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.

I lost my suitcase on my very first trip abroad, several years ago now but I was also 18. I got it back after 5 days , it had gone on the wrong plane.
Loafs of people in my hotel offered to lend/give me clothes to help me out, it actually made us all get to know each other and made for a fabulous holiday in the end!

Key thing OP, is have you transferred some cash to her so she can buy replacements?!

Only had this happen once but was with Easyjet and turned up 3 days later. Not great but did get it back. Had bought new clothes in the meantime.

Presumably there is travel insurance in place??

Lots of ‘I’m always prepared’ comments making me laugh. Never occurred to me to pack a swimsuit or spare clothes in hand luggage. And I’m well old. Hope your daughter is reunited with bag. And that her friends help her out.

Other than maybe getting some money back at some time in the future how does that help now?

Happened to me in Greece too. Arrived a day or 2 later safe and sound

Maybe they didn't take it off the plane. It wouldn't surprise me as Zante is one of the worst airports I've been too and I've travelled quite a bit.

We arrived later than planned as the flight from Manchester was delayed, they spent over an hour trying to fit the steps to the plane and in the end we had to just use the front ones and disembark slowly. It was so hot and people were struggling with the heat. Then once we were off the plane it took ages for one guy to look at everyone's passport. I'm assuming the rest of the staff went home and the airport was in nearly darkness. My suitcase arrived with all 4 of the wheels broken.

Flying out of the airport was ok until we went through to the departure lounge where 100s of people were crammed together. There wasn't enough room for us to sit as we were practically elbow to elbow with each other.

It’s very common. Yep, it’ll either come back overnight, or won’t appear till nearly end of holiday if at all. I travelled for years frequently with work (sometimes 30-35 trips per year) and it’s happened to me probably 12-13 times .
if it has made it over on plane or got diverted in babagage handling on departure side, it’ll get there quickly. If it doesn’t appear when next flight gets in from her departure, then it’s more likely lost in transit through departure airport and it’ll be unlikely to show up for days .

best thing is for her to wait 24 hours by buying only very essential items . But if still not re-united she should talk to rep about compensation and how to claim, and then buy what she will need for rest of holidays

shell have learnt a valuable lesson. Never, ever travel without enough basic clothes, toiletries etc to last a few days in hand baggage. I used to travel with a very crushable set of business clothes, 2 spare sets of undies, and all my toiletries and makeup and jewellery in my hand baggage. My hold stuff contained surplus work stuff and clothes for changes, smart business stuff. Most people who travel loads do this , otherwise you run a big risk.

Wait 'til she gets to the hote;!

Op, re my comment on compensation. Lots of folks saying travel insurance. Don’t go that route in first place
heres the cab Advice page
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/holiday-cancellations-and-compensation/get-airline-compensation-for-lost-or-delayed-luggage/

Make sure daughter reports to AIRLINE direct to just tui rep .

This

In case anyone hasn’t already posted make sure she has the sticky label luggage receipt in case you need to claim.

4 possibilities - the luggage was never loaded - they will send it on. The luggage made it onto another plane - it will send its way to her eventually. The luggage made it to Zante and is languishing in a room somewhere (I had this experience). Or someone has whipped it. The reality is that the last is extremely unlikely unless it was a Louis Vuitton diamond encrusted case. Why bother pinching something when it potentially contains nothing of value and you could get arrested for it? Get her to contact the insurers and buy some cheap clothes for the moment. Scenarios 1-3 above are the most likely.

Distraught? Devastated? Both you and she are totally overreacting. Don’t encourage her in this; try to model being sensible.

She can borrow from her friends and pick up some essentials tomorrow. It’s quite likely her suitcase will be delivered within a few hours.

What do you get from making these snide comments? Do you enjoy being mean or do you think you are being helpful?

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.

Oh come onnnn! A suitcase being delayed as the worst thing in your life???

Its saying things like this that are causing people to have a go. Don’t encourage your DD think like this - it’ll be really annoying to those around her.

Geez, people are low on compassion today.
Sure, she's an adult, only just though and not having your stuff on a long awaited holiday IS a big deal.
I bet she saved for new clothes and planned all the summer looks she'd be wearing.
I'd find it stressful if one of my children were in the same situation; it doesn't make any of us wet fish, just human with emotions.

It's only ever happened to me once. They couldn't open the door of the hold, so the bags weren't lost we just couldn't get them. We were told they'd try for a couple of hours and then the plane would have to fly back to London. I was in Hong Kong for a conference. With 10 mins to spare they got them. Phew.

Did it turn up? I would have been devastated too and I'm 38!

I had anxiety reading this til the end! Glad you got them. Think I would have gone back to London too if they'd not rescued the case.

Really hope her suitcase has turned up now.

@Kiki105 has it turned up? I'd be crushed too and I'm over 50!
Hope your DD is enjoying her holiday

The only thing you can do to help now is to help her get her holiday back on track. If you can afford it tell her to go on a little shopping trip and get some new clothes so that she can shake off any disappointment and start enjoying her holiday. The situation just needs a little reframing in her head. I do feel for her though , 19 is so young. People can be harsh as fuck on here 😂

IQuite often I look at mumsnet and how people react to the minor setbacks of their adult children and am baffled. She is 19. Her suitcase has been misplaced in transit. This is literally a normal travel experience and not a reason to a) ring your parents in tears as a grown woman b) panic and stress because an adult is temporarily without possessions in a European country, safe with friends. People: empower your adult children to deal with minor life shit, or the next decades are gonna be hard. (Ps; her case will turn up. She can buy a couple sarongs from a beach store and let her friends buy her shots of sambucca to quell her distress).