Items stolen from luggage

[Willowlondoner]

Hello,

I've had several items stolen from my suitcase whilst travelling from Zurich to Porto. As the flight was very full I was asked to check my hand luggage upon boarding. These items were valuable and sentimental but I've come to terms with the fact that I'll most likely never see them again.

I've reported to the airline and airport (swiss air and Porto airport) but can I check if anything has gone through anything similar and there was any resolution? I'm not sure what I'm hoping for really, I'm just quite stunned (and maybe naive) that somebody has been through my baggage.
I don't have travel insurance as I have private global medical insurance, although I'm certainly regretting this.

Many thanks

Same thing happened to a family member last week when she landed to Porto airport. Around a dozen passengers didn't get their luggage on time. When they complained to the local luggage handling team they where told that they didn't know where they were located. One passenger had a tracker on their luggage and could see it was only a few meters away so they kept asking for an answer.
When the luggage finally turned up the locks were brocken and items were missing. If you search the news online you will see a few stories about luggage theft gangs (ie employees of the luggage handling operator) operating at Porto airport that go back a few years. Obviously it is a systemic issue rather than one off but for some reason passengers are not alerted to the risk. Did you report the loss to your airline or the luggage handling operator? If you live locally it is worth reporting it to the police as well the recent article from 2022 refers to the Airport Security team been involved in the investigation so worth alerting them to the incident.

https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2022-06-03/airport-employees-arrested-for-suitcase-thefts/67623

https://www.portugalresident.com/light-fingered-baggage-handlers-rounded-up-at-porto-airport/

this is awful!! i cannot fathom how you feel at having your personal luggage searched without you being there. its bad enough when they search it in the searching area. I never ever put anything valuable in my suitcase. i buy cheap jewellery just for holidays. ipad goes into handbag. In fact I actually try to travel with hand luggage alone and only check it in if travelling long haul

First I am sorry you have lost items not only of value but sentimental pieces. Its a shock to think someone has gone through your 'things' and taken items out. I would not hold out much hope of any comeback with not having any insurance, but you have reported it to the airline and airport, maybe the police if you have proof of valuables (receipts/insurance documents for jewellery maybe etc) or does your household insurance cover you for such items away from home?

The op was asked to put her hand baggage into the hold, not checked in baggage. So even travelling with just hand baggage you can be asked to put that in the hold as well if needed.

Sadly this is becoming more common esp on smaller aircraft or very full flights where space is at a premium and people take lots of hand baggage ie trolley bags and the like..

I always have some kind of plastic bag in my hand luggage for this very reason if I am asked to put my roller bag in the hold, so if needed I can take out items (valuables/medication/etc) then the rest can be put in the hold and the bag can fit under the seat in front. This may help someone in the future.

Your ordinary household insurance might cover this.

I also put anything valuable or important - jewellery, gadgets, medicines - in my underseat bag, even when taking a cabin bag, in case I'm asked to check in the bigger bag. And I hide a tracker in the bigger bag.

Not much help to the OP, but might make others more wary.

Hello! Sorry I didn't reply to this I didn't realise I had comments :)

Slight update, I flew with swissair and it seems they are willing to cover up to the value of 1,500 so this is better than I'd hoped. Unfortunately this won't cover certain items such as jewellery but an expensive jacket and perfume will be covered. I'm still not at the other side yet so I'll report back once it's all finished and let you know if I did actually receive the compensation. The jacket it a vintage Gucci jacket that was a gift so I won't be able to produce receipts..

I have reported it to the police and airport police also.

Josie