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 think the best thing to do is be calm, empathetic but pragmatic. Like a PP said transfer her £100 to buy a bikini, flip flops and a deodorant and tell her to let you know once the airline have said what's going to happen.

She needs to know how to handle these things in a mature way and you are there to show her. I think some of the snark is that you've come over as rather hysterical about a pretty minor, if disappointing, event. I'm sure that wasn't your intention but it does come over that way.

Oh dear, hopefully she can borrow some clothes and it’ll turn up soon. I agree it’s upsetting but devastating is a bit OTT.

Happened to me when travelling to the Virgin Islands via Antigua ....

Lost luggage for 24hrs

My 20-year olds backpack never turned up last week, from Australia. He had an air tag (and spare clothes in hand luggage) and could see where it was. It was delivered three days later. It happens all the time.

Shame those experiences haven’t made you a nicer person eh?

I'm with your daughter. Wouldn't be that arsed on a family holiday, but I'm 40something and if that happened on a girls' holiday I'd be gutted. Wouldn't even be able to borrow anything cos I'm a totally different size.

DD (also 19) is also away atm and this was one of the reasons they all only took hand luggage as they were too worried about losing bags. She was shattered after this week, post A level results, her flight was 2 hours delayed so they arrived at 1am - something like this would probably have tipped her over the edge too and she's the most level headed girl 99% of the time.

Poor kid. Fingers crossed she gets it today and the worst that happens is she has a day wearing someone else's dress!

@Kiki105 make sure she keeps the sticky label they attach to your boarding card/passport as that is evidence she checked a bag and a way to track her bag.

She needs to report to airline and also her insurance asap. Insurance will want to know within 24 hours. Find out how much £ she can claim from the airline/insurance to buy underwear, clothes etc.

For next time an AirTag in checked luggage is a good investment as you can locate the bag and help the airline locate it. Also as pp said pack one change of clothes and bikini.

I agree, it’s annoying but please get some perspective. Likely it’ll be delivered in next day or so, she can borrow from friends or just go to a shop and buy what she needs as I think airlines will reimburse. It surprises me on here how involved parents are with adult kids!

We (4 adults) went on holiday recently 2 suitcases didn't turn up as they were left on London. There were delivered in 48 hours to our hotel. She could just but a swim wear, 1 pair shorts and t shirt and wait for a bit. Tell her to rey to enjoy the holiday not focus on clothes.

Ah poor girl. These holidays are a big deal.
First I hope she is insured. Has she reported her luggage is missing to the airport? Could she ring the insurer and ask for advice?
Does she have plenty of money?
If it was my DD I would send her some money to go shopping on arrival and make sure she keeps receipts.

Classic MN nastiness about teenagers, ignore.

We recently lost a case flying to Spain. Easyjet delivered it about 48 hours later. It was pretty annoying just having the clothes I was standing in, no toiletries and no phone charger. Its definitely made me reassess what I put in hand luggage. Hopefully it will turn up soon!

Happened to me a few times and normally bag is put on next flight. Assuming she is at a popular holiday spot there could be flights in tonight.

Do advise her to keep the receipts of anything she buys to replace items in her case.

And it seems minor, but if you're 19 and the holiday is all about pool/ going out and going on the pull, not having your carefully planned pulling outfits and makeup is going to hurt.

The only other way round it is to totally own it- wear bedsheets togas etc and see how far you get.

Her friends will have inevitably taken twice as many clothes as they need. Hopefully they can lend some bits until the case is found.

Absolutely. We take the maximum we can in carry-on when we fly off anywhere - a load of spare underwear, at least 2 mix & match daytime outfits and similar nighttime.

We do cruises and knew of a couple whose suitcases didn't make it on to the ship - for a transatlantic crossing on QM2.

They had NOTHING to wear of an evening and were in the Queen's grill class (you're not able to go in the restaurant if not at least smartly dressed).

Most likely will be delivered to hotel in next 24-48 hours.

Friends need to share and she may need to buy a few things (keep receipts to claim on insurance)

Claim on insurance if it doesn't show up.

Ah this is upsetting for your dd OP. But it's one of life's twists I'm afraid.

I have a DD same age who doesn't live at home. This morning she called me, also pretty devastated as she dropped her brand new phone (which she saved up to buy), and the screen smashed. As much as I am upset for her, I have to be the calm one and reassure her that it will be ok once we get it sorted out . I doubt it would have helped her any if I wasn't in the support role. It will be fine, I have acknowledged that she is upset and I will try help her as much as I can. When I put the phone down my heart sank for her, but i don't think it would have helped her any if I showed her i was upset about it too.

So just be her sounding board for now, there isn't much you can do about it, just let her offload. They will sort something out.

I know it's difficult to take a step back sometimes OP.

Happened to us in Dubrovnik, my case arrived DHs didn’t. We waited until the very end when a case came out exactly the same as his so he grabbed it in relief only to realise it wasn’t his. There was a name on the tag with our surname (it is a common surname!) what are the chances of an identical case owned by someone with the same surname 🤷🏼‍♀️ but it happened! We took a pic of the tag and showed it to the rep who traced the person who did indeed have DH case! We got it back about 12hrs after landing

You need to man up for her.

I can understand that she is devastated as its a new experience abroad and its not what was planned.

As her parent though you need to guide her through this life experience. Explain first that this is why she bought insurance (assume she did), she needs to read the policy and send it to you to read too (likely to be digital) then her action what she can to see her through the first few days whilst she keeps in contact with the rep and follows the insurance policy requirements.

Whilst upsetting its a real life experience and next time she will know what to do herself.

Happens all the time! Thats why I always pack swimmers, pair of knickers and roll up sundress in my hand luggage. The vast majority of luggage arrives at the hotel within 24 hrs. She needs to borrow clothes and makeup from mates, go to the bar and enjoy herself. TBH, being 19 and on holiday with girlfriends is probably the best time for your suitcase to go missing. If she was with a boyfriend or had kids to deal with, then things would be trickier! Might be harder to pull off a pair of swimming trunks.

@Peony654

So once our kids turn 18, we should just expect them to handle whatever life throws at them without flinching and if they ring for advice/support, we just reply with "Life is hard. Tough shit" and hang up?

Sorry for the harsh replies, OP. Teenagers are hated on mumsnet. You should see the way regular posters (grown women) talk to under 18s (children normally in desperate need of advice/help) on the rare occasions they post on here. It is awful.

Devastated - bit dramatic !

Yes I had it happen, no the world didn't end, yes it arrived the next day

It is upsetting, of course there is a scale in life as to how much events impact you from briefly to your entire life.

having lost a suitcase when I was 10 (it arrived back home a week after I did) having sorted some nice clothes that I never really wore (grew too much) op it was upsetting - a mix of borrowing my mums clothes and spending the money they gave us plus a little bit we claimed back got me through but I still remember standing there as everyone else left with no more suitcases coming round. I have been packing across cases for family holidays for years because of it.

log it as much as you can - see what compensation you can get and get her to buy some stuff now and chase the rep to see if it is foubd

it is only th8ngs she can replace them and to enjoy her holiday

Has happened to me a couple of times and case has always been delivered to hotel next day.

When it happened in Bali, the airline also gave me $200 cash compensation that same day! Went to the market and bought flip flops, bikinis, shorts and t-shirts; it was great.