gamble. You either pay the money for peace of mind or you take the risk you won't need it.

You took the risk you wouldn't need it and then allowed a fragile item to go in the hold imadequately protected. You lost the gamble.

You should have packed it into the bag that Easyjet guarantee to take into the cabin.

Pipbin · 06/08/2015 07:46

I do find it a bit Hmm when people travel by the cheapest possible means and then complain that they don't get the best possible service.
You don't go to the pound shop and expect the same service as in Harrods do you.

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