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Original poster

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

445 replies

Kiki105 · 20/08/2023 12:37

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.

OP posts:
limitedperiodonly · 20/08/2023 15:55

chimamandafan · 20/08/2023 15:05

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.

Show quote history

It wasn't particularly expensive. My friend phoned her mum every night from a call box on holiday in 1987. It cost 500 pesetas in 100 ptas coins which was just under £5 for about 10 minutes. I remember the cost because she sometimes used to borrow our change to feed the slot and pay it back later. That was roughly the price of two drinks in the bars we were using.

It was nothing to do with me what she wanted to do with her own money. I wouldn't have spent it because it was a fair bit of money and though my mum loved me, she didn't require me to check in to reassure her I was still breathing. But if it made them happy, what did it have to do with me? That strikes me as a more adult approach than asking why people are doing something when it doesn't affect you.

I realise this might not have been an option in far-flung places, but you specifically mentioned Europe. This was in Spain. If we had chosen Greece instead they would have had phone boxes there too as I know they did in France, Germany and Italy because I went to all those places at the time starting from a school trip to Malta in 1978. They were civilised nations that I believe were in Europe back then and had all sorts of things like hot and cold running water.

The expensive thing was phoning from your hotel. My parents warned me not to do that unless it was a dire emergency and then of course I should and reverse the charges if I needed to and was perfectly do-able through the operator. I am surprised that as a seasoned traveller you don't know that.

BeenThereDoneThat101 · 20/08/2023 15:55

Whenever I see a thread like this that has gained pages and pages of posts quickly I flick to the end first to see how it’s kicked off, and what small detail posters have picked on to use as a means of getting at the OP.

And I have to say there are some prize bitches on this thread.

Makes me laugh that posters tell people there are real things in the world to be upset about but they’re too busy concentrating on bitching at the OP not concentrating on the bad things in the world that it seems they’re not either.

ladeluge · 20/08/2023 16:04

I don't think anyone would be happy if their suitcase went missing at the start of a holiday or work trip. Not so bad on the way back - but arriving at your destination looking at the baggage carousel and hoping, hoping, yours will be there and it's not, is upsetting to say the least of it.

It is a good lesson in coping and adapting though, and it has happened to me several times. The first time I was going mad and very frustrated, the second and subsequent times not so much. The suitcase always arrived within 48 hours anyway.

As far as possible, which is most of the time - I travel with a carry on case only. It is above my head so it cannot go AWOL! If I have a longer trip, like others I'll throw a few things into the hand luggage just in case.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 20/08/2023 16:06

It took the full week for my case to show up in Turkey as it had made it's way to Greece - I have a Greek surname and was convinced it was on purpose!

Having said that - this was 20 years ago so I suspect she'll be luckier esp as Zante has a lot more flights.

DragonFly98 · 20/08/2023 16:08

Kiki105 · 20/08/2023 13:03

I'm not the one devasted, DD is understandably. I know there's worse things in life that can happen but if you have a teenage daughter you'll know this is one of the worse things that could happen in your life. People on here are always ready to have a go at the Op. Be nice! I just wanted advice not all this criticism.

I have teenage daughters and no it's not one of the worst thing that could happen in their life are you serious?

saffronsoup · 20/08/2023 16:09

Luggage is tagged and tracked so they should be able to tell more or less where it is. When she spoke to the lost luggage people,, did they try to see where it was? They would know if it was rerouted somewhere or never got on the plane or was taken off the plane at her destination.

gigipom · 20/08/2023 16:09

PurpleChrayne · 20/08/2023 12:42

She needs to stop being such a wet-wipe drama queen, quite frankly. The reps will have dealt with this sort of thing countless times. She can borrow off her mates, and pick up some cheap stuff from local shops.

how lovely.

I would be devastated too if I just arrived to my first girly holiday with none of my stuff.

she doesn’t yet have the experience or knowledge to know that you should pack a little something in your carry on.

She’s 19. Give her a break.

