to be devastated re: hold baggage gone missing

[molka]

It's my sister's wedding at the end of the month. She and our parents went back to Thailand to visit family and do a lot of wedding shopping. They've just flown back to the UK but their baggage has mostly not come with them. I am beyond devastated and don't know how to help. The baggage mostly consisted of traditional attire for the wedding (for the bride, groom, close family and friends who'd requested traditional outfits - all custom tailored) as well as other Thai decorations and items for the wedding. Things we can't buy here. Things that took a lot of time and effort to source and then tailored for each person.

Try not to worry if they had any connections the bag may have missed the connection, this has happened to me a number of times.

If this is what's happened they would have given info at airport and it gets delivered to your door a few days later.

This. Devastation is relative. Amoy of effort and money was involved. Hope they turn up soon.

YANBU, I hope the luggage turns up safe and sound. We all have shit to go through in life and you feel how you feel, no-one should be guilting you into feeling your worries are less worthy.

To add as a recommendation for everyone else - re my message above - after my case was delayed on an outward flight we always now take a dress /shirt, underwear and swimsuit in hand luggage just in case. And share items between cases checked in hold.

It should turn up in a few days, the bags will be tagged twice so even if one is lost there is a backup one. Whereever the bags are they will be 'in the system' and put on another flight to catch up with you. In theory the airline should deliever it to their door too rather than having to pick up up from the airport.

I think my bags have arrived late at least 4 times in the last 10 yrs or so, most of the time the bags arrived 24hrs later, the worse was 3 days later because of a lack of connecting flights. Very often the airline itself has an app and on that app you even see where the bags are at the moment. Mine were still n Hong Kong once when I was already in the UK as they didn't make the transfer in time.

Thank you especially for the kind messages. Yes, there was a rushed transit and they have a tracking number for the missing baggage but on the website it is not being traced to anything. Just waiting nervously for now.

You've not said when this happened OP?

Transits often cause more delayed baggage - especially when rushed - but if the barcode hasn't traced it, maybe the airport who now have the stuff haven't yet scanned it in as belonging somewhere else?
Of course you're worried when it's something so precious, but I'd give it 48 hours from scheduled arrival before really panicking

I once flew from Geneva to Manchester, but my luggage landed up in Tokyo. Took a couple of days to get it back.

It will show up. I’ve had bags go missing on transatlantic flights loads of times. They give you a tracking number but half the time they don’t work when you try and trace it as it’s actually been a contractor to the main baggage company or something that’s dealt with the bags which means it isn’t compatible. The longest ever wait I’ve had was a week. Usually within 3 days or so.

Hope your baggage with all the wedding clothes turns up soon OP. I would be devastated too. No idea why anyone would bring cancer into the equation.

Weddings are stressful and now your sister's luggage is missing. I would be upset also.

Hi everyone. Still no luggage. They flew back this morning. Tracking still isn't working so no idea where it is. I was hoping only some of the baggage went missing but turns out its ALL of them. I also didn't fully appreciate the extent of the content - a lot of sentimental value including various family heirloom (please excuse me if that is not the correct word - items of significant emotional value that have been sent specifically for the bride and groom some of which are passed down each generation etc). I feel so sad for her and just really hoping it shows up.

I really think it will OP.
We have had this happen a few times and it has always been found eventually.
Good luck.

It’s day 2, still nothing. I appreciate it’s a bank holiday weekend here but getting slightly more nervous as the hours pass.

I think it's better that no bags arrived. Makes it more likely that they just weren't loaded onto the flight rather than fell into a baggage black hole.

I think we had to wait 4 days when my husband's bag didn't arrive in the States.

You will get them back. Was it one airline/flight will the way through from Thailand to here?

Both mine and DH’s suitcases weren’t loaded on to a flight back from Menorca once. We flew back late on a Friday night but didn’t get an update until the Monday morning. They were delivered to us on the Wednesday.

I’m disabled so we checked in on the special Assistance desk, and we were first because we’d hired a car and got there before all the busses. It was just one of those things. Try not to worry, I’m sure they will turn up.

Was it one airline/flight will the way through from Thailand to here?

OP said not, WhiskerPatrol, or at least she mentioned a transit, suggesting not

The only time ... tempting fate ) ... my luggage went AWOL was on one of these, with storm delays and general chaos meaning I knew even at the time it wouldn't be there. We've all seen similar chaos that's going on around the airlines right now, and I'm hoping this is the reason for OP's own delay

I’ve had baggage go missing more times than I care to remember. On flights to London, Ireland, South Africa, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Spain to name a few.

It’s always turned up after 4-5 days latest. I know it’s stressful and the bank holiday won’t be helping. If there was a transit in BKK they’re notoriously bad for getting luggage on the plane.

What a kind message @itsgettingweird I am very sorry for your loss

OP, I hope your family get some good news soon

OP, I don't think yabu to feel 'devastated'. I really find it so jarring when someone complains of something and someone else pipes in saying something like "Well there are kids starving all over the country so who cares about your wedding dress!!." Something like this would throw me completely off kilter. It's annoying and yes frustrating - especially items of significant cultural importance. I hope they turn up and don't feel bad for feeling shit about it. I bet the Queen gets annoyed when someone brings her her glass of evening cherry at 18:04 instead of 18:00 on the dot.

Totally this!

Actually this is unkind people's problems are their own, we need to acknowledge pain whatever it is and don't diminish it. If the op feels devastated it's her feelings not yours

As others have said it should turn up eventually, but I hope it does so soon OP.

Sorry to hear about your Mum, @itsgettingweird.

OP the fact that your sister's party has lost ALL of their luggage tends to suggest an admin glitch, rather than anything malicious. Airports seem to be struggling to reopen to pre-pandemic levels but hopefully passengers and luggage will be reunited soon.