AIBU to expect some flight vouchers or recompense after family holiday ruined by Big famous airline?

[ErnesttheBavarian]

I flew to UK with 3 of my dc to visit family. None of our 4 cases arrived. We were told they were at belt X and to wait 30 minutes. repeat x 3. Eventually left our temporary address in UK and left airport after saying I couldn't wait any longer. I was told they would be delivered the next day.

Next day I get a phonetical from Germany asking if anyone was in - airline delivered the cases to my home address in Germany not temporary address in UK, despite having it all clearly in writing.

Long story short, after 3 days of being told they would come, wouldn't, would, wouldn't, the cases were in London, sorry Germany, no london etc etc, we finally get 2 cases.

The day before we leave we get a 3rd case.

the day we leave they try to deliver the 4th case to uk.

Our 1 week visit to family was ruined as I had to go shopping 3 times for essential for the kids & me, constantly on the phone, being told 1 thing then another.

I got an email telling me my 4th case had been delivered to some random in UK. I thought I'd never see it again. It was my son's case and he was really upset, nephew's birthday present not arrive on time etc.

So they finally tell me they will reimburse the cost of the essential, but no gesture of goodwill, noting to account for the stress, hassle and ruined family visit.

AIBU to hope for some gesture. I am astonished at how unbelievably shit the service has been.

OP can I give you tip for future travel? Next time you travel with family, don't pack each case with only one person's belongings/clothing, etc. Get everything together folded up, etc and make sure everyone has at least one full outfit - from underwear to top clothes - in each case. Takes a bit of organising but it's not that difficult. Now if no cases arrive it won't help, but when you don't get all the cases at once it's invaluable.

On a family holiday years ago we had only one of four cases arrive and it meant everyone had a change of clothes until the cases did show up.

I do this now when DP and I travel - mix everything up then you are never stuck without a change of clothes.

Oh and make sure everyone has a change of underwear, including socks, in their hand luggage.

Sounds like a rotten experience - hope you do get something from BA.

I'm amazed you needed to check 4 cases for 1 week in the UK when staying with family. You get 2 cabin bags each with BA - should have been more than enough!

disappointed so just 2 cabin bags for 4 people for a 1 week holiday?? With gifts for family in there too. Really??

OP- we had an awful experience with BA (not luggage related and have never lost any luggage on the probably 30+ flights I've taken with them) and we emailed the head of BA press. Wont say exactly what we got...but lets say it was more than enough to make us very happy...for a long while!

Ahhh, bastard airlines...... And this is why I will never fly with them. Not only does this happen too frequently, but when it does happen they are rude and unhelpful...

Disappointed you have clearly never lived abroad so don't understand the importance of having enough space to export vital British products mainly chocolate, Marmite, or cheddar related

Ahem 2 cabin luggage each.

Making 8 between 4 people not two

Disappointed you have clearly never lived abroad so don't understand the importance of having enough space to export vital British products mainly chocolate, Marmite, or cheddar related

My parents lived in the UAE and still managed to fly back with cabin luggage only.

disappointed so just 2 cabin bags for 4 people for a 1 week holiday?? With gifts for family in there too. Really??

2 EACH. That's 8 bags. Should be plenty. A family shouldn't require 100kgs plus 8 cabin bags for a 1 week holiday in a developed country!

BA are shocking for this! We had delayed luggage when we went skiing resulting in very expensive outlay on new skiwear plus ski hire, no recompense. The next time I flew BA, to New Zealand, I took only hand luggage as I didn't trust my luggage would survive 3 transfers!

But airlines should take more responsibility with baggage. BA fucked up getting my bag to me. It waa their attitude that was dire. Very much 'it happens'. Yes, mistakes happen but they ought to recognise they've screwed up in taking care of someone's things (whether it's 1 kg or a shipping container). The complete couldn't care less attitude of BA (on board and customer services) has seen me fly with other airlines since.

my bag got lost on a flight to Miami - and i got compensation of some clothes and toiletries, about £110ish worth

from the airline, i just kept my receipts and claimed when i got home (my bag was returned to me a week or so after i returned)

I think OP should get some compensation.

but it's not like she had to have rabies jabs, is it? More a small nuisance than something that should ruin an entire holiday.

It's amazing how people jump to conclusions! We were away from home for 4 weeks in total, the week in the UK being the 4th week. We were in different climates so needed a variety of clothing hence 1 case each. We were not staying with family apart from 1 night at 2 different relatives. We had been camping so in our cases we each had a sleeping bag, hiking boots, crockery and cutlery etc. Does that justify to the vipers, absolutely determined to spot a weakness or flaw in my story

I wa supposed to spend a couple of days with my mum who I see maybe 2 or 3 times a year. Lost hours on 1st day due to this, had to go shopping instead of spending time with her. Kids too tired as we arrived so late and then had to leave a lot earlier I order to get to delivery address. Only to find they actually sent to cases to the wrong could try. So yes, I would say their incompetence ruined my precious little time with my mum and grandma.

Likewise later on 1 wanted to visit my silly and my dd wanted to visit her beloved cousin. Again, we see each other very infrequently and the girls adore each other. But the visit was marred by missing birthday presents, called to BA, visit delayed due to waiting I for delivery ery which again didn't happen. So again we lost precious time.

I'm not talking about 1 week holiday with a couple of slightly inconvenient phone calls o the 1st day. The delivery, failed delivery fiasco went on throughout the week. Even as we were at the airport flying home I get a stroppy call from the courier trying to deliver case number 4 to my sil when I told BA there was no loniger any way they would be able to get the case to me in UK and please send to Germany.
A couple of days later we get an email saying it's been delivered to random stranger.
Several days later it arrives, smashed up and contents damaged, back in Germany.

And yes, paid for 4 hold cases, only have 3 to out in, and no English goodies.

This is the 1st time in ages I have flown with luggage. Usually we just have hand luggage. Problem with hand luggage is its jot really sufficient for a 2 week camping holiday coupled with 1 week family visit, and you can't take liquids so can't bring back eg Branston pickle which is classed as liquid and comes in containers over 100ml. Ditto min e meat to make mince pies for Christmas etcetera.

Although I'm sure people will rush now to tell me iabu to want to visit my sil, mother and grandmother in 1 week, that iabu to go on a camping holiday and family visit back to back,and what am I even thinking wanting to bring back British treats.

I'm genuinely annoyed at the comments telling me my visit wasn't ruined and it was merely inconvenience. Try telling that to my 90 year old grandma who didn't get to see here great grandchildren after all. I could be dramatic and sayaye she never will now. She's not in brilliant health and our next visit to planed for easter. I stand by it. BA totally screwed up our family visit and their incompetence and post-incompetence customer care is breathtaking.

Blimey. That was a bit of a giant mistake riddled rant sil not silly! 3 weeks camping not 2! Country not could try. Etc etc.

That's awful. I went with my mum to visit my sister in Ecuador a few years ago. We arrived in Quito to discover our bags were still in New York. After some debate they took the address we were staying at, gave us the paperwork we needed to pick up compensation from a bank and sent us on our way. We had to buy clothes but 3 days later exactly when they said it would our luggage arrived on a tractor and tailer in the tiny village we were staying in high in the mountains some 6 hours away over very rugged terrain from the airport. We were able to find a branch of the relevant bank and get our compensation and although it was not convenient it worked out in the end.

If a south American country can manage all that it should be child's play to get it right here

I still don't get why you don't travel insurance for baggage. Especially given everything you have just said.

The airline have done what that are obliged to do. Without travel insurance rest is your risk.