I hope it turns up really soon and she can enjoy her holiday

Theimpossiblegirl · 20/08/2023 16:11

BeenThereDoneThat101 · 20/08/2023 15:55

Whenever I see a thread like this that has gained pages and pages of posts quickly I flick to the end first to see how it’s kicked off, and what small detail posters have picked on to use as a means of getting at the OP.

And I have to say there are some prize bitches on this thread.

Makes me laugh that posters tell people there are real things in the world to be upset about but they’re too busy concentrating on bitching at the OP not concentrating on the bad things in the world that it seems they’re not either.

Absolutely.
A young woman is on her first girly holiday, she will have packed her favourite outfits, all her make up and toiletries and her bag hasn't made it.

I'm a seasoned traveller and I still never pack outfits into hand luggage, and never toiletries because of the liquid rule.

I hope she's reunited with her suitcase soon.

WellPlaced · 20/08/2023 16:12

It’s like none of you have ever been 19 or forgotten.

Of course she’s devastated

limitedperiodonly · 20/08/2023 16:14

Fizbosshoes · 20/08/2023 15:25

If I felt sad or upset about stuff I rang my mum, even in my 30s. If my mum had still been alive I probably would have rang her for some sympathy recently when my case went missing. I'm 45! (I wouldn't have expected her to do anything though)
My DD is going away with friends soon. Our recent lost luggage has encouraged her (all of us) to rethink how we pack. But I'll be here for her if it does go missing.

My mum would shove £10 in my hand every week we parted at the station after her visit. I told her she shouldn't and we'd push and shove over the money and eventually she stopped. But she'd still find a way to pay for me like giving me: "this chicken I got from Sainsbury's on offer and I don't want any money for it."

After she died I took down the dressing gown we kept hanging on the back of the bathroom door for her. There was over £500 in tenners stuffed in the pockets.

I don't want to come over all Mumsnet "I feel sorry for your children" but I genuinely do feel sorry for people who can't rely on their mum for advice, understanding and maybe a bit of cash now and then, and those who learned from their mums never to pass that on to their own children or even think it was somehow good mothering that would toughen them up. My dad was pretty great too.

TooManyPlatesInMotion · 20/08/2023 16:17

This happened to me when I travelled to Croatia with 3 young kids. We landed late in the eve which didn't exactly help either. It was v stressful but mostly due to having little kids, including a 6 minth old baby.

British Airways found it and delivered it to my airbnb on day 3 of the trip. By then i had bought essentials for me and tbe kids (cheap clothes, toiletries). Claimed back on travel insurance, no problem.

It's only her - she can just buy a few bits and her luggage will probably show soon.

Absolutelynotfor2019 · 20/08/2023 16:20

Dutchesss · 20/08/2023 12:48

I don't know why people feel the need to be so rude. I would be just as upset OP. It's your child's first holiday without you, it's a big deal.
Even some seasoned adults would struggle to cope with the stress.

Anyway, there's a 99% chance it will be with her soon so hopefully she's able to enjoy herself a bit in the meantime.

Absolutely @Dutchesss .Genuinely think that some people are so unnecessarily rude and unhelpful!! I have never advised my children to split packing because it has never occurred to me that case would get lost .
I can imagine my 19year old self being really upset !
Hope your DD reunited with her case asap.X

WeirdBarbie · 20/08/2023 16:21

Most likely it will be found and delivered.

BUT once my case was allegedly fully lost. I went back to the airport and asked to look in the “lost luggage” room and guess what? It was just sitting there. I’d called every day and given a photo of the damn case to airport staff (my case of very distinctive) but they hadn’t bothered looking.

If it hasn’t been officially found, I’d recommend trying this. Minimally she should check on the way home if it hasn’t appeared.

Absolutelynotfor2019 · 20/08/2023 16:22

Kiki105 · 20/08/2023 12:51

Thanks everyone for your unhelpful digs at my mention of 'devasted' but she's just a young girl experiencing an exciting adventure for the first time in her life. Yes I'm sure she can borrow a few things from her friends until hopefully her case turns up. As someone on here said, clothes are a big thing for a 19 year old. She'd saved a lot of money to buy new outfits for this holiday and planning it for months.

I was looking for advice on here, not criticism! So thank you to those that have given us some reassurance the case will be found. Jeez!!!

OP just ignore the shitty comments ! It says more about them than it says about you !
19 year old me and my kids would all have been distraught!

BashfulClam · 20/08/2023 16:23

Fizbosshoes · 20/08/2023 13:45

For all the people who pack everything they need in hand luggage, the size easy jet let's you take on free is pretty tiny. I did end up not wearing 75% of my clothes but even minimal clothes, toiletries (some of which may have exceeded 100ml) contact lenses, make up, 1 pair of shoes and a beach towel would prob not have fitted in my rucksack

I take a normal sized backpack (fits under seat infront as I get annoyed as we snake onto plane at a snails pace waiting on all the people with wheelie cases. Stowing it above, oh need to get glasses out…book etc!). I put in a few pairs of pants, shorts, t shirt, swimsuit and a small dress that can be rolled up. We also take solid toiletries as far as possible, Shampoo bar, solid deodorant and soap. Medication and chargers should always be in carry on bag. My contact lenses travel in my eyes and I take travel size solution in the plastic bag. I get all this in a small rucksack and always have extra space. I like to have Clothes ready as if you can’t get into your room straight away you can at least change in the toilets much easier. Also if case goes missing you have your essentials to start off. We also cross pack so each case has clothes for both of us

Mikimoto · 20/08/2023 16:24

If ONLY she were visiting a country that sells t-shirts and deodorant...

HumourReplacementTherapy · 20/08/2023 16:25

Aww poor DD. She'll get it back I'm sure. Hopefully she can borrow some stuff for tonight and a bikini for 2mo then fingers crossed it turns up.
Always worth popping an apple tag or similar in for future ref
If she buys anything (toiletries/clothes) make sure she keeps receipts.

gigipom · 20/08/2023 16:26

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Congratulations 🙄

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 20/08/2023 16:35

Our suitcase didn’t turn up for our honeymoon for the first 48hours and I was fairly devastated TBF. It was winter uk time so literally had nothing to wear apart from thick jeans and a big sweater; thank god it was my honeymoon and not a girly holiday!😉

It did turn up though so fingers crossed for her.

Kimten · 20/08/2023 16:35

My suitcase got lost on the way to Amsterdam.
Another time, it got lost on the way to Barcelona.
On both occasions, I got my suitcase back within 24 hours.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 20/08/2023 16:37

Not every case that goes missing will be back with its owner in a few days. Some cases are still missing 3 weeks down the line so not much use when on hols.

And it's not as easy as nipping into the local shops to replace a weeks worth of clothes (assuming stuff fits, especially swim wear). And often you don't remember what was in the case until you go to use it > looks at kindle missing it's charging plug Confused <

It can be a ball ache at best.

RuthW · 20/08/2023 16:38

Presumably she had a change of clothes and essentials in her hand luggage.

LakesideLily · 20/08/2023 16:40

What an unnecessary bunch of horrible comments here.

I'm on holiday at the moment, if my suitcase hadn't turned up I'd have been devastated too at the age of 45.

Holidays are so expensive and we all look forward to them so much, of course we're upset if something goes wrong especially as it's such hassle putting in insurance claims etc.

It's also not unreasonable at all for OP to be upset when her child - even if an adult- is upset abroad.

OP I hope the case turns up soon and DD has a good holiday 🤞

User3253625 · 20/08/2023 16:40

Really hope OP will at least update this thread when the case shows up. Otherwise it's another one of those unresolved MN sagas where the OP gets bullied offline or decides to never return.

Alcemeg · 20/08/2023 16:41

I'd be devastated too!

But that's what bikinis were invented for... Zante in August is hot!

That's also what friends were invented for. Surely they can lend her some kex.

As long as she's not missing essential daily meds, this is the start of a lovely holiday with a blip in the tale.

Hope she has a lovely time. If she's not heading that way, suggest snorkeling at Gerakas (turtles, octopus, etc) x