DD's suitcase lost at Greek airport - DEVASTATED!!

[Kiki105]

My 19 year old DD has just arrived in Zante with 2 friends for their first girly holiday. Her friends have collected their suitcases but DD's suitcase didn't show or maybe someone collected it by mistake. She's reported it to the TUI rep and is now on the coach travelling to the hotel. She's absolutely distraught and in tears. Does anyone have any experience of this happening to them and the likelihood of her case being found within a short time. She has got absolutely nothing else on her other than the leggings and hoodie she travelled in. I'm feeling so stressed and helpless right now.

Don’t you sound nice from this experience?

I haven’t read the full thread but I understand her distress and think others are quick to minimise it. If this had happened to me I wouldn’t have been able to borrow friends gear as was typically two to three sizes bigger than them (sadly!).

I always encourage people travelling together to split their clothes evenly across their luggage, that way if anything goes missing, most things are covered if only for a few days.

"this is one of the worse things that could happen in your life"

No, it's really not and I hope you didn't say that to her. It's upsetting and disappointing, but perfectly surmountable.

You can support her to make a plan and provide reassurance. Give her a handhold and the information she needs to sort it.

We found a phone box to do it from

It was shit thats what.

I think it’s a shame you didn’t want to or feel you could phone your Mum for support.
I used to phone my Mum if I was upset about something, even when she was in her. 80s and in a wheelchair so couldn’t actually DO anything but she could sympathise and make me feel better

In the 90s probably purchased a phone card to do it

i went to the internet cafe where they often had phones where you could make international calls or email if there was any drama. And then I couldn’t be bothered to go back to send an update that everything was actually okay. So everyone at home was worrying thinking I was having a really hard time and actually it had all been sorted and I was having the time of my life 😂🤣 in fact the only times I called home from abroad were when something went wrong and I needed sympathy. Rest of the time I was too busy having fun! I’d say it’s fairly standard teenager stuff tbh

My mum was the same, and I in turn strive to be just like her❤️

Some nice sneering at young people generally creeping in now.

You can just feel the compassion through your phone

I wouldnt have rung her at all. She would have been of the you are an adult sort it out why wld you ask me for help type.
I am the total opposite and am NC with my parents.
I wonder why.............

You can understand her sadness at not having the things that she will have thoughtfully packed, though?
And how her holiday, which she will have saved for, will have been spoilt somewhat by her not having these things?
And how her mum would understandably share her daughter’s sadness?
You would have to be sorely lacking in empathy to want to make all this about you and - oh, wait…

Interesting that you haven't told her to contact her travel insurer.

I genuinely thought every body that travels one to split your bags so you ALWAYS had a change or two in your hand luggage? Just common sense really?!

I hope it turns up op. My case accidentally got swapped with another when I was returning from Rome. I opened it at home and find a pair of ancient leather sandals, lots of African tan tights and a whole bunch of religious iconography. Turned out some poor Italian nun got my case , filled with 3 giant bars of milka chocolate and a Carrier bag of dirty underwear 😬

I was a teenage girl. So we’re my friends. We did?

I'd be upset for my dd as well knowing how hard she works and the time she spends getting clothes etc for holidays. Hopefully it will be with her soon, op. In future get her to pack some essentials into a friends case and vice versa and have some bits in a carry on.

It IS a life lesson but still a pain in the arse to sort out. Hopefully her friends will rally around and make sure she's got clothes etc to keep her going.

Not being funny, but how> Did ye all pack in the same place?
I cant see my dds doing that at all.
But I dont doubt you, i just thought it would be v unusual.

If you can 'afford' an overseas trip and don't have a spare 50 euros lying around you need to take urgent budgeting advice.

I can understand her being upset - I'd be gutted too. Also sharing might not be an option, they might wear different sizes. Hope it turns up soon OP.

Not if you were abroad. Shows that it never happened to you. Six weeks travelling Europe when I was 18 and no one dreamed of phoning home short to major injury. Far too expensive.

An unusual case colour is worth considering. My main hold case isn't garish, but very distinctive (soft tapestry) and so much easier to spot. For your black case though you could stick some coloured stickers or tape on it - cheap kids stickers or bin stickers do the job to help spot in on the carousel or deter anyone else taking your case in error.

Also worth taking a photo of your case before leaving home. I found this useful when I used the hotel luggage store for a few hours after checking out and stupidly lost the receipt ticket but having the photo on my phone made retrieving it easy.

I phoned my Mum and BF from various countries using a pay phone and an international phone card, would have been around 1988 - 95.
Not because I needed to but because I wanted to, just a quick “hi mum, I’m fine and having fun, love to Dad and Bro. Going to x tomorrow etc”

Yeah I was sympathetic to the OP until she said that.

I mean really, if you/your DD really believes that, you are in for some truly devastating times ahead.

I'm very sympathetic to OP's DD, what has happened is a complete pain in the arse and very disappointing. But if she believes that life's little setbacks are some of the worst things that could happen in your life... I have no words. It's not exactly misery memoir material, is it?

Oh bless her, that’s rubbish, especially your first time away with friends at that age.

The same thing happened to my friends son this year, he also went to Greece with his friends The suitcase was found and delivered to his hotel about 36 hours after they arrived, so not too bad. I hope it’s the same for your daughter.

Hope she’s ok. I’m sure her friends will help her out